Search found 696 matches

by aurora
Sun Jul 19, 2015 12:43 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Battle of the Bismarck Sea--2nd to 4th March 1943
Replies: 1
Views: 5266

Re: Battle of the Bismarck Sea--2nd to 4th March 1943

It must be remembered that on 16 February, naval codebreakers in Melbourne (FRUMEL) and Washington, D.C. finished decrypting and translating a coded message revealing the Japanese intention to land convoys at Wewak, Madang and Lae. Subsequently, codebreakers decrypted a message from the Japanese 11t...
by aurora
Sun Jul 19, 2015 8:29 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

I too was astonished to find how little Amazon were asking for Jacobsen's book-in some instances -1p However I will be happy to secure Busch's work-purchase in hand-although boookseller said she could not find it at the time of ordering; and it was the only one AbeBooks had. The Battle of North Cape...
by aurora
Sat Jul 18, 2015 4:51 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Thank you for your interest northcape-I have matters in hand to purchase Busch's account; but could not find a sufficiently "cheaply priced" Jacobsen's account-using AbeBooks The account I bought was a 2009 Pen and Sword publication of Angus Konstam's account- which I thought was sound; bu...
by aurora
Fri Jul 17, 2015 7:27 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Thank you Dave for all your assistance and your book suggestions which I shall research is much appreciated.We live and learn. :clap: :clap:

aurora
by aurora
Fri Jul 17, 2015 6:55 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Battle of the Bismarck Sea--2nd to 4th March 1943
Replies: 1
Views: 5266

Battle of the Bismarck Sea--2nd to 4th March 1943

Due to Allied signals intelligence, Kenney was aware that a large Japanese convoy would be sailing for Lae in early March. Departing Rabaul, Kimura originally intended to pass south of New Britain but changed his mind at the last minute to take advantage a storm front that was moving along the north...
by aurora
Fri Jul 17, 2015 6:50 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Sounds like" another fine mess"Dave and shades of Hood and her destroyers in the Denmark Strait. Bey's judgement seemed to be way off on the day.My thanks for the fine analytical reply-I only wish I had purchased a better book on this battle-any suggestions welcomed. :clap: :clap: :clap: a...
by aurora
Fri Jul 17, 2015 4:57 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Yes-I get it now -it was the terminology that got me foxed -Burnett approached from a S East position on a NW course. Sorry about that Dave. One thing I cannot understand- is how the German destroyers got so completely adrift in this action-I appreciate the weather would probably exacerbate their pl...
by aurora
Fri Jul 17, 2015 11:56 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Most successful RN Carrier of WW2
Replies: 10
Views: 11021

Re: Most successful RN Carrier of WW2

In action and unsinkable 1940 to 1945-I should jolly well think so-USS Enterprise notwitstanding-she saw action 1941 to 1945. :wink: :wink:

aurora
by aurora
Fri Jul 17, 2015 7:42 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

At 08:30, Norfolk radar got the Scharnhorst on bearing 280° at 30.500 meters, immediately after at 08:40 Belfast got Scharnhorst on radar too on 295° at 32.500 meters. Scharnhorst was unaware being already picked up by Royal Navy ships radar. At 09:24, H.M.S. Belfast opened fire from 12.000 meters o...
by aurora
Thu Jul 16, 2015 7:19 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Approaching from the northeast, Burnett's Force 1 picked up Scharnhorst on radar at 8:30 AM. Closing in the increasingly snowy weather, Belfast opened fire at a range of around 12,000 yards. Joining the fray, Norfolk and Sheffield also began targeting Scharnhorst. Returning fire, Bey's ship failed t...
by aurora
Thu Jul 16, 2015 5:14 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Dave-scanning through Angus Konstam's "Battle of North Cape" pub.2009-I could not find mention of Burnett running with his radar- silent-so checked all my sources- Roskill,,Barnet,Pope et al and could not find a mention-I realise that I may not have the work where this is mentioned; but wo...
by aurora
Thu Jul 16, 2015 4:02 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Really appreciate the "wrinkles" vis a vis -use of radar silence Dave-nice trick. At 1912, the cruisers of "force I" open fire. Thereafter cruisers Jamaica and Belfast launch all their torpedoes, and destroyers Musketeer, Opportune and Virago 19 more. The Scharnhorst finally caps...
by aurora
Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:33 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Cannot argue with that logic Paul :ok: However consider this-The loss of Scharnhorst demonstrated the vital importance of radar in modern naval warfare. While the German battleship should have been able to outgun all of her opponents save the battleship Duke of York, the early loss of radar-assisted...
by aurora
Wed Jul 15, 2015 9:44 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Re: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Thank you gentlemen for your well considered replies-as no one actually saw this fine ship sink-there are bound to be questions Criticism has been levelled at Bey for not being aggressive enough,by turning away from the British cruisers during the first two skirmishes in the battle.He also lost cont...
by aurora
Tue Jul 14, 2015 5:44 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2
Replies: 49
Views: 24449

Death of the Scharnhorst in ww2

Death of Scharnhorst: With its radar out, Scharnhorst was caught by surprise as the British attack developed. Using radar-directed fire, Duke of York scored hits on the German ship with its first salvo. As the fighting continued, Scharnhorst's forward turret was put out of action and Bey turned nort...