Naval History Forums

Well, it surely wasn't new to them that all the capital ships were pretty wet forward. It would have been the most logic to get rid of that weight forward as soon as possible - just consume it, which then could enable you going faster - maybe by a knot - during the critical break-through. With this ...

Ehmm... I don't think the mother of none of those sailors to be still alive in 2010... There's another problem... There are no remains of those sailors anymore... pairs of boots and maybe other clothes. That's all. Bismarck is just a rotting heap of steel down there, nothing more but a war grave. B...

G´day to all @ Antonio It was indeed the turret top sequences that had me shoot for Feb 1940; in particular the one deployed during transit of the Nord-Ostsee Kanal after Admirals bridge was closed. It had me reminiscent of late photos of the "Iron Dog". (red turret top with a white circl...

Since topic has changed much from the initial posting, I wonder where that 2,000-tons-of-water-mystery comes from. Of course I heard about it, and about one of the props churning at or close to the water surface - which would be no wonder in the long Atlantic swell and with the bow slightly down. Bu...

Absolutely. I am convinced that neither Bismarck or Tirpitz could make 30.8 knots at full load. There is no evidence that they could, and 30.8 knots at full load would require far more power than Bismarck's engines could produce. Thanks for making this clear. But (approx.) 30.8 knots could have bee...

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing!

Happy modelling ~ Olaf!

It doesn't matter if these are setting or actual speeds. Be them settings, no problem with that. Or are you trying to tell us that it took PG one hour to accelerate from 27 knots to a bit over 30? Or are you saying, although you don't know the actual state of the marine growth on PG's hull, that the...

Antonio, could you please provide a link to Harold's calculation at FMA?

I can't seem to find it anymore...

Happy reading ~ Olaf!

So, that basically means that Lütjens did not refill Bismarck in Norway to have the speed advantage for the breakthrough (keep Marc's 30.8 knots at 75% of maximum load in mind). Once in the open Atlantic, he would have filled up the bunkers to their maximum capacity (if weather and situation "i...

If I remember PG's machinery log correctly, the cruiser made revolutions for 27 knots and BS closed the gap during the battle - even before Brinkmann scrambled the gunnery by out-maneuvering mysterious torpedo noises. With PG all over the place, BS came very close, no question. But there must have b...

Interesting, that they made Bismarck more superior than she actually was (7 knots faster than all the British ships?), making the victory appear even greater ... Oh, not to forget that the DS-battle went along the whole day ... (and then the emphasis on the American Catalina that found her). Well, m...

Great work again, Rob!

I guess the level of detail will cause some headaches for Dragon's tool maker, HA!

Can't wait to hold "your" Scharnhorst in my hands ...

Happy modelling ~ Olaf!

Please forgive my ignorance, but what is an MA degree in "WWII British Battleships"? I've heart that there might be a course to study for everything, but what exactly were they teaching you? What was the requirement for this? A BA degree in Heavy Cruisers?

Happy modelling ~ Olaf!

Thanks Marc, as useful as always!

Happy painting ~ Olaf!

As far as I know, the white circle was NEVER on a grey background. I don't have a definite source and I would really be interested where the grey comes from. The complete thing, i.e. the red band plus the white circle plus the black swastica, was painted over with grey during the short stay in Norwa...