Most Influential Ship? (1 Viewer)

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I don't think any of the nations were very farsighted enough to think about keeping too many planes and ships, tanks, etc. around for history's sake. Just look at the lenths that are being gone too to rescue restorable planes, tanks etc. My avatar is the Gaclier Girl. Kind of hard to beat that plane for a salvage effort story. It is sad to think about all the great ships that have been sent to the breakers.
 
Messy 1, the technological advances you mentioned are indeed amazing but I guess they are pretty much mirrored by tech advances in all fields during the 20th century. The tech advance I enjoy most is probably the Dreadnought story because of my interest in battleships. Even though other navies were advancing the idea of an all big gun BB, Fisher ran with the idea and in 1906, when HMS Dreadnought was launched after a build time of only about a year, every other battleship in the world, some of them brand new and many of them British, suddenly became obsolete. Interestingly, Fisher was criticised by many of the admirals in the RN for upsetting the balance of power and rendering so many of Britain's ships useless. Actually the USN had plans to build a dreadnought, the South Carolina, I think was it's name but was not in a hurry or it may have been the first dreadnought launched. It is quite a story.
 
I watched a show a while back about the Dreadnoughts on either the Military Channel or The History Channel. I think it was called The Battleships maybe? Have not watched it in a while, but your last post did remind me of the show, and I now do recall some of the info you gave on the Dreadnought! Like to watch it all over again. I do recall that the HMS Dreadnought did render almost every other ship obsolete over night. I want to find a good book aboutthe battleships.
 
Not far from where I live is BB35, Battleship Texas. It was launched in 1912 and commissioned in 1914. At the time, the Texas was the strongest ship in the world. BB35 is the only remaining dreadnought in the world. Several years ago, she was towed to dry dock and the hull was completely overhauled.

She was used in both world wars. During WWII, the USS Texas was used in the North Atlantic and the invasions of North Africa, Normandy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The USS Texas is not well know but her history is long and colorful.

DBII
 
I am good with most influential small ship. That would make an interesting discussion. That brings into play HMS Onslow, USS Johnston, USS England etc. Should we make the category ships under 2500 tons?
 
Interesting point about the Texas is that she was quite powerful for her day but one of the great advances in HMS Dreadnought was that she had turbine engines which gave her more speed and were much more reliable. Because of some dispute with engine manufacturers, Texas reverted to reciprocating engines which was somewhat of her achilles heel.
 
Glider:

IJN Yukikaze
1945:
6-7 April:
Escorted YAMATO from Inland Sea on attack mission towards Okinawa. Rescued YAMATO survivors; later removed survivors from ISOKAZE and scuttled with torpedoes. Light damage: in attacks by aircraft of TF 58 due to strafing; three dead and 15 injured.

30 July:
Minor damage: in air attack by TF 38 in Miyatsu Bay, due to strafing; one dead and several wounded.

You forgot one attack.



If you are looking for japanese war ships, look here...
Nihon Kaigun
 
I am good with most influential small ship. That would make an interesting discussion. That brings into play HMS Onslow, USS Johnston, USS England etc. Should we make the category ships under 2500 tons?

To be honest it would be interesting to do a selection

Escort
Destroyer
Cruiser
BB
Aircraft Carrier
 
I agree,it will certainly make the discussion more encompassing to have the most influential individual ship of each class you mentioned, Glider.
 
For me it will always be USS Yorktown CV-5. But, as the question is most influential ship, wouldn't HMS Dreadnought fit in, one way or another? Pre and Post Dreadnought battleships I'm thinking about....
 
Carrier: I gotta go with the Yorktown, can't forget her contribution at Coral Sea, while it was not pretty, she did her job: things would have been alot worse the Japanese gained strategic victory. Then being capable - against all odds to return to action in time for Midway, and absorb two waves of attacks (which may have found the other two carriers) while contriibuting to attack on Japanese carriers = thats big.

Had not considered Enterprise's ongoing contributions, but in mind Yorktown was there at both the pivotal battles - and without her taking the pounding (2x), Enterprise's career may well have been cut short.

Think selecting BB would be tough, I may go Tirpitz since her presence in Norway caused some much distraction and diversion of resources for such a long period. But do like the comment on Warspite = sinking 1/2 of Germany's tin cans was an accomplishment.

Escort under 2,500 tons: agree, any Taffy 3 escort is worthy.

Destroyer: Yukikaze will do fine

Cruiser? hmmm... Ajax or Achilles = they gave Brits a big lift that was sorely needed.
 
Carrier: I gotta go with the Yorktown, can't forget her contribution at Coral Sea, while it was not pretty, she did her job: things would have been alot worse the Japanese gained strategic victory. Then being capable - against all odds to return to action in time for Midway, and absorb two waves of attacks (which may have found the other two carriers) while contriibuting to attack on Japanese carriers = thats big.

Had not considered Enterprise's ongoing contributions, but in mind Yorktown was there at both the pivotal battles - and without her taking the pounding (2x), Enterprise's career may well have been cut short.

Think selecting BB would be tough, I may go Tirpitz since her presence in Norway caused some much distraction and diversion of resources for such a long period. But do like the comment on Warspite = sinking 1/2 of Germany's tin cans was an accomplishment.

Escort under 2,500 tons: agree, any Taffy 3 escort is worthy.

Destroyer: Yukikaze will do fine

Cruiser? hmmm... Ajax or Achilles = they gave Brits a big lift that was sorely needed.

Don't forget the Exeter was at "River Plate" too... Classic wartime bluff!

Yes and it was a big risk sending in the Warspite, there were at least 4 U-boats lurking around hoping to sink her. The 15" guns sure did a good job on the shore guns too!
 
No doubt the liberty ships did their part, but it would be impossible to single out one liberty ship. Would be interesting to name the one support-type vessel that had most impact - off the top of my head I ain't got one.

Freebird: yup I forgot the Exeter - always have trouble recalling the name of third cruiser for some reason = Ajax/Achilles roll off the tongue better I suppose.

Warspite would be in contention for "coolest looking BB" as well, although I do have to admit that I have a thing for Kongo class BBs.
 
As the liberty ships, we also have the Escort Carriers....the Jeeps!

0302901.jpg

View of USS Santee probably taken in late 1942
 
While I am a big fan off the U.S.S Yorktown, I agree that the Enterprise was a major influence. I believe that she was one of the few carriers built before 1942 that survived the whole war. I was kinda pissed when I found out she was scrapped, should have been a muesuem.

Oh and Comiso, you asked which Japanese destroyer Mcclusky followed to the flaptops, It was the Arashi catching up to the fleet after chasing the American sub Nautilus
 

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