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by RF
Thu Sep 15, 2022 5:12 pm
Forum: Military Conflicts Today
Topic: What is Putin up to?
Replies: 98
Views: 35790

Re: What is Putin up to?

There is a lot of talk about regaining territory, we don't know if there will be a Russian counter-stroke to reverse those gains if Ukrainian forces have overstretched themselves. What is more important is where the Ukrainian counter-offensive is directed, it is not simply a matter of regaining some...
by RF
Wed Sep 14, 2022 4:13 pm
Forum: Military Conflicts Today
Topic: China and the Biden Administration
Replies: 31
Views: 6374

Re: China and the Biden Administration

On February 22nd 1936 army officers belonging to the IWF staged a coup attempt in Tokyo. It only failed because they mistakenly murdered the wrong man. When the army troops stormed the prime minister’s residence, the prime minister’s brother-in-law put on the prime minister’s clothes assuming his i...
by RF
Wed Sep 14, 2022 3:49 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Poorly trained AA crews on Bismarck?
Replies: 21
Views: 4661

Re: Poorly trained AA crews on Bismarck?

There are some other curious sidelights to the Swordfish attack upon Bismarck. Apparently, on their run-in to torpedo launch point, they were flying into a gale force head wind blowing from 45deg to port. This, as was explained to me, reduced their speed over the ground to less than 60 knots and al...
by RF
Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:48 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Poorly trained AA crews on Bismarck?
Replies: 21
Views: 4661

Re: Poorly trained AA crews on Bismarck?

Is it not the case that up to the commencement of Rheinubung there were hardly any cases of German capital ships facing serious air attack whilst at sea? So air defence may not have been taken as seriously as hindsight suggests? I am aware of KM light cruisers being attacked by the Fleet Air Arm dur...
by RF
Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:32 am
Forum: Military Conflicts Today
Topic: China and the Biden Administration
Replies: 31
Views: 6374

Re: China and the Biden Administration

I find it frustrating that docs on TV and so forth often state that Japan invaded China in 1937. This makes it seem like it was just a simple naked aggression like the invasion of Poland by National Socialist Germany. Perhaps they do this out of ignorance? Or maybe it’s laziness, because the fuller...
by RF
Wed Sep 07, 2022 6:14 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Hits on Scharnhorst in final battle
Replies: 33
Views: 5109

Re: Hits on Scharnhorst in final battle

According to Wikipedia, she was actually still doing 20 knots after the first 4-5 torpedo hits. It would seem like German capital ships were relatively well protected against torpedoes, probably because of the high number of watertight compartments? German capital ships also had comparatively wider...
by RF
Mon Sep 05, 2022 5:43 pm
Forum: Military Conflicts Today
Topic: China and the Biden Administration
Replies: 31
Views: 6374

Re: China and the Biden Administration

Then the Americans under Wilson back tracked and instituted a general hostile to Japan policy which continued right up to WW2. This was around the start of WW1 when Japan honoured its alliance with Great Britain by declaring war on Germany. Japan followed up in 1915 by issuing its ''21 Demands'' on...
by RF
Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:46 am
Forum: Military Conflicts Today
Topic: China and the Biden Administration
Replies: 31
Views: 6374

Re: China and the Biden Administration

Even more so with Japan.......
by RF
Thu Aug 04, 2022 2:05 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato
Replies: 38
Views: 10327

Re: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato

What a coincidence though, Norfolk taking out the gunnery control on two German capital ships,was she considered a 'lucky'ship I wonder? In the case of Scharnhorst it was the gunnery radar that was smashed. The central fire control position functioned right to the end as the three main turrets cont...
by RF
Tue Aug 02, 2022 6:10 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato
Replies: 38
Views: 10327

Re: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato

I suppose we are taking into consideration that all three were fully worked up with experience crews (when Yamato was sunk she apparently hasda bit of a 'scratch' crew on board) Yamato as I understand was on a suicide mission, a sacrifice, and as with suicide missions the crew involved were conside...
by RF
Tue Aug 02, 2022 6:02 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato
Replies: 38
Views: 10327

Re: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato

I believe that it was in the North Cape battle, rendering the Scharnhorst almost blind in the foul weather conditions just after her escorting destroyers had been sent off to search for the target convoy. Bismarck had its gunnery control position in the foretop taken out by an 8 inch shell from Norf...
by RF
Fri Jul 29, 2022 8:14 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato
Replies: 38
Views: 10327

Re: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato

Vice versa, If Yamato manages one good salvo on one of them, good enough to say cut one of the two's speed, or take out a couple of turrets ,then I would give Yamato the upper hand. HMSVF I think it would be interesting if we add either Prinz Eugen to the Bismarcks or a couple of Narvik class destr...
by RF
Fri Jul 29, 2022 8:06 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato
Replies: 38
Views: 10327

Re: Bismarck and Tirpitz vs Yamato

Let us not forget that Bismarck was shot to bits at close range (admittedly by a combination of 14 &16" shells), but it was the 16" from Rodney that seemed to do most of the damage so imagine what 9 x18" are going to do to Tirpitz at close range! The comment about the relative ef...
by RF
Mon Apr 25, 2022 8:52 am
Forum: Military Conflicts Today
Topic: A WW3 scenario
Replies: 22
Views: 4254

Re: A WW3 scenario

paul.mercer wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 5:19 pm Is he really prepared to take that risk?
The bluffer having his bluff called ??

More importantly - are the Russian commanders whose finger would be on the nuclear button going to go for first strike?

Or do we get a Russian version of The Crimson Tide ?
by RF
Tue Apr 19, 2022 8:51 am
Forum: Military Conflicts Today
Topic: A WW3 scenario
Replies: 22
Views: 4254

Re: A WW3 scenario

I think the analysis therein makes sense and does highlight the Russian objectives.

But it is not too late for the Ukrainians to appreciate the true situation, which the latest comments of their president seem to suggest that they are.