Terje Langoy wrote: .... Yes the battles I mentioned nourish the idea of German fire control quality - their historical ability to find range quickly. Was it the norm..? I don´t know.
If you look at engagements where the Germans were firing 11" or larger ammo I suspect that it is the "norm". I certainly don't have info on all of them but ...
River Platt - Spee shot very well with her 11" guns.
Bismarck got on target quickly in both of her engagments.
The twins did well in at least two of the engagments I'm familiar with. Surely someone here can provide more details.
Indeed I can't think of a one that I'm familiar with where the Germans didn't straddle fairly quickly.
Terje Langoy wrote:
......, then speed will be of significance to keep your opponent where you want him, rather than opposite.
That's probably it's biggest impact during a battle. In some cases it will be very important but usually only if one ship has a large superiority in some range band.
The faster ship can also, for as long as speed ability remain intact, withdraw from battle should combat ability be severely reduced whereupon the slower ship, if combat ability be decreased, simply has no choice but to fight back until defeated.
Indeed, but in a one on one this is an admission of defeat.
Another reason why I don´t comment very much these vs-scenarios.
While they shine a light on some aspects of what makes a ship better they do also tend to hide other aspects. Indeed they completely discount things like range, habitability, and such.
I don´t always translate withdrawal as defeat. ....
In many cases it's not. In others as you suggest better a minor defeat with minor damage rather than a strategic defeat and new reef. Considerations that one on ones tend to mask.