Search found 954 matches

by Steve Crandell
Thu Dec 18, 2014 6:19 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Spruance's Decision-Right or Wrong
Replies: 12
Views: 5900

Re: Spruance's Decision-Right or Wrong

I personally am of the opinion that the overall commander on the scene should make all tactical decisions in the light of ultimate and paramount objectives,strategic and national;even it means ignoring the destruction of enemy armed forces as his primary objective-and this is precisely what Spruanc...
by Steve Crandell
Thu Dec 18, 2014 4:04 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: The CVE in WW2-was it a real asset??
Replies: 30
Views: 17315

Re: The CVE in WW2-was it a real asset??

Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC) ships were British bulk grain ships and oil tankers fitted with flight decks enabling them to operate anti-submarine aircraft in support of Allied convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic. Despite their quasi-military function, MACs retained their mercantile status,...
by Steve Crandell
Thu Dec 18, 2014 3:05 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: The CVE in WW2-was it a real asset??
Replies: 30
Views: 17315

Re: The CVE in WW2-was it a real asset??

. You totally misunderstand the late war RN ASW tactics. One MUST understand the difference between "Escort Groups" (essentially they stayed with a particular convoy) and "Support Groups" which cruised around going to specific convoys under threat or being sent to specific areas...
by Steve Crandell
Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:05 pm
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: Japanese vs US AA capabilities
Replies: 56
Views: 30412

Re: Japanese vs US AA capabilities

Good post, and I think you summarized it pretty well. One thing I'd add is that with the advent of the Kamikaze even the 40mm Bofors was marginal because it's effective range wasn't long enough to engage one with a really good probability of shooting it down before it hit the firing ship. The USN pl...
by Steve Crandell
Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:53 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: De-Capping Layer
Replies: 24
Views: 16452

Re: De-Capping Layer

One thing about these penetration values - is a "common" shell a little sturdier and does it have a bit less of an explosive filler than a "common" shell? I'd be curious as to the bursting charge as a percentage of weight on common types compared to high explosive rounds. I gues...
by Steve Crandell
Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:58 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?
Replies: 93
Views: 35456

Re: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?

By 1930, U.S. planners had concluded that battleships and heavy cruisers should not have torpedo tubes. There were a number arguments made to justify this conclusion, which I do not have space for here. The bottom line is, they were half right: battleships should not have torpedo tubes. Unfortunate...
by Steve Crandell
Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:44 pm
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: Comparisons of Axis vs Allied Combat Vessels
Replies: 68
Views: 48897

Re: Comparisons of Axis vs Allied Combat Vessels

The thing is, the Yamato belt armor was inclined, so that would tend to reduce the penetration. Also, in post war US testing against an Iowa size faceplate the British 14" shell tended to deform and ricochet off of thick armor because of the thin walls they accepted in order to get the large (f...
by Steve Crandell
Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:39 pm
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: Rodney torpedoes compared to Long Lance?
Replies: 43
Views: 29225

Re: Rodney torpedoes compared to Long Lance?

Torpedo attack was the cornerstone of the night attack, and a critical element of the day attack intended to rectify Japan’s initial 3:5 and worsening deficit in numbers in THE JAPNANESE DECISIVE BATTLE PLAN AT NIGHT The night attack force was to launch an intricately coordinated long-range salvo o...
by Steve Crandell
Tue Dec 16, 2014 4:00 am
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?
Replies: 93
Views: 35456

Re: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?

If you get first salvo straddles and continuous straddles after that, why would that be a problem? They obviously were not consistently getting first salvo straddles and continuous straddles. They only thought they were. This was pointed out by Halsey. I think Bill Jurens would disagree with you. H...
by Steve Crandell
Tue Dec 16, 2014 3:58 am
Forum: Naval Technology
Topic: De-Capping Layer
Replies: 24
Views: 16452

Re: De-Capping Layer

Any holes or cracks in the plate above the waterline can still cause progressive flooding if they become submerged, as in the case of a ship which has developed a list. That is what I though, one of the deficiencies in the Iowa class armor scheme. The outer layer from what I can see was not really ...
by Steve Crandell
Tue Dec 16, 2014 3:52 am
Forum: Movies, Films, Documentaries and Games
Topic: Best war movie ever?
Replies: 132
Views: 72274

Re: Best war movie ever?

And now ... Fury I rather enjoyed that one when I saw it a few weeks ago. Interestingly enough, the Tiger tank represented in the engagement with the Sherman platoon was a real operational Tiger I, Tiger 131 on loan from the Bovington Armour Museum, instead of a mock up or reworked T34. "Fury&...
by Steve Crandell
Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:08 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?
Replies: 93
Views: 35456

Re: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?

If you get first salvo straddles and continuous straddles after that, why would that be a problem? They obviously were not consistently getting first salvo straddles and continuous straddles. They only thought they were. This was pointed out by Halsey. I think Bill Jurens would disagree with you. H...
by Steve Crandell
Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:17 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?
Replies: 93
Views: 35456

Re: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?

The target would immediately be engaged at a rapid rate of fire right from the start under radar FC, using a rocking ladder to resolve salvo MPI variations and any possible ranging errors. It was the probably fighting doctrine. Shooting to hit with the first salvo and then going to a rocking latter...
by Steve Crandell
Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:14 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?
Replies: 93
Views: 35456

Re: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?

I'm not the only American that finds that USN cruiser shooting was exceptionally poor. So did Admiral Nimitz, and Admiral King, and Admiral Halsey. Did they attempt to do anything about it? Why was it bad, and was it some endemic problem or was it individual ships? We know about some of the problem...
by Steve Crandell
Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:04 pm
Forum: Naval History (1922-1945)
Topic: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?
Replies: 93
Views: 35456

Re: Why was USN cruiser shooting so poor?

I do get upset here at times. I am retired USN, and it appears that a lot of time here is spent by various members telling me how bad the USN was at pretty much everything. That was not my experience. If that is partisan, then I plead guilty.