Naval History Forums

Ulrich, thanks for digging this up. I am struck by how many of the conclusions stil have merit after these ensuing 68 years. Of course, with the benefit of some intensive study during these years, many things have come to light, including the ship itself, but some of the article could have been writ...

Jose, thanks but I think that Tommy's point was that a wider beam would allow greater weight without adding more draft. I wondered whether the canal could accommodate the extra width. 45 meters wide would seem to be plenty.

Regards,
Gerard

Tommy, was there much navigation room in the Kiel Canal to accommodate more beam?

Silverton

I don't know enough to imply that Hipper's design was inherently better. My point was to say that, based on the evidence of more than one use of its guns, Hipper demonstrated very good results under difficult conditions. Hipper's shooting crew is part of her capabilities, just as are her speed and 8...

Dave, I am unsuccessful in discovering the ranges for the convoy battle but your further detail about that operation and with Hipper's good shooting at Barents, my inexpert estimation of Hipper's overall good shooting seems reasonably supported. Bgile, being taken out of battle with one shot does no...

I don't know how much artillery was expended to achieve the following hits and can't therefore calculate accuracy, but during Hipper's second Atlantic sortie of February 1941, Hipper sank 7 of 19 merchants and damaged several others. Granted that the merchants were relatively easy to hit, the abilit...

lwd, that was my quandary, the larger guns against smaller, but more guns, which could fire more frequently. I wonder what was the German Navy perspective regarding which ship was more "capital"?

Gerard

Our usual battle hypotheticals involve ships from opposing navies. If this scenario has been discussed before, I would welcome a reference, but otherwise, I would enjoy the views of this Forum's members as to the battle resolution between the Hipper and Graf Spee. For the sake of a concurrent time f...

Yes, I do remember that "fuel". Of course, if you were also aerospace inclined, there were also those opaque plastic rockets which were sent skyward after pressuring water with a little pump launcher. They probably can't be bought today as the manufacturer would have to worry about someone...

You should be..... a Patient.

And don't forget Gladitorial contests and other arena entertainment. It worked for the Romans for a thousand years or so!!

Gerard

As it took a seminal event such as Pearl Harbor for the USA to declare war on Japan, I am not sure that they would have declared war on Germany absent a direct attack. Providing equipment, some of which would be sunk during shipping, and some "volunteer units" is a far remove from declarin...

The problem with pinpointing a given event as the turning point is that each of them seems to have a critical antecedent. There is much comment made about the dooming action of fighting on two major fronts. At least one comment indicated that a second front against the USSR was the start of the end....

Bgile, in direct opposition to your bout of sarcasm, your apology does you great credit. Your numberless and valuable contributions should never be pique colored.

I should add that the same can be said for other knowledgeable members of this esteemed forum.

Gerard

A bit down at the bow!!! Perhaps after POW's hit? Beautiful pics.

Gerard