Search found 7778 matches

by RF
Wed Mar 13, 2024 5:00 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Raeder report to Hitler about Bismarck operation
Replies: 14
Views: 5639

Re: Raeder report to Hitler about Bismarck operation

Lutjens view, as overuled by Raeder, was to wait until Autumn, when Tirpitz might be available. Tanker Wiessenburg was stationed by Jan Mayen to provide full refuelling for both ships immediately prior to breakout. The breakout would be better with longer nights rather than shorter, which would favo...
by RF
Tue Mar 12, 2024 2:42 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Raeder report to Hitler about Bismarck operation
Replies: 14
Views: 5639

Re: Raeder report to Hitler about Bismarck operation

Going somewhat off topic the SKL summary at point 4 shows some very limited objectives - revealing a lack of real strategic thinking.
by RF
Tue Mar 12, 2024 2:36 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Raeder report to Hitler about Bismarck operation
Replies: 14
Views: 5639

Re: Raeder report to Hitler about Bismarck operation

What is interesting about the report as detailed in the first post are the questions that the Fuhrer DIDN'T ask. Lutjens view was to delay Rheinubung until either Tirpitz was ready or to the availability of Scharnhorst and Gneisenau to break out of the Biscay ports back into the Atlantic. That is a ...
by RF
Tue Mar 12, 2024 2:02 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: The USA Presidential election 2024
Replies: 9
Views: 359

Re: The USA Presidential election 2024

Paul, don't you mean NASA spacesuits.... The tin hat is rather useless against a mushroom cloud.
by RF
Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:48 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: New Book: A Most Gallant Fight
Replies: 4
Views: 1323

Re: New Book: A Most Gallant Fight

This is an interesting perspective, focussing on the operation as seen from the lower deck, however if I may interpose some criticism it is fictional. To really understand the feelings and emotions of the crew you have to be one of them and undergo the experiences they had. This is particulary so as...
by RF
Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:27 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: The USA Presidential election 2024
Replies: 9
Views: 359

The USA Presidential election 2024

As an outsider from Great Britain looking in on the state of American politics I find what looks like to me to be a duopoly choice between two elderly, cerebally challenged men to be somewhat perplexing. Both Biden and Trump are in my view too old and cerebally challenged to be put in charge of the ...
by RF
Mon Mar 04, 2024 8:39 am
Forum: Books and Reference
Topic: Corsair in the War Zone
Replies: 10
Views: 1256

Re: Corsair in the War Zone

The outline of the ship has some throwback element to the CSS Alabama and CSS Shenandoah, some 50 years earlier.....
by RF
Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:57 pm
Forum: Movies, Films, Documentaries and Games
Topic: Battleship Command: Scharnhorst
Replies: 27
Views: 22573

Re: Battleship Command: Scharnhorst

My comment on the Moon was just an aside, I was thinking that a Moon that size takes back some 300 to 400 million years ago when the Moon's orbit was a lot closer to Earth, and a teleported sea battle back in the time of the dinosaurs, maybe an ichyosaur might surface to see what's going on here....
by RF
Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:01 am
Forum: Movies, Films, Documentaries and Games
Topic: Battleship Command: Scharnhorst
Replies: 27
Views: 22573

Re: Battleship Command: Scharnhorst

Nice video, but I would suggest some refinements. Whilst we have a clear view of the command position I think some narrative or audio explanation of what is happening would be useful, such as identification of the other ships on view so that we have a better understanding of the action. Perhaps not ...
by RF
Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:57 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: KMS BLUCHER
Replies: 19
Views: 8852

Re: KMS BLUCHER

As a general point looking at the chart it seems that iron and steel strengthen with small heat increases, so small fires would not be effective in unsettling the ship? However would the heat increase not expand the metal creating weaknesses there, such as bending or warping?
by RF
Tue Feb 27, 2024 6:53 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: KMS BLUCHER
Replies: 19
Views: 8852

Re: KMS BLUCHER

Using that analysis we can presumably say that Bismarck would have sunk anyway on 27 May 1941 without the torpedo hits in the final battle or scuttling charges laid by the crew. Whilst it is difficult to sink a heavily armoured ship by gunfire alone its not so difficult if the attackers have plenty ...
by RF
Tue Feb 27, 2024 7:45 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: KMS BLUCHER
Replies: 19
Views: 8852

Re: KMS BLUCHER

Thor managed to sink HMS Voltaire with gunfire alone, this is worth noting as Thor's guns were peashooters compared with the armament of light cruisers. Its often overlooked that the broadside of a hilfskreuzer was half that of a light cruiser, yet look at the damage Kormoran did to HMAS Sydney in a...
by RF
Tue Feb 27, 2024 7:39 am
Forum: Books and Reference
Topic: Corsair in the War Zone
Replies: 10
Views: 1256

Re: Corsair in the War Zone

Seeadler had an auxiliary engine. This raider sank three steamships, two of them overhauled with the wind against her, using the engine.
by RF
Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:20 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: KMS BLUCHER
Replies: 19
Views: 8852

Re: KMS BLUCHER

It is likely that without the torpedo hit midships the Blucher would have stayed afloat, albeit very heavily damaged from shell hits and the resultant fires. The initial torpedo hit in the bow section forward of Anton turret was too far forward to cause significant damage, it was the second hit mids...
by RF
Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:10 pm
Forum: Books and Reference
Topic: Corsair in the War Zone
Replies: 10
Views: 1256

Re: Corsair in the War Zone

Shades of Seeadler here....