Naval History Forums

Wouldn't even phosphorus tracers rounds set the fuel on fire? I think the tanks could have been destroyed by bombing, but bunker fuel is difficult to ignite and must be heated before being burned in a boiler. I doubt that machine gun or cannon fire would have caused the oil to ignite even with trac...

This was a specific situation where the 5.25" gun would have been particularly effective, if coupled to the RN's superior FC systems. Koop does much to dispel some myths about the KM, and reveals serious problems with their heavy units.

It would seem to me that the problem with sights and range transmission in the 15cm gun mounts, while a disturbing problem, would not effect control of the guns by the normal FC position, i.e. the one atop the conning tower. Am I missing something here? My understanding is these guns were normally ...

I agree Bgile, that is a problem. On paper it shouldn't happen, as the 15 cm secondary battery was Ibelieve expressly designed to deal with destroyer attacks. Perhaps a lack of gunnery practice on the part of the secondary batteries is partly the fault, but experience with Bismarck is that destroye...

I think that bunker fuel was not very flammable, and the fuel silos would probably require a bomb hit to destroy.

Ok, but what if Nagumo decided to launch a 3rd strike, even if it meant hanging around for another day. What could the USN/USAAF have done about it?

Really good videos, although the Nelson one doesn't show much of the process. I agree completely. Are we actually told that the British video is of Nelson- if it is a quad turret then obviously it would be KGV class. Looking at the RN video I am reminded of the film shots in ''Sink the Bismarck'' w...

Yes, Bill feels it was HE (which would be the only 14in HE to hit the ship). I feel it was AP (which would be the only 14in AP to hit the ship). Other 14in shells may have hit, but if so, they were shrapnel shells. Now I'm confused: I have been discussing with Richard on how to tell the story. We p...

To what cause can we atributte the dispersion on the French ships? Is there an analogous situation with the KGV quads? The KGVs had delay coils to prevent interference between guns, and the RN salvo system further separated the individual guns when firing, so that guns 1 and three would fire in one...

lwd wrote:Especially since there is a fairly convincing argument for the round that hit her barbet being AP.

IIRC, Bill Jurens concluded that it was not an APC hit.

To Oberwarrior: If speed is the most important feature (over armament and armour) the list could be in this order: 1 Iowa (33) [16] 2 Bismarck (30) [15] 3 Richelieu (30) [15] 4 Littorio (30) [15] 5 Dunkerque (30) [13] 6 Kirishima (30) [14] 7 Yamato (27) [18] 8 South Dakota (27) [16] 9 South Carolin...

I think that is incorrect. Physically, SoDak's fighting efficiency wasn't much impaired at all. Both main battery FC directors were still in action and her main and secondary batteries were completely intact. Two of the four secondary directors were still in action. Most of the damage was superfici...

No it's conjecture. Based on the damage she did recieve unless the Japanese managed to torpedo her she was in little danger of getting sunk since most of the Japanese torpedos were already in the water from what I recall there was little likelyhood of this. Furthermore I belive Kirishima had a rath...

To Iwd: I understand all the comment you posted. I was provoking perhaps a little too much. But intelligence, radar, oil and great production potential (together with the massive human resources) were superior over what Germany could mobilize. In my vision Germany in 1939 was a leading Power (100 m...

Top speed of the Type 21 was about 17knots. IIRC, only the Walter engined boats were capable of 23 knots - if they didn't explode first.