Search found 922 matches

by Thorsten Wahl
Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:36 pm
Forum: World War II
Topic: Michael Wittman and Tiger tanks
Replies: 74
Views: 16833

Re: Michael Wittman and Tiger tanks

THE COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS OF GERMAN HEAVY TANK BATTALIONS IN WORLD WAR II A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE Military History SUBJECT TERMS Combat effectivene...
by Thorsten Wahl
Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:07 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck vs. Iowa
Replies: 322
Views: 86733

Re: Bismarck vs. Iowa

yes fuzing of underwatertravel projectiels seems the most serious problem. Fuze action should start at penetration of plate, but not on impact on water. I dont have any plan for a reliable solution of this problem
by Thorsten Wahl
Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:43 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck vs. Iowa
Replies: 322
Views: 86733

Re: Bismarck vs. Iowa

SUPP 6 /481 is also the first british ballistic report wich mentions a horizontal protection of 6 inch for Bismarck-Class. Seems there were some additional findings in between 1942 CB 04039 Addendum 2 Ballistic protection (of british and german Battleships) and 1945 that led british experts to recal...
by Thorsten Wahl
Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:46 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck vs. Iowa
Replies: 322
Views: 86733

Re: Bismarck vs. Iowa

Thanks for info on wear of German 15 guns: none of the sources I have contain anything at all on wear. A 10% drop in MV corresponds to a lower limit of about 2420 ft/s, so that average MV might have been quite close to the average figure of 2575 ft/s for the British 15 in gun when supercharged. I a...
by Thorsten Wahl
Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:53 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck vs. Iowa
Replies: 322
Views: 86733

Re: Bismarck vs. Iowa

The Germans also found that they needed to restrict the hardness of the front of the shell somewhat to ensure intact penetration with a still functioning fuze. not only the germans british research on optimal hardness of cap/projectile brought conflicting requirements regarding hardness at low and ...
by Thorsten Wahl
Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:36 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Battleship Vanguard Armor
Replies: 65
Views: 93671

Re: Battleship Vanguard Armor

It talks about "unsteadiness of shells", tests having to be repeated, and shells going through "jump cards" before striking the plate. "Unsteadiness' sounds like yaw.
Due to shooting with reduced charge also the spin of projectile became decreased.
by Thorsten Wahl
Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:17 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck vs. Iowa
Replies: 322
Views: 86733

Re: Bismarck vs. Iowa

The difference in weight isn't going to make much difference vs cemented armour as the more important factor is velocity.
dave do you have a source?
Seems to me the formula used for Unterlagen zur Bestimmung Hauptkampfentfernung was using the energy aproach.
by Thorsten Wahl
Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:09 pm
Forum: Military History and Technology
Topic: When did ships first use cannon?
Replies: 5
Views: 16140

Re: When did ships first use cannon?

during the first dansk - hanseatic war 1362-65,
Christoffer son of the dansk king Waldemar IV. Atterdag was killed in action by a cannonball on 11th of june 1363 during a sea fight
by Thorsten Wahl
Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:29 pm
Forum: Naval Propulsion
Topic: Fuel consumption Bismarck
Replies: 74
Views: 61471

Fuel consumption Bismarck

just a question KBismarck states following Fuel: 8,294 metric tons Range: 9,280 nautical miles at 16 knots 8,900 nautical miles at 17 knots 8,525 nautical miles at 19 knots 6,640 nautical miles at 24 knots 4,500 nautical miles at 28 knots what is the source of this data is it known at wich rpm / hor...
by Thorsten Wahl
Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:38 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck vs. Iowa
Replies: 322
Views: 86733

Re: Bismarck vs. Iowa

ballistic mortar of Schießwolle 36 was about 130 with TNT =100

similar compositions were also used in german bombs like Fritz X
by Thorsten Wahl
Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:06 pm
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: Plunging fire
Replies: 22
Views: 29148

Re: Plunging fire

Flight time at 3 km is ~4 sec, I suspect its a direct shot, height of trajectory shouldnt exceed 15 m or so. danger space estimated ~360 m. It should be real hard to miss the target. probability for a hit can be expcted ~90% for a hit at main belt ~25% upper belt ~25% remainder superstructure but ge...
by Thorsten Wahl
Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:14 pm
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: Plunging fire
Replies: 22
Views: 29148

Re: Plunging fire

While I believe that the the German system of protection was extremely effective at close range as you describe, there is historic evidence that the Germans themselves were more pessimistic. They only communicate the calculated worst case scenario. They took only the available energy into account w...
by Thorsten Wahl
Fri Mar 04, 2011 8:59 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck Myths
Replies: 179
Views: 47847

Re: Bismarck Myths

At around 40 sec of flight time the target was able to leave the precalculated landing zone of the projectiles by own maneuver. This forces the enemy to increase dispersion artificial in range and deflection.
by Thorsten Wahl
Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:02 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Bismarck Myths
Replies: 179
Views: 47847

Re: Bismarck Myths

Its my personal opinion that Hood should stay at longer distances with 40-50 sec flightime for the projectiles to deal with the lower hit probability at such a distance. If Bismarck accepts a distant fight it has also to accept probably depleted ammo and the mission should be at least soft killed.
by Thorsten Wahl
Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:05 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Bismarck vs. Iowa
Replies: 322
Views: 86733

Re: Bismarck vs. Iowa

Quote from myself at the navweaps forum http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.com/reply/209852/Best-overwater-protections-WWII-post-Treaties-BBs#reply-209852 "The thickness of the torpedobulkhead was completely 45 mm from ship bottom to 140 cm (corrected typo) above armored deck. Extending from...