Search found 141 matches

by Rick Rather
Mon Feb 24, 2014 6:15 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: USS South Dakota at Guadalcanal
Replies: 90
Views: 15578

Re: USS South Dakota at Guadalcanal

For how much of the engagement was Kirishima illuminated by searchlights? Was this during the time Washington was firing main battery at her? To what extent did searchlights & star-shells provide illumination that was (for practical purposes of optical ranging & tracking) comparable to dayli...
by Rick Rather
Sun Jan 26, 2014 5:26 am
Forum: Military History and Technology
Topic: What is a depression rangefinder, who used it, and where?
Replies: 3
Views: 12393

Re: What is a depression rangefinder, who used it, and where

It was a device used by coastal artillery as a back-up method of range finding. The primary [pre-radar] method used "base end stations" to get a cross-fix on the target. Here is a training film showing how that worked. The BES method relied on at least two stations having visual on the tar...
by Rick Rather
Mon Dec 23, 2013 11:55 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Germans in WWII having Iowa class battleships
Replies: 76
Views: 24159

Re: Germans in WWII having Iowa class battleships

Interesting thread. I think that, in the face of such a threat the US would not only deploy it's own Iowas to the Atlantic, but also several new-construction CVs and CVLs. This would probably have delayed US operations in the Pacific. The German BBs would have been brought-down, but not before serio...
by Rick Rather
Thu Oct 31, 2013 3:12 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Hood's sinking: the timing of that fatal hit
Replies: 250
Views: 55979

Re: Hood's sinking: the timing of that fatal hit

Antonio, you keep using the terms "precise" and "exact" when referring to the records. With all due respect, that sort of precision does not exist in the real world of manual log-keeping. Real historians and professional investigators understand this. If you build your arguments ...
by Rick Rather
Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:00 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Hood's sinking: the timing of that fatal hit
Replies: 250
Views: 55979

Re: Hood's sinking: the timing of that fatal hit

Excellent reconstruction. One thing to keep in mind when studying the logs is the human element. Specifically, some junior seaman is writing it all down. He's a young lad, possibly still in his teens, probably in his first battle. There's noise and flashes and reports coming in, but his head is down...
by Rick Rather
Thu Oct 03, 2013 7:21 am
Forum: Books and Reference
Topic: Tom Clancy has died
Replies: 1
Views: 8596

Tom Clancy has died

Washington Post obituary

I particularly enjoyed his early works.

Thank you, sir, and may you rest in peace.
by Rick Rather
Thu Aug 22, 2013 5:34 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: zone of silence
Replies: 2
Views: 8832

Re: zone of silence

Submerged submarines can't communicate by radio, except for receiving VLF/ELF transmissions. As for ships on the surface, long-range radio propagation is due to the signal bouncing off of the ionosphere. :think: Is there a place (perhaps near the magnetic poles) where the ionosphere either is not th...
by Rick Rather
Tue Aug 06, 2013 1:49 am
Forum: Naval History Post-1945
Topic: RIP Admiral Sir John Woodward
Replies: 2
Views: 8881

RIP Admiral Sir John Woodward

The man who lead the British task force in the South Atlantic War has died.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23575534

Godspeed, sir.
by Rick Rather
Mon Aug 05, 2013 9:26 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Beauty & the Beast
Replies: 30
Views: 17587

Re: Beauty & the Beast

Ersatz Yorck wrote:
paul.mercer wrote: I have trouble imagining any other battleship sinking from just two bomb hits.
Image
by Rick Rather
Mon Aug 05, 2013 1:56 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: No rudder torpedo hit
Replies: 10
Views: 2603

Re: No rudder torpedo hit

With out the historical hit to the stern, the way it happened, and when it happened-the Bismarck makes port. I think we sometimes forget how much luck played a part. Very good luck for the British, and very bad luck for the Germans. Such a torpedo hit was pure luck in my opinion. How many times in ...
by Rick Rather
Fri Jul 26, 2013 5:17 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Refitted Richelieu versus Tirpitz , 1943
Replies: 19
Views: 5499

Re: Refitted Richelieu versus Tirpitz , 1943

alecsandros wrote:On a calm , beautifull day, somewhere in the North Atlantic, who would win ?
Well, make up your mind: Is it a calm, beautiful day, or is it the North Atlantic? :lol:

[/snark]
by Rick Rather
Thu Jul 25, 2013 3:20 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Refitted Richelieu versus Tirpitz , 1943
Replies: 19
Views: 5499

Re: Refitted Richelieu versus Tirpitz , 1943

On most of these 1-on-1 duel "who would win?" questions, my answer is the same: The ship that knocks-out a main-battery turret on its enemy first will most likely win. The imbalance in shells-fired (and therefore potential hits - and therefore potential further main-battery critical hits) ...
by Rick Rather
Thu Jun 27, 2013 2:01 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: should have the prinz eugen stayed with the bismarck ?
Replies: 201
Views: 24508

Re: should have the prinz eugen stayed with the bismarck ?

Thank you again for your detailed analysis and considered response. :ok:
by Rick Rather
Wed Jun 26, 2013 12:58 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: should have the prinz eugen stayed with the bismarck ?
Replies: 201
Views: 24508

Re: should have the prinz eugen stayed with the bismarck ?

Thank you for the considered reply, Vic. I guess what I'm asking is, if Bismarck was physically capable of heading east towards France and air cover, why did it not do so at best speed? She did not have enough fuel on board to reach Brest at 28kts... My question was in response to Vic's statement t...
by Rick Rather
Wed Jun 26, 2013 10:09 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: should have the prinz eugen stayed with the bismarck ?
Replies: 201
Views: 24508

Re: should have the prinz eugen stayed with the bismarck ?

Thank you for the considered reply, Vic.
I guess what I'm asking is, if Bismarck was physically capable of heading east towards France and air cover, why did it not do so at best speed?