Search found 88 matches

by Saltheart
Wed May 02, 2012 3:06 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

Indeed. Gneisenau took a turret hit from Renown and the turret was silenced. The turret was out of action, not destroyed. Scharnhorst's aft turret was also put out of action during her last battle, yet her crew brought it back to service 1 hour later. South Dakota received a 14" shell hit on h...
by Saltheart
Wed May 02, 2012 12:07 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

In such a DS scenario, rather than Washington going it alone, I would assume that Norfolk & Suffolk would be ordered to join the fight. I've actually played and refereed a Bismark vs. North Carolina scenario several times over the years, using a couple of different systems (Battlewagon and Comm...
by Saltheart
Wed May 02, 2012 11:59 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

Indeed. What is rather surprising is that in the real naval battles of the war, debilitating main turret hits were quite rare. For example, in the Denmark Strait battle, out of the 15-17 hits obtained by both sides, not one was on a main turret or barbette. Even during Bismarck's last battle, with ...
by Saltheart
Wed May 02, 2012 12:15 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

That's true I forgot about Prinz Eugen. Mind you if it wanted to torpedo Washington it would have to get to 5 km or closer to have a realistic chance and it would be under a rain of 5 inch shells and if necessary 16 inch. It's 8 inch guns would be effective against Washington's bow and stern but mo...
by Saltheart
Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:38 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

All those bombs that hit Sharnhorst and went right through her in Brest did great damage. If they had been from plunging shell fire at sea wouldn't they have caused major flooding? Did they go through her because they were duds or did her decks damage them? Those bombs were sometimes free falling f...
by Saltheart
Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:55 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

This is what would be of concern though. At 25km a 16inch shell penetrating the 50mm weatherdeck would penetrate the 3 inch main deck over the engine and boiler rooms and might reduce the ships speed. That might make breaking contact difficult. Also it would allow Washington to control the range of...
by Saltheart
Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:50 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

Captain Leach on North Carolina is ordered to continue and attack Bismarck to stop it at all costs. Would Bismarck's guns see it through such a fight? Well in this instance Bismarck is backed up by Prinz Eugen and its 8 inch guns and torpedoes - its not a true one on one. That's true I forgot about...
by Saltheart
Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:41 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

[quote The acute falling angle of Washington shells would allmost certainly ensure perfortion of the upper deck, with some probable damage done to the 15cm or 10.5cm mounts. However, the 0.033s fuze delay of the shells would let them fly over 15meters after holing the upper deck, which means they wo...
by Saltheart
Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:55 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

Well, lets say the US and UK have done a swap, the brand new Prince of Wales given to America in exchange for the brand new North Carolina given to Britain. It's May 1941 and the North Carolina has been in been in British hands since the previous autumn and is fully worked up. I know this pushes bac...
by Saltheart
Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:18 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

... Which probably means that Tirpitz's captain would try to do exactly what he knew best: using his ship in the most advantageous position, so a battle between 15-20km. Initialy firing 4+4 salvos until range was accurately determined, and then starting rapid fire with all artillery. Probably makin...
by Saltheart
Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:55 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

These particular tactics would of course require knowledge on the part of the respective commanders of the other ships weak points. From the German perspective this is unlikely as their knowledge of the US Navy and its surface ships was very little. Given the US ship having 16 inch guns the Germans...
by Saltheart
Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:02 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

Well to be fair I think they were seperating side protection from solely belt protection. It was just while giving Bismarck credit for great side protection they immediately qualified it by saying side hits are rare. But when they talked about South Dakota's great belt there was no such qualificatio...
by Saltheart
Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:10 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Re: Washington

Bismarck's 38cm guns actually had more belt penetrating power than the 16"/45 guns used by Washington did. Kirishima was a battle cruiser with very light armour protection. I suspect that some of the 16" hits passed completely through the Kirishima before detonating. And some probably pas...
by Saltheart
Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:22 am
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: Washington
Replies: 229
Views: 52180

Washington

I just read an account of the sinking of Kirishima by Washington off Savo Island in 1942. The ship took an unbelievable pounding, 20 16 inch hits and lots of 5 inch as well. Apart from a couple of turret hits most of the 16 inch fire hit the hull both above and below the waterline and these hits sun...
by Saltheart
Fri Apr 20, 2012 3:45 pm
Forum: Hypothetical Naval Scenarios
Topic: 3 German battleships in May 1941.
Replies: 119
Views: 23745

Re: 3 German battleships in May 1941.

But they would take time to get there and when they do the Germans have moved on, whether their ships are damaged or not. This convoy attack schematic should not be seen in isolation. U-boats will pick off the merchant ships, especially if they scatter, and no doubt the RN old battleship will be a ...