lordroel
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Post by lordroel on May 19, 2022 17:26:28 GMT
Well so as the tittle says, Had the Montana-class been built, would the Iowa class be considered battlecruisers?. that is something Naval Institute Press asked after seeing Drachinifel YouTube clip about the Alaska class large-cruisers are not battlecruisers.
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Post by simon darkshade on May 20, 2022 8:34:19 GMT
Not really. They have some attributes, but we’re always written of as battleships even when the Montanas were contemplated.
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oscssw
Senior chief petty officer
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Post by oscssw on May 20, 2022 12:51:06 GMT
Not really. They have some attributes, but we’re always written of as battleships even when the Montanas were contemplated. I agree with Simon. I might be willing to call the Iowa's at 33 to 35 kts "Fast BBs" to the Montanna's 28 but definitely not Battlecruisers. They had far too much armor. During her 1968 shakedown cruise, USS New Jersey topped out at 35.2 kts and maintained it for for six hours.
Belt: 12.1 in Remember the belt is sloped armor that materially increases it's effectiveness.
Bulkheads: 11.3 in
Barbettes: 11.6 to 17.3 in Remember the Barbettes are round, that materially increases it's effectiveness.
Turrets: 19.5 in
Decks:
main 1.5 in
second 6.0 in
I once heard an anecdote about BBs off Okinawa and then Japan late WW II.
Ensign to his div CPO. Chief what do we do if one of those Japanese kamikaze's hit us? "The boats will pipe "Sweepers" and then we wash down the deck."
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1bigrich
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Post by 1bigrich on May 20, 2022 13:31:23 GMT
As Simon and Senior Chief say, they're not battlecruisers. They were fully intended to stand in the line-of-battle as well as being fast ships. I once heard an anecdote about BBs off Okinawa and then Japan late WW II.
Ensign to his div CPO. Chief what do we do if one of those Japanese kamikaze's hit us? "The boats will pipe "Sweepers" and then we wash down the deck."
As I recall, a Kamikaze hit Missouri off Japan. The plane itself did no damage to ship, but the pilot's body was thrown out of the cockpit by the impact and smashed a 40mm mount. Regards, |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Jun 3, 2022 15:18:53 GMT
I let Curator Ryan Szimanski of the Battleship USS New Jersey have his says on:
What Is a Battlecruiser and Is New Jersey One?
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jbg
Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Post by jbg on Oct 12, 2022 22:52:12 GMT
I must pile on with Simon and the Senior Chief. The Iowas redefined "fast" BB whereas the Montana's were a return to an homogenous 27 knot battle line.
Still, they would have been fine ships and a match at least for Yamato et al in a gunnery duel.
Jonathan
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