Naval History Forums

I find it somewhat unlikely that the interpretation of the photo as shown on this thread is correct. First, it seems unlikely to me that the cartridge cases from main battery fire would, in action, be lined up so neatly along the side. My recollection -- which may be incorrect -- is that the empty c...

Although it is true that the condition (and position) of the wreck precludes any definitive examination of the lower hull, there remains some evidence that scuttling charges were fired and that various and sundry hatches and doors were probably left open as the crew abandoned ship. The wreck is nota...

It is with some reluctance that I enter this discussion, but feel that at this time some comment might be appropriate, though perhaps not welcomed by all. So far as approaching with "A" arcs open or closed, and based upon the best estimates of the relative courses, positions, and speeds of the vesse...

Thank you for the comments. My main area of expertise is technical rather than tactical, so I did not involve myself too deeply in the analysis of various actions, etc., particularly insofar as many details have now been lost or went unrecorded in the first place, leaving a rather convoluted 'Gordia...

Just for reference, the announcement itself is correct, except for the Associate Professor of International Relations part. Nobody seems to know exactly where that came from... None of us are professors.

Bill Jurens

Mr. Winklareth is the author of a variety of rather bizarre and off-the-wall 'theories', of which this is just the latest. I'm surprised (and somewhat disappointed) that Naval History even printed this article. This sort of editorial blunder is one reason I stopped subscribing to Naval History five ...

Billy wrote: "The top deck of American battleships was sometimes officially known as the yaw deck."

I find this an interesting statement. Can you provide a primary source reference for this terminology?

Thanks.

Bill Jurens

I have been in recent contact with Mr. Beurling (a pseudonym) regarding this paper. It is my impression that he has now decided to withdraw the article in order to make some revisions.

Bill Jurens

I would characterize 'Killing the Bismarck" as a well-written but technically superficial treatment of the subject, basically only one of the latest in what seems to be a perennial crop of "Bismarck books". It's by no means definitive, just light reading. Whether that suits one or not largely depend...

I would agree with Mr. Saxton's comments.

Bill Jurens

Hello Gentlemen: I wonder if some of the confusion may lie in the mixed use of both magnetic and true courses and bearings. The magnetic declination in the areas we are talking about seems to have been in the vicinity of 20 degrees, so the differences could be significant. I suspect that in some rep...

It's worth noting, perhaps, that in many cases the heaviest casualties end up on the UNengaged side. On the engaged side, unless you are hit directly, the incoming round will explode behind you and it's the poor fellows on the other side of the ship that catch most of the resultant fragments of proj...

Bismarck turning rates: This is a re-written (and somewhat shorter) re-post of a memo I wrote about an hour ago, which appears not to have gone through. If any duplication has occurred, please forgive. At least some of the turning circle information on the Bismarck has survived. There is a fair amou...

It's important to include the ammunition load that might be required to render the weapon effective, and also the number of crew required to operate the various weapons you are comparing. People come with a lot of extra weight, because one has to accommodate not just the person himself, but all of t...

Even fairly large changes in projectile weight would not affect accuracy that much. A heavier shell decreases initial velocity somewhat, but this factor is usually nearly cancelled out due to the fact that the heavier shell 'carries' better, i.e. has a higher ballistic coefficient. I've studied thes...