USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
There are a number of pictures, such as the ones below from wikipedia and navsource, which show USS West Virginia after she was fully salvaged from Pearl Harbor and just before she left for the US...
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
Absolutley non combat functional.
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
I doubt if there was any ammunition aboard.
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
This was a salvaged wreck!
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
And undoubtedly no gun crew onboard either.
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
Given the overall record of (fully functional) battleships vs submarines, I only see two likely outcomes: (1) Sub sinks WV, or (2) escorting destroyer(s) sink/drive away sub.
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
No ammunition? Not even anti-aircraft gun crews? Wasn't the US Navy aware IJN subs had floatplanes?
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
I doubt she was unescorted.
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
Shang Ma Ke wrote:No ammunition? Not even anti-aircraft gun crews? Wasn't the US Navy aware IJN subs had floatplanes?Oh good. Btw, what were they going to do that would threaten anybody?
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
I am curious on opinions - Between USS California and USS West Virginia, which was in worse condition following Pearl Harbor?
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
West Virginia - based on the torpedo hits on the two ships. CA took two, WV more. Many more
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
California's side protective system wasn't even breached.
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
It seems to me that by the time Wee Vee headed for the West Coast the IJN submarine offensive in EastPac was pretty much over. Still, the possibility was there. What were her escorts comprised of? I...
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
Forgot to mention the obvious DDs!
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
Be interesting to get more information - was she operated with anything more than a skeleton crew? If they did not have any ammunition, I hope they at least had enough life boats aboard.
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
Once the war started, the USN didn't do life boats: rubber rafts and Carley floats. Wooden boats were fire hazards. Most ships did carry one motor whaleboat for in-port utility duties and sub nom gig,...
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
I think you are being a bit too specific. I always considered those things in the fiberglass canisters on modern boats to be life boats as well.
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
Kitsune wrote:I think you are being a bit too specific. I always considered those things in the fiberglass canisters on modern boats to be life boats as well.No, because a number of navies continued...
View ArticleRe: USS West Virginia initial survivability after 1943 salvage
Kitsune wrote:I think you are being a bit too specific. I always considered those things in the fiberglass canisters on modern boats to be life boats as well.You are too nice, what you are calling...
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