The Drydock - Episode 331

Fathom = 6 feet. Grog is rum, typically served 2-3 parts water to every part rum. Cage were introduced, ostensibly to save weight. However the lattice or (cage masts) flexed and bent and did not meet reqirments.

Capitano Lorenzo

What is a fanthom? What is grog. Why did IS battleships have cage masts?

john c driscoll

What are the pros and cons of a Tumblehome design? There was a lot of apprehension about using it for the recent Zumwalt Class given the mixed track record historically but so far that ship seems to be successful in terms of stability. What lessons have naval designers learned about this hull form? I know it’ll never happen but the concept of a nuclear-powered, railgun-equipped, stealth battleship based on a scaled up Zumwalt hull lives rent free in my mind.

Samuel

Q&A: Strafing runs? The effectiveness of strafing runs against ground targets during WW2 is well documented. Were strafing runs effective against naval targets at sea? Obviously a planes machine guns and cannons won’t penetrate armor but surely they would cause deck casualties and chaos. Why do we not often hear about strafing runs after the main ordinance is dropped?

IRRITABLE BOWEL from BF 1942

Time flies...

Ted Jones

Waow, what a banner change on your YouTube channel Drachinifel!

Robert Hilton

Let's do the time warp again

Packer910

For a future Drydock: when navies have been at peace for a long period, or at least not involved in large scale combat operations, Admirals necessarily rise based on criteria other than success with significant combat commands. Is there any evidence, pro or con, that navies do a good job of promoting people who turn out to be effective combat leaders when a bigger war comes along?

Greg M

Q&A: In Friedman’s “US Cruisers” (p. 245, 478) it is stated that the first two Cleveland class, CL-55 and CL-56, were originally ordered in 1939 to an 8000-ton design that was in compliance with the Second London Naval Treaty. Armament was to be 10-6in/47 dual purpose guns in five twin turrets (no secondaries except twenty 1.1in). If it is assumed that the DP armament had been available and performed as planned, how do you think this design would have compared in WWII service to the actual as-built Clevelands? E.g., would they have suffered from the same “lack of margin” problem as the Colony Class cruisers?

Wow we’re already on the 331

Alec Hruby