World War II

[Scorpiоn]

This is actually three days early, but this marks the 65th anniversary of the beginning of the second World War.  Ju 87Bs (probably B-2s) of I Gruppe/Stukageschwader 2 rained bombs on Polish airfields, beginning the Blitzkrieg, and the war itself.  Germany issues a statement that Polish forces fired upon German forces, and Germany followed likewise.  No one really cared what other countries said, because they didn't lose six years later.

So here we stand today, with toys with funny names, like Spitfires, Stukas and MiGs, oh my!

[ATI_7500]

The reason for the german attack which began with a german battleship attacking polish coastal installations was a faked raid on a german radio station.
But we still have a little more than one day to go,Scorp.

[Felix/FFDS]

He did preface with the "three days early"...

[ATI_7500]

Crap....

...reading a gift that should be given to everyone...

...silly me. :-/

[Woodlouse2002]

The reason for the german attack which began with a german battleship attacking polish coastal installations was a faked raid on a german radio station.
But we still have a little more than one day to go,Scorp.

I thought it was a heavy cruiser. Germany's battleships (Bismarck and Tirpitz) hadn't been finished by the outbreak of war.

[Felix/FFDS]

I thought it was a heavy cruiser. Germany's battleships (Bismarck and Tirpitz) hadn't been finished by the outbreak of war.

Propaganda machine at work  :)

[ATI_7500]

I thought it was a heavy cruiser. Germany's battleships (Bismarck and Tirpitz) hadn't been finished by the outbreak of war.

Battleship,heavy cruiser...all the same to me...it swims it is armoured,it has guns. Dot.

[Felix/FFDS]

Battleship,heavy cruiser...all the same to me...it swims it is armoured,it has guns. Dot.

A couple of interesting readings are "Dreadnought" and "Castles of Steel".  I always wondered the difference between "heavy cruisers" and "battleships".

While definitions vary by era, "typically" a cruiser has battleship armament (heavy guns 12-15 inc) but less armour than a comparable battleship, making it faster than a battleship, but more prone to battledamage (and I'm thinking Beatty at Jutland here)

[Woodlouse2002]

Your thinking Battle-Cruisers there Felix. A Cruiser is smaller, has smaller armament and slightly less armour so to ensure a higher top speed. HMS Suffolk (Cruiser) in WWII was armed with 8 8inch guns for her main armament and 12-16 4inch guns as secondary. HMS Hood (Battle-Cruiser) had 8 15inch guns as her main armament and 12 6 inch guns as secondary.

Basically a Battle-Cruiser is a battleship with out the armour. A cruiser is a larger and more heavily armed than a Destroyer. Basically if a cruiser was to come across a Destroyer it would stand and fight. If it came across a battleship then it would run away.

[Felix/FFDS]

Your thinking Battle-Cruisers there Felix. A Cruiser is smaller, has smaller armament and slightly less armour so to ensure a higher top speed. HMS Suffolk (Cruiser) in WWII was armed with 8 8inch guns for her main armament and 12-16 4inch guns as secondary. HMS Hood (Battle-Cruiser) had 8 15inch guns as her main armament and 12 6 inch guns as secondary.

Basically a Battle-Cruiser is a battleship with out the armour. A cruiser is a larger and more heavily armed than a Destroyer. Basically if a cruiser was to come across a Destroyer it would stand and fight. If it came across a battleship then it would run away.

Right - I was thinking battlecruisers (which is what Beatty commanded at Dogger Bank and Jutland).  Thanks for the clarification.

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]


Right - I was thinking battlecruisers (which is what Beatty commanded at Dogger Bank and Jutland).