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Allied DC

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:36 am
by Ursa MAior
I remember in one of my first really detailed book of US CVs (Squadron/Signal US aircraft carriers in acion Part I), there was something like a page devoted to the loss of Lady Lex. Basically she (and Wasp) have sunk the same way as many japanese carriers did. Hit by submarine torps while refueling craft. The book cited a DC specialist who advised the filling of the refueling pipes with CO2 while under attack. It was stated there too that the adoptation of this method took some time use (even if it was used at Midway on the Yorktown). Other methods (like training the whole crew in DC) were also used only from summer of 42 extensively.

This or that way allied DC started to be superior due to the evaluation of the early war accidents (something the IJN was never really capable of).

Based on the above (not 100% researched) opinion my question would be whether a different allied DC superirity would be included.

1. like Zero bonus getting better with time to a maximum (current level) at say 01/06/1942
2. affecting all allied (french, aussie, british, dutch, US merchant) ships

THX in advance.

Edited for spelling

RE: Allied DC

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:12 am
by herwin
This was a national and service difference--a willingness to look at the evidence and act on it. Sometimes, it didn't happen--e.g. American torpedoes--for a while or at all. In the IJN, DC was a low-status speciality, and so wasn't emphasised in training/exercises. The same thing still happens.

Treat it as a crew characteristic influenced (strongly) by leadership and culture.

RE: Allied DC

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:08 pm
by Shark7
Another good question is about engineering of the ships. As allied ship construction got better did the durability of those ships also increase? And if so, could that have had a direct effect on the effectiveness of US DC?

RE: Allied DC

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:54 pm
by herwin
ORIGINAL: Shark7

Another good question is about engineering of the ships. As allied ship construction got better did the durability of those ships also increase? And if so, could that have had a direct effect on the effectiveness of US DC?

It actually got worse in the RN. I'm not sure how many of the lessons learnt got back to the American naval shipyards in time for 1945. American DC was effective because commanders took it seriously. It was not as important to IJN commanders--a defensive rather than offensive concern.

RE: Allied DC

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:44 pm
by Bearcat2
Some US Navy Damage reports: they give an example of the US Navy mindset concerning the importance of damage control.
http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/cgi-bin/WarSummary.cgi

RE: Allied DC

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:53 pm
by herwin
ORIGINAL: Termite2

Some US Navy Damage reports: they give an example of the US Navy mindset concerning the importance of damage control.
http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/cgi-bin/WarSummary.cgi

Declassified in 1994? By that time, how long had the Soviet Union had copies? I seem to recall we had copies of the Soviet copies... 8)

RE: Allied DC

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:33 pm
by Ursa MAior
I found it. Ronald H Spector: At war, at sea.

In 1942 there was only 9 DC schools running which was supported by another 12 in 1943. Acording to Spector allied DC got in highest speed in 1944 bringing examples of kamis hitting DDs which survives against serious dmg.