Exercise Rhine in 2009

AS I will have the Yamato I would like to film this historic event.

 

Posting some info on the ships.
Here is what I have been able to come up with from my sources.
Conways, Garzke, and the Anatomy of the ships stuff.

Bismarck BB
6.5 units 31 knots = 29 seconds (100') 1 unit pump = 1.25 gpm

Prinz Eugen CA
3.5 units 32.5 knots = 28 seconds 1 unit (or .5) pump = .75 gpm.

Prince of Wales BB
6 units 28 knots = 32 seconds 1 unit pump = 1.25 gpm

Hood BC
6 units 32 knots = 28 seconds (#) 1 unit pump = 1 gpm
31 knots = 29 seconds (*)

Note.
# is if she is in as-completed configuration 32 knots.
* is if she is in 1941 configuration. It appears that her max speed dropped down to 31 knots. We are still digging, but this would cost her a second in speed, if it is the case.
Mikey

 

If we do a scenario that will allow the two British cruisers to participate, then here is what Conways lists for them..

Suffolk CA
3 units 31 knots = 29 seconds .75 gpm pump

Norfolk CA
3 units 32 knots = 28 seconds .75 gpm pump

Mikey

 

Hey, what would the speed, unit allotment be for the Graf spee class? also, are there any treaty groups in the CT, RI, MA area?

 

The Graf Spee is 28 knots, so 32 seconds. We don't presently have anyone up in the NE area that I know of, although there is a Canadian treaty group which might be closer then Bob and I down in PA...

 

hI Guys,I have been reading this with much interest,I think you have come up with a great idea!! I hope you will be able to get all the ships involved ready for battle that would be out of this world !!
Hey little of topic but would the treaty group be interested in doing a battle with the BBS? Being I am not able to get on Yahoo have you guys set up any dates for your events yet?
Buddy friend

 

You should be on there Buddy, but I'll go check the membership listing right now.

 

Hmm it shows you as bouncing for some reason, I imagine that's why it says you can't get on. I'm not sure exactly what the bouncing means...perhaps your email address has changed.

As for a battle with the BBS, Mikey D out there in Dayton is probably the guy to get in touch with, he's done all of our battle scheduling out in the OH area.

 

Thanks Mike I am trying to look into , I was wondering what date syou guys came up with so I could try to attend some. I am building a new Oregon City cruiser and would be interested in streching it sea legs. Also looking at haveing a open battle for any one that would like to attend.

 

I dont think we've really talked about dates next year except the operation Rheinubung, but that's supposed to be on the anniversary of the battle of Denmark Straigts.

 

Mike is correct.
We have not started on our event schedule for 2009 except for the Denmark Straits event. Which is the weekend of May 23.

We do not currently have a club in the N.E., but we are hoping to have an event in that region next year so that we can have an event with our friends up in Canada.
We will post more on that if the events developes.

As to the pocket-battleships in Treaty.. I will start a new thread.
Mikey

 

Mikey,
I think we should invite the Empire State Battle Group to battle between sorties. Thoughts?
Thanks,

 

I thought the exercise rhein event was supposed to happen between our sorties at this event?

 

I talked to Mikey and he feels that we can do all, Treaty, Rhine and Empire. We were thinking that the Rhine exercise would be 2 sorties.

 

What ships are ready for the event or are being built?
Thanks,

 

We have spoken to Tom, and he has invited us out to his battle site in Xenia, Ohio over Memorial Day weekend for our Exercise Rhine event.
Although I am a little behind schedule on my new Hood build, she will be ready for the event, and will be taking station in the Denmark Straits just in case the Germans attemp to break out.
Mikey

 

All
I was reading that when the captain of the Bismarck realized that he had run into the Hood in the Denmark Straits, he was a little shaken.
It appears that all of the war-games, and drills had been based on an engagement with the Hood.
Mikey

 

Mikey,
That's what I'd read too. The German crews thought they'd met their most dangerous opponent . The Royal Navy was well aware of the deficiencies in Hood's armour distribution but it wasn't public knowledge. Hood actually had lots of armour but it was not distributed in optimum fashion.
A detailed ballistic analysis by M. Jurens in a 1980s 'Warship International' article suggested the fatal hit more likely went through the thin upper side armour strake than the main deck. The range had closed enough that plunging fire was no longer a big danger, which was why Admiral Holland had just ordered the 20 degree turn to port to unmask the aft turrets.
Bob

 

Bob I have the documentry where they dive to the wreck of Hood and the damage shows it was a deck hit that was her down fall. It is a great documentry it is called Hood vs Bismarck.

 

Chris,
I saw a computer generated recreation of the Hood vs Bismarck battle on the History Channel. If I remember correctly, it was reported that the deck was penetrated. However, there is no physical evidence that the fatal shot went through the deck. The only definite deck hit was one early in the action from Prinz Eugen. That one started a major fire in the ready use ammo lockers for the 4" guns and Unrotated Projectiles (AA rockets).
I have the book published by the company that discovered and surveyed Hood's wreck, using ROVs. The hull is in 3 widely separated large sections plus many thousands of smaller pieces in two huge debris fields. The bow is lying on its port side with extensive implosion damage visible on the starboard side. The stern is upright at about 45 degrees to the bottom with the rudder set for a 20 degree turn to port. The deck planking is intact from where it curved against the aft part of Y turret's barbette to the stern, but about 50' of the hull beneath the planking is missing with obvious explosion damage to the forward part of the stern remnant. Large sections of plating were blown outward and curve aft.
The biggest hull section is from amidships but it's lying upside down with most of the deck hidden in sediment in a huge impact crater. That section starts at A turret but ends far ahead of where the fatal hit would have occurred. At least a couple of hundred feet of hull is missing between the end of the amidships remnant and the stern remnant. That huge section of hull was completely obliterated by the magazine explosion.
Because of that the surveyors wrote that it was impossible to determine where the fatal hit landed, or whether it went through the deck or upper hull side. No physical evidence of the actual impact site remains. All of this is discussed in detail on the HMS Hood Association's website. Well worth a visit.
Bob