Naval History Forums

Two Nelsons vs. Bismarck and Prinz Eugen. Interesting. If this encounter takes place under the same historical conditions of 1941 in the Denmark Strait, the British never get a chance to intercept the Germans who have a 9-10 knot speed advantage over the old Nelsons. I think that this battle could n...

Hi Bill,

I always thought the stern came off because it was hit by a torpedo.
I also fail to see the relationship between the "single layer" flaw and the collapse of the stern.

Thinking about this potential flaw. How well did the double bottom and TDS of the Tirpitz do when she was mined by midget submarines in Norway?
Any reports of this "single layer" failure?

You're welcome.

No, I don't have documentation of it. But it is the most logical explanation. If the foretop radar was damaged then the forward radar would have been damaged too because it was closer to the shock wave of the forward guns. Don't you think? But only one radar was damaged. I then deduce that it was th...

Hello Chel Sea,

I think that the color you are looking for is Schiffsbodenfarbe III Rot 5: underwater red.



and take a look at this website
http://www.shipcamouflage.com/kreigsmarine.htm

2 against 1. Victory goes to the Germans in my opinion. Scharnhorst and Gneisenau vs. the Queen Elisabeth would be 18 x 11" guns against 8 x 15" guns and the Germans have a much higher rate of fire. After an hour firing shells at each other my result is: Queen Elisabeth sunk. Scharnhorst h...

I agree that this "single layer" is a potential weak point but the exposed vulnerable bulkhead has a height of less than 1 meter. I'm afraid that a low-running torpedo (+8 meters) would always be very bad no matter if this flaw is present or not. Because of the curvature of the lower hull ...

Thank you all. I see now what you mean. That is not a good place to receive damage, but I want to ask: considering Bismarck's draft, what are the chances of a torpedo hitting down there? It must be set at a depth of at least 8 meters to hit there amidships. What is the average depth setting for torp...

The radar that was put out of action was the one forward on top of the main conning tower, and not the one in the foretop. The reason is simple, the foretop is 30 meters over sea-level and the blast of the forward guns doesn't reach that high with force enough to damage it.

Bill, Tommy, I'm not sure what defect you are talking about in the side protection system. Could you please attach a cross section drawing for us to see? Thank you.

The convergence (or non-convergence) of shafts has no effect on steering with propellers at all. It's a common lay-misconception. The whole idea of this is based on the concept that somehow one propeller 'pushes' while the other 'pulls'. This couple is inconsequential compared with the hydrodynamic...

Hello Foeth, I agree with you, I think that converging shafts must be better for steering that no convergence at all. It is Müllenheim-Rechberg who wrote that only using her engines with both rudders locked in an amidships position, the Bismarck could be held on course only with great difficulty. Th...

Hola cascoskuro, Did you know that a replica of the Santísima Trinidad (then the largest warship of the world with 136 guns) is currently being built in Algeciras? http://www.geocities.com/naviotrinidad2005/index_01.html http://www.geocities.com/naviotrinidad2005/Imagenes/TRINIDAD03.JPG http://www.g...

Months ago I had a discussion with a Spanish friend about this. Steering without rudders, or locked in an amidships position, is always very difficult. If the rudders are jammed 12 degrees to port steering is even more difficult. It is well known that the Bismarck couldn't steer with propellers alon...