Naval History Forums

Oh darn, I was going to opt out because of RF's unrelenting attacks on me, but I can't resist. It wasn't just unrestricted submarine warfare that brought the U.S. into the First Word War. America had loaned Britain so much money that a German victory would have been a national financial disaster for...

Yes, but they rolled a V2 rocket into a convenient body of water then sat there like gomless peasants saying "What rocket, sir? Seen no rockets sir?" Then took the most important components and sent them to London. Why are you hunting me and attack everything I say? If I offend you I will ...

Thanks Tiornu, at least you the post correctly. Makes me glum that I could be so misunderstood.

Has anyone ever noticed that when we discuss naval battles South America never seems to come up? While we concentrate on European non-battles apparently South American countries were frequently fighting it out in single ship and fleet actions that would do Nelson or Drake proud. Typical of non Engli...

I have no problems with what I read here about Japan's shortcomings in training, supply, political ineptitude, overall impompetence, etc. but I have to ask, in comparison with what? Their enemies were evidenly more so. The Empire of Japan took half of China, smashed the battle line of the mighty U.S...

Poland is the most badly abused nation in history as far as recognition is concerned. They knew they couldn't defeat Nazi Germany alone but fought like tigers waiting for the western allies to move and if France had gone east when the Poles won the battle of Mokra the Second World War would never ha...

I've never heard that about the Aleutians operation. Thanks. I should get a copy of Shattered Sword, sounds interesting. I learn something every time I enter this site.

"White founts falling in the courts of the sun and the Soldam of Byzantium is laughing as they run ..." I remember standing in Venice and thinking those lines, surrounded by family who I love dearly, but totally alone and wishing G.K. Chesterton was there. This is Venice! Andrea Adoria. Te...

Hi, actually the Yamato and the Iowas are very similar in looks, perhaps reflecting function dominating design. But every time I see I a photo of Yamato I am overwhelmed by its immensity and I forget to look at the aesthetics. I saw the Missouri in my home town harbor once and couldn't believe how b...

Actually I'm a sucker for the old pre-dreadnought, even ironclad, designs. Ungainly, ponderous looking with mismatched calibre guns sticking out all over the place and ram bows they excited my imagination as a boy, and still do.

There's no doubt the Japanese plan for an advance towards Midway was incredibly complex with diversions as far away as the Aleutians. Clausewitz would have had a ball analyzing the dangers of "friction" in an overly complicated scheme.

Glowworm represents an ongoing irony of the Royal Navy. Possesed of a preponderance of firepower that could have blown away the German, French, Russian, maybe even the U.S. navy, it always seems to find its finest hours as the underdog. Glowworm versus Hipper? Ridiculous. Acasta steaming suicidally ...

Hood is always cited as beautiful ship and no arguement, Scharnhost and Gniesnau had beautiful lines that reflected their function as some of the best battle cruisers that ever put to sea. But as an old plastic model builder I love the Iowas, with special reverence for the Missouri. Huge but sleek, ...

I'm stunned. Where in hell do you people learn these things? If it wasn't for calendar art the average citizen wouldn't even know that ships once had sails and you're casually discussing the effects of the Gulf Stream on an Atlantic crossing in the 19th Century? God I'm ignorant.

This is such a great site! The contributors are so knowledgeable and I just love reading their opinions, whether I agree or not. And the lack of spurious invective over a difference of opinion is really refreshing. I live in a world where to say HMS Canopus brings just a blank stare and Bismarck is ...