Naval History Forums

Getting back to the subject of AA, I remember reading that the British Navy fired off a prodigious amount of AA ammunition during the fighting north of Crete, so had to conserve ammunition during the fighting to the south of the island. I forget how effective the AA fire was though. Anyone know? I ...

This same Air Group was cut to pieces in the Solomons in 1942 by American transport ships equipped with Bofers.* Allied ships would find the Bofers in large numbers indespensable as the war progresse Gentlemen, my bad, I read Dave's message too quickly yesterday and missed one point. As far as I kn...

Steffen, battleships and tanks guns are not of the same size and not of the same price. Correct me if I am mistaken, but I assume that changing a WWII tank gun is cheap and easy. Changing a battleship one is very expensive and time consimung (assuming that the guns are available which may not be the...

Gentlemen, I would like to point another reasons why no Swordfish was shot down while attacking Bismarck. The first is awfull weather and visibility that didn't help the gunners. The second is bad luck. Air defense is a strange job in which luck has an important place. We know exemples of unexpected...

Well, in poor visibility (6.5 nm), the cruisers and destroyers have a chance to put a torpedo on a battlecruiser. It's a dangerous buiseness but it can be done (with skill and luck).

"Would the British be able to keep contact and force a clash with out radar? Probably not." Well that makes an interesting scenario for wargaming because the Home Fleet have superior firepower and armor but is too slow to catch S&G. The only way to win is to have light forces taking ri...

Thanks a lot for your wonderfull answers.

BTW, I am not saying that a clash with Home Fleet was inevitable if German radars had failed. I was just thinking that it was possible (if radar failed AND British lookouts performed better, and ...).

Best regards,

Francis Marliere

Gentlemen,

I am looking for information about Ark Royal air group in June 1940 and would be more than pleased if you could help me.

Best regards,

Francis Marliere
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Thorsten,

Thanks for the documents. unfortunately, I don't speack German. Could you please tell me if there is something in those documents that answer my questions ?

Best,

Francis

Thanks a lot Paul.

Paul, thanks for your kind help. however, I already know this page which unfortunately dosen't tell me all what I would like to know (sea state, disposition of the destroyer screen, etc.). Due to my poor English I am not sure to understand the disposition of the cruisers. may be you could explain me...

Gentlemen, I am looking for information on the beginning of operation BERLIN. On the early morning of 28 January 1941 Scharnhorst and Gneisenau tried to make their way into the Atlantic through the Iceland-Faroe passage but were sighted by HMS Naiad. The cruiser belonged to the screen of the Home Fl...

Thanks Dave.

Best,

Francis

Gentlemen, in the evening of 9th December 1941, Japanese light forces under the command of RADM Ozawa and Kurita tried to engage Force Z but could not find the British ships in the dark (although they were at 20 nm from them at 1920). Ozawa's Force had Chokai and Sagiri while Kurita's had Sentai 7 (...

Kevin, one last thing if you don't mind. Do you know what ships were in Ozawa's and Kurita's forces ? I have : - Ozawa : Chokai and Sagiri - Kurita : Sentai 7 (Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya, Kumano), Kinu (meets at 1907) and Suiraisentai 3 (Sendai + DesDiv 19 : URANAMI, SHIKINAMI, AYANAMI, ISONAMI) But I a...