Rusty's Naval/Military History thread

[Geo]

Yeah!

[Rusty Edge]

As for Goering. Circa the end of January 1942, the Nazis were to commemorate Hitler's ascendency in Berlin. Goering was to make an international radio address. Goebels was to speak in a  civic arena.

Reminiscent  of the Doolittle raid on Tokyo, maybe this was the inspiration for the Doolittle Raid.

Mosquitos made a daring daylight on Berlin timed exactly with Goering's radio address that morning, and again with Goebel's speech that afternoon. Goering no sooner introduced `himself than explosions were heard in the background and the broadcast switched to martial music for the next 45 minutes. Goering may have placed a phone call during that time, because when the Mosquitos arrived again for Goebels, one of them was successfully intercepted.

The British radio praised the successful strike, and ridiculed the German propaganda radio for saying that the U-Boats were so successful that the British were reduced to flying wooden planes now.

According to what I've read recently about the battle of the Atlantic, American Aluminum production at that time was dependent upon ore from South America, and a catalyst mined in Greenland. The sinking of each shipload of catalyst was a major setback. They were specifically targeted by the U-boats. I have to believe that in January and February of '42
Britain was probably not self-sufficient in Aluminum production, and that Admiral Doenitz was clever enough to employ a similar strategy against Britain.

I know Geoffrey de Havilland theorized that in time of war, steel and aluminum would be harder to come by, and designed for wood and streamlining, figuring that speed and altitude were the only defense against ground fire. Guns and gunners added weight, reduced speed, and provided protection against fighters , but increased the flight time and exposure to ground fire. When the War started, considering that this design theory required fewer crew, and could be built cheaper and faster than a slower heavier bomber due to fewer components, London started to come around to an idea they had previously rejected multiple times.

All, in all, I'm thinking the German Propaganda ministry wasn't far from the truth. Closer than the Crown wanted the people to know, at any rate.   The Mosquito wasn't the bomber the RAF wanted, it was what they needed.

[Rusty Edge]

The Mosquito was also a strategic mail carrier. It flew mail and a morning paper when Churchill was going to a big conference like Potsdam and Yalta. They set speed records.  Churchill ordered that the courier plane Be stripped of all possible technology before the flight. There was a reason. It turns out the Russians had completely disassembled the plane, made templates for all of the parts and rebuilt it in the hanger overnight.

Gotta love the Russians.

[Buster's Uncle]

I do love the Russians - they're clever at reverse-engineering, and they do some first-rate design work of their own when they're on their game.

[Geo]

I do love the Russians - they're clever at reverse-engineering, and they do some first-rate design work of their own when they're on their game.

Viva Tupolev!

[Buster's Uncle]

See also Kalashnikov.

-And I don't know who's to blame, but I hear some of those early MiG designs were sweet marvels of good performance and simple design.

[Rusty Edge]

I can't say I know much about the Russian airplanes.
When it comes to peasant-proof engineering, my personal favorite is the Ural Truck.
Who needs to build a road when they have one of these and a river ?

Russian trucks at their best.Российские грузовики в лучшем виде.

[Geo]

-And I don't know who's to blame, but I hear some of those early MiG designs were sweet marvels of good performance and simple design.

Do you mean the Mig 15?

[Buster's Uncle]

I don't remember.  I do recall something about a Soviet pilot defecting w/MiG, circa 50's, IIRC, (my subconscious keeps saying Korea, so early) and the team examining it being very impressed with what a sweet ride it was, and how elegantly engineered.  Not nearly as many features as western equivalents, but flew fast and well, fuel efficient (for a fighter) durable, easy to maintain, rather idiot-proof.

I like military gear and history as well as the next guy, provided he's you and not Rusty - but just being widely-read from a young age, I've heard bunches and bunches of stories like that about Russian engineering.  More usually, it's sloppy crap - but nobody's better than the best Russians doing their best work, and the best seemed to have mostly ended up in the military and/or the space program under Soviet government.

[Geo]

Several Mig 15 pilots defected.

Here, have a quick read.

[Buster's Uncle]

It was probably Jarecki I read about.  That sounds closest, and I don't think it was the Korean.  Jarecki had reasons other than money, IIRC.

[Geo]

Which were?

[Buster's Uncle]

You tell me.  You read the Wikipedia article first.

[Geo]

Couldn't find another reason besides defecting and money. And I guessed those weren't what you meant.

[Buster's Uncle]

It was probably a long Readers' Digest article in the late 70s, and I just don't remember.  Disappointing there's not more in the Wikipedia.

He claimed he was being oppressed or something...