Hello Fellow Contributors,
In the meantime, can he please finally acknowledge what I already explained him several times ?
As in the case of allotting any value whatsoever to the mathematical technique of the Tiresome Table (and variants) we must again agree to differ. Saying the photographs of Die Letze Granate von Hood can't be what the witnesses say they were, based merely on their incompatibility with one speculative attempt to recreate Bismarck's track is an invalid argument. They show what they show. If the track does not conform it is because it is wrong.
It may be that negatives of Langemann's photographs exist, perhaps with his original annotations, again only the extremely reticent (on this subject alone) Mr Bonomi can answer, but apparently prefers not to. He was, at one time extremely expansive on the subject of Langemann and the Propaganda Kompanie and the Leica 35mm camera used for the stills. Now although he has handled the material and knows whether the annotation is likely to be from eye witness Langemann or a nameless archiver, he refuses point blank to divulge this information. I draw one obvious conclusion, others may draw their own, which could be the same as mine.
Can Mr.Wadinga elaborate a bit?
Surely it clear enough?
Reading Schmalenbach in the KTB the portside 4.1 inch crews retreated to the protection of the starboard side whilst Hood was firing at PG, and the only time we see film or stills of PoW's continuing fight is after the shells have stopped being fired at PG. That is because the photographer and film crew are on the portside recording the victory, and not on the starboard side to record these supposedly accurate shots from PoW's Y turret. They were recorded when they happened 10 minutes before. The portside gun crews were able to loose a few shots at PoW, because there was no incoming fire and the Propaganda Kompanie went to portside for the same reason.
Neither the Port side 4.1 crews or the PK people were on the port side when anyone was effectively firing at PG. The latter filmed Bismarck firing and Hood's shells landing on the starboard side of PG. PoW's early shots were so far over they don't even appear in the frame. When Hood began to burn, and her fire proved ineffectual, they felt a bit braver and ventured out onto the portside filming perhaps Hood's final explosion and PoW's retreat (sorry, temporary retreat) the 4.1s adding a few shells at the shorter range as Schmalenbach reports . Since the PK people filmed PoW's salvo 18 falling so short, as seen from the port side, how could they be on the starboard side, seeing another supposed Y turret local salvo landing just over Prinz Eugen? The simple answer is they didn't, because nobody anywhere, British or German ever saw or reported these "rather wild" shots land.
It ahs been said:
So far as the film is concerned, we might have to move quickly, as I suspect much of this will soon be digitized with the original negatives thereafter being discarded. Unless extreme measures are taken, much of the detailed information needed for forensic analysis will be lost in the digitizing process.
Given the international reputation of the Moderator and his illustrious co-authors I would hope the Bundesarchiv would be receptive to any suggestions he might be prepared to make to preserve the value of this outstandingly valuable piece of history. Surely no-one would "Bin" the Mona Lisa merely because they had scanned it? I would have hoped the Bundesarchiv would have extended the use of any material and the fullest co-operation to the authors of Battleship Bismarck: A Design and Operational History.
All the best
wadinga
All the best
wadinga