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4891

General Discussion Area / Re: Is anyone watching.......

« on: 24 April 2018, 11:01:10 »

Yes Lizzie I'd agree about the mindset of the admiralty regarding the use of airpower.In fact I think most were still reliant on the fighting principles of the Nelsonian era[and probably before that]where capital ships would batter away at each other broadside to broadside.They even seemed oblivious to the idea that with the huge range of battleship guns the ships were now vulnerable to the "plunging shot"which I believe is what took Hood down.

It did indeed Baza.  Although the sequence of Hood's demise is still debated by historians, it is believed that the German battlecruiser Prinz Eugin that was escorting the Bismark put up to four salvos over Hood, with a shell opening up a hole in the poop deck area over the aft magazine, with the next salvo from Bismark itself landing in exactly the same place causing the magazine to blow up, taking off the stern. Within a second or two the flash over from the aft magazine going up reached the forward magazine and that went up, taking off the bow. Within 3 minutes Hood was gone with 1415 men, just 3 left alive in the water.  Hood reflected the big flaw in the British battlecruiser design, with very weak deck amour relying on their great speed and heavy guns to hit the enemy before they could bring shells down on to the battlecruiser. But, even in 1916 at the Battle of Jutland that policy was proved to be flawed, but Hood entered WW2 without any significant changes to her deck armour.  The other weakness with the British battlecruisers, if no other, was fire control procedures.  It was common practice to leave the fire doors to the magazine compartments open whilst in battle so as to speed up the process of getting munitions from the magazines up to the guns. To compound this, large stocks of explosive wadding that propelled the shells was stored near the guns to save time in loading them. This policy cost three British battlecruisers at Jutland on 31st May 1916 and then Hood on 24th May 1941, with very few survivors.

4892

General Discussion Area / Re: Is anyone watching.......

« on: 23 April 2018, 21:41:10 »

Surely Lizzie Prince of Wales was a new ship along with Duke of York and King George V with[if I remember rightly 10 14" main armament] Sadly I seriously doubt we have the ships to offer full screening for QE and isn't there supposed to be at least another carrier in the class?Whilst awaiting the delivery arrival of her aircraft compliment maybe the Fleet Air Arm museum could lend them their airworthy Swordfish?

She was, but the captain of her and the captain of HMS Repulse, along with the heads of the Admiralty at the time, had not recognised that air power now, in 1941, ruled not heavy guns. It was Japanese planes that destroyed them.

The Americans and of course the Japanese had fully woken up to that fact, but the Royal Navy policy still relied on obsolete battleships and battlecruisers of the past. It was air power that killed off the old battleships at Pearl Harbour; the Bismarck was crippled by Royal Navy air power, both in 1941, and the Royal Navy itself destroyed most of the Italian fleet at Taranto in 1940 with air power.  The Royal Navy went into WWII with the minds they had in the 1914-18 war with insufficient numbers of aircraft carriers and reliance on capital ships.

Of course it was air power that changed the course of WWII with the majority of the Nazi (who did not have any aircraft carriers, although recognising the new major power of aircraft in other arenas of war) battleships and battlecruisers being sunk by the RAF. Only the Sharnhorst was sunk in a full, old fashioned, ship to ship engagement with the Royal Navy. Ironically it was the Japanesse naval fleet, with their numerous carriers, that also suffered from major air power attack from the US Navy, especially at the Battle of Midway in 1942 when the Japs lost 4 of their aircraft carriers.

Now in 2018, the Battle of Midway, along with the losses of British and American aircraft carriers later in WWII, should resonate in the minds of Royal Navy Admirals and planners. Are aircraft carriers, like the battleships of WWII, now in existence ignoring the vast development of air power and in particular missiles? The submarine that also sunk carriers, and battleships in the past, should also not be forgotten with enormous strides in that stealth technology as well.

Further to the above, I must emphasise when I say the Nazis had no aircraft carriers, they actually half built two, but then they were cancelled, along with Hiler's other Plan Z major warships. They never used a carrier, but used up vital resources that could have built many more U boats that would / could have changed the course of the war.

4893

Car Parts, bits For Sale & Wanted / Re: Wanted: Vauxhall boot lid lettering

« on: 23 April 2018, 21:05:17 »

Try eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=vauxhall+omega&_osacat=6030&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xvauxhall+omega+lettering.TRS0&_nkw=vauxhall+omega+lettering&_sacat=6030

 

4894

General Discussion Area / Re: Is anyone watching.......

« on: 23 April 2018, 20:48:25 »

Surely Lizzie Prince of Wales was a new ship along with Duke of York and King George V with[if I remember rightly 10 14" main armament] Sadly I seriously doubt we have the ships to offer full screening for QE and isn't there supposed to be at least another carrier in the class?Whilst awaiting the delivery arrival of her aircraft compliment maybe the Fleet Air Arm museum could lend them their airworthy Swordfish?

She was, but the captain of her and the captain of HMS Repulse, along with the heads of the Admiralty at the time, had not recognised that air power now, in 1941, ruled not heavy guns. It was Japanese planes that destroyed them.

The Americans and of course the Japanese had fully woken up to that fact, but the Royal Navy policy still relied on obsolete battleships and battlecruisers of the past. It was air power that killed off the old battleships at Pearl Harbour; the Bismarck was crippled by Royal Navy air power, both in 1941, and the Royal Navy itself destroyed most of the Italian fleet at Taranto in 1940 with air power.  The Royal Navy went into WWII with the minds they had in the 1914-18 war with insufficient numbers of aircraft carriers and reliance on capital ships.

Of course it was air power that changed the course of WWII with the majority of the Nazi (who did not have any aircraft carriers, although recognising the new major power of aircraft in other arenas of war) battleships and battlecruisers being sunk by the RAF. Only the Sharnhorst was sunk in a full, old fashioned, ship to ship engagement with the Royal Navy. Ironically it was the Japanesse naval fleet, with their numerous carriers, that also suffered from major air power attack from the US Navy, especially at the Battle of Midway in 1942 when the Japs lost 4 of their aircraft carriers.

Now in 2018, the Battle of Midway, along with the losses of British and American aircraft carriers later in WWII, should resonate in the minds of Royal Navy Admirals and planners. Are aircraft carriers, like the battleships of WWII, now in existence ignoring the vast development of air power and in particular missiles? The submarine that also sunk carriers, and battleships in the past, should also not be forgotten with enormous strides in that stealth technology as well.

4895

General Discussion Area / Re: Is anyone watching.......

« on: 23 April 2018, 15:17:44 »

Is it only us that'd invest all that time,effort and money in building an aircraft carrier and not have any actual aircraft to put on it?Pretty much like building a battleship without the guns.

I am more concerned about the lack of fleet protection for such a flagship vessel.  All my upbringing was with a father who continual spoke about the need for destroyer screening of such ships, and how they were used.  I could often imagine what he was telling me of one set of destroyers, at speed, travelling from port to starboard, then another line changing over (he used to use a technical phrase, now forgotten) to starboard to port at the same time.  A very complicated and dangerous manoeuvre, but he stressed the need to maintain full screening of the capital ship from submarine and aircraft attack.

Now, of course, times, practices and, importantly, technology has changed.  But do these major warships not now need that screening?  Is modern naval practice not in need of full protection screening not just two frigates?  Has the new navy re-discovered the old arrogance of the past when modern dangers were ignored as "they could fight their way through" ; like when the Captains of Baza's aforementioned Queen Elizabeth Class battleship HMS Prince of Wales, and HMS Repulse thought they didn't require screening from air attack, only to be sunk by Japanese aircraft in December 1941?  

Have we got the destroyer and frigate numbers to give HMS QE the full protection it needs?

I do wonder!

4896

Omega General Help / Re: Air con question

« on: 23 April 2018, 14:23:51 »

Just been in touch with VX and they can't find a replacement LP valve under any of the 2 part numbers I gave or any of the ones on there system for my car.

They do have the HP 13277003 but Vauxhall said it did not match my system. 

I would rather replace with new if I can.

Yes, that is the valve part no. of the one Vx replaced on my 3.2.

4897

General Discussion Area / Re: Is anyone watching.......

« on: 23 April 2018, 12:55:33 »

Yep been watching this-at last a decent programme worth watching.A lot of state of the art stuff and a crew of only 700 where the Americans have crews in the thousands.I was surprised that the upper deck guns they test fired on tonights episode aren't radar guided or something instead of being "hand held" as it were and aimed seemingly by eye.First thing I thought when they said she went to sea with 200 civilian workers aboard for finishing work was "Shades of Prince of Wales when she sailed with Hood to find Bismark" but no doubt plenty of ships have sailed with "civvies" on board.

And remember what happened to both of them.  Is this carrier as obsolete as they were at the time?

However, I am proud that our Royal Navy has it's big ship, aircraft carrier, policy back to project British power.  How long it would last in any conflict is another matter. I had a terrible sad feeling thinking that the young crew of 700 could perish very quickly in the vast areas of the ship given the history of such vessels.

4898

General Car Chat / Re: On the A303......

« on: 21 April 2018, 17:57:11 »

80 shiny-arses to administrate for 200 officers who do the job, Lizzie? Are they for murders and the like, or to hound motorists?

Ron.

Some will be to improve the 101 telephone service, others to assist officers with the amount of administration that is still required, although hand held electronic devices have now helped in the compilation of in-the-field statements etc.

4899

General Discussion Area / Re: Engine recall

« on: 21 April 2018, 14:24:11 »

Probably because the yanks will sue if someone forgets to put a sticker on the dash reminding them to breathe in and out! 

You forgot the disclaimer:

Warning: Failure to regularly breath in and out may affect your quality of life and lifespan. As a socially aware company we are fully committed to people breathing in and out regularly and accept no responsibility for those that fail to do so to the full extent that Federal Law allows for any life changing events for those that fail to do so.

Like the sticker I saw last year in the ladies beside a hand dryer;  Warning!  This device gets hot!!

4900

General Car Chat / Re: On the A303......

« on: 21 April 2018, 14:21:19 »

There is a national police clamp down on speeding this month with extra resources out there to catch us out

Meanwhile........loads of murders and thefts go undetected.

Oh no.  In Kent another 200 officers are being recruited along with 80 support staff.  The CPS is the problem, with all too many cases going out of the window due to their decision not to charge for all kinds of reasons.  Then the courts being too lenient when cases go to court. A national disgrace, but that is something the politicians must sort out

4901

Omega General Help / Re: Air con question

« on: 21 April 2018, 14:14:51 »

Two years ago I had a aircon gas top up which did nothing.  It turned out, after taking the Omega to Vx that the bottom of the condenser had rotted away.  The compressor was also broken due to a lack of gas!

£1,000 approx later............  

Then the compressor failed again a year later, and I needed a new set tank......another £964

But that £964 I got back after taking legal action against Vx Luton/my Vx dealer


Oh, the joys of an Omega, and anything to do with the a/c can be a bit expensive!

4902

General Car Chat / Re: On the A303......

« on: 21 April 2018, 14:01:35 »

There is a national police clamp down on speeding this month with extra resources out there to catch us out

4903

General Discussion Area / Re: Dale Winton Dead

« on: 19 April 2018, 14:24:31 »

Very sad.

He was a very nice, low key for a TV celeb, individual who frequently suffered from depression, a family trait. One of those personalities who never offended, with a gentle disposition and a lovely voice.

RIP Dale

4904

General Discussion Area / Re: Just as well we don't know how we are going to die

« on: 18 April 2018, 20:06:04 »

Physics 101...

If something falls off the side of an item moving forwards at 5-600 miles per hour, then it's extremely unlikely to strike forward of where it came from

I was pointing out to Sir Tigger that the seats around the engine area were uneffected, so not sitting "near an engine" as he suggested would have made no difference.

But no, you yet again have to make a sarcastic comment although I know nothing about physics.

You cannot help yourself can you?

I would add that blades, and propellers, have actually entered the cabin next to the engine in the past. That has been because the sideways velocity of the blade / propeller has been greater than the forces of forward air speed.

4905

General Discussion Area / Re: Just as well we don't know how we are going to die

« on: 18 April 2018, 19:48:43 »

Out of interest where is the safest place to be on a plane if you have to travel?

Anywhere that's not a window seat near an engine.  Clearly. 

I always keep my seatbelt fastened loosely when flying, and I wonder if the lady who sadly died had hers on.    If so I wonder if it would have prevented her going out of the window and she might have survived.   

Actually the TVs footage of the plane on the airfield shows the missing window aft of the main wing, not above or around the damaged part of the engine.  It would seem the engine fan blade flew well back from the area of failure