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The Drydock - Episode 213 (Part 2)

🕑 Added 2022-09-16 10:00:05 +0000 UTC

Comments

ROBERT NABORNEY

John K Baker. My dad's ship, USS San Jacinto was in both Typhoons that Halsey ran into. In both cases they had to leave some aircraft on deck - chained down with multiple chains and cables - and still had aircraft blown over the side. He was on the bridge, working on SG surface search repeater when the anemometer on the mast carried away while reading just over 120 mph. The ship was rolling up to 45 degrees. Here is a picture of the USS Cowpens' 'flight deck in Typhoon Cobra, December 1944 https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/media/uss-cowpens-during-typhoon-cobra-18-december-1944-aaa-jpg.480445/

Hope things in your (Drach's) corner of the world are going well. We hear of all sorts of issues with exorbitant cost increases in every facet of the UK's economy but more so with energy. Take care my friend. Let us know if there is any help we can provide...

John K Baker

After watching the video of aircraft carriers in heavy seas, was there room below the flight deck to store all of the carried airplanes or were some forced to be secured (as well as possible) on the deck in an attempt to not lose them overboard due to wave/wind action.

Hugh Fisher

On the ability of a WW2 surface force to resist air attack without fighter cover, Capt. Wayne Hughes has an example in his book "Fleet Tactic and Coastal Combat" 2nd ed. The day after the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on 3rd Nov 1943, the USN force that had fought the battle came under heavy Japanese air attack, one hundred or so aircraft. According to the book the US force of 4 light cruisers and 8 destroyers, modern ships loaded with AA guns, coped very well, taking just 2 light bomb hits and shooting down 17 Japanese aircraft.