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I thought Neptune's Inferno was a great read - there is an interesting series of descriptions of some of the CL capabilities that made me wonder if the problem with the white shoes fleet was a mistake in defining throw weight as the weight of shells in a single salvo. After reading NI it seems like throw weight should have had a time component IE total shell weight * salvos per minute. Some of that close range night fighting stuff in Iron Bottom it sounded like lighting up an enemy heavy with dozens of smaller caliber (6in <edited to correct as witpqs pointed out>) hits to the superstructure at close range was a really effective way of pulling their teeth - Yeah they remained underway without speed reduction and with hull integrity but had no fire control, no comm, or command. Those CLs seemed pretty well suited for that late 42 knife-fighting type work when night engagement ranges were going to neuter CA armor advantage and the slower fire rate of the 8in became an issue. Everyone prepped for Jutland II, no one thought about nasty, close, confused.

Ah the insight available to an arm chair analyst.

No matter what the technical aspect is; all of those guys had balls the size of church bells. First time would be easy (Glory! Honor! Country!), going back again for another round: holy shit we don't make a lot of people like that anymore.

Also interesting the bursting of the Sullivan brother propaganda myth(s)...

Which CLs are you talking about - the ones with rapid fire 6" guns or the CLAA types with many 5" guns?

sorry should have been the rapid 6 in 47 caliber (and a bit of a cheat to call them light cruisers really Helena displace 14000 tons fully loaded)

ORIGINAL: Argos

sorry should have been the rapid 6 in 47 caliber (and a bit of a cheat to call them light cruisers really Helena displace 14000 tons fully loaded)

I know - I keep searching for a good word/short phrase to group the USN CAs with the Brooklyn/St. Louis/Cleveland CLs - "10,000 tonners" is the best I've gotten so far. (Yes, I'm trying to rule out both the Omahas and the Atlanta/Oakland CLAAs-in-all-but-hull-code.)

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

So I go to the bookstore to spend my gift certificate my son gave me for father's day...and I pick up Neptune's Inferno....about the naval battles of Guadalcanal. So I'm all stoked and then I see SG in line behind me with two copies of Penthouse Letters...and I know I'm not going to be able to read the thing for a while........<insert angry face here>

OK. Please allow me to summarize Neptune's Inferno for you, that you may return to your (ahem...) more important PHL responsibilities.

1. Battle of Savo Island: BANZAI! BANZAI!
2. Battle of Cape Esperance: MEH! [with feeling!]
3. First Naval battle of Guadalcanal: Meh.
4. Second Naval battle of Guadalcanal: Hip, hip hooray!
5. Battle of Tassafaronga: BANZAI! BANZAI!

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

ORIGINAL: Argos

sorry should have been the rapid 6 in 47 caliber (and a bit of a cheat to call them light cruisers really Helena displace 14000 tons fully loaded)

I know - I keep searching for a good word/short phrase to group the USN CAs with the Brooklyn/St. Louis/Cleveland CLs - "10,000 tonners" is the best I've gotten so far. (Yes, I'm trying to rule out both the Omahas and the Atlanta/Oakland CLAAs-in-all-but-hull-code.)

The USN coined the designation CB [Cruiser, BIG] to describe the 27,000 ton Alaska class. Perhaps the 10,000 ton CLs could be described as CLBs. The "B" could mean burly, bruisin', brutal, badass, or whatever other B word you deem appropriate!

6 Forts lost yesterday...uggh.

I cancelled all the air attacks on Koepang today. The carriers will move about 5 hexes out so that Colorado can bombard tomorrow evening. This means the Vals at Koepang may attack. CAP set at 60-80% over the carriers. There are also unkown aircraft in the Lesser Sundas. Still JJ transports at Endeh

Air drop on Lautem today.

Admiral Lord SPrior:

Re. assembling forces for Sumatra, almost all the quality AP's are at Sydney. We are short of escorts but there are 4 USN DD's that will be done with their upgrade in 4 days.

I started loading Br 18th and some arty at Darwin aboard 17-19 kt tranpsorts. You could send them all the way to Ceylon or reload them at Sydney.

Aus 6 and 7th Div are still repairing disabled squads.

FYI that transport taffy I sent to South Africa arrived so I started them loading 29th Brig for Ceylon

One of the CVE's near Sydney can escort the 18th Div taffy

Fleet Admiral Mandrake,
Seal Cub Club,
Bali High

My Dearest Manders,

It is with some sense of loss that I have to tell you that Miss Fay Dingway has returned to Blighty. For reasons I can't begin to fathom her and Ffiona just did not see eye to eye.

However Ffiona has helped me find a much more competent typist, Mrs Liilian Lovelever. Apperently her husband was a big knob in the city but has now been drafted to the Ministry of Economic Warfare and sent out here to study the loss of the DEI on the Japanese war effort.

Meanwhile to support operations in South East Asia we will need the RN returned to British operational control so that we don't end up with 5 Divisions trapped around Palembang. We're thinking that Georgetown might be the place to go next although we're still not sure how to neutralise Singers.

Speaking of hare-brained schemes, did you see that Adolf has tried to blow up Winnie with exploding chocolate? Next you'll be telling me a single bomb can destroy a whole city! Ha ha.

Yours at cellar temperature

Admiral Lord SPrior, VD, Scab, Scar and Bar

Mrs Liilian Lovelever

Perhaps Ms. Lovelever is the great Aunt of Linda Lovelace?

Pictures from a past life number 1

Planesmen's steering position on HMS Resolution:

Note that they're not in working rig and that the Chief in the after planes position is reaching for the emergency bang-bang planes control!

Part 2. This is Launcher, the launch control positiona d where I worked. When this pic was taken there were no live weapons loaded. Also not the orifice (sorry officer) in his blues. Those guys must be really short...

Pic 3. Slop jockey. Looks like brekkers

Pic3 Missile Control Centre, fire control computers straight from Voyage to th bottom of the Sea

Another view of the Missile Compartment

Alongside at Port Canaveral

Ref Part 2 -looks like Ed Norton before Rounders fame there on the left...

ORIGINAL: sprior

Part 2. This is Launcher, the launch control positiona d where I worked. When this pic was taken there were no live weapons loaded. Also not the orifice (sorry officer) in his blues. Those guys must be really short...

That is an awfully old looking Sub Lt. (Ensign)

ORIGINAL: sprior

Part 2. This is Launcher, the launch control positiona d where I worked. When this pic was taken there were no live weapons loaded. Also not the orifice (sorry officer) in his blues. Those guys must be really short...

I think that is Jesus working the instrument panel...judging from the shoes I mean.

My guess is he sabotoges the whole works on moral grounds if it really needs to be fired.

Is (was) she a Poseidon or a Trident boat?