Search found 88 matches

by Saltheart
Mon Jul 24, 2017 11:09 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: May 24 1941 - Tirpitz v Prince of Wales
Replies: 177
Views: 44738

Re: May 24 1941 - Tirpitz v Prince of Wales

POW would win as in May Tirpiz gunnery is just too bad. POW in spite of mechanical problems would still land far more hits. Luck plays a role as well as a hit might just blast off an anchor chain while another might disable a turret. Both are direct hits and maybe from 15,000 metres but 20 yards to ...
by Saltheart
Wed Oct 09, 2013 6:00 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Another Bismarck sortie
Replies: 27
Views: 5448

Re: Another Bismarck sortie

If Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had put in to the Baltic instead of France in March 1941 after Operation Berlin and if they'd been in a condition to go out again with Bismarck and Prinz Eugen in May then that would have been a fascinating situation. In fact the Germans might have dumped Prinz Eugen fro...
by Saltheart
Sat Sep 28, 2013 8:09 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: June 1944 battleship encounter
Replies: 10
Views: 7302

Re: June 1944 battleship encounter

Finally in 1944 in answer to a Japanese request (completely unrealistic) both battleships leave the Norwegian fjords and head to the Pacific. They avoid detection and arrive in Japan (about as realistic as them cruising to the moon. :wink: ). The Japanese manufacture the shells for their 38cm guns....
by Saltheart
Fri Sep 27, 2013 4:40 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: June 1944 battleship encounter
Replies: 10
Views: 7302

Re: June 1944 battleship encounter

Those 7 US battleships running into 7 Axis ships would be good. Imagine a scenario where Bismarck was never sent out in May 41 Instead it and Tirpitz are kept in cotton wool year after year by a Hitler determined that these prestige assets will never be lost with the attendant blow to morale. All ob...
by Saltheart
Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:14 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Tirpitz shelling New York
Replies: 132
Views: 42614

Re: Tirpitz shelling New York

Correct! A lucky hit with a .50 cal could reduce Tirpitz's vaunted fire control to scrap. I do not disagree that the early-war fire control on the shore batteries would have made a hit at night improbable. However, if the proverbial lucky hit were achieved, there were enough critical facilities in ...
by Saltheart
Sat Jun 02, 2012 4:07 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Tirpitz shelling New York
Replies: 132
Views: 42614

Re: Tirpitz shelling New York

I wonder what the chances are of Washington being sunk by hits on it's unprotected 50%? Bismarck had a 70% protected length yet it took a hit in the bow that caused about 2000 tons of flooding. This didn't threaten it with sinking but numerous hits in it's 30% unprotected length, the bow and stern, ...
by Saltheart
Wed May 23, 2012 3:52 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Tirpitz shelling New York
Replies: 132
Views: 42614

Re: Tirpitz shelling New York

Okay so it looks like New Mexico would be firing competitively tight salvos with 12 powerful high velocity guns in reliable mountings. It would have modern fire control and a very experienced crew. It's also a smaller target and being a standard battleship it's good and manouverable. The shells it f...
by Saltheart
Mon May 21, 2012 4:18 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Tirpitz shelling New York
Replies: 132
Views: 42614

Re: Tirpitz shelling New York

would be BIsmarck, except she couldn't hold course due to gimpy stern I would greatly appreciate to know more about the meaning of "gimpy stern". Some kind of phrase or something meaningful? Thanks. A weakness in Bismarck was that the stern was structurally weak. It eventually collapsed a...
by Saltheart
Mon May 21, 2012 1:47 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Tirpitz shelling New York
Replies: 132
Views: 42614

Re: Tirpitz shelling New York

I think it would be a hell of a fight. Tirpitz is a bigger ship, good for absorbing punishment, but on the other side of that coin it's a bigger target so it's also easier to hit. New Mexico has thicker turret protection while Tirpitz has more powerful guns, it adds up to them being able to knock ou...
by Saltheart
Fri May 18, 2012 8:55 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck refuels and does repairs
Replies: 43
Views: 11562

Re: Bismarck refuels and does repairs

Imagine if after the RN lost contact with Bismarck Lutjens chose not to head for St Nazaire anymore. Instead (and without making any long radio message) he heads in search of a support vessel. He wants to refuel, reammunition and do repairs. Then he'll decide again on whether to make for port or ca...
by Saltheart
Wed May 09, 2012 5:29 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52081

Re: Washington

Lee was most lucky that all of the dozens of torpedoes fired at his BBs failed to score any hits. Indeed. How many 460mm shots do you think would have been needed to sink South Dakota ? :) South Dakota was a sitting duck. If the Japanese had realised this and closed on her they could have driven 18...
by Saltheart
Wed May 09, 2012 4:35 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52081

Re: Washington

I know, I just call the South Dakota bunch "USA, ALL THE WAY" :) Has to be repeated twice though. :D :D :D I like the Yamato fans, they give the Iowa bunch hell. And anyway the Yamatos have got to be some of the most striking looking battleships ever built. The huge crest and incredible s...
by Saltheart
Wed May 09, 2012 3:56 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52081

Re: Washington

Were those the cables which were protected by 8.7 inches of armor? I think there was some book written by an "expert" awhile back that after years of his exhaustive research included the unprotected cables stuff. But of course you're not allowed to point out any facts that contradict it. ...
by Saltheart
Wed May 09, 2012 3:36 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52081

Re: Washington

Thanks for that. I wonder how much that 18 inch Class B plate would have been worth in protection when "converted" to Krupp cemented. Maybe 15 inches? The limit velocities in NRL studies were about 20% lower than they should have been. Converting the protective qualities of homogenous arm...
by Saltheart
Wed May 09, 2012 3:24 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52081

Re: Washington

However, I have always found it interesting to read on the internet how egg shell fragile the German turrets were with 14.2" KC faces, and the 7.2" Wh severely angled facet, and the 5.2" Wh roof. Looking at some some other face thickness: Of course, and the cables and communication t...