Search found 3662 matches

by Bgile
Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:12 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Effect of bombs
Replies: 22
Views: 10129

Re: Effect of bombs

It had to be dropped from 10,000 feet to achieve the necessary velocity. Arizona was destroyed because it set off a black powder magazine used to store catapault launching charges. The other battleships targeted by the same type of bombs ... basically all of the inboard ships ... received light to m...
by Bgile
Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:35 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck Stern Anchor
Replies: 9
Views: 4596

Re: Help!

Bismarck_Tirpitz wrote:Hmm, why did they chose to use a cable rather than a chain, like the bow anchors. Did they weigh much more
yes.
by Bgile
Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:42 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck Stern Anchor
Replies: 9
Views: 4596

Re: Help!

The weight of the chain resting on the bottom represents a significant part of an anchor's holding capability, so one using a cable wouldn't be useful for the same sort of application.
by Bgile
Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:22 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: New member first post
Replies: 8
Views: 2996

Re: New member first post

Welcome to the forum! I played Action Stations a lot in bygone days, but I don't think it will run on modern computers, will it? I haven't played Fighting Steel for a while either, but I think that is pretty good if you are looking for a more recent one. Oh, and the only way I ever played pvp was sw...
by Bgile
Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:32 pm
Forum: World War II
Topic: German tanks
Replies: 169
Views: 40142

Re: German tanks

There are long threads debating this issue. In a nutshell: The Tiger I had a much more powerful gun than the T-34 and was harder to kill. It was slower and less maneuverable and harder to maintain. The Tiger II was larger and more powerful than the Tiger I. Thicker armor with better sloping, more po...
by Bgile
Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:21 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Effect of bombs
Replies: 22
Views: 10129

Re: Effect of bombs

Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and especially Hiryu were undoubtedly maneuverning at high speed when they received fatal bomb hits from dive bombers. I suspect Yamato was also hit one or more times while maneuvering at high speed, but I don't know. From the prior examples, it was possible. High speed maneuveri...
by Bgile
Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:17 pm
Forum: Military History and Technology
Topic: Firing at pilots who have parachuted
Replies: 20
Views: 24988

Re: Firing at pilots who have parachuted

A well known German ace wrote in his autobiography of hanging from his chute as a Mustang approached and wondering whether he would be shot, but apparently the guy just wanted a close look at his opponent.
by Bgile
Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:14 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Effect of bombs
Replies: 22
Views: 10129

Re: Effect of bombs

Thank you for the clarification. I'd seen that 1,600 lb bomb listed as both SAP and AP but it makes more sense as an AP bomb. The explosive weight seems consistent with that of a 500 lb GP bomb, and I don't think that is necessarily inconsequential in the water alonside a ship. Not like a torpedo of...
by Bgile
Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:58 am
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Effect of bombs
Replies: 22
Views: 10129

Re: Effect of bombs

I wonder what the burster of a 1,600 lb SAP bomb is. I have no idea, really. I expect those would burst on contact with the main armor deck of a battleship and in the case of Bismarck would penetrate the upper armored deck first, but I really don't know. If it did, I suspect the damage would be subs...
by Bgile
Mon Apr 18, 2011 11:56 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Effect of bombs
Replies: 22
Views: 10129

Re: Effect of bombs

The bombs don't "bounce off". They can do tremendous structural damage, destroy secondary battery and AA weapons and cause heavy crew casualties, making the ship vulnerable to attack by destroyers and torpedo carrying aircraft. Additionally, near misses by heavy bombs can cause flooding in...
by Bgile
Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:28 pm
Forum: Naval History in General
Topic: The Greatest Naval Battle in History
Replies: 257
Views: 277496

Re: The Greatest Naval Battle in History

Augustus Caesar was a genius at managing empire. If he had been killed it might very well have effected the extent of the Roman empire. Presumably Egypt would have had greater autonomy. An important battle to be sure, and I'm not sure one can really choose between the truly important battles of hist...
by Bgile
Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:23 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Ideal battleship design
Replies: 162
Views: 84048

Re: Ideal battleship design

.... And yet no modern ships have such large calibre AAA guns. Nothing bigger than 40mm with proximity fused warheads. What goes around comes around eh? The 76mm (Italian) and 5" guns on US ships are dual purpose. As are 57mm guns. The 20mm CIWS weapons are dual purpose, but the 25mm weapons a...
by Bgile
Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:11 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Elongation of Homogeneous Armor
Replies: 38
Views: 13650

Re: Elongation of Homogeneous Armor

I too am a physicist by training, although one with no special expertise in this field. I also have some flexibility in my ideas: for example, I've become distinctly more favourable about the Richelieu this week, partly as a result of the arguments of others here and looking at what Dulin and Garzk...
by Bgile
Thu Apr 14, 2011 2:47 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck vs. Iowa
Replies: 322
Views: 85476

Re: Bismarck vs. Iowa

To my knowledge the largest bomb carried on US carriers was 1600 lb APC.
by Bgile
Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:17 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Ideal battleship design
Replies: 162
Views: 84048

Re: Ideal battleship design

Post war up to 1960 I don't think there has been much of aircraft engagement of ships so far as the US and UK were concerned; the obvious conflict to think of would be Korea but that was largely a land war. I would have thought therefore that radar and an open sea would allow a six inch gun to be d...