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But did the US even know about the handful of MLC the RN was operating when they got the Japanese info?One of these things is not like the others. The Higgins boat bow ramp is a copy of the MLC not the Daihatshu.
Never said the Higgins was a copy of the Daihatsu. I did say they noodled around. That is lay speak for the engineering term "finagled".View attachment 799927View attachment 799928View attachment 799929
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One of these things is not like the others. The Higgins boat bow ramp is a copy of the MLC not the Daihatshu.
The prototype MLC was 15 years old in 1941. If the US didn't know about it by then that is a spectacular lack of intelligence. I'll bet every schoolboy in the UK knew what a TLC was.But did the US even know about the handful of MLC the RN was operating when they got the Japanese info?
USN was paying attention to what Japan was doing in China. Were they paying any attention to what the Brits were doing with small craft in the Mediterranean?
And the RCN and RN. Of the 6 U boats lost U-94 was sunk by HMCS Oakville and U-162 was sunk by HMS Vimy, HMS Pathfinder and HMS Quentin. The RCN and RN provided escort groups in the Caribbean.If the Kreigsmarine were to attempt an operation in the Caribbean, then they'd have to deal with the USN, USCG and USAAF - who covered the Carribean extensively.
In just 1942 alone, the Germans lost six U-boats in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
HiBy the way, the US was aware of various landing craft, but their focus was on the Imperial Japanese Navy's use in China in the 1930's.
Add to that, the British using the Higgins boat (referred to as the "R-Boat) starting in 1940.
The boat in the foreground is the type of LCP(L) that my Sea Scout boat was. Imagine that cabin a bit wider and extended to the three crew members are. It was civialianized.Hi
The first 'Higgins boats' that were delivered to the UK in October 1940 (50 in number) were the LCP(L)s, they did not have a ramp:
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Mike
Prewar it's trickier. The Germans need to land forces onto Vichy French territories in the Caribbean before the DoW on the USA.If the Kreigsmarine were to attempt an operation in the Caribbean, then they'd have to deal with the USN, USCG and USAAF - who covered the Caribbean extensively.
And the USA is going to sit back and let that happen?Prewar it's trickier. The Germans need to land forces onto Vichy French territories in the Caribbean before the the DoW on the USA.
Actually the US steam plants did not work as advertised. I recently viewed this video discussing the problems.The better question is how do you know high pressure steam is NOT going to have issues. Foresight is all that is necessary. A proper testing and development program would have shown that 1,000 psi steam pressure was not going to work. At the time the Germans were introducing their ultra high pressure steam plants in their 1934 destroyers, the Americans, who had the experience of high pressure land based plants to draw upon, were much more conservative settling for an increase from 465 psi to 565 psi for their Gridley class destroyers. A further increase to 665 psi in the Sims class was where they finally settled for their WWII destroyers. 2/3s the pressure of the German plants and approached in a more methodical manner.
Actually the US steam plants did not work as advertised. I recently viewed this video discussing the problems.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MIRyN-pLuQ#ddg-play
I bought the book the discussed in the video .
Highly recommended.
Thsi book gives an in depth discussion of the problems actually faced by the USN in operating their new ships.
The much greater range promised for the new ships turned out to be a bit of an illusion and in fact new range tables were issued at the end of the war which were more in line with practical experience.
The Fletchers still looked great.
Agree with most of it. I love turret farms. Why should the IJN cruisers have all the cool turret layouts?I'm sure they would still be great looking even if they had been equipped with somewhat more conservative lower pressure steam plants! Lengthen it a little bit in order to make room for the bulkier machinery, or just lop off that middle 5" turret and magazine?
Hi,Speaking of German naval strategy, a few days ago was the 85th anniversary of the Battle of River Plate. Someone posted a link to an article arguing that far from being a heroic battle the British fought against the odds, they had the upper hand and should have succeeded in sinking the Graf Spee outright, and it was only Harwood's mistakes that allowed the Graf Spee to sneak away into Montevideo.
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