The Atlantic Fleet in the Pacific after Pearl..

[delcyros]

The german navy faced similar problems with its early torpedos with magnetic pistols. During the Norway campaign approx. 70-85% were duds. All torpedos were fitted with those new magnetic pistols. This was an exceptional worse performance during a critical time. The heavy KM units saved the day for the subs but for some unpleasent losses ( 10 DD, half of the KM destroyer fleet.). It should be noted that two submarines patrolled the harbour and intercepted the RN fleet (destroyer + BB Warspite) but all of the 6 fired torpedos were duds! Even the second attack (4 torpedos on Warspite) after the RN force sunk the KM destroyers failed due to torpedo duds.
This resulted in the complete removal of magnetic pistols until late 1941 when improved (and reliable) magnetic pistols became avaiable. I suspect that the USN faced similar problems, somehow.
Eventually the US succeeded in improved torpedos by mid 43, but in this timeframe they still were average at best.

[Jabberwocky]

If USS Wasp was deployed in the Pacific instead of in the Atlantic, its quite possible that Malta could of been lost, and with it one of the most sucessful bastions of British resistance in the Mediterranean.

When HMS Eagle lost her steering gear in April, Wasp was able to step in and more than fill the slot, delivering some 106 Spitfires in two operations, compared to the 30 or so that Eagle delivered in 3 operations. Without these deliveries, Malta couldn't of mounted an effective fighter defence (some 600 Axis aircraft were lost between March and December 1942 over Malta), and probably would of been subject to an invasion from Sicily. Even as it was, the Spitfires were hard pressed and outnumbered by the Luftwaffe and Reggia Aeronautica.

[pbfoot]

i think we are overdoing the importance of Radar during the second war it definitely saved the Brits bacon in the BoB but these were fixed positions and easily surveyed and a new weapon but radar was primitive with no electronic enhancements that discriminated between moving and stationary objects I'm quite sure that they were labour intensive and power draining on the electric systems on a/c.

And a question for Lanc what cooled the water that was used to cool the H2S Radar in the lanc?

[syscom3]

Originally Posted by pbfoot

i think we are overdoing the importance of Radar during the second war it definitely saved the Brits bacon in the BoB but these were fixed positions and easily surveyed and a new weapon but radar was primitive with no electronic enhancements that discriminated between moving and stationary objects I'm quite sure that they were labour intensive and power draining on the electric systems on a/c.

And a question for Lanc what cooled the water that was used to cool the H2S Radar in the lanc?

Ummmm........... you cant be joking are you?



Note - PPI radars were invented during the second world war and used in many applications.

[pbfoot]

No I quite serious PPI is one thing keeping it up and running in top shape would be a full time job for a new and developing secret technology that was called RDF they had radar but fairly basic with few bells or whistles probably nothing to remove clutter or preciptation each system would have its own oddities as for training competent operators it was more then likely a learn as you use. At the same point in time they were still unable to construct what we would consider good radios

[MP-Willow]

Jabberwocky, I will agree the Wesp saved Malta, though it should have fallen with all the attation it got, and then why was it left so long in English hands?

Also the Wasp was bigger and faster I think. As you said it delivered a lot more aircraft in shorter stips, but did take a good bit of abouse getting to and from Malta