[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Southeast Asia, 1941: Japanese Centrifugal Offensive, December 1941
Malaya, 1941: Topography-Japanese Centrifugal Offensive, December 1941-January 1942
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – Operations of the Japanese First Air Fleet, 7 December 1941-12 March 1942
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – American Carrier Operations, 7 December 1941-18 April 1942
Micronesia, Melanesia and New Guinea: Japanese Centrifugal Offensive-Japanese Fourth Fleet and South Seas Detachment Operations, December 1941-April 1942
Luzon, P.I., 1941: Centrifugal Offensive, 10 December 1941-6 May 1942-Fourteenth Army Operations on Luzon
Netherlands East Indies, 1941: Japanese Centrifugal Offensive, December 1941-April 1942, Sixteenth Army and Southern Force (Navy) Operations
Southern Asia, 1941: Japanese Centrifugal Offensive (and Continued Operations), January-May 1942
North Africa, Auchinleck’s Offensive, 18 November-31 December 1941
Eastern Europe, 1941: Soviet Winter Offensive – Operations, 6 December 1941-7 May 1942
The Mediterranean Basin

[bushpilot1]

Saw a WWII submarine bell in a bar resrurant in Tanjay, Philippines, there’s an inscription with the name...but I was a little drunk..cant remember the subs name.

A retired navy sailor pawned it to a Filipina lady who owned the place.

[Cheburashka]

HMS Ark Royal sunk 11/14/41

HMS Barham sunk 11/25/41

HMS Prince of Wales sunk 12/10/41

HMS Repulse sunk 12/10/41

HMS Queen Elizabeth sunk 12/19/41

HMS Valiant sunk 12/19/41

The first four were lost, the last two were sunk at their docks in Alexandria. After their loss the British had no capital ships in the Mediterranean and no longer had superiority over the Italian navy. Since the two ships settled to the bottom, but their decks were not awash, the British acted as if the ships were still combat ready in order to deceive any Italian spies active in Alexandria. Both ships were re-floated after several months and departed for repairs, one to the U.S., the other to South Africa.

As the list above shows, November/December 1941 was a bad two months for the Royal Navy, and you can make the case that the Royal Navy finally lost its position as “mistress of the seas”, held for over two centuries, with the sinking of these 6 ships.

It would take a over a year of brutal combat with the Imperial Japanese Navy before the United States Navy would conclusively take the Royal Navy's place as ruler of the seas.