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by yellowtail3
Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:05 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck construction flaws
Replies: 397
Views: 284401

Re: Bismarck construction flaws

The book doesn't really go into this, but I have seen a number of sources crediting Washington with a good many more hits on Kirishima than the official account lists. The survivors' accounts and study of the wreck would tend to corroborate this, with one source giving an estimate of 22 heavy shell...
by yellowtail3
Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:02 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck and her contemporaries
Replies: 1296
Views: 215260

Re: Bismarck and her contemporaries

But the real test would have been the crew operating at peak efficiency and the rudder functional. Of course in that case there wouldn't have been a battle, the Bismarck would have made it home; to be welcomed with accolades for passing his first strenuous test of combat effectiveness--going up aga...
by yellowtail3
Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:44 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck construction flaws
Replies: 397
Views: 284401

Re: Bismarck construction flaws

SD space was extremely cramped, as written by Friedman. The ship was to short to accomodate more space for men and equipment. The point of which is... what? Have you ever been aboard Massachusetts or Alabama? Just what it says... The crew certainly did not appreciate being on a crowded ship. There'...
by yellowtail3
Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:50 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck construction flaws
Replies: 397
Views: 284401

Re: Bismarck construction flaws

alecsandros wrote:SD space was extremely cramped, as written by Friedman. The ship was to short to accomodate more space for men and equipment.
The point of which is... what?
Have you ever been aboard Massachusetts or Alabama?
by yellowtail3
Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:59 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck and her contemporaries
Replies: 1296
Views: 215260

Re: Bismarck and her contemporaries

The real test would have been the Bismarcks' crew operating at peak efficiency in that battle, instead of already being worn down by four days of continuous battle stations.... True. If operating at peak efficiency, they might have shot down one of those 90 knot Swordfish. Or maybe two of them. And...
by yellowtail3
Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:48 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck construction flaws
Replies: 397
Views: 284401

Re: Bismarck construction flaws

Karl was so exercised, he quoted hisself! Quite correct, more than that even. In that regard there is a comment from a forum member called Tiornu (who has written some books on naval topics, some of which I have the honor of having in my library) that goes this way: If there is a need to differentia...
by yellowtail3
Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:13 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck construction flaws
Replies: 397
Views: 284401

Re: Bismarck construction flaws

Honestly 9 guns in 4x2 turrets, combined with the exelent fire control systems,optics and radar gives an excellent package. One needs not only big guns but also the means to get the bullets in the target. Well... I'd say that 9 guns in 4x2 turrets - what is that, three twins and a triple? - is a wa...
by yellowtail3
Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:10 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Tirpitz shelling New York
Replies: 132
Views: 42671

Re: Tirpitz shelling New York

You just made the same contradiction. I will ask again: If the 12"ers are useless, why does Tirpitz need to stay at long range? I know! I know! It's because... any damage that reduces her range or speed has very bad consequences, and absolutely positively must be avoided. If she encounters a N...
by yellowtail3
Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:14 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck construction flaws
Replies: 397
Views: 284401

Re: Bismarck construction flaws

During the last years many of the so called flaws of Bismarck have been proved that they are not so and, surprisingly, these can be attributed to some of her contemporaries. FWIW, I don't think the German navy's choice of main battery was a 'flaw' In order to understand this we must see how "f...
by yellowtail3
Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:47 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck construction flaws
Replies: 397
Views: 284401

Re: Bismarck construction flaws

I'm curious what the improvements would be? It's too late now, but if I were asked then... I'd say, replace that secondary with a battery of 5"/38s, install a 16" main battery, tuck in a more efficient 600 pound steam plant and paint over that unsightly swastika on the fantail - but keep ...
by yellowtail3
Sat Jun 02, 2012 2:42 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck and her contemporaries
Replies: 1296
Views: 215260

Re: Bismarck and her contemporaries

One should take into account that Karl is pretty long in this forum and fought a lot of arguments against people which thought, it's flying the stars and stripes, it must be superior to everything else. I understand that he's very sensitive on this matter. In fact it would have been no easy task fo...
by yellowtail3
Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:13 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck construction flaws
Replies: 397
Views: 284401

Re: Bismarck construction flaws

Alecsandros makes a pretty good argument that the Bismarck & Tirpitz were the most capable European battleships in service in WW2, by some measures.
by yellowtail3
Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:32 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck construction flaws
Replies: 397
Views: 284401

Re: Bismarck construction flaws

light-weight main battery guns with modest throw weight - and an overweight, slow-firing secondary battery - these were certainly shortcomings of the Bismarck, relative to some of her contemporaries. Compared to European ships, she was mid-pack - compared to American and Japanese designs, she was a ...
by yellowtail3
Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:19 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck and her contemporaries
Replies: 1296
Views: 215260

Re: Bismarck and her contemporaries

Prince of Wales took on water too at Denmark Strait - and not only through the shell holes below the waterline :) True enough, but that does not serve Karl's point in this thread, which is - if I understand it correctly? - to find and trumpet some perceived flaws (real or otherwise) in the South Da...
by yellowtail3
Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:26 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck and her contemporaries
Replies: 1296
Views: 215260

Re: Bismarck and her contemporaries

Let's remember that battleships, due to the low profile characteritics were usually wet ships anyway. alrighty... However Hood, Scharnhorst, Richelieu have never been pretended in a different light than their actual performance in rough seas Can they same be said of Bismarck? Anyhow... not sure wha...