No 'golden' torpedo hit on HMS Prince of Wales

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
But where the longer range bombers not so out of fuel from searching, that they had to attack as they arrived rather than as a larger group?

Any A6M will be,
- out of fuel if they join the search
- to late arriving if they stay back and just react to the sighting
- anyway conduction a CAP covering the landings to the north 25 isn't much to keep a constant CAP all day over the critical fleet at such range
The scenario asks what happens if the first strike failed. IOTL the Japanese sent out an aircraft for BDA. The air cover missed it completely. Had either heavy still been afloat a second strike was available with 36 G3M and 10 G4M, plus the Zeros.
 
Its almost like golden BBs are not rare, you can maybe add Hood & Scharnhorst?

Yeah but those were naval gunfire, and I’m sure there are many examples of “golden BB” naval fire. However AFAIK these may be the first two instances of aerial torpedo “Golden BB” hits, and both involving high profile ships.

Ric350
 
As Terry Pratchett wrote:

"Scientists have calculated that the chances of something so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one.
But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.”

Terry Pratchett wrote more sense than an entire internet.
 

Jack1971

Banned
I always thought it interesting that two of the preeminent warships of their day, PoW and Bismarck, were both taken out due to “golden BB” aerial torpedo hits.

Ric350
I wonder if the pilots are trained to hit at certain areas? Or approaching from aft helps to avoid AA?
 
I wonder if the pilots are trained to hit at certain areas? Or approaching from aft helps to avoid AA?

Afaik, no "hit there" training existed, (or was possbible?). An approach from the beam does cut down on the AAA risk, but would making getting a hit almost impossble. The Swordfish crews just got lucky.
 

Jack1971

Banned
Afaik, no "hit there" training existed, (or was possbible?). An approach from the beam does cut down on the AAA risk, but would making getting a hit almost impossble. The Swordfish crews just got lucky.
Interestingly, Bismarck and PoW’s contemporary Veneto was similarly hit at the prop shaft at Matapan, but managed to make repairs and get away.
 
USS Pennsylvania, while at anchor, was hit by an aerial torpedo in the stern, similar to PoW. It was 1945 or late in 1944, so she was never completely repaired.
 
I wonder if the pilots are trained to hit at certain areas? Or approaching from aft helps to avoid AA?

No. Simply hitting a moving ship while under fire flying in an aircraft called for a great amount of skill, attempting to "snipe" a ship in a certain spot was not feasible.
 

SsgtC

Banned
I wonder if the pilots are trained to hit at certain areas? Or approaching from aft helps to avoid AA?
No. But they were trained to bracket the ship to ensure that no matter which way she turned, she'd take a hit. That bracketing is probably what lends itself to the higher than normal rate of "Golden BBs"
 
No. But they were trained to bracket the ship to ensure that no matter which way she turned, she'd take a hit. That bracketing is probably what lends itself to the higher than normal rate of "Golden BBs"
Not to mention knowing when to fire your torpedo, so it doesn't go off course.
Even if it means hanging out of your biplane to see when to drop.....
 

Jack1971

Banned
Not to mention knowing when to fire your torpedo, so it doesn't go off course.
Even if it means hanging out of your biplane to see when to drop.....
Not a bad plan when your Stringbag’s ground speed might be 10 knots in a headwind.

1dc6838cd5a6681d82cf89f45e8b3dfe.jpg
 
Last edited:
Top