German Building Program: Second Bill of 1900

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Tiornu
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German Building Program: Second Bill of 1900

Post by Tiornu »

I know that the bill specified battleship squadrons of eight ships. What I'd like to know is if there are any details of the tactical reasoning involved. Does anyone have this document? Does anyone have Herwig's book Luxury Fleet?
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ontheslipway
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Post by ontheslipway »

IIRC, the bill was matching the exact number of ships the German yards could build at that time.
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Ulrich Rudofsky
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Post by Ulrich Rudofsky »

Apparently, Professor Herwig could be contacted at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada:


Dr. Holger H. Herwig
CENTRE FOR MILITARY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES (CMSS)
Faculty of Social Sciences
HISTORY
herwig@ucalgary.ca
220-2492
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Tiornu
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Post by Tiornu »

I remember he stopped by the board once, many moons ago. I was hoping he'd stick around, but I guess not.
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RF
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Re: German Building Program: Second Bill of 1900

Post by RF »

Was a strategic purpose ever properly defined for the HSF, other than to feed the ego of the Kaiser? Was there any proper strategic planning for a naval war against any of Britain, France and the USA?
''Give me a Ping and one Ping only'' - Sean Connery.
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Kyler
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Re: German Building Program: Second Bill of 1900

Post by Kyler »

The stated reason in "Dreadnought" is that Tirpitz wanted the purchase and construction done in groups of 8 so that the politicans in the Reichstag could not interfere in their construction from year to year. The ulimate idea was the purchase of two 8 ship battleship squadrons, with a flag ship and at least 4 in reserve.
"It was a perfect attack, Right Height, Right Range, Right cloud cover, Right speed,
Wrong f@%king ship!" Commander Stewart-Moore (HMS Ark Royal)
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RF
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Re: German Building Program: Second Bill of 1900

Post by RF »

This was for the construction of the HSF so that the politicians couldn't interfere and put a break on the project, rather than define a precise military and strategic role for these ''ships of the line.'' The spit and polish, and the prestige, was the aim - to please his majesty the Kaiser.
''Give me a Ping and one Ping only'' - Sean Connery.
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