Search found 77 matches

by steffen19k
Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:54 am
Forum: Military History and Technology
Topic: Landmine clearance programme
Replies: 13
Views: 13974

Re: Landmine clearance programme

That stems from the fact that combat is a fast paced, and often uncertain situation. When you scatter thousands of landmines, the basic premise is to deny the area to the enemy. You don't map it, because then if the enemy does something you weren't expecting, like an airborne assault that passes ove...
by steffen19k
Fri Jun 15, 2012 12:20 am
Forum: World War II
Topic: US declares war on Japan for sinking USS Panay
Replies: 3
Views: 8991

Re: US declares war on Japan for sinking USS Panay

That is a very difficult question to answer. But I'll take my best swing at it. Its highly possible that China would have become a central battle field more like North Africa, rather than the forgotten front that it was. Its also highly probable that US & British Relations would have suffered, a...
by steffen19k
Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:10 pm
Forum: World War II
Topic: 68th anniversary of Villers Bocage combat
Replies: 9
Views: 11005

Re: 68th anniversary of Villers Bocage combat

To paraphrase a favorite song... 10,20,30,40,50 & more, The Bloody Tank Baron was rolling up the score... Hundreds of men died trying end the spree of the Bloody Tank Baron of German-eeee... Michael Wittman probably deserved to have his Tiger painted up in the same livery as Von Richthofen's Tri...
by steffen19k
Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:50 pm
Forum: World War II
Topic: Don't be fooled about the Tiger
Replies: 115
Views: 18366

Re: Don't be fooled about the Tiger

Still, If you were to serve again in a tank, and to fight tank battles, would you prefer to be in an Abrams, Leopard, Challenger, T80, Merkava ... ? Besides being off topic for this particular thread, that's a loaded question, if I ever heard one. :think: To be fair, Im going to start a new topic l...
by steffen19k
Thu Jun 14, 2012 8:39 am
Forum: World War II
Topic: Ballistic tests of WW2 tanks
Replies: 4
Views: 4341

Re: Ballistic tests of WW2 tanks

You know, the most useful test you could perform is generally the most dangerous. Take your tank into battle, and see how it holds up against what the other guys are shooting. Its known as empirical data. Other than that, what you could try is using Nathan Okun's basic mathematic formulae from when ...
by steffen19k
Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:44 am
Forum: World War II
Topic: Pre war US tank development.
Replies: 4
Views: 2108

Re: Pre war US tank development.

US Tank design was caught in a three way tug of war between Cavalry, Infantry, and Artillery, each of whom had their own concept of what a properly built tank should be capable of doing. I personally regret the fact that Leslie McNair came to be chief of armor (as he was an artilleryman) He was the ...
by steffen19k
Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:17 am
Forum: World War II
Topic: Don't be fooled about the Tiger
Replies: 115
Views: 18366

Re: Don't be fooled about the Tiger

Guys, here's the deal with tank combat: A) Its NEVER EVER REMOTELY like "it was written on paper." For starters The Congress tried harder to get me killed with Rules of Engagement that were just so outrageously bad that only people who were there can appreciate it. Next, the M1 is, regardl...
by steffen19k
Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:53 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Ideal Warship
Replies: 8
Views: 3231

Re: Ideal Warship

You're an ex-tanker. I'm an ex-sonar tech. Believe me when I say, "Dream on!" Fair enough. Although when I said sonar for sound ranging, I was thinking active sound ranging against surface targets. Definitely no inherent ASW that couldn't be provided better by an LA or Seawolf...sorry for...
by steffen19k
Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:49 am
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: Is this a dumb (on my part) question on Bismarck's armor
Replies: 16
Views: 5829

Is this a dumb (on my part) question on Bismarck's armor

I was reading the technical specs for the Bismarck, and I was somewhat...surprised...to find that on a displacement of 50,000 tons, she only had 17,000 tons of armor, which is around 30% of her total weight. According to my perceptions of Nathan Okun's very incredible dissertation on her, would it b...
by steffen19k
Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:41 am
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: Question about RPC firing while turning the ship
Replies: 37
Views: 19680

Re: Question about RPC firing while turning the ship

Ede is pretty much hitting on the head what I was I was trying (and apparently failed) to get at with my 3 part breakdown of the fire control solution. For an example: On the m1 tank, with 2 axis stabilization, Laser Range Finder (LRF) digital ballistic computer, GPS, ring laser Gyrocompass, and sho...
by steffen19k
Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:08 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Ideal Warship
Replies: 8
Views: 3231

Re: Ideal Warship

My Ideal warship: 625-700 ft long 90-100 ft wide 25-30 ft draft 90-100 ft tallest point on ship nuclear turbo-electric propulsion Best available speed: 35 Knots Maximum Range: Nuclear limitations main armament: 12 12 inch 70 caliber guns in 4 turrets of 3 independently elevated guns secondary armame...
by steffen19k
Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:42 pm
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: Question about RPC firing while turning the ship
Replies: 37
Views: 19680

Re: Question about RPC firing while turning the ship

Ok, so in Part 1, I skimmed over fire solution. In Part 2, I skimmed over fire adjusting. Now for Part 3. Your math, and therefore your shooting is pretty good by this point. But all of a sudden something happens that requires a change in the formula you've dialed in at this point. A course change, ...
by steffen19k
Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:13 am
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: battleship barrel service round limit?
Replies: 11
Views: 11932

Re: battleship barrel service round limit?

Heres something I learned from my time on tanks. When your guntube has fired its projected life, and you exceed that number, you risk a courtmartial for willful negligence. Any soldier/sailor/airman should have the basic common sense and pride to take care of their weapon to make sure its never in a...
by steffen19k
Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:54 pm
Forum: Bismarck General Discussion
Topic: How did you come to be interested in Bismarck?
Replies: 161
Views: 185407

Re: How did you come to be interested in Bismarck?

My interest in the Bismarck stems from Tanks, or Landships. I would have to say that reviewing battleships, and abstracting that into tank design has had a significant effect on the way I view any armor, fire control, or gun system. I know you're probably wondering how comparing a battleship to a ta...
by steffen19k
Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:06 pm
Forum: Naval Weapons
Topic: Question about RPC firing while turning the ship
Replies: 37
Views: 19680

Re: Question about RPC firing while turning the ship

All right, In Part 1, I skimmed over the basics of getting a Firing Solution. Now we're moving on to firing data. The time has arrived, you've been doing your math. Time to see if the ones have been carried and the decimals moved. The people who developed your guns and projectiles put a LOT of work ...