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Changing Destiny (Kancolle)

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I did read 'Neptune's Inferno' by James D Hornfischer (who also wrote Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors), and would recommend them to anyone interested. I would have to agree that the Battle for Guadalcanal was a pretty brutal slugfest...

I am, however, reading 'The Fleet at Flood Tide' right now...
 
baofengyu said:
I did read 'Neptune's Inferno' by James D Hornfischer (who also wrote Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors), and would recommend them to anyone interested. I would have to agree that the Battle for Guadalcanal was a pretty brutal slugfest...

I am, however, reading 'The Fleet at Flood Tide' right now...
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I have to absolutely second Neptune's Inferno and Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors. I'll also pitch Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway about Midway, and I recently read John R. Satterfield's Saving Big Ben about USS Franklin, which is superb.
 
SisterJeanne said:
I have to absolutely second Neptune's Inferno and Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors. I'll also pitch Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway about Midway, and I recently read John R. Satterfield's Saving Big Ben about USS Franklin, which is superb.
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I've read Shattered Sword, very good book. I would also recommend Japan 1941 for a glimpse of what was going on in Japan leading up to the war. Makes one wonder what would have happened if the Japanese took the US offer over Manchuria...

In addition, 'Ship of Ghosts' and 'Tin Can Titans' are also on my reading list.

I am curious as to when a shipgirl is able to manifest per see. Does she begin to take form when she is being constructed? Or when her first crew come aboard?

As an interesting side note, one of my nephews met and interviewed one of the survivors from the USS Vestal at Pearl Harbor...She is looking for the interview footage that was shot...I'll link to it when I find out when it gets uploaded.
 
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SisterJeanne said:
IIRC one of the USN cruisers, maybe Helena was actually having to elevate her guns to have them reach their loading angles.
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That just brings to mind the scene of guns depressed so low that, in a roll, the shells outright slide out and drop in the water. :rofl:

*sliiiiide-plop*

". . . FUCK!"

"Does that fall under 'performance issues', or incontinence?"

"Bite me."
 
maes said:
That just brings to mind the scene of guns depressed so low that, in a roll, the shells outright slide out and drop in the water. :rofl:

*sliiiiide-plop*

". . . FUCK!"

"Does that fall under 'performance issues', or incontinence?"

"Bite me."
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why this reminds me of Arpeggio's movie where Hiei tried to shoot at Iona by tilting her hull to the side where her guns were pre-aimed?
 
While the mental image of shells falling from the gun is funny (have a Funny, btw), the cartridge that contains the shell is slightly bigger than the barrel, so it would prevent the shell from falling.

Humm... I'm not sure at which caliber shell and propellant are seperate, but I think that even 8 inch shells have a cartridge that contains the shell and the propellant. <checks> Nope. 8 inch guns use shell+silk bags... USS Helena mounted 6 inch guns which <checks more> had also seperate shell from the propellant.

It could happen, but I suppose the designers took steps to prevent that.
 
Mega1987 said:
why this reminds me of Arpeggio's movie where Hiei tried to shoot at Iona by tilting her hull to the side where her guns were pre-aimed?
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Well, they did similar with one of the USN BBs providing fire support at Normandy after the troops moved inland. Drove her as close as possible to shore then deliberately induced a list to artificially raise the shore-ward side of the ship to elevate her guns past the theoretical maximum. Ok, I looked it up, it was USS Texas.
 
Yeah, from memory they flooded her starboard torpedo bulge to get the necessary elevation (2 or 4 degrees, can't remember which). That and her direct fire support at Omaha are my favourite actions of hers
 
I recently read the Books "Pacific Crucible" and "The Conquering Tide" By an Ian W Toll can't remember all the details but, Apparently the US navy's Island hopping
strategy had infuriated more than a few Japanese commanders because it had offended their Bushido Sensibilities. Also due to the fact that Many of them were left isolated on their island outposts .
 
UbeOne said:
That clearly meant the strategy was working as intended. :V
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Verily. You want the enemy out of their comfort zone, if they want a Decisive Battle, you deny it to them, and if said strategy infuriates them, even better: an angry enemy is an enemy that makes mistakes, which you can exploit.
 
A perfect example of the Island hopping strategy would be the raid on Rabaul. the USN used multiple fighter sweeps on the area to clear the skies of Japanese aircraft that could interfere with future operations .Afterwards, carrier based dive and torpedo bombers then attacked the now vulnerable ships and ground facilities stationed there.

In response Japanese forces from surrounding outposts were sent to reinforce Rabaul. This simply caused them to play right onto their opponents hands. The surrounding outposts now low on manpower were soon seized by Allied forces and Rabaul was left to wither on the vine. The men now stationed at the naval base were now imprisoned there and would constantly be on edge waiting for an attack that never came.
 
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Joyful_Overkill said:
A perfect example of the Island hopping strategy would be the raid on Rabaul. the USN used multiple fighter sweeps on the area to clear the skies of Japanese aircraft that could interfere with future operations .Afterwards, carrier based dive and torpedo bombers then attacked the now vulnerable ships and ground facilities stationed there.

In response Japanese forces from surrounding outposts were sent to reinforce Rabaul. This simply caused them to play right onto their opponents hands. The surrounding outposts now low on manpower were soon seized by Allied forces and Rabaul was left to wither on the vine. The men now stationed at the naval base were now imprisoned there and would constantly be on edge waiting for an attack that never came.
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Not to mention that once they had withered enough the americans could send air raids against the island with barely more risk than to a training post so they used the japanese below as life-fire training for bomber crews something that gave them valuable experience but when one of those planes had the misfortune to crash in the island gave the survivors a very grimm fate as the impotent garrison took the months of terror and hunger out on their prisoners (and the hunger did make the japanese at Chichi Jima to eat captive crews).
 
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Joyful_Overkill said:
A perfect example of the Island hopping strategy would be the raid on Rabaul. the USN used multiple fighter sweeps on the area to clear the skies of Japanese aircraft that could interfere with future operations .Afterwards, carrier based dive and torpedo bombers then attacked the now vulnerable ships and ground facilities stationed there.

In response Japanese forces from surrounding outposts were sent to reinforce Rabaul. This simply caused them to play right onto their opponents hands. The surrounding outposts now low on manpower were soon seized by Allied forces and Rabaul was left to wither on the vine. The men now stationed at the naval base were now imprisoned there and would constantly be on edge waiting for an attack that never came.
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Didn't the same thing happen to Truk?
 
Thorthemighty said:
Didn't the same thing happen to Truk?
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I am inclined to say yes. though many more Islands held by the Japanese were simply bypassed.

EDIT: Sorry for the moment of silly :oops:

I Had to go back and check. Operation Hailstone(air raid on Truk) Was accomplished with the same tactics as those used against Rabual . While most of the warships stationed their had evacuated, US Navy still was able to destroy numerous auxiliary Vessels (oil tankers and cargo ships) and aircraft at Truk Lagoon. Afterwards like Rabaul, It was left to wither on the vine.
 
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Joyful_Overkill said:
I am inclined to say yes. though many more Islands held by the Japanese were simply bypassed.

EDIT: Sorry for the moment of silly :oops:

I Had to go back and check. Operation Hailstone(air raid on Truck) Was accomplished with the same tactics as those used against Rabual . While most of the warships stained their had evacuated, US Navy still was able to destroy numerous auxiliary Vessels (oil tankers and cargo ships) and aircraft at Truk Lagoon. Afterwards like Rabauls It was left to wither on the vine.
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Factually correct, but dude seriously. You've got to proofread your posts.
 
Alrighty, I still haven't finished part 3 completely, but decided to post what I have so far. Once again to the sands of North Africa and the British in Operation Crusader trying to pin down the Desert Cobra Heinz Guderian.

---0---
November 24th​ 1941

25 miles east of El Agheila

Richpal Ram of the 6th​ Rajputana Rifles woke to an aching leg and the prospect of another day eating the dust from the tanks pursuing the Germans. The only respite since the 19th​ being a scant few freezing hours each night for sleep after the infantry lorries, jeeps and universal carriers had caught up to the tanks.

"Your tea, Sir." Ram took the tin cup of tea and returned the salute from his adjutant. It was taking some time to get used to his recent promotion, brevet or not, and the regular British Army officers were cool to the idea of some jumped up Jemadar from the Indian Territorial Army getting brevetted a Leftenant Colonel in the British Army. He was cognizant though, that his promotion wouldn't have been necessary if not for that lucky artillery shell that had decapitated most of the 4th​ Indian Division's senior officers. His heroics in Abyssinia won him a VC and a leg wound that still left him with a pronounced limp, and in light of the loss of the unit's white officers, had led to him now holding the highest rank a mere native officer had ever achieved in the Regular Army.

Ram was under no illusion that his new rank was anything but temporary however. General Auchinleck just wouldn't be able to deny the quiet demands to shunt Ram back to the Territorial Army as soon the current battle was over and proper British officers could be assigned to the post.

"Leftenant Colonel Ram? General Ritchie is giving a briefing this morning and all regimental heads are required, sir." The young leftenant from Ritchie's staff saluted and then left to find the next regiment to inform.

"That is odd." Ram remarked.

"Sir?"

"Every morning since we started chasing down the Germans has started off with their panzers taking pot shots at our tanks. Who then take off and have a running fight, leaving us to spend the day catching up. But now General Ritchie has time for a briefing? Something is up captain. Muster the men and get them ready for combat."

He was almost the last into the briefing tent, but then General Ritchie loomed over the map and began. The Germans had cut and run during the night and a recce unit had seen them forting up at El Agheila.

"Clearly the Jerries have finally decided to stand and fight. Well now we shall give them the thrashing they deserve. We will approach El Agheila directly with the infantry in the center. The tanks shall be evenly divided to both flanks of the infantry. If possible the Grant tanks should be on the right flank towards the Benghazi road to link up with O'Connor's force. Reconnaissance indicates no reinforcements for Jerry from Benghazi, so obviously O'Connor has done his job so now we must finish ours!"

General Cunningham's expression was as if he had bitten something sour, but he said nothing. Scobie, de Villiers and their favorite tank colonels were grinning. General Godwin-Austen looked concerned.

"Sir? Did the scouts determine how much artillery support the Jerries have? My lads are going to be rather exposed coming right down the throat of the Germans and I'd rather not have to march through a rain of howitzer fire to be honest."

"Not to worry, most of the artillery would have been guarding Benghazi with the Italians. Make haste gents, I'm hoping to be dining in El Agheila when I notify General Auchinleck of our victory!"

Richpal Ram left the briefing and gave orders to his subordinates to get the 6th​ Rajputana Rifles mounted up into the column of the advance towards El Agheila. All the while wondering just how many letters he was going to have to write to families.

--0--

Tobruk, same day

Claude Auchinleck looked up from his correspondence as General Richard O'Connor walked into his office to give his report.

"Has Benghazi fallen that quickly?" Auchinleck asked appraisingly.

"The Germans kept running along the coast road. Just when we nearly caught them, they were able to meet up with an Italian division dug in and waiting for us. Each time we pushed them back, there was another dug in unit for them to leap-frog over. We got to within 80 miles of Benghazi Sir, but then we were facing two to three division of Italians, the Germans we were chasing and then the bloody Luftwaffe showed up. I gave the order to pull back. They were ready for me Sir, and I wasn't going to risk nearly half the army without air support." O'Connor's face was grim.

Auchinleck looked at him for a moment, paled, and then barked a command to the staff officer outside. "Get me Ritchie on the radio NOW!" As the young officer dashed to the communications room, Auchinleck rose. "I've been a fool Richard. Ritchie's no mongoose and I sent him chasing the Cobra to his lair. He has to pull back or I dread the consequences of him not."

The young officer returned. "Sorry General. But there's atmospheric interference and we can't raise General Ritchie Sir. The weather boffins say we might have a window in four hours or so."

"I see. Thank you." He turned to O'Connor. "Get your men rested Richard." Auchinleck then turned and slowly walked back into his office.

--0--

El Agheila, German HQ November 24th​

By 9AM the British Army had advanced to within sight of the German lines. Heinz Guderian observed their approach through his binoculars. From right to left he took in the approaching force. He sighed as he lowered the binoculars and turned to Hans Speidel.

"Here they come Hans. Just as I wish them too and they split their armor to the flanks to boot. They are brave and so many are going to die." A sad melancholy expression touches Guderian's face as he continues. "It is such a pity."

"It is Herr Generaloberst. Have the British learned nothing from the last war?"

"Apparently not." Guderian picks up a field telephone. "Major Schmidt? You may commence the barrage on grid squares 7-10 now." He turns back to Speidel and hands him the phone. "Have our dug in tanks and anti-tank guns target the left armor column while the forces dug in on the escarpment targets the right column. If the British advance their infantry through the artillery barrage, direct the mortars for continuous bombardment once they have the range."

"Any orders for the Stuka squadrons?"

"Tell the Luftwaffe and Balbo to keep air support on standby. We will wait until we need to use that particular nutcracker on a deserving nut."


-0-

So hopefully I have a couple days of away from the internet so I can probably get this finished finally!
 
Ouch, the tommies are going to get schooled in the art of strategic level ambushes, this is the kind of operations where motorized and armored recon units, especially the Long Range Desert Group, would have been useful to pinpoint the enemy's disposition.
 
BF110C4 said:
Ouch, the tommies are going to get schooled in the art of strategic level ambushes, this is the kind of operations where motorized and armored recon units, especially the Long Range Desert Group, would have been useful to pinpoint the enemy's disposition.
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shouldn't those groups already exist though
 
Spectre said:
shouldn't those groups already exist though
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They do, but it doesn't matter how good they are if the general in charge does not wait for the strategic report from the LRDG and the coronels in charge of the vanguard brigades don't use their own armored cars to at least explore where does the frontline begins.
 
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