Teleportation in time: Bismarck swap with IJN Yamato
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 5:39 pm
Alot of topics online concern the unfortunate Rheinubung mission, with many posters mentioning "other" contemporary battleships as behaving better then Bismarck.
I propose writing about several of them, and to explore the possibilities.
1) IJN Yamato, almost completed , is teleported back in time , in Kiel, Aug 1940. The comissioning ceremony is governed by Hitler, and the crew starts embarkation in Sept 1940.
Fast forward to May 1941: Yamato with PRinz Eugen starts the journey to the Atlantic.
As Yamato's top speed is 27.5kts, and economical cruise speed is 15kts, the force is required to travel at 20kts. At that speed, Yamato's range is around 9000km, versus 14000km for Bismarck. It means it is enough to get to the mid-Atlantic (about 3500-4000km travel), but it would require refueling once there, in order to conduct operations and to be able to get back home.
That means the force will require 25% more time in order to travel the same distance as Bismarck did (Bismarck averaged 25.5kts or so before being discovered by Norfolk). So northern entry in the Denmark Strait around May 24th 7:00, in full daylight. Both cruisers do contact and mantain it. Yamato's nonexistence of radar makes tracking them difficult, leaving Prinz Eugen to track them , while supervising the radar horizon for potential threats as well.
Yamato's max speed limit of 27kts makes attempts of escape irrelevant.
As contact report is received by Holland at ~ 7:30AM, he manovres his 8 ships (Hood, Prince of WAles, 6 DDs), to the north-west, in order to seal off the southern end of the strait. He disposes the 6 DDs in a 30km long battleline crossing the entire exit of the strait, with Hood/Prince of Wales immediately behind the center destroyres.
Yamato exits the strait at ~ 20:00PM, and is observed by 2 of the destroyers, that send contact reports. Holland orders simultaneos torpedo attacks from all 6 DDs, while Hood/PoW stay in line abreast, with all main turrets trained towards the expected appearance of the enemy. Yamato discovers Hood at 20:20, from the top of the main mast, range ~ 35km. All guns are loaded, alarm is sounded, speed raised to maximum. The destroyers are observed between 20:25 and 20:30, while they work up speed. Prinz Eugen is tasked with blocking the destroyers, while Yamato manouvres to open the arcs of the aft main turret, in order to engage both Hood and Prince of Wales at the same time.
At 20:35, speed on Yamato reaches 24kts. Yamato opens fire on Hood from range ~ 25km. Hood is doing 25kts , and returns fire immediately. Prince of Wales follows shortly.
As first salvos from Yamato fall very close to Hood, the first destroyres enter Prinz Eugen's artillery barrage zone (also helped by Yamato's secondaries). The destroyers launch 16 torpedoes in 5 minutes, all aimed at Yamato. Yamato immediately starts evasive manouvres. One of the DDs is struck by a 203mm salvo, and puts a smoke screen to retreat at reduced speed. The other 4 DDs attack at 35kts, under fire from the enemy ships.
Hood and Prince of Wales straddle Yamato from 20km , while the Japanese BB is still running away from the first torpedo attack.
Prinz Eugen badly damages another destroyer, but the other 3 launch another set of 20 torpedoes against multiple possible courses of Yamato, from range 8km. In the mean time, Prince of Wales had closed to 16km from Yamato, and hits her 2 times in the superstructures.
Yamato returns fire for about 2 minutes, obtain 1 hit on the forward main turret of PoW (turret which is destroyed), after which it returns to doing evasive manouvres, acting on the alarm of torpedoes.
Hood concentrates on Yamato as well, and lands 2 hits in 3 minutes, from range 17km. One of them destroys the main rangefinder, the other exploes in the forecastle, which starts taking water. Speed is reduced to 22kts, while the torpedoes approach. ONe hits the stern, causing 2000tons of water to enter the ship. Speed drops to 20kts.
Main targetting system is damaged by the shock of the blast. Prince of Wales and Hood concentrate all guns on Yamato, and hit her 10 times in 10 minutes.
Prinz Eugen returns fire and hits Hood multiple times, damaging the foretop. Yamato returns fire innefectively. Yamato's topside burns, but the ship continues to fight. One lucky 18" shell hits Hood's con tower, which explodes.
As the initial phase of the battle rages, from the north , Suffolk and Noroflk charge. They both target PRinz Eugen, which is hit from 15km, and forced to put a smoke screen, and return fire to them. Suffolk is hit.
As twillight sets in , by 21:30, both forces retreat, unable to decisively destroy the enemy.
----
Tovey's force is coming from the east. By May 25th, Yamato's speed is stabilised at 15kts. Only 1 main turret still functions on local control. Prinz Eugen , damaged, guards her rear. Both ships attempt retreat back through the strait.
KGV with Repulse and Prince of Wales join forces at 11:00AM May 25th, and start pursuit through the strait.
As Yamato crosses the strait, it detonates 1 mine, which causes more damage to the stern. One propeller is destroyed, one rudder jammed. Speed drops to 10kts.
At 14:00, through fog, at range ~ 8km, the 2 forces spot each other and open devastating close-ranged fire.
Yamato is hit repeatedly from 10-15-20 x 14" shells and is an inferno. 1 x 18" hit from the single working turret perforates deep inside KGV, and explodes in the machinery space, causing 50 dead and speed reduction to 18kts.
Prinz Eugen is targeted by Repulse. In 10 minutes, both ships hit each other 4 times. Prinz Eugen is set ablaze, Repulse has fires and dead on board, but manageable.
IN 10 more minutes, the battle is over - Yamato dead in the water, scuttled. Prinz Eugen sinks.
I propose writing about several of them, and to explore the possibilities.
1) IJN Yamato, almost completed , is teleported back in time , in Kiel, Aug 1940. The comissioning ceremony is governed by Hitler, and the crew starts embarkation in Sept 1940.
Fast forward to May 1941: Yamato with PRinz Eugen starts the journey to the Atlantic.
As Yamato's top speed is 27.5kts, and economical cruise speed is 15kts, the force is required to travel at 20kts. At that speed, Yamato's range is around 9000km, versus 14000km for Bismarck. It means it is enough to get to the mid-Atlantic (about 3500-4000km travel), but it would require refueling once there, in order to conduct operations and to be able to get back home.
That means the force will require 25% more time in order to travel the same distance as Bismarck did (Bismarck averaged 25.5kts or so before being discovered by Norfolk). So northern entry in the Denmark Strait around May 24th 7:00, in full daylight. Both cruisers do contact and mantain it. Yamato's nonexistence of radar makes tracking them difficult, leaving Prinz Eugen to track them , while supervising the radar horizon for potential threats as well.
Yamato's max speed limit of 27kts makes attempts of escape irrelevant.
As contact report is received by Holland at ~ 7:30AM, he manovres his 8 ships (Hood, Prince of WAles, 6 DDs), to the north-west, in order to seal off the southern end of the strait. He disposes the 6 DDs in a 30km long battleline crossing the entire exit of the strait, with Hood/Prince of Wales immediately behind the center destroyres.
Yamato exits the strait at ~ 20:00PM, and is observed by 2 of the destroyers, that send contact reports. Holland orders simultaneos torpedo attacks from all 6 DDs, while Hood/PoW stay in line abreast, with all main turrets trained towards the expected appearance of the enemy. Yamato discovers Hood at 20:20, from the top of the main mast, range ~ 35km. All guns are loaded, alarm is sounded, speed raised to maximum. The destroyers are observed between 20:25 and 20:30, while they work up speed. Prinz Eugen is tasked with blocking the destroyers, while Yamato manouvres to open the arcs of the aft main turret, in order to engage both Hood and Prince of Wales at the same time.
At 20:35, speed on Yamato reaches 24kts. Yamato opens fire on Hood from range ~ 25km. Hood is doing 25kts , and returns fire immediately. Prince of Wales follows shortly.
As first salvos from Yamato fall very close to Hood, the first destroyres enter Prinz Eugen's artillery barrage zone (also helped by Yamato's secondaries). The destroyers launch 16 torpedoes in 5 minutes, all aimed at Yamato. Yamato immediately starts evasive manouvres. One of the DDs is struck by a 203mm salvo, and puts a smoke screen to retreat at reduced speed. The other 4 DDs attack at 35kts, under fire from the enemy ships.
Hood and Prince of Wales straddle Yamato from 20km , while the Japanese BB is still running away from the first torpedo attack.
Prinz Eugen badly damages another destroyer, but the other 3 launch another set of 20 torpedoes against multiple possible courses of Yamato, from range 8km. In the mean time, Prince of Wales had closed to 16km from Yamato, and hits her 2 times in the superstructures.
Yamato returns fire for about 2 minutes, obtain 1 hit on the forward main turret of PoW (turret which is destroyed), after which it returns to doing evasive manouvres, acting on the alarm of torpedoes.
Hood concentrates on Yamato as well, and lands 2 hits in 3 minutes, from range 17km. One of them destroys the main rangefinder, the other exploes in the forecastle, which starts taking water. Speed is reduced to 22kts, while the torpedoes approach. ONe hits the stern, causing 2000tons of water to enter the ship. Speed drops to 20kts.
Main targetting system is damaged by the shock of the blast. Prince of Wales and Hood concentrate all guns on Yamato, and hit her 10 times in 10 minutes.
Prinz Eugen returns fire and hits Hood multiple times, damaging the foretop. Yamato returns fire innefectively. Yamato's topside burns, but the ship continues to fight. One lucky 18" shell hits Hood's con tower, which explodes.
As the initial phase of the battle rages, from the north , Suffolk and Noroflk charge. They both target PRinz Eugen, which is hit from 15km, and forced to put a smoke screen, and return fire to them. Suffolk is hit.
As twillight sets in , by 21:30, both forces retreat, unable to decisively destroy the enemy.
----
Tovey's force is coming from the east. By May 25th, Yamato's speed is stabilised at 15kts. Only 1 main turret still functions on local control. Prinz Eugen , damaged, guards her rear. Both ships attempt retreat back through the strait.
KGV with Repulse and Prince of Wales join forces at 11:00AM May 25th, and start pursuit through the strait.
As Yamato crosses the strait, it detonates 1 mine, which causes more damage to the stern. One propeller is destroyed, one rudder jammed. Speed drops to 10kts.
At 14:00, through fog, at range ~ 8km, the 2 forces spot each other and open devastating close-ranged fire.
Yamato is hit repeatedly from 10-15-20 x 14" shells and is an inferno. 1 x 18" hit from the single working turret perforates deep inside KGV, and explodes in the machinery space, causing 50 dead and speed reduction to 18kts.
Prinz Eugen is targeted by Repulse. In 10 minutes, both ships hit each other 4 times. Prinz Eugen is set ablaze, Repulse has fires and dead on board, but manageable.
IN 10 more minutes, the battle is over - Yamato dead in the water, scuttled. Prinz Eugen sinks.