3rd Cumulative WW2 History Quiz

[Admiral Kutzov]

meisen's close enough:

"the plan was to send three 500 ton displacement containers towed by a single snorkel equipped submarine. Each container, trimmed to neutral buoyancy, concealed a V2. Upon reaching the start location, the containers would be trimmed to a vertical position, and the rockets launched"

 

[steviejay]

heh I thought that but I was thinking more along the lines of V1 after I saw a show once talking about sub launched V1's but I didn't think that would be right because it was an airforce map?

 

[privatehudson]

I've heard of that plan before. I don't believe those containers were ever tested to see if they would work. Coupled with the fact that it's uncertain whether the Germans even had a nuclear weapon and the fact that the U-Boats found it virtually impossible to approach the US coastline by that date it's clear that the plan was nothing more than wishful thinking. If you also consider just how little the different arms of the Reich's military liked working together and how much of a mess Germany was at the time then... well let's just say New York didn't have to worry too much.

Rather reminds me of the German map in my local town hall which shows all the key military and governmental sites in Birkenhead. The fact that the Germans never even attempted Sealion let alone got to near Liverpool clearly didn't stop them planning for what they would do if they did pull it off.

 

[Admiral Kutzov]

the soviets tested the plan, but then made the logical step of putting the rockets in the sub

Coupled with the fact that it's uncertain whether the Germans even had a nuclear weapon and the fact that the U-Boats found it virtually impossible to approach the US coastline by that date it's clear that the plan was nothing more than wishful thinking. If you also consider just how little the different arms of the Reich's military liked working together and how much of a mess Germany was at the time then... well let's just say New York didn't have to worry too much.

I know. Thought the Luftwaffe map might throw a fun curve. hitler and his wishful thinking is what makes this interesting

 

[meisen]

I'd read of the German bombers and missiles that were under design to strike directly at America, but I don't think I've heard of the u-boats towing missile containers plan before. Interesting stuff.

 

[Adler17]

Indeed a type XXI Uboat should bring such a container into range, fire the missile and then retreat after sinking the empty container. One was being built in the last days in Elbing IIRC. But it had to be scrapped when the Russians came. However considering the abilities of the type XXI boats I can only think that such an attack would have been possible even without being a suicide mission. Also the next step, to build missile carrying Uboats, would be possibly made if the war did not end.
Another weapon was the A9/A10 missile, a two step intercontinental missile with a conventional war head. This missile was planned but not constructed. Although the abilities should have been enough to hit at least the US east coast.
Another system was the so called Amerikabomber, a long range strategic bomber which should bomb the US territory. One of the prototypes made a voyage to a point several km before NY. It should have been the only intercontinental flight by the German Luftwaffe since after the invasion the operating base was lost.

Adler

 

[steviejay]

the Amerikabomber is the one I was thinking about I knew it was called something like that

 

[privatehudson]

So...

If the Germans had a nuclear weapon and...
If the Germans had managed to put the weapon into the warhead of a V2 and...
If they had managed to extend the war long enough to test the firing process suggested and...
If they had also managed to train enough crews on the type XXIs and new delivery systems and...
If the various arms of the Nazi war machine had actually bothered to co-operate to bring this all together and...
If the said type XXI's had avoided the various allied countermeasures (not least of which would be Enigma)

New York would have come under nuclear attack.

Doesn't sound like a close run thing to me

As for normal V2s being fired at New York I don't see that changing the course of the war much. They didn't exactly have a decisive effect when they were fired at London. Other than toughening American resolve and causing initial panic it would have just been one more desperate throw of the dice by a dying regime.

 

[meisen]

The Germans didn't get very close to building nukes from what I've read. I think they went down a dead end development path. The others, 2 stage rocket, long range bomber, sub launched rocket, etc. wouldn't have helped them as much as good defensive fighters and an easy to make, but powerful tank would have.

 

[Adler17]

Meisen, the V 2 was not able to be intercepted at that times, so was the A9/ A10.

Adler

 

[Admiral Kutzov]

meisen, methinks you're up for the next question

 

[privatehudson]

Meisen, the V 2 was not able to be intercepted at that times, so was the A9/ A10.

Adler

That wasn't his point, he was saying that the Nazis would have been better producing more Panthers and FW190s than spending extreme amounts of resources, manpower, production and research on projects that almost never came about and perhaps more importantly when they were used had virtually no impact on the outcome of the war.

 

[meisen]

Meisen, the V 2 was not able to be intercepted at that times, so was the A9/ A10.

Adler

That wasn't his point, he was saying that the Nazis would have been better producing more Panthers and FW190s than spending extreme amounts of resources, manpower, production and research on projects that almost never came about and perhaps more importantly when they were used had virtually no impact on the outcome of the war.

That's what I thinking (thanks PH).

meisen, methinks you're up for the next question

I'll see what I can come up with.

 

[meisen]

I am a ship of one country, but named for another. I set a record where in 12 days I destryed 6 other [weapons platforms].

What is my name, what navy did i sail for and what was the [weapons platforms] I destroyed that set the record I made.

(A weapons platforn in this instance can be an aircraft, a ship, a land fighting unit/installation, basicly something containing weaponry - I'm being vague so as not to give too much away )

 

[Admiral Kutzov]

Korean conflict?

 

[meisen]

Korean conflict?

No, it's WW2. May, 1944. Maybe I should add a few more hints.

While I wrote I was named after a country, that was not really true. I was named after a person who had the same surname as another country was called. That country is no longer considered a country anymore, but is part of a larger country now.

I'm not very large or fast and have a lot of sisters.

 

[Admiral Kutzov]

well u've confused me.

 

[meisen]

well u've confused me.

Sorry about that. I edited the part about the country with the same name as the ship.

 

[Adler17]

USS England?

Adler

 

[Admiral Kutzov]

a jeep carrier? Manila Bay or some such? that's not right. the sisters are the key.