Loss of sterns on German ships

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Laurenz
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Better

Post by Laurenz »

to lose the stern than the whole ship by explosion :-)
Kind regards,
L.
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Antonio Bonomi
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RAF Torpedo Bomber

Post by Antonio Bonomi »

Ciao Tiornu and all,

YES, you are right ...a Bristol Beaufort, not a Beaufighter ...just as it was written on my plans,.. I do not why,.. it turned on my memory been a Beaufighter,.. :oops: :oops:

It was a Bristol Beaufort from the 42nd Squadron, .. a ' solitaire',.. that made a very good hit on a very sharp and clear night,..just south of Lindesnes.

If you want to read a good report of this, .. just refer to Whitley book on German destroyers on page 152-153.

Ciao Antonio :D
Lutscha
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Re: Better

Post by Lutscha »

Laurenz wrote:to lose the stern than the whole ship by explosion :-)
Kind regards,
L.
So the structual weakness in the stern design of German ships prevented explosions?
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aurora
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Re: Loss of sterns on German ships

Post by aurora »

On the night of 12/13 June 1941, 13 Beauforts of 42 Squadron, based at RAF Leuchars and a detachment of five Beauforts of 22 Squadron from Wick, were sent out to find the Lützow and an escort of four destroyers; which had been sighted near Norway. At midnight a signal from a Blenheim of 114 Squadron confirmed the position of the ships; but most of the Beauforts failed to find them and returned to base

One 42 Squadron aircraft piloted by Flight Sergeant Ray Loviett (who had become separated from the main force) took the Lützow by surprise (the Beaufort had been mistaken for a Junkers Ju 88 which was known by the ships to be on patrol in the area) and without a defensive shot being fired, Loviett's torpedo hit her on the port side. One other Beaufort subsequently found Lūtzow limping back to port and attacked but was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109. Because of Loviett's attack Lützow was under repairs for six months.
Quo Fata Vocant-Whither the Fates call

Jim
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Dave Saxton
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Re: Loss of sterns on German ships

Post by Dave Saxton »

The Luetzow stern collapse was from the submarine torpedo in April 1940. From the photos it is clear in this case that it was from failed rivets. Of course large torpedoes blowing off bows and sterns of cruisers were not that uncommon, even to be expected.
Entering a night sea battle is an awesome business.The enveloping darkness, hiding the enemy's.. seems a living thing, malignant and oppressive.Swishing water at the bow and stern mark an inexorable advance toward an unknown destiny.
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aurora
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Re: Loss of sterns on German ships

Post by aurora »

It was only after posting that I realised what the theme was; but left it because it was a successful torpedo attack on a German capital ship Lutzow,mentioned in the texts :oops:
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Jim
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RF
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Re: Loss of sterns on German ships

Post by RF »

Dave Saxton wrote:....... Of course large torpedoes blowing off bows ....... of cruisers were not that uncommon, even to be expected.
We now know that such an event caused the sinking of HMAS Sydney, after some 72 years.
''Give me a Ping and one Ping only'' - Sean Connery.
Thorsten Wahl
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Re: Loss of sterns on German ships

Post by Thorsten Wahl »

Dave Saxton wrote:Of course large torpedoes blowing off bows and sterns of cruisers were not that uncommon, even to be expected.
From USN handbook of damage control
CHAPTER XV
UNDERWATER EXPLOSIONS

15-24. Effects of underwater hit near ends: ships without torpedo-protection systems. A hit in the bow region may blow off the entire bow section, usually at a heavy transverse bulkhead. (This may be the effect of a secondary gasoline or magazine explosion).A hit near the stern, although less likely to blow off an entire section of the ship, probably will carry away one or all of the screws, and may destroy or render inoperative the rudder and steering gear.
Meine Herren, es kann ein siebenjähriger, es kann ein dreißigjähriger Krieg werden – und wehe dem, der zuerst die Lunte in das Pulverfaß schleudert!
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