Bismarck secondary battery fire directors

[RF]

I have been looking for info on the fire control system of Bismarck's 5.9 inch guns for some time, and I had imagined there might be some threads on this subject somewhere on this website, though so far I haven't found any.

T would be grateful if anyone can come up with some references etc

[tommy303]

In German battleships, the low angle directors in all three control positions could be used with either the main or secondary batteries. There was no dedicated 15cm director, although normally the forward conning tower artillery post was the battle station for the secondary battery gunnery officer. The directors there were normally used with the 15cm, but could in fact be used with any low angle battery. When set to control the secondary guns, the gunnery switchboard simply directed input from the director to the secondary battery computers and output in the closed circuit to back to the directors for fine tuning of the solutions.

[RF]

Thanks for your reply tommy.

[yellowtail3]

Speaking of Bismarck's secondary directors/battery... did she make any hits on any ships with those 5.9in guns?

[tommy303]

To the best of my knowledge, she didn't land any 15cm hits, but she did repeatedly straddle Vian's destroyers during the attacks on the 26/27th.

[RF]

The only possible hit that was apparently reported was an alleged hit by a 15 cm shell on one of Rodneys' 16 inch turrets. There was of course no damage and no corroboration.

[RF]

To the best of my knowledge, she didn't land any 15cm hits, but she did repeatedly straddle Vian's destroyers during the attacks on the 26/27th.

I believe that was from the main armament 15 inch guns, the shells of which these destroyers picked up on their radar. I don't think that there was a clear evaluation of how the 15 cm performed, given that this sort of shooting was their primary function I would say that it was less than satisfactory from the German viewpoint.

[Serg]

Speaking of Bismarck's secondary directors/battery... did she make any hits on any ships with those 5.9in guns?

Perhaps. In PoW's war damage report (http://www.hmshood.org.uk/reference/off ... 67-111.htm) there is no clarity about shells "F" and "G". As to Rodney damage the some doubt remains about the 6" holes through the petty officers mess.
In other cases the 5.9" guns of German BB's were very accurate. It is unknown how many hits scored on Ardent and Acasta but they definitely were sunk by 5.9" gunfire. DoY was hit once by Sharnhorst's secondary (5.9" shell hit the Admiral's barge and reduced it to 'a keel and a couple of engines' - Winton/The death of the Sharnhorst p119). Probably Renown was hit by 5.9" shell on the top of the forward funnel in the battle against twins. It's possible that the Bismarck scored hits also.

[Bgile]

Speaking of Bismarck's secondary directors/battery... did she make any hits on any ships with those 5.9in guns?

Perhaps. In PoW's war damage report (http://www.hmshood.org.uk/reference/off ... 67-111.htm) there is no clarity about shells "F" and "G". As to Rodney damage the some doubt remains about the 6" holes through the petty officers mess.
In other cases the 5.9" guns of German BB's were very accurate. It is unknown how many hits scored on Ardent and Acasta but they definitely were sunk by 5.9" gunfire. DoY was hit once by Sharnhorst's secondary (5.9" shell hit the Admiral's barge and reduced it to 'a keel and a couple of engines' - Winton/The death of the Sharnhorst p119). Probably Renown was hit by 5.9" shell on the top of the forward funnel in the battle against twins. It's possible that the Bismarck scored hits also.

Two battleships failed to prevent two destroyers from pressing home a torpedo attack one at a time.

[RF]

But the two destroyers were still sunk.

[Bgile]

But the two destroyers were still sunk.

If two battleships couldn't sink a destroyer, that would be pretty pathetic wouldn't it? The fact is they got close enough to lauch effective torpedo attacks.

[RF]

Yes.

But this situation does need to be put into context. One destroyer was sunk before it got into a position to fire its torpedoes. The other destroyer launched its torpedoes at long range, thereafter being immediately sunk. Captain Hoffmann in Scharnhorst misjudged the length of time the torpedoes would reach their target and turned his ship away from combing tracks too early, resulting in the one hit.
But for that error there would not have been a hit. ''Lucky hits'' at long range do happen.....

[Bernd Willmer]

Have a close look at this foto:



You see nothing ... right! Rangefinders still not fitted at St.B.II and B.B.II!

Bye!

[RF]

I believe that photo appeared in Ballard's book.