[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

That is what I seem to recall. Not like anyone Allied or Axis had a real chance of salvaging it anyhow.

No but we now know who really sank her. LOL I guess Jonny Horton will have to edit his song huh?

[jim]

Some time ago I read a book about the sinking of the Bismark although I cannot remember its name.

The author interviewed several survivors of the Bismark, they stated that the ship was taking in so much water that the ship was doomed but that they didnt want the British to have any chance of coming onboard and trying to save it after it had been abandoned.

The ship also had no steering and was a sitting duck.
The underwater seals on the prop shafts had failed and one of the drive shafts had been thrown out of alignment.
The forward gunnery radar had taken a direct hit and was not functional, the main electrical power generators had to be stopped because of water levels in the compartment was rising, I could go on but I think I have made my point.
It is true that the charges were set but were not used according to the survivors.

I also had the privilege of knowing one of the officers who was aboard the Ark Royal during this battle and he gave me a full account of the battle from his perspective.
He was in fact the man in charge of the Swordfish aircraft maintainance, and helped arm and get the Stringbags ready for action.
He was lucky enough to read the full report sent by AD of fleet (Force H) to the Admiralty after the battle.

[MoMo]

Shawn 507

Re: Nice Things to Talk About

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No but we now know who really sank her. LOL I guess Jonny Horton will have to edit his song huh?

Yea, the Fleet Air Arm and the R.N. after a million dollar hit by a torpedo dropped by a superanuated Fairy Swordfish.

The Brits do it the hard way.

[jim]

Its a good job Hitler was an idiot, just think about this,
what if he had put his Battleships and Cruisers into one Battle fleet (Admiral Jim would have)?

The Bismark and her sister ships were the most modern afloat at that time.
If that lot had stopped skulking around come out together they would have been a formidable fleet indeed.

Despite the size of the British navy, many of the main Battle fleet ships were old and had poor deck armour as shown by the loss of the Hood.

Interesting to mull over that one.

[Shawn 507]

Would have been interesting to watch. Ah well, the if onlys...

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by jim

Its a good job Hitler was an idiot, just think about this,
what if he had put his Battleships and Cruisers into one Battle fleet (Admiral Jim would have)?

The Bismark and her sister ships were the most modern afloat at that time.
If that lot had stopped skulking around come out together they would have been a formidable fleet indeed.

Despite the size of the British navy, many of the main Battle fleet ships were old and had poor deck armour as shown by the loss of the Hood.

Interesting to mull over that one.

Well, they certainly made us-lot look like a load of 'chumps' during the 1942 "Channel-Dash".

[MoMo]

Well, they certainly made us-lot look like a load of 'chumps' during the 1942 "Channel-Dash".

Hornchurch

Yea, but we were the last chumps standing !

[jim]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Well, they certainly made us-lot look like a load of 'chumps' during the 1942 "Channel-Dash".

We lost a lot of good men there, if I remember correctly 6 Swordfish were launched and none returned.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by jim

We lost a lot of good men there, if I remember correctly 6 Swordfish were launched and none returned.

Yep Jim, you're right.

There's a decent old book on the subject.... (very detailed AND appropriately-titled = "Fiasco" !!!!!!!)

Laughably, the biggest "chump" was Fighter-Command Leigh-Mallory, who had given orders not to be disturbed.......

He was "too busy" reviewing Belgian Spitfire-pilots at Northolt (on Parade !)....... what a knob.


When the Senior of the two pilots (Sdn Ldr Oxspring) who'd seen the German-Fleet tried reporting the sighting to A.O.C. 11-Group, he was informed......

"We are NOT going to bother the AOC; you saw some fishing-boats......"

Jeez; what Tossers !!!!!!!!!!!

That very Attitude & apathy cost the RAF 42 x planes destroyed (at days-end)

& the R.N. almost lost HMS Worcester !

Talk about laughing stock, & bumbling incompetence on a vast-scale !!!!!!!!!!!

[MoMo]

Re: Nice Things to Talk About

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Yep Jim, you're right.

There's a decent old book on the subject.... (very detailed AND appropriately-titled = "Fiasco" !!!!!!!)

Laughably, the biggest "chump" was Fighter-Command Leigh-Mallory, who had given orders not to be disturbed.......

He was "too busy" reviewing Belgian Spitfire-pilots at Northolt (on Parade !)....... what a knob.


When the Senior of the two pilots (Sdn Ldr Oxspring) who'd seen the German-Fleet tried reporting the sighting to A.O.C. 11-Group, he was informed......

"We are NOT going to bother the AOC; you saw some fishing-boats......"

Jeez; what Tossers !!!!!!!!!!!

That very Attitude & apathy cost the RAF 42 x planes destroyed (at days-end)

& the R.N. almost lost HMS Worcester !

Talk about laughing stock, & bumbling incompetence on a vast-scale !!!!!!!!!!!

It's all traditional Hornchurch. Lions led by donkeys !