And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Supposedly, one of my Great Uncles went down with the Bismark. I'm sure I've forgotten more than I remember about the who;e story. I've researched it extensively, and still don't know what function he performed on the ship. I suspect it was in the galley. A familial trait.
I'm amused by the editing of Bismarck's swastika...
The Bureau of Ordinance (BuOrd) had originally intended Iowa to use the 16in/50 (50 caliber, length of the barrel times bore) Mk 2 and Mk 3 guns from the cancelled Battleships and Battlecruisers of the 1920 program (South Dakotas BB-49 and Lexington classes) The Bureau of Ships designed a ship that could not use that gun. The confusion resulted in BuOrd designing the superlative 16in/50 Mk 7, a 16in gun so powerful with a superheavy shell that she could have a fighting chance against Yamato, an opponent nearly a quarter larger than her...
Two on the sea floor, one on display. As it should be. Brave crews all, nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteYep. And one had effective air cover, and the others ... didn't.
DeleteSupposedly, one of my Great Uncles went down with the Bismark. I'm sure I've forgotten more than I remember about the who;e story. I've researched it extensively, and still don't know what function he performed on the ship. I suspect it was in the galley. A familial trait.
DeleteGiven the first comment, I guess all I can say is "Size Matters!"
DeleteWe had designed the Montana class, which would have come in at about 72,000 tons and carried four triple-16 in turrets, two forward, two aft.
ReplyDeleteWe actually did build an Alaska class heavy cruiser, which looked like a mini-Iowa and sported three triple-12 in turrets
I'm amused by the editing of Bismarck's swastika...
ReplyDeleteThe Bureau of Ordinance (BuOrd) had originally intended Iowa to use the 16in/50 (50 caliber, length of the barrel times bore) Mk 2 and Mk 3 guns from the cancelled Battleships and Battlecruisers of the 1920 program (South Dakotas BB-49 and Lexington classes) The Bureau of Ships designed a ship that could not use that gun. The confusion resulted in BuOrd designing the superlative 16in/50 Mk 7, a 16in gun so powerful with a superheavy shell that she could have a fighting chance against Yamato, an opponent nearly a quarter larger than her...