Wonders of Destruction, 2004 Edition

[nonconformist]

The Rodney sank (allegedly) the Bismarck didn't it? What was that, a battlecruiser?

 

[Mikoyan]

I always thought the Bismarck was torpedoed by a Swordfish naval bomber.

 

[stormbind]

Was the Hood but a battlecruiser?

Yes. It was the last in the line Royal Sovereign battlecruisers.

HMS Hood had some improvements, but it's like comparing Supermarine Spitfire Mk5 with Supermarine Spitfire Mk7... both are just Spitfires.

Hood was a battlecruiser. The word "just" doesn't bellong in there because Battlecruisers were awsome specialist warships... but no bloody good for going toe-to-toe with battleships or dreadnoughts dammit!!

/2nd rant

 

[stormbind]

---

Bismark was thourally smacked by the entire Royal Navy. A swordfish crippled the rudder which was the nail in the coffin.

 

[nonconformist]

Miko-Plenty of debate: it could have been a Swordfish torpedo, indeed as you said, or one of the many ships chasing the Bismarck could have torpedod her, or blown her up, and there is even a rumour a sailor aboard turned open the bowcocks (I think) to scuttle her.

 

[stormbind]

Well, the most commonly accepted theory is that a swordfish wrecked the rudder and the Royal Navy bombarded the crippled ship for hours. With no hope of escape, the captain then scuttled it.

 

[CurtSibling]

The Bismarck went down, guns blazing. (well, jammed really)

I read a book about the Hood and Bismarck - Tragic stuff about the crews on those boats.

Looking beyond the factions they fought for, the sailors on both ships were unsung heros...

 

[Mikoyan]

Continuing on the naval theme, here is a nice, and relatively new photo of one of China's two Sovremenny class destroyers. This one is named "Fuzhou". The first of two new "Type 956" destroyers for China are being built in St. Petersburg, with upgraded AA capabilities.

 

[nonconformist]

Personally, I think it disgraceful that the British left thousands of sailors to drown. I think it would have been worth picking them up, because though there was a reported U-boat in the area, I doubt it would have fired on a craft full of their comrades.

 

[CurtSibling]

Personally, I think it disgraceful that the British left thousands of sailors to drown. I think it would have been worth picking them up, because though there was a reported U-boat in the area, I doubt it would have fired on a craft full of their comrades.

I read the RN admiral ordered German men flung back in, which the Brit sailors done, with angry tears in their eyes.

It is considered very bad luck for a sailor to fling back a rescued man, no matter if he is the enemy.

The British ratings refused their gin ration that night as a protest against the brutal orders of the brass.

But I suppose there was no rescue for the lads on the Hood though.

That is the horror of war.

 

[stormbind]

Dunno. How far would Nazi command go to prevent capture?

 

[nonconformist]

But Curt-the men of the Hood died instantly. Thousands of sailors were floating around for hours. I can't begin to imagine the horror.

 

[CurtSibling]

Did you read my post?

I said the sailors in the Hood did not even get a chance to be rescued.
They died in a flash - That was my point...

 

[CurtSibling]

Dunno. How far would Nazi command go to prevent capture?

The German navy abandoned the Bismarck, as no E-boats or U-boats were near the area...

 

[nonconformist]

Your post was confusing and amiguous. It could have meant:
"They died in the flash"
or
"No-one bothered saving them.".

 

[stormbind]

Well. Pretty sick. The whole thing. War should be used to prevent loss of life, nothing else justifies it. To intentionally make things worse is unacceptable. I'm surprised the sailors didn't mutiny - assuming the story is true.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

noncon, considering the nature of the Hood's destruction, it should be obvious what Curt meant...

I echo other posters here; the tale of the Hood and the Bismark is a sobering story of the horrors of war...

I appreciate the respect that the sailors deserve, however this thread was created in a lighthearted mindset and I would respectfuly suggest that we forge ahead in a lighthearted manner. This sobering discussion is for another thread.

 

[CurtSibling]

Your post was confusing and amiguous. It could have meant:
"They died in the flash"
or
"No-one bothered saving them.".

Dude, I meant the Germans at least survived to some extent,
compared to the tragic manner of the Hood crew's deaths.

I would hardly take lightly the death of a ship built in my own town, would I?

 

[nonconformist]

Apart from the hundred or so sailors rescued by surrounding ships, only three other lucky sailors found a life-device, and swam to safety.
If I rember correctly, all German units in the area were ordered to not, under any circumstances, approach the Bismarck.
Also, the British policy of rescuing U-boat survivors disgusts me. If none of the sailors complied to give the U-boat number and commander, they were not to be saved. They literally threw sailors back into the sea. It makes me sick.

and miguous above should have read ambiguous.

 

[CurtSibling]

Well. Pretty sick. The whole thing. War should be used to prevent loss of life, nothing else justifies it. To intentionally make things worse is unacceptable. I'm surprised the sailors didn't mutiny - assuming the story is true.

The story was told by the rescuing ship's bridge captain, IIRC.

I was not making judgements, just being saddened at the nature of the tale.

There is no glamour in naval war...