found the Hood

harzfeld · 03-13-08, 08:17 PM

Valid points you have there. Too bad Hood is at the bottom of sea, not in a museum, I would have loved to visit it. About Tirpitz, I agree it was a bad idea for a battleship to babysitting a port to press awe on UK when it could have join into a large group of capital ships to mow everything in their path down. For example, Scharnhorst & Gneisenau, they were only two battleships in several incidents together, I think Prinz Eugen joined with sisters one time. However, UK had capital ships spread out, German knew this and the way they could have crippled UK further if they assembled as much capital ships they can together and sink UK’s capital ships one at a time unless UK assembled theirs in time which would probably be like another Battle of Jutland. UK still has to worry about their flanks above North Sea, the channels, Artic Ocean, plus their ports in case of surprise invasions. Also they had to cover Gibraltar cuz of Italian warships too. German’s blitzkrieg on France & neighboring countries with tanks & planes were so successful because of how many worked together, not spreading out. But how odd for German that didn’t include their capital ships into their blitzkrieg operations & strategies against UK’s ports and ships. I view capital ships for that purpose as many capital ships protecting each other in a group would make a huge difference instead of spreading them out and becoming easier targets. Of course that would be for WW1 & WW2, not modern days unless capital ships carry lasers to shoot planes down. Anyway, this is interesting discussion and that link is good reading too. Thanks.

Sailor Steve · 03-13-08, 08:51 PM

Lets see...
Germany: 2 Bismarck, 2 Scharnhorst, 2 1906 Deutchland class, and if you want to count slow heavy cruisers (I don't), 2 modern Deutschland class.

Britain: 2 Nelson, 5 Queen Elizabeth, 3 Revenge. But those three are mostly in reserve.

If the fight takes place in 1940, the Germans might have a chance, since the King George V class weren't ready yet; but they would have to catch the British off guard and get them one-by-one. I don't see this having much of a chance of happening because of aerial reconnaissance. A large group of German warships would probably be spotted, and the British would have time to organize.

Could be interesting to game, though.

harzfeld · 04-18-08, 01:41 AM

I don't mean just battleships raiding around England, there should be support for battleships such as cruisers, destroyers, Uboats, Luftwaffe, minesweeper, etc and of course most of their Whermacht and Panzerwaffe to invade on England soil, but they invade Soviet instead in Operation Barbarosa with 5 million men which would probably overwhelm England. Also German left their Luftwaffe as target practices for Brits during Battle of Britain, it was mistake to use only force without land and sea support. German could have convert their merchants into landing ships to carry troops, tanks, etc. It just scratch my head why they didn't, and England would be theirs then worry about Soviet later. I don't think Brits would risk another Battle of Jutland and they didn't have atom bomb to take out entire fleet that would be approaching England.

03-13-08, 08:51 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Lets see... Germany: 2 Bismarck, 2 Scharnhorst, 2 1906 Deutchland class, and if you want to count slow heavy cruisers (I don't), 2 modern Deutschland class. Britain: 2 Nelson, 5 Queen Elizabeth, 3 Revenge. But those three are mostly in reserve. If the fight takes place in 1940, the Germans might have a chance, since the King George V class weren't ready yet; but they would have to catch the British off guard and get them one-by-one. I don't see this having much of a chance of happening because of aerial reconnaissance. A large group of German warships would probably be spotted, and the British would have time to organize. Could be interesting to game, though. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-13-08, 08:17 PM	#1
harzfeld Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 135 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Valid points you have there. Too bad Hood is at the bottom of sea, not in a museum, I would have loved to visit it. About Tirpitz, I agree it was a bad idea for a battleship to babysitting a port to press awe on UK when it could have join into a large group of capital ships to mow everything in their path down. For example, Scharnhorst & Gneisenau, they were only two battleships in several incidents together, I think Prinz Eugen joined with sisters one time. However, UK had capital ships spread out, German knew this and the way they could have crippled UK further if they assembled as much capital ships they can together and sink UK’s capital ships one at a time unless UK assembled theirs in time which would probably be like another Battle of Jutland. UK still has to worry about their flanks above North Sea, the channels, Artic Ocean, plus their ports in case of surprise invasions. Also they had to cover Gibraltar cuz of Italian warships too. German’s blitzkrieg on France & neighboring countries with tanks & planes were so successful because of how many worked together, not spreading out. But how odd for German that didn’t include their capital ships into their blitzkrieg operations & strategies against UK’s ports and ships. I view capital ships for that purpose as many capital ships protecting each other in a group would make a huge difference instead of spreading them out and becoming easier targets. Of course that would be for WW1 & WW2, not modern days unless capital ships carry lasers to shoot planes down. Anyway, this is interesting discussion and that link is good reading too. Thanks.

04-18-08, 01:41 AM	#3
harzfeld Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 135 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I don't mean just battleships raiding around England, there should be support for battleships such as cruisers, destroyers, Uboats, Luftwaffe, minesweeper, etc and of course most of their Whermacht and Panzerwaffe to invade on England soil, but they invade Soviet instead in Operation Barbarosa with 5 million men which would probably overwhelm England. Also German left their Luftwaffe as target practices for Brits during Battle of Britain, it was mistake to use only force without land and sea support. German could have convert their merchants into landing ships to carry troops, tanks, etc. It just scratch my head why they didn't, and England would be theirs then worry about Soviet later. I don't think Brits would risk another Battle of Jutland and they didn't have atom bomb to take out entire fleet that would be approaching England.