A'aightKeep on reading... Still trying to plot all of that out
A'aightKeep on reading... Still trying to plot all of that out
The problem is this is the Atlantic wall not PH or Taranto thinking they are safe. Are we sure that its doesn't have layers of ant torpedo nets to stop bombers or frogmen or even RN destroyers and lots of surrounding light/heavy AA sited so you have to fly over them and smoke generators and radars.....
Nope, Ranger's air group will be raided for reinforcements while Hornet is not ready.Are they going to use all four American carriers in Bathhouse?
'Air Ministry, 6th April, 1941.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:—
Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell, 22 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
In recognition of most conspicuous bravery. This officer was the pilot of a Beaufort aircraft of Coastal Command which was detailed to attack an enemy battle cruiser in Brest Harbour at first light on the morning of 6th April 1941. The aircraft did not return but it is known that a torpedo attack was carried out with the utmost daring. The battle cruiser was secured alongside the wall on the north shore of the harbour, protected by a stone mole bending around it from the west. On rising ground behind the ship stood protective batteries of guns. Other batteries were clustered thickly round the two arms of land which encircle the outer harbour. In this outer harbour near the mole were moored three heavily armed anti-aircraft ships, guarding the battle cruiser. Even if an aircraft succeeded in penetrating these formidable defences, it would be almost impossible, after delivering a low-level attack, to avoid crashing into the rising ground beyond.
This was well known to Flying Officer Campbell who, despising the heavy odds, went cheerfully and resolutely to the task. He ran the gauntlet of the defences. Coming in at almost sea level, he passed the anti-aircraft ships at less than mast-height in the very mouths of their guns and skimming over the mole launched a torpedo at point-blank range.
The battle cruiser was severely damaged below the water-line and was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before. By pressing home his attack at close quarters in the face of withering fire on a course fraught with extreme peril, Flying Officer Campbell displayed valour of the highest order.[7]
On 6 April 1941 over Brest Harbour, France, Flying Officer Campbell attacked the German battleship Gneisenau. He flew his Beaufort through the gauntlet of concentrated anti-aircraft fire from about 1000 weapons of all calibres and launched a torpedo at a height of 50 feet (15 m).
The attack had to be made with absolute precision: the Gneisenau was moored only some 500 yards (460 m) away from a mole in Brest's inner harbour. For the attack to be effective, Campbell would have to time the release to drop the torpedo close to the side of the mole.[2] That Campbell managed to launch his torpedo accurately is testament to his courage and determination.
Random fate... no good reason reallyWhy did you why did you choose the California as the great Pearl Harbor loss instead of the Arizona?
Closest German ship that would have the number of AA guns to qualify as a AA ship would be the Type-1936 and 1936a class destroyers, with lots of 3.7 cm and 2 cm AA cannons.I don't know what armament those AA ships had, but they would have been aware of the threat of torpedo attack and they must have had some light AA.
At least Admiral Kidd and Captain Van Valkenburgh is alive ITTL.Okay. Tennessee is gonna miss her sister.