Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Steve
The US navy didn't consider them more than a match for Yamato. Have you ever wondered why there were four of them? They never said anything officially but I find it interesting that they were building six, and two of them got cancelled about the same time as Shinano was converted to a carrier.
As I said, every battleship since Dreadnought has had rangefinders in the turrets, because even the shockwave from a near miss can knock the main rangefinder out of alignment, and then there isn't one anymore. This is also why WW2-era battleships had an entire backup Fire Control System in a separate tower.
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Well, the iowa couldve most certainly held her own in a 1 on 1. Had we not utilized radar guided FCS systems, the battle wouldve most likely have gone to yamato. Her 18.1 inch batteries and thick armor would be the obstacles to overcome. But, under even circumstance, the iowa couldve simply outgunned the Yamato from afar, using her superior top speeds and more accurate shots to pound at her from beyond the accurate range of Yamatos guns.
It sucks that sch an era had to come to an end. THe most powerful Surface vessels ever built to throw slugs are either scrapped or turned into a museum. There should be more survivors, but alas, it takes alot of money maintain one. i would kill to have had alot more surviving museum ships around.
i visited the
USS Midway when i was 15 years old. it was such a great experience. Even wowed an old timer who worked down in the engine compartment. He was talking about how the ships name came to be, how another carrier was first named the USS Midway, but was renamed and the now current Midway holds the title. Before he told me the name he said it was the first ship to be sunk by kamikazes in WW2, and so i say, "Oh, i know this one. Isnt that the St. Lo?" He told me that in his 15 years as a volunteer onboard that no one has been able to name that ship, and how the sailors onboard the
St. Lo figured that changing the name of a ship was bad luck.
If any of you are ever in the San Diego area, on vacation or whatever, i encourage you to go visit the Midway. Its pretty unique.