Bismark Persistent!

[richardphat]

Ahoy captain and matey just wondering because i made a small scenarios, i create one Bismark versus 12 illustrous fleet carrier, those jet always attack our bismark and yet the 12 carrier were non-stop shooting. And yet bismark's hull looks like as if it wasnt damaged and BIsmark sink all of the carrier and the jet. Just wondering how long a bismark can resist in reality?

[VonDos]

Illustrious had 114mm as main artillery, and A\A for aircraft defense.
Bismarck had 380mm (!) as main artillery, 152 as secondary, A\A

Bismarck was bigger than Illustrious (50000 tonns VS 20000 tonns)

Illustrious had armor for defende the flight deck, not very resistant for lateral hits; 380mm on the side can make a nice hole.
Bismarck had armor everiwhere (from 12 to 36 cm of armor!), not easy do penetrate with 114mm.

So, if illustrious can't launch aircrafts... the best is the winner!

[mcf1]

against 12 carriers?
well, carriers didn't any artillery guns that could match the bismarck, only AA's,
but I don't think it would last for long if the carriers lunched
a full scale attack of torpedo and dive bombers.
Too many planes, I don't think the Bismark's AA's could shoot them all down!!!
This isn't any realistic, 12 carriers are too valuable to sent them unescorted.

[Red Heat]

I think "Bismarck" personally...she will "eat" one by one...
Its like VonDos said...380mm can make a lot of heavy damage, (allied with a full armor everiwhere (from 12 to 36 cm of armor!), not easy do penetrate with 114mm).
specialy against a target wich have only small guns and aircrafts only...

[Tombow]

Bismarck pros:
-Wotan Armour (capable even of sustaining a main caliber battleship hit)
-380mm guns
-superior durability (from my infos the second most durable battleship of WWII after the Yamato)

Bismarck cons:
-AA (not up to the task when engaging a whole she-bang of 12 carriers)
-Fire control and radar not quite up to the task of dealing with the whole lot

Carrier pros:
-Count (full twelfe of them)
-Range (can easily box the Bismarck while staying well out of gun range and launching wave after wave

Carrier cons:
-Main artillery not up to the task for dealing with the Bismarck
-Weak armour
-Need for synchronizing the aircraft waves from all carriers so none is caught off-guard while receiving and respotting aircraft

Uncertain factors:
-Speed. By the numbers, the Illustrious class is faster (30,5 vs 30,1 kts), so in a plain running battle they could outrun the Bismarck. However, the speed difference is marginal and can be easily negated by the need of turning into the wind for launching/receiving aircraft. On the other side, in certain battles of the Pacific (ie Guadalcanal) US carriers weren't turning into the wind and that didn't affect carrier operations significantly.

IMHO that makes for an interesting scenario, but the Bismarck is on the losing side. With a good coordination carriers could be keeping her occupied and pounding her with constant stream of aircraft without her having the glimpse of the chance for chipping them one by one. Unless there is a chance to disrupt the coordination btw. the carriers or have one or two in shooting range at the beginning. The two fleet's positions on the initial contact can prove crucial for the outcome (or even put the Bismarck into advantage)

[Frank0001]

Do the carriers in GWX actually launch aircraft?

[richardphat]

Yea it seems unrealistic for 12 carrier vs bismark but i was testing how sh3 in reality would be difficult to sink it!

[Jimbuna]

Put her up against a U-boat and she'll sink quite easily

[richardphat]

:rotfl:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Put her up against a U-boat and she'll sink quite easily

HAHAHAHA I ve never thought with the Uboot idea!:rotfl:

[the.terrabyte.pirate]

Okay, now pit the Bismark and the Tirpitz against each other...

[Jimbuna]

Bismarck.....more experienced crew :p