Operation Weserübung - why

General naval discussions that don't fit within any specific time period or cover several issues.
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wadinga
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Re: Operation Weserübung - why

Post by wadinga »

Hi TTTT,

In wild weather, published specs on the performance of ships doesn't mean anything. (Hundreds of pages have been wasted here proving what speed Bismarck could theoretically achieve). Power delivered to the propellers is balanced against highly variable drag as the hull form interacts with the waves. The speed you actually achieve depends on many complex circumstances.

Much has been written of the structural damage the twins suffered during this wild weather chase, but the attempt to rebuild Renown's old lightweight hull into a new vessel had many shortcomings. In particular, the forward part of one of the anti-submarine bulges started to pull away from the structure creating massive additional drag, slowing her down. Incidentally, her destroyer screen was not really in the action, despite firing a few hopeless shots, as they could not maintain speed without wrecking themselves in the wild weather.

Allied losses were largely irrelevant. Proportional to available strength, the Kriegsmarine suffered much, much worse.

All the best

wadinga
"There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today!"
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