soc.history.war.world-war-ii

"Fred Zimmerman, Nimble Books LLC" wrote ...
> On Apr 4, 2:10 pm, "a425couple" wrote:
> > I'll post some of my thoughts
> > "Tirpitz Hunting the Beast" by John Sweetman,--
> > I got mine discounted at Half Price Books, $5.00 ---
> > Tells 'adequately' the tale of this ship.--
> > I'm just not too sure of some of given 'specifics'.--
> > Not perfect, but now I have it in my control, so for
> > just $5.00 I'm happy enough, but for others???
> > Not a lot new or novel, that I did not already know.
> > Anyone else read? Or care to offer thoughts?
>
> I have a copy out from the library right now.
> Will let you know when I get into it.

Yes, I will look forward to that.
(see if another agrees with my 'luke warm' thought/opinion?)

Meanwhile - to add 50% new info. for wwii group:

One interesting area I have seen little general public
knowledge about is the use of BB main guns (15" & 18")
for AA fire through use of cannister/beehive rounds.
(both IJN and Germany used this, I've seen no indication
that it even tried by USA or UK. But then also, they
did not often get threatened by large bomber level
formations trying to hit ships)

At very first thought, seems silly, but I think, not silly!
For use against large bomber aircraft doing high
altitude level bombing (esp. in formation) it could have
been with some technilogical improvements quite
effective.
Because remember, once they are on the bomb run
they are flying pretty much straight at the target,
hence straight into where the fire comming from,
so no deflection concerns, and no 'avoidance' issues.
And 1,500 to 3,000 pounds of ordinance (in either
20mm or 50 cal sizes) oncomming at targets at
2,500 feet per second is a significant amount!
Also note, the BB medium and light AA guns
are not even in range until bombs have been dropped.

So the main guns fired at 13 miles. But at least partly
due to inaccurate altitude estimate by the on shore
AA spoters, were below correct altitude.
(the BB's radar FC had been diminished by earlier--)
Tallboys, 12,000 pound bombs, do tend to shake
things up, and mess up a day, or a ship!

Of course, the real and main problem was that the
German luftwaffe, never showed a whole lot of
desire (and mechanism) to protect kreigsmarine.