German (seaplane) carriers WWII

WWI era 'Davis Gun'
220px-Davis_gun.jpg

Ok, I read the Wiki, but it did not say anything about range or accuracy. Anyone have stats on this type of weapon?
 
Ok, I read the Wiki, but it did not say anything about range or accuracy. Anyone have stats on this type of weapon?
early recoilless rifle.

The original design had two barrels aligned with their breech blocks adjacent, one firing a 3" (7.62 cm) shell forward and the other a charge of birdshot and vaseline to the rear. Weight excluding the breech block was 182 lbs. (82.6 kg) and chamber pressure was 15 tons/in2 (2,365 kg/cm2). A Lewis MG was used to "spot" for the Davis gun.

In later guns the birdshot charge was eliminated and instead the steel cartridge case itself was expelled to the rear, thus leaving the breech clear for the next round. Projectile weighed 9 lbs. (4.1 kg).http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-15_mk12.htm


Machine gun range for accuracy. the later larger 106mm used a .50 cal for spotting.
 
The He-119 is a large plane. Bigger and a lot heavier then a Helldiver. Is that really a good idea for a seaplane cruiser?

certain you are correct but they might carry one or two on a converted/modified Dithmarschen-class for special missions.
 
The He-119 was a factory racer, and as such, it was beaten by the Breda 88. The nicest thing to say was that the engines didn't burst into flames as on He-177s. Good thing too, because the crew sat right snug with it. Engine servicing in the field seems rather difficult at best, the evaporative cooling system wasn't suitable for a combat aircraft, and no military hardware was fitted, except a single machine gun which could be fired out a removable hatch. The RLM asked for two. The RLM considered the a/c too complex, and too expensive. You're being too conservative. The He-119 was recorded as having reached 354 mph as a float-plane, but, on the whole, the exact history is uncertain due to the loss of company records to establish facts as truth. Fact is, it was not a military aircraft. There are enough records to establish that.
 
The He-119 was a factory racer, and as such, it was beaten by the Breda 88. The nicest thing to say was that the engines didn't burst into flames as on He-177s. Good thing too, because the crew sat right snug with it. Engine servicing in the field seems rather difficult at best, the evaporative cooling system wasn't suitable for a combat aircraft, and no military hardware was fitted, except a single machine gun which could be fired out a removable hatch. The RLM asked for two. The RLM considered the a/c too complex, and too expensive. You're being too conservative. The He-119 was recorded as having reached 354 mph as a float-plane, but, on the whole, the exact history is uncertain due to the loss of company records to establish facts as truth. Fact is, it was not a military aircraft. There are enough records to establish that.

had an extremely long (stated) range and Heinkel was at least pitching it as recon/bomber (and still pitching a later version as HE-519.)

envisioned it for the chaos factor? but again only in small numbers (instead of HE-177) not that they could sink warships but thought they might damage the CAM ships? or launch facilities? so Condors could lumber in?
 
I have wondered, and regretted that float-plane Spitfires never became operational. They really were quite nice. A launch off a CAM ship, followed by a recovery, victory celebration and a hot tea in the mess, rather than a frightful swim in icy waters.
 
I have wondered, and regretted that float-plane Spitfires never became operational. They really were quite nice. A launch off a CAM ship, followed by a recovery, victory celebration and a hot tea in the mess, rather than a frightful swim in icy waters.

did they phase CAM ships out as number of escort carriers grew or just general decline in German fortunes (and reduced numbers of Condors?)

any observations on trying to bomb the aircraft and/or catapult? (i.e. aircraft are somewhat fragile but have no knowledge about resilience of catapults)
 
Just what time frame are you looking at here Thaddeus, and what are you wanting to achieve?

1939 till fall of France, no bases to operate from once out and about.

After June 1940, could operate out of French ports till US entry into the war in NW Africa at the trail end of 1942.

After that I don't think you would be able to last long in the N Atlantic.

OTOH, if you mean to operate somewhere else, please say where, as that could change things, ie: Med, S atlantic, Indian ocean...
 
had originally thought to build ship off Panzerschiffe design, swapping the main gun array for a small complement of seaplanes, it could cruise with warships, replenish and/or repair seaplanes on the Panzerschiffe and since they would retain 5.9" guns serve as something of escort.

my usual scenario has Admiral Hipper-class as largest German KM ships, with their high pressure steam engines (a reasonable gamble at the time) and forward facing guns (mimic Dunkerque-class) leaving rear deck to launch seaplanes from those also.

so you would have two carriers, one to travel with Panzerschiffe and one in home waters to trail behind (very fast) Admiral Hipper-class ships serve as carrier/tender for its own and the warships' seaplanes.

(have just about decided to scuttle this ship for lack of suitable (size) aircraft)

the other thought was to modify Dithmarschen-class supply ship(s) to carry one or two recon/bombers, a fully developed version of HE-119.
 
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