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#30
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Mike Burleson
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Mar 21, 2006 11:07 PST
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Greetings and welcome to your Spring edition and the first Navy Review
of 2006! This special issue includes great stories from the age of the
ironclads. In place of Navy News we offer our 2nd annual roundup of top
Navy stories from last year. Also check out our regular columns as well
as the Sea Links at the end. Enjoy!
LEAD STORY
Navy Gets Serious about the Undersea Threat
In a recent naval exercise conducted in the Pacific, the captain of a US
Navy cruiser stated: “I’ve done more ASW in the last year than the
previous 22 years in the Navy”.
After over a decade of neglect since the demise of the Soviet Fleet, the
US Navy is again taking antisubmarine warfare (ASW) seriously. With some
300 diesel/electric submarine built or building throughout the world,
many belonging to rogue states such as Iran, North Korea and Venezuela,
America can no longer ignore this dire threat to sea-borne commerce.
An example of this renewed earnestness on the Navy’s part is the recent
“borrowing” of the conventional sub HMS GOTLAND from Sweden. The GOTLAND
is of the most advanced of the new undersea boats entering the world’s
fleets, with increased quieting due to air-independent-propulsion, or
AIP. The Swedish vessel currently performs as an aggressor warship to
train US forces in ASW countermeasures.
The Threat
Since the end of the Cold war, Russia has greatly increased the
quietness of its submarines. Once the noisy Soviet boats could be
detected hundreds of kilometers out to sea, but now this range has been
reduced to only a few kilometers. Such quieting technology may now be in
the hands of customers of Russian warships, such as China, Iran and
North Korea.
In naval wargames with our allies, super-quiet conventional boats have
bested America’s most advanced warships. French DAPHNES, Australian
COLLINS, and German TYPE 209 subs have pierced American ASW screens and
reached the vulnerable aircraft carriers on numerous occasions. A German
TYPE 209 in Argentine service evaded all attempts to detect her by the
Royal Navy during the 1982 Falklands Conflict.
AIP also brings an improved capability to the submarine threat. Vessels
so equipped, such as the Swedish GOTLAND, German TYPE 212, and Spanish
SCORPENE, allow them to cruise undetected for extended periods, some as
long as two weeks, without surfacing for air.
Meeting the Challenge
The navy has responded to this undersea menace with sweeping reform.
Besides the aforementioned maneuvers with the GOTLAND, three new naval
programs have been established ashore: Fleet ASW Command in San Diego,
Task Force ASW in Washington DC, and the Program Executive Office for
Integrated Warfare Systems at the Naval Sea Systems Command. All will
introduce new training methods and technology for the improvement of
anti-submarine warfare in the fleet.
On the way are improved new warships for fighting the threat at sea. The
first are the VIRGINIA class submarines, with a reduced magnetic
signature, superior detection equipment, and stealth features. Joining
the fleet later in 2006 are the new littoral combat ships (LCS) with low
drafts, allowing them to cruise in shallow waters close inshore; the
favorite haunt of diesel subs. The recent Quadrennial Defense Review has
called for an increase in such vessels with 2 per year for the VIRGINIAS
and up to 55 new LCS.
Teamwork with allies will ultimately conquer the diesel sub menace.
Vessels of friendly nations such as HMS GOTLAND are giving the US Navy
an awesome opportunity to train first-hand in warlike conditions,
allowing it to combat any potential peril in the near future.
*********
FACT: The US Navy’s first real submarine, the HOLLAND IV, carried 2
pneumatic dynamite guns which fired charges with compressed air.
*********
NAVY NEWS
Top Navy Stories of 2005
*House bill would keep JFK afloat another year: Our year began with
plans to retire one of the Navy’s last oil-fired carriers, but when
Congress and the state of Florida balked, the plan was delayed,
temporarily.
*'Ayatollah' Class Goes East: So called because they once were owned by
the Shah of Iran, and later taken over by the US Navy after the
revolution of 1979. The 4 large destroyers of the KIDD class are now
headed to Taiwan Navy.
*Navy names nuclear carrier to be based in Japan: This was the USS
GEORGE WASHINGTON, but the controversy continues.
*Germany going ahead with plans to sell new submarines to Israel: This
in addition to 3 DOLFIN class already purchased from Germany by the IDF.
*Converted Ohio ready for sea trials: The ex-Trident missile submarine
is preparing for the War on Terror, as an SSGN, firing 154 Tomahawk
cruise missiles and loading Special Forces vehicles.
*Navy's 230th Birthday: From 2 small ships to the world’s greatest navy!
*Hurricane Damages USS Kidd: A 4 foot gash in the hull delayed this
vessel’s transfer to Taiwan.
*First Submarine UAV Launch: This was in August from the USS ALBANY.
*Russian Sub Crew Saved: What seemed to be another “KURSK incident” for
the Russians turned into a happy ending for international cooperation as
Britain and America speeded rescue submersibles to a sunken Russian
submarine.
*So Long CNO Clark: One of the longest CNO’s in navy history, Admiral
Vern Clark turned the helm over to Adm Michael G. Mullen in July.
*Trafalgar 200: Britain celebrated the anniversary of Nelson’s victory
over the French with year long celebrations, including a reenactment of
the famous battle and an international fleet review.
*Iraqi Navy Reborn: One time a terror in the Gulf, the Iraq Navy is now
a partner in the War on Terror and includes new corvettes purchased from
Italy during the Saddam era, but never delivered.
*Goodbye to the Battleship: Congress’ plans to do away with the fleet’s
last 2 battleships in reserve, the IOWA and WINSCONSIN, garnered much
opposition, at least in the op-ed columns.
*Keel Laid for First Littoral Combat Ship: The newest warship type of
the 21st Century has also got a new name, USS FREEDOM, and is expected
later in 2006.
*US & Sweden Sign Sub Deal: HMS GOTLAND, as noted above, in US service
training Navy crews in anti-submarine warfare.
*Australian Aircraft Carriers: The RAN decided on purchasing 2 large
carrier type vessels for use as amphibious ships.
*High Speed Catamaran in Hurricane Relief: Just one of the many Navy
vessels which aided in the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.
(Note: Subscribers to Ultimate Warships have read these stories already!
But it’s not too late. Send an email to
UltimateWarsh-@yahoogroups.com or visit the website here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UltimateWarships/ .
*********
FACT: The hull of the first nuclear powered submarine, the USS NAUTILUS,
was based on a German TYPE 21 design of late World War 2.
*********
NAVY BIOGRAPHY
Benedetto Brin 1883-1898
Called the “Father of the Italian Navy” Brin was by trade a naval
engineer. He rose to prominence under the tutelage of Admiral Saint-Bon,
the Italian Minister of Marine. Saint-Bon appointed him Undersecretary
of State in 1873, and together the two conceived the rise of the Italian
Navy. Brin continued the work of his mentor after he achieved the post
of Minister of Marine in 1876. It was Brin who instigated the
construction of giant gun battleships such as the ITALIA and DANDALO.
Throughout his tenure, Brin designed vessels which stunned the world. To
counter the threat of the ram, given prominence in the Battle of Lissa
in 1866, his ships could fire fore aft as well as broadsides. The
American battleships MAINE and TEXAS borrowed on this design. Several
advanced classes of small vessels were ordered late in his ministry,
including the GARIBALDI light cruisers. These ships were large, at 8100
tons, well armed, fast, and widely copied abroad. He completely
transformed the navy, paying special care to the efficiency of men and
ships. Much attention was given to shore facilities as well, and new
shipyards, foundries, and armories were established. Brin died at his
post on May 24, 1898, still leading the new Italian Fleet toward the
future. In 1905, the new heavy cruiser, BENEDETTO BRIN, was commissioned
in his honor.
*********
FACT: The British built HMS DREADNAUGHT, was actually based on a 1903
article for an all big gun battleship by Italian General Vittorio
Cuniberti that appeared in Jane’s Fighting Ships.
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FIGHTING SHIPS of the PRE-DREADNAUGHT ERA
DEVASTATION-The first ocean going battleship under steam alone, she was
derided by her contemporaries because of the lack of sail power and low
free-board. During trials in 1873 she confounded the critics and proved
very sea-worthy. Her two twin turrets, instead of the standard
broadsides were copied from the USS MONITOR. DEVASTATION and her sister
THUNDERER could carry enough coal for a range of 5000 miles. Both set
the standard for battleship design into the 20th Century.
DUILIO & DANDALO-Laid down by Italy in 1872, both incited a “naval
scare” because of their colossal guns, but were spectacular failures.
The problem with the 100 ton, 17.7 inch cannon was they fired so slowly
and inaccurately as to be of little use in a sea fight. They were very
fast, however. The threat from the vessels was enough for Britain to
respond with 80 ton, 16 inch guns on HMS INFLEXIBLE in 1874, also
considered not a success.
ROYAL SOVEREIGN- After decades of much trial and error in the transition
from sail to steam, and wood to armor, came these first truly modern
battleships. The class of 8 was designed by the brilliant William White,
and was the largest, fastest warships of their day when first launched
in 1892. The main battery consisted of 4x13.5 inch cannon in barbettes
(thought the last HMS HOOD, carried turrets) and a powerful secondary
battery of 10x6 inch quick firing guns, plus 7 torpedo tubes. The
SOVEREIGNS helped usher in the Age of the Battleship in the late 19th
century.
INDIANA- This class of 3 ships was America’s attempt at a true
battleship. There was however, some compromise in the design, as seen by
the ridiculous title of “Sea-Going Coastline Battleship”. Ordered on
June 30, 1890, they proved indispensable in the blockade of the Spanish
Squadron during the Spanish American War. OREGON made a spectacular dash
from California to Cuba around the South American coast which made clear
the need for the Panama Canal. All were well armed with 4x13 inch guns
in barbettes, 8x8 inch and 4x6 inch cannon plus 3 torpedo tubes. All
could cross the Atlantic without refueling. The other vessel of this
class was USS MASSACHUSETTS.
*********
FACT: Italy’s first dreadnaught DANTE ALIGHIERI of 1913 was the first
battleship to carry her main armament in triple turrets.
*********
SEA FIGHTS on a SHOESTRING
1st Battle of Narvik April 1940
To secure the vital Scandinavian ore supplies, Hitler would commit most
of his surface fleet in a desperate bid to conquer Norway. The gamble
paid off but at a terrible price for the German Navy. In early April,
the spearhead of the German invasion forces landed from 10 large
destroyers at the Norwegian port of Narvik. At first light on the 10th,
5 audacious British destroyers entered the fiord to intercept, including
HARDY, HOTSPUR, HAVOCK, HUNTER, and HOSTILE. First blood went to HARDY,
HUNTER, and HAVOCK who sank the WILHELM HEIDKAMP and ANTON SCHMIDT with
gunfire and torpedoes, damaging 3 other destroyers. As the British
withdrew they were surrounded by 5 enemy destroyers. In the fight that
ensued HARDY was disabled and beached. HUNTER was targeted next with
torpedoes and stopped dead in the water. HOTSPUR careened out of control
after a shell destroyed her bridge. She crashed into dying HOTSPUR, but
finally managed to limp out of action along with HOSTILE and HAVOCK. On
the way to open sea, HAVOCK destroyed a vital German ammunition ship.
The ordeal of the Nazi destroyers was not yet finished. Three days later
the 32,000 ton British battleship HMS WARSITE, veteran of the Battle of
Jutland, entered the fiord with 9 escorting destroyers. Her powerful 15
inchers easily dispatched the remaining enemy vessels in Narvik Harbor,
along with a U-boat sunk by her floatplane. Despite the victories,
Britain gave up Norway to the Germans on June 8. Though victorious at
sea, the Nazis were as yet unstoppable on land. Both sides suffered
heavily in naval forces committed, but the smaller German fleet could
ill afford her losses as could the mighty Royal Navy. Lack of surface
forces must have played a part in Hitler’s reluctance to invade Britain
in 1940, thus saving the allies from defeat.
*********
FACT: In sinking the British cruisers ABOUKIR, HAGUE, and CRESSY in
September 1914, the 500 ton German submarine U9 inflicted more
casualties on the Royal Navy than at the Battle of Trafalgar.
*********
STRANGE SEA TALES
The Pirate Ironclad
It is both amazing and ironic that the mighty Royal Navy would be forced
to combat a warship built in its own shipyard, yet this is what happened
at the Battle of Pacocha on May 29, 1877. Built for Peru in 1865, the
ironclad HUASCAR was a model of the monitor type vessel first conceived
during the American Civil War. Her displacement was 1300 tons with a
length of 67 meters and possessed a very low freeboard. Her sides were
protected by 4 ½ inches of armor belt backed by 14 inches of teak. The
manually operated gun turret was shielded by 5 ½ inch armor plating and
mounted 2x10 inch Armstrong cannon. HUASCAR furthered carried 2x40
pounder guns on each side and a 12 pounder on the stern. She could speed
at 11 knots, carried 300 tons of coal, and a crew of 200. In contrast,
the British had no comparable vessel in South American waters. The
forces of the Commander in Chief Pacific Station, Rear Admiral Algernon
Frederick Rous de Horsey, included the unarmored frigate HMS SHAH and
the wooden corvette HMS AMETHYST. SHAH was a marvelous example of wooden
steam ships, built in response to fast American cruisers of the
WAMPANOAG class. She was huge at 6950 tons, swift at 16 knots, and
heavily armed with 2x9 inch, 16x7 inch, and 8x64 pounder rifled guns.
AMETHYST was much lighter at 1970 tons and loaded 14x64 pounders. SHAH
carried an advanced new precision weapon called the Whitehead torpedo,
and the corvette possessed an unguided spar torpedo. Not surprisingly,
HUASCAR was the pride of Peru’s navy when she was seized by
revolutionaries in 1877. Captain German Astete was a supporter of a
rival politician who sought to overthrow the duly elected President.
Astete and his crew proceeded to carry out “acts of piracy” against the
Peruvian government. Unfortunately, the pirate ironclad also made the
mistake to briefly detain 2 British steamers, whose owners promptly
complained to Queen Victoria’s representative in Lima. Royal Navy
intervention became almost certain after the HUASCAR defeated a Peruvian
naval force consisting of the ironclad INDEPENDENCE, which was twice her
size. The decision was made after a British collier was captured. The
two forces met in the Bay of Pacocha on may 29, with de Horsey sending a
message to Astete declaring “…I have come to take possession of the
(HUASCAR) in Queen Victoria’s name”. The Peruvian replied that he would
only lower his flag “when there is no longer a single man aboard to
uphold it”. The bizarre struggle between wood and armor began. The
British began the cannonade with their better gunnery at 1700 meters.
Sitting low in the water, the HUASCAR presented a difficult target, and
the RN firepower made no dent in the armored hull. De Horsey fruitlessly
attempted to improve his firing by closing the range, but the ironclad
outmaneuvered him in the shallow bay. Finally acknowledging the Peruvian
battleship’s advantage over his gunnery, the Admiral decided to attack
with torpedoes. In so doing, the SHAH performed the first combat attack
by the Whitehead torpedo. The marvel of the age could reach 550 yards at
a speed of 18 knots, which proved not enough to catch the nimble
HUASCAR. Again the pirate ironclad escaped harm, to the consternation of
the British. Emboldened by the failure of his attackers, Astete
increased his fire on the SHAH and AMETHYST. Choosing reality over
pride, Admiral de Horsey ordered his squadron to withdraw. though not
without a final attack by the corvette’s spar torpedo. When this final
attempt ended in failure, the Royal Navy withdrew; a stunning blow to
national pride. The 427 shots fired by the British resulted in only one
death on HUASCAR, while the Royal Navy suffered only a few injured
sailors. Two days later, the “pirate ironclad” surrendered to Peruvian
authorities, the revolution coming to naught. The mighty HUASCAR was
later captured by Chile during the War of the Pacific, and exists to
this day as a museum ship. De Horsey’ action was criticized by
Parliament, and ever after the British South American Squadron would
consist only of ironclads.
*********
FACT: The doomed battleship USS MAINE was originally to have carried a
full sailing rig because of her small coal capacity of 500 tons. This
plan was cancelled during construction.
*********
SEA LINKS
Lieut. Otto Weddigen's Account of the U-9 Submarine Attack
http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/1914/u-9.html
Pre-Dreadnought Preservation: The Huáscar
http://www.oz.net/~markhow/pre-dred/huascar.htm
Pre-Dreadnaught Navy Photos
http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/armynavy/
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Until next time, God Bless and remember our troops!
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