Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: DarthVader

The Bismarck AAA armament was unusually bad even among the other BBs designed at the same time as she was; largely a result of it being a dusted-off WWI design.

Anyway, main point is the steady diet of crappy History Channel "Nazi Superweapon" documentaries has obscured over time what a horrible design Bismarck was.

Yamato sort of has the same problem.


58 posted on 04/15/2005 5:08:29 AM PDT by Strategerist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies ]


To: Strategerist

AA was afterthought in early WWII even with the Yamato. (Had no logical or cohesive FC system)The US designs which came out the Iowa class with radar control were the best that anyone put out.


61 posted on 04/15/2005 5:12:20 AM PDT by DarthVader (Liberal Democrat = Fat, drunk and stupid is a hell of a way to go through life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies ]

To: Strategerist

Actually, the Bismark AAA defenses were quite good for it's time...The problem was the athe fire control systemn could not adjust hit slower moving targets, like British Swordfish torpedo bombers, which could make 60 mph on a good day with a torpedo slung and a tailwind.


70 posted on 04/15/2005 5:26:36 AM PDT by Wombat101 (Sanitized for YOUR protection....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies ]

To: Strategerist
Anyway, main point is the steady diet of crappy History Channel "Nazi Superweapon" documentaries has obscured over time what a horrible design Bismarck was.

OTOH, she did beat the Hood & Prince of Wales single-handed.

279 posted on 04/15/2005 11:57:29 AM PDT by Tribune7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies ]

To: Strategerist; Cheapskate
The Bismarck AAA armament was unusually bad even among the other BBs designed at the same time as she was; largely a result of it being a dusted-off WWI design. Anyway, main point is the steady diet of crappy History Channel "Nazi Superweapon" documentaries has obscured over time what a horrible design Bismarck was. Yamato sort of has the same problem.

In my opinion, the American ships built around 1935 or thereafter (or significantly rebuilt) were the only ones that had substantial AAA. And even then, the ships had to be numerous and tightly-grouped to provide effective fire, unless you're talking about the Iowa-class and the Massachusetts-class battleships or the Essex-class carriers.

Otherwise, a large number of aircraft could still be overwhelming. The best defense against incoming bombers has always been fighter aircraft.

289 posted on 04/15/2005 1:55:18 PM PDT by Bryan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson