In a message dated 98-02-27 13:46:06 EST, riddleb@fhu.disa.mil (Bill Riddle)
writes

> Did anyone else recognize the name of the visiting engineer? Some of
> the most enjoyable fiction I have ever read were books by Nevil Shute.
> The most famous (and germane to this list) is “On the Beach.” His
> engineering expertise was apparent in his books.

Even more relevant — at least to this discussion — is his autobiography,
“Slide Rule”, which has an extensive discussion of the R100 vs R101
competition.

It should be noted that the R100 — the privately constructed version, built
to the same specifications, but not the same design, as the R101 — made a
round trip to Canada, with no particular problems. It was ordered scrapped
anyway after the R101 crash, which was seen by Shute (and many others ) as an
attempt to convince the British public that the R101 crashed because airships
were inherently unsafe, and not that the government had screwed up.

Mike Mullen

Can anyone provide the true status and condition of HMS CAROLINE, the First
World War cruiser that for many years has served as a Naval Reserve training
ship in Belfast? I have always found it puzzling that she receives so little
attention from naval historians and enthusiasts. CAROLINE is the last
survivor of the Grand Fleet and of the Battle of Jutland, but she is mentioned
only cursorily in books on preserved ships, and she has never been featured
(or, as far as I can remember, even mentioned) in “Warship” or “Warship
International.” I have never seen a photograph of the ship in her preserved
state. All this leads me to suspect that CAROLINE is more or less a gutted
hulk, and that there is a polite silence about her. I hope I am wrong.
Regards,
Keith Allen

In a message dated 98-02-26 13:01:39 EST, Tim Lanzendoerfer writes:

<< 2. Also, I'm looking for a book on naval weapons of the WWII area. I've tried to find something, but no luck. >>

The definitive book on the subject is John Campbell, Naval Weapons of World
War Two, published by Conway’s in 1985 and issued in this country by the Naval
Institute Press. It is a highly comprehensive work covering all navies, with
detailed coverage not just of the weapons themselves but of fire control,
turret operation, and the like. I doubt the Institute still has it, but it is
well worth looking for in the used-book market. I thought I also read
somewhere that a companion volume on naval weapons of the First World War was
in the works–does anyone know about this?

Norman Friedman’s U.S. Naval Weapons (1983), covering the period from the 1890
or so to the early eighties, is also excellent. Friedman’s book concentrates
on weapons evolution and the relation of strategy and tactics to technical
development, while Campbell’s is the best for detailed technical data and
descriptions. Together they should tell you just about anything you want to
know.

Regards,
Keith Allen

I’ll try once more – Glen

———-
> From: Glen Boren
> To: WWII-L@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU
> Subject: Re: International Naval research Organization (INRO) Web site
isup!!!
> Date: Thursday, February 26, 1998 3:24 PM
>
> Mr. Rowlett; Thanks for the URL on the INRO. Great site. Now I have a
> problem, while exploring the site, I came on to a picture of the USS
> Yorktown,(CV 10) in July 1943, going full astern, recovering aircraft.
Come
> on, you Yorktown vets, tell us why?
>
> ———-
> > From: Brooks A Rowlett
> > To: WWII-L@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU
> > Subject: International Naval research Organization (INRO) Web site is
> up!!!
> > Date: Thursday, February 26, 1998 1:00 AM
> >
> > I today received the latest issue of WARSHIP INTERNATIONAL, one of the
> > top three magazines in the world for naval vessel enthusiasts. There
> > was a slip enclosed, announcing that the International Naval Research
> > Organization (publishers of WI) now have a web site.
> >
> > The URL:
> >
> > http://www.primenet.com/~inro
> >
> > Membership Info, and some articles are already on line with more
> > planned:
> >
> > Warship International – Popular Articles already online:
> >
> > No. 1, 1994: “Loss of H.M.S. Glorious”
> > No. 3, 1990: “German Prinz Eugen”
> >
> > The following articles are in the process of being converted to
> > electronic format and will appear here
> > in the future.
> >
> > No. 2, 1993: “Bismarck’s Final Battle”
> > No. 2, 1993: “Soviet Sovetskii Souiz Class Battleships”
> > No. 2, 1990: “The Ring of Truth – USS Iowa”
> > No. 1, 1986: “Loss of H.M.S. Repulse and Prince of Wales”
> > No. 2, 1987: “Loss of H.M.S. Hood”
> > No. 3, 1983: “Development of ‘A’ Class Cruisers in the Imperial
> > Japanese Navy”, Part VI
> > No. 3, 1984: “Development of ‘A’ Class Cruisers in the Imperial
> > Japanese Navy”, Part VII
> >
> > Several photos are also already on line.
> >
> > There is much growth yet to happen, but this is an important and long
> > awaited naval site. Also, they seem to be on a very slow server, so
> > patience is required when accessing this site.
> >
> > -Brooks A Rowlett

Glen:

The short answer is that ESSEX-class CVs were originally designed to launch
and recover from either end. The photo you’ve seen is of YORKTOWN on trials,
recovering aircraft while steaming full astern as she was designed to do
(must have made conning her a bitch, though).

John Snyder
John_Snyder@bbs.macnexus.org

Hi!
I have three issue on which I would like your input.

1. I am searching for a good book (or plural, whatever is possible) on US Navy
bases, especially Pearl Harbor and advanced bases in the Pacific such
as Majuro,
Ulithi, Espiritou Santo, etc.
2. Also, I’m looking for a book on naval weapons of the WWII area.
I’ve tried to
find something, but no luck.
3. How high is one to rate Japanese carrier fighter pilot ability as
opposed to
US pilot ability? From reading Lundstrom “The First Team”, I get the
impression
that the fighters were not the equal of their bomber friends, but is that so?

Thanks,
Tim

Tim Lanzendoerfer | “I have just taken on a great
Amateur Naval Historian | responsibility. I will do my
Email: BWV_Wiesbaden@t-online.de | utmost to meet it” – Nimitz
—————————————————————–
The United States Navy in the Pacific War 1941 – 1945
http://www.microworks.net/pacific
Last Updated: 7th February 1998
—————————————————————–

bill riddle wrote:
>

> Arresting gear yes. But, did WWII CVE’s have catapaults? I thought
> they were exclusively deckrun takeoff. Just my impression … I
> really don’t know. But I am sure some one on the list will have the
> authoritative answer.

Definitely, preferred method for launchign on the slower CVE’s,
especially of heavily laden TBF/TBM aircraft.

Catapult visible in this photo:

http://www.uss-salem.org/navhist/carriers/images/usa/cve57.jpg

-Brooks

> The Titanic was not the only ship whose designers and their masters showed
>such hubris that was properly rewarded.
> The subsequent investigation was a whitewash of governmental policy. The
>analysis by E. F. Spanner (The Tragedy of R-101) is probably a better
>explanation, which I have followed here. Testimony showed that, with the
>new bay inserted, the calculated factor of safety for the maximum nose-up
>elevator position was only 1.0 with assumed 100% joint efficiency! And, of
>course, the airworthiness of airships board who certified her were her
>largely her own designers. Talk about hubris!
>
>John Forester 408-734-9426
>forester@johnforester.com 726 Madrone Ave
>http://www.johnforester.com Sunnyvale, CA 94086-3041

Call James Cameron or Oliver Stone. We need a VERY good Hindenberg movie:
any airship would do really. Except for the strange (almost insane) sequence
from Hells Angles about the Zeppelin, airships have been badly short changed
on the silver screen. Couldn’t one ram a cloud?
Eric Bergerud, 531 Kains Ave, Albany CA 94706, 510-525-0930

Add in current issue of Naval History (why does everyone else get theirs two
months before I do?) advertises a four VCR set containing – they claim – the
entire 26 program Victory At Sea series for $36.98 plus $5 postage (6% Conn
sales tax if applicable.) All program uncut. I paid about $100 for my set.
Now I know that the thing has some really cruddy special effects and plays
lose with some detail…but the good stuff is really good. I’d guess someone
overproduced the series and some little guy bought out some surplus.
Available from Video Barains, Dept VS-32, One Eversley Ave., Norwalk CT
06851. No phone number given. Take Visa or MC. If you don’t have this, it’s
worth it I think.
Eric Bergerud, 531 Kains Ave, Albany CA 94706, 510-525-0930

Tom Robison wrote:
>
> Were I in charge, this is how it would be handled:
>
> UN Inspector to Iraqi representative:
> “I want to inspect that building over there.”
>
> Iraqi rep: “I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t let you inspect that building.”
>
> Whereupon the UN fella pulls out his portable GPS receiver, determines the
> coordinates of the building in question, then takes out his cellular phone
> and makes a call. He then says to the Iraqi fella:
>
> “I suggest you evacuate that building, the cruise missile will be here in
> an hour. Have a nice day, see you tomorrow.”
>
> The next day:
(repeat until out of off-limits buildings and/or cruise missiles)

What a good idea! I know we aren’t supposed to post message that just
say “I agree”, but “I agree!”.

There is a lot to be said for simple plans executed effectively and
promptl,y as opposed to perfect detailedplans that never quite get
executed…..