Iowa Class/Bismark Class/Yamoto Class

[fullmetalbullet]

You guys derailed Copr's thread.  He was asking about Battleships.

well im just coming up with a theory on how this should be done if they do add them.

[Sakai]

Battleships are interesting, sure, but I'd rather see some destroyer on destroyer action or Japanese destroyers and American Light Cruisers.  Especially if transports ever make it into the game.  Cornering some transports with a Brooklyn class ship would be really, really fun.

[mthrockmor]

Sorry about changing the focus. I do like the BB idea. I now have a decent size wish list. Ace High staff need to do some overtime to catch-up. 

Related to the BB idea though would be a shore spotter capability. Maybe they could somehow tie the TBM into this role, more so then the current method. Is this a decent idea for a BB? With a BB it is expected the range will go up significantly so a spotter would fit.

Boo

[Guppy35]

Sorry about changing the focus. I do like the BB idea. I now have a decent size wish list. Ace High staff need to do some overtime to catch-up. 

Related to the BB idea though would be a shore spotter capability. Maybe they could somehow tie the TBM into this role, more so then the current method. Is this a decent idea for a BB? With a BB it is expected the range will go up significantly so a spotter would fit.

Boo

Here I go with the clipper bow BBs again   The older slower BBs got in so close they used their 40mms to cover the landing beaches.  Tennessee was 850 yards off Enewitok so close that one of her sailors was struck by a stray bullet from shore.  This became standard practice because it was so effective

The newer 'fast' BBs never got closer then 6 miles on shore bombardment.  The older 'slow' BBs were the experts and got in close and duked it out with shore batteries and the guys fighting on shore loved their presence.

Obviously their spotters were their Kingfisher float planes, but someone in an SBD could do the same bit

[icedragn]

I love the idea of having battleships in the game (I served on the USS Missouri 88/89/91) as for the classes well I guess I'm partial, IOWA's of course, just remember South Dakota class and Iowa class all had 16" guns so shell bombardment is the same pretty much, I do think all th 5" guns on them should be mannable. It would make for a very interesting battleship vs battleship shoot out!!!!! Go MIGHTY MO!!!!!!!!

[Shifty]

I'm about halfway through the book Neptunes Inferno Copyright 2010 by James Hornfischer. I've always wondered why the Yamoto and the North Carolina didn't duke it out near Savo Island or in the slot during the Guadalcanal Campaign. According to the author of this book it was based mainly on the big battleships were just too expensive to operate in regards to fuel oil at this point of the war. The Yamoto, Mustsu, Hiei, and Kirishima were all in theater at Truk Lagoon for the IJN. The problem was they were tethered to their base because of an insatiable need for fuel. Admiral Nimitz had the same problem as Admiral Yamamoto. He had the Washington, South Carolina and North Carolina in theater. However the tempo of surface naval battles around the Solomon islands and the limitations of both fleets in terms of fleet oilers meant the Heavy Cruiser was the most important surface combatant for both navies. I never knew that and thought it was interesting.

[Guppy35]

Just finished that  book Shifty.  Heckuva read.  I didn't get that take on it with the US Battleships.  It seemed more to do with fighting in the confines of the Slot and fear of airpower.  Once the carriers had shot thier load and either been sunk or their air wings decimated the BBs were what was left.  The Japanese wanted to destroy Henderson with the bombardments and keep any resupply away and the US Navy could only really counter with the South Dakota and Washington.

What was more surprising to me was the ineptitude of those in leadership roles that cost so many ships, in particular the US Admirals leading the Task Groups with the Cruisers. 

If course being a fan of the clipper bow BBs I took exception to the Washington being the last to sink another Battleship in a surface engagement as West Virginia and company did a nice job on those Japanese BBs at Surigo Straights!  West Virginia hitting that Japanese BB with her first salvo at 24000 yards.  Her up to date radar being the key


 

[Shifty]

What was more surprising to me was the ineptitude of those in leadership roles that cost so many ships, in particular the US Admirals leading the Task Groups with the Cruisers. 

Yes especially the very first night action off Guadalcanal Savo Island what a wake up call.

I've always thought it was ironic that three times that I know of at least. The Japanese navy had the American navy on the ropes ready to be knocked out and the Japanese Admirals sailed away sparing the Americans total defeat.
1. The third strike on Pearl Harbor which would have done much more damage than the first two strikes had the fuel tank farms and maintenance facilities been targeted.
2. The battle of Savo Island. The US warships basically destroyed and the Japanese sail off into the dark leaving the transports still afloat.
3. Leyte Gulf, the battle off Samar Island. Again the Japanese run amok through the Taffy Three CVEs and escorts. Then at the crucial moment again they turn away as in 1942 leaving the real prize the transports ship unmolested.