BERLIN SAYS WAR IS ON TO THE FINISH (10/21/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 10/21/39 | Felix Belair Jr., G.H. Archambault

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[abb]

Now you have swerved into one of my favorite WW II warship things. The last “monitor-style” warships ever built were constructed by the UK - HMS Roberts and HMS Abercrombie.
They were used for shore bombardment and such.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberts_class_monitor

Several were built for WWI. Churchill and Jackie Fisher were in the big fat middle of the earlier projects. This may be the genesis of the “tortoise” concept Churchill spoke of.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshal_Ney_class_monitor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erebus_class_monitor

I had mentioned Douglas Reeman earlier as a naval fiction author. One of his best was this one.

http://www.douglasreeman.com/Douglas%20Reeman%20Novels/default%20-%20DRNovelsUKA.html

HMS Saracen

Malta, 1941 ... To most people HMS Saracen is just an ugly, obsolete ship with an equally ugly recent history: her last commander is due for court martial after shelling the troops he was sent to protect. But to Captain Richard Chesnaye she brings back memories – memories of the First World War when he and the old monitor went through the Gallipoli campaign together. It seems that captain and ship are both past their best. But as the war enters a new phase Chesnaye senses the possibility of a fresh, significant role - for him and the Saracen.

[abb]

[PAR35]

Thank you for the corrected information. You don’t have to be a jerk about it, however.

[BroJoeK]

"Thank you for the corrected information. You don’t have to be a jerk about it, however."

Sorry pal. But I notice you use every opportunity to take cheap shots at the Brits, even when they don't deserve it. How about next time hold your fire, just long enough to look up the facts. ;-)

[BroJoeK]

"The last “monitor-style” warships ever built were constructed by the UK - HMS Roberts and HMS Abercrombie. They were used for shore bombardment and such."

Would it be fair to say then, that Churchill's idea for a "tortoise" was something like a "monitor," but equipped with anti-aircraft guns and much heavier armor? In short, an updated CSS Virginia?

[Colonel_Flagg]

This is, and remains, fascinating reading. Thank you for performing this daily historical service.

[PAR35]

It was either a case of faulty memory or an old faulty source. I was confident enough in my error to not even check. I usually do.

And yes, I don’t follow the usual good guys/ bad guys script. (Except for the Japanese. Most of what they did in the war was pure evil).