SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Well, with the help of you guys, I realize I made at least 2 glaring errors in my posts. I'm giving myself a time out.
Nice CGI from IJN perspective
- Thread starter Admiral Beez
- Start date
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Why? That's the fun of the place and why we're all here is to learn.
Peter Gunn
Master Sergeant
True on both parts, but Buffs' were hardly the only ones to come in a box, over at Zeno's there's a DVD for the Thunderbolt:
"Uncrating and Assembly of the P-47 Thunderbolt (40:00)This truly remarkable step-by-step training film shows how a ground support crew of fifty men could assemble a P-47 in a field using nothing more than muscle, unpowered hand tools, and pieces of the shipping crate it came in. We're talking nothing more than hammers, wrenches and bicycle pumps! You'll also get a unique look at the inner workings of the big Jug as it is literally bolted together by field personnel. A must see for P-47 fans and shade tree mechanics alike!* "
I've seen the video, it's really amazing how they take P-47 out of some BIG crates and assemble a fully functional fighter is impressive.
Peter Gunn
Master Sergeant
Uh... What?
- Thread starter
- #125
Admiral Beez
Major
It's smart to make your aircraft capable of being knocked down and reassembled in the field. Japan's main fighters, the A6M, Ki-43 and Ki-44 had mono-spar or monolithic wings, meaning the wing cannot be removed in parts for later reassembly in the field, as shown on the A6M Zero being restored below. The wing is one big piece from tip to tip. The only three ways to get your Zeros and Oscars to forward bases is to fly them there, find a freighter with wide open decks, or use an aircraft carrier as a ferry, as was done with the Hiyo class of light fleets after Midway.
Legend Flyers Zero – Restoration Update
Here's a Hawker Hurricane coming out of its crate. One can imagine only a couple of hours needed to bolt on the wings, rudder and prop, top up the fluids and ammunition.
If only the below was the scene at Singapore in late summer 1941.
I imagine the wood used on those crates was repurposed and is probably framed in some Ghanaian houses today.
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SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Okay, I'm back. What I miss?
The Zero could be split at the rear fuselage just aft of the canopy and with the wing tips being folded and engine removed could easily be transported within a compact space. It was designed precisely for ease of transport.
The split can be seen running from the after end of the canopy to forward of the lower retractable step.
COVID is still a thing...
Peter Gunn
Master Sergeant
Two glaring errors?
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
At least two. Totally spaced out on U.S.S. Saratoga. I got caught up in the discussion and mentioned build flaws in HIJMS Shokaku. When did I become a naval architect? Got caught up in the discussion. Worst of all, I didn't write "IIRC" after stating HIJMS Shoho was hit by 5 torpedoes. A most grievous mistake for this forum. Finally, dumb joke about Attu.
- Thread starter
- #131
Admiral Beez
Major
Peter Gunn
Master Sergeant
I doubt the term "glaring" is appropriate here, "minor" is more in line with what you're describing, possibly even "unnoticeable".
You want glaring? I went to renew my drivers license this morning, and the way the questions were worded I almost admitted to being:
A). A convicted felon
B). Have been judged mentally incapable (OK, they might have a case for that one, just ask around here)
C). Addicted to hard narcotics such as cocaine or heroin
Fortunately I was able to use my wit and charm to convince the nice lady that I was none of the above, although she seemed unconvinced where B was concerned.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Okay, you won this round Gunn but I'll be back!
Peter Gunn
Master Sergeant
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Time to eat crow. I'm reading "Neptune's Inferno". The HIJMS Shokaku was built much tougher than I thought. Now, if it had better damage control at the Battle of Santa Cruz.....
Glider
Captain
I have seen a number of examples where the crates were reused by Ground Crew to make better class accommodation than provided by their air force. The most impressive being 8th Air Force crew who did a lot better than the standard issue Nissen Huts.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I just saw a YouTube video entitled "Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands (CG Documentary)". It was by -Juno- TakaLeon. It looks really good to me. It doesn't seem to have a bias. The site has a few interesting videos, mostly combat sims. I did watch a clip of a Ki-84 that was filmed at a 1973 airshow. Neat stuff.
I gotta' figger' out how to link these things.
I gotta' figger' out how to link these things.
Thumpalumpacus
Major
Parshall and Tully make this point in Shattered Sword. They also assert that given the choice between losing Midway and losing a couple of carriers, Nimitz preferred losing Midway and saving the carriers. I think this is the rationale behind his "calculated risk" orders.
Thumpalumpacus
Major
Even had German radars been present, and the IJN had had time to incorporate that technology into their doctrine, the crummy radios on the Zeros may well have rendered its impact meaningless. If those fighters can't hear the fighter-directors, they can't be where they needed to be.
Japanese C³I was crummy throughout that battle, from the inadequate search to the absence of radar and radios that worked for their fighters, to the basic assumption of Japanese leadership that the Americans would cooperate with Japanese plans.
And directly to your question quoted above, look at the CAP issues Americans had in the Battles of Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz, and that was with functioning radars and radios. We still hadn't integrated them into a functional doctrine; we were still learning 2-4 months later, ourselves.
Thumpalumpacus
Major
Not to mention the clusterflock that was the main American strike. It's likely at least one of the two hypothetical add-ons would have, like Hiryu, escaped damage -- or perhaps even notice, in the confusion of the battle. You not only have more decks for cycling CAP, you have more bombers available for the counterstrike.
We could be looking at Yorktown lost in the first strike, and the other two American flattops damaged or sunk in the second. That's a major shift in the outcome of the battle.
