Search found 1657 matches

by Byron Angel
Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:35 pm
Forum: Military Conflicts Today
Topic: Syria - ripe for regime change?
Replies: 8
Views: 11804

Re: Syria - ripe for regime change?

There is an important contradiction in this article regarding the capability of the Assad regime to survive. It is stated that Assad will fall quickly if the Russians abandon him. It is later stated that enough of the Syrian people support the regime to keep it going for a long time. Joined up anal...
by Byron Angel
Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:53 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: KMS BLUCHER
Replies: 19
Views: 9992

Re: KMS BLUCHER

It is my understanding that Blucher's achilles heel was the fact that her hangar had been loaded with ammunition and supplies for the landing force and one of the coastal battery hits ignited an uncontrolable fire.

Can anyone provide additional detail on this point?


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by Byron Angel
Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:53 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Twins v Warspite & Valiant
Replies: 55
Views: 10524

Re: Twins v Warspite & Valiant

I don't know the precise range, but from what I understand, Warspite was at least 10-12km away from the GErman battle line.... She took 13 hits (11" and 12" shells), many of which perforated the side armor (including main belt), took a lot of water in, and slowly retreated at max speed of...
by Byron Angel
Wed Jan 09, 2013 3:35 am
Forum: World War II
Topic: BATTLE FOR SAIPAN-13 JUNE-9 JULY 1944
Replies: 13
Views: 9731

Re: BATTLE FOR SAIPAN-13 JUNE-9 JULY 1944

A full reading of the hyperwar account is IMO very interesting and far more damning with respect to the very poor performance of the 27th under Ralph Smith. Also, the account makes clear that Holland Smith did not unilaterally relieve Ralph Smith; he first had to make his case to Adm Turner, the sen...
by Byron Angel
Mon Jan 07, 2013 12:15 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Argentina's latest claim on the Falklands
Replies: 31
Views: 27821

Re: Argentina's latest claim on the Falklands

Britain of course holds the Mount Pleasant airbase in the Falklands and that serves as the aircraft carrier. I think it should be noted - as it hasn't been mentioned here so far - that there is the possibility of substantial oil reserves in the South Atlantic around the Falklands. Three British com...
by Byron Angel
Mon Jan 07, 2013 12:07 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: PT Boats: Unqualified success or mediocre at best??
Replies: 6
Views: 5379

Re: PT Boats: Unqualified success or mediocre at best??

i would consider them a success and useful but somewhat over blown. the few big successes they had were over reported and made to seem more common then they were. having said that i would also point out that they more that earned their way in almost uncountable small action, pin pricks if you will....
by Byron Angel
Sun Jan 06, 2013 2:39 pm
Forum: World War II
Topic: BATTLE FOR SAIPAN-13 JUNE-9 JULY 1944
Replies: 13
Views: 9731

Re: BATTLE FOR SAIPAN-13 JUNE-9 JULY 1944

Ok, If I understood this right... Howlin Mad screwed up big time by telling an Army General he had to earn an Army Division back... THATS the big controversy point that I saw here. He further messed things up by apparenlty never having taken a tour of the frontline, something the DIVISION COMMANDER...
by Byron Angel
Sun Jan 06, 2013 2:43 am
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: question about armor construction/assembly
Replies: 6
Views: 7197

Re: question about armor construction/assembly

Hi all, I am new here, so forgive me if this has been covered and I've just missed it; how are armored belts (or decks) actually assembled? I find it hard to believe that a given belt could be one giant slab--if for no other reason than the material handling capability of the time could'nt move suc...
by Byron Angel
Fri Jan 04, 2013 3:26 am
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: Triple and quatruple turrets
Replies: 54
Views: 28904

Re: Triple and quatruple turrets

I do seem to recall that Luetzow or Derfflinger fired by turret groups at Jutland, but it has been a while since I have read the accounts and need to check. Quite so. Lutzow did indeed conduct its fire by fore and aft turret groups - the four gun salvoes from A & B turrets alternating with the ...
by Byron Angel
Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:47 pm
Forum: World War II
Topic: Germany's Weapons in WWII
Replies: 94
Views: 50848

Re: Germany's Weapons in WWII

The P47M, at War Emergency Power, was faster in the 30,000 - 35,000 ft region. ....that is when the 130 to reach combat were not grounded by engine problems. That said, all 130 served with the 56th Fighter group and were responsible for all 7 jet shoot downs by that group. - - - - - Interesting bac...
by Byron Angel
Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:27 am
Forum: World War II
Topic: BATTLE FOR SAIPAN-13 JUNE-9 JULY 1944
Replies: 13
Views: 9731

Re: BATTLE FOR SAIPAN-13 JUNE-9 JULY 1944

Yes -the question asked here was regarding General Holland's handling of this part of the battle-despite having replaced General Smith; and used his plan without any reconnaissance "However, General Holland Smith had not inspected the terrain over which the 27th was to advance. Essentially it ...
by Byron Angel
Sun Dec 16, 2012 3:02 pm
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: Practical ranges
Replies: 70
Views: 40705

Re: Practical ranges

Delcyros raises a good point. Conventional wisdom has it that the incidence of decks hits exceeds that of side hits beyond 15deg angle of fall (assuming line of fire to be more or less normal to target ship keel line). But that assertion is very much an arbitrary and somewhat misleading trigonometri...
by Byron Angel
Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:12 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: LOSS OF HMS ARK ROYAL IN WW2
Replies: 9
Views: 4590

Re: LOSS OF HMS ARK ROYAL IN WW2

..... I have not read the report on the loss of Ark Royal, but a list of 18deg would quite likely have caused the shutdown of all boilers, leaving her with no power beyond lingering pressure remaining in her steam lines. No steam pressure suggests no pumping or lighting capability.


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by Byron Angel
Thu Dec 13, 2012 11:56 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Naval fire support in Normandy
Replies: 33
Views: 13720

Re: Naval fire support in Normandy

. On that (much more serious) issue, I once came across a "can-lad" (i.e. tea boy) on a construction site who was rather confused and ill. It turned out that he was a Pole who had been captured by the Soviets in 1940's "friendly" invasion and had been a prisoner, who was then co...
by Byron Angel
Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:21 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: 10 moments that changed the course of the war at sea
Replies: 117
Views: 28262

Re: 10 moments that changed the course of the war at sea

..... Much of DoY's shooting consisted of "blind" fire, i.e. - under full radar control, without the target being optically visible. Her FC radar could provide excellent range data, but was relatively poor at defining deflection. Salvoes would be fine for range but many/most would miss fo...