I think you could make a good argument for this Zheng He if the Japanese hadn't also lost a lot of their flat tops as well. Their urgency is there for sure but it isn't like the Kito Butai is still operating a full six fleet carriers.
A True and Better Alamo: The Battle For Wake Atoll
- Thread starter Fearless Leader
- Start date
I think you could make a good argument for this Zheng He if the Japanese hadn't also lost a lot of their flat tops as well. Their urgency is there for sure but it isn't like the Kito Butai is still operating a full six fleet carriers.
The big problem with the Ranger is well Range...it has about 2/3 the un-refueled range of the big carriers and carried less than 60 percent of Aviation fuel of a Fleet carrier. They could treat it as a large escort carrier but it has the crew of a fleet carrier but the range/fuel stowage about that of an Escort carrier...while carrying 2/3 the aircraft of a fleet carrier.
So it would run out of fuel for it's aircraft well before the matching set of escort carriers...and it's speed is about that of escort carriers for cruising.
So there is a trade off...which I think the US would decide the same as they did IOTL - keep the Ranger in the Atlantic.
So it would run out of fuel for it's aircraft well before the matching set of escort carriers...and it's speed is about that of escort carriers for cruising.
So there is a trade off...which I think the US would decide the same as they did IOTL - keep the Ranger in the Atlantic.
Sorry, my faulty memory with twisting Ranger with the Wasp with the Malta resupply runs. It comes to efficiency I think. The Ranger only adequit for the Atlantic. In the Pacific it did not have the legs for sustained operations.
Well I guess we can always barrow a few submarine carriers fro Japan. We all know how well that worked out.
Well I guess we can always barrow a few submarine carriers fro Japan. We all know how well that worked out.
You guys may be right on Ranger, you certainly make good points and OTL the US kept the Ranger in the Atlantic through the end of 42 despite things getting desperate.
That said, in April 42 with the US down to two carriers (one damaged) and no hope of relief for the rest of the year, I think Ranger goes to the Pacific.
Not my ATL though so FL can proceed with this as he sees best. Great stuff all around.
That said, in April 42 with the US down to two carriers (one damaged) and no hope of relief for the rest of the year, I think Ranger goes to the Pacific.
Not my ATL though so FL can proceed with this as he sees best. Great stuff all around.
Orville_third
Banned
I'm glad someone thought of bringing GALCIT and JATO in before I did! Usually it's me who brings it up!Thanks Marathag. I was aware of Jatos and their use with getting planes into the air, especially those loaded with weapons, but I had not been aware that the testing was as early as 1942.
Learning something new on AH.com is good for the brain.
You bring them up with the Force?
The JATOs were of a big help. Post War they helped to get overloaded bombers into the air quicker and saved fuel, thus allowing better range.
Now if catapults had just been worked on and improved, we might have seen the US strike planes have better range or be able to carry heavier bomb loads.
marathag
Banned
Navy was working on improving the catapults. Early ones were not very good, and not trusted by the crews
P5 Powder Mk5 a 5" smokeless propellant blank charge. 7,500 pound aircraft to 60 mph 55.5ft travel. Used on battleships and cruisers
P6 used a 8" blank, but couldn't find stats, 1938
H2 Hydraulic, Mk 2 11,000 pounds at 70 mph 73 foot power run USS Enterprise refit 1943
H4 Hydraulic, Mk 4 15,000 pounds at 90 mph 3.5 'G' acceleration over 150 of travel. Most later Essex class had these
H8 Hydraulic, Mk 8 15,500 pounds at 105 mph upto to 4.6 Gs. 1945
C11 Steam Mk2 39,000 pounds at 136 knots; 70,000 pounds at 107.5 knots retrofit to Essex class post war
Now everyone thinks the British invented the Steam catapult, but the Germans actually did, for the Lufthansa mail service in the 30s, for the Dornier Do 26
45,000 pounds at 95 mph in 2 seconds 110 foot run 1933 2.2 'G'
He said RL was forcing him to put this on the back burner for now. When he has time he will come back to this.
Aaaaahhhh! Dude you could just PM the author to let him know that instead of raising everyone's hopes.
Fearless Leader
Donor
Hey Everyone!
...
Heh...long time no see I guess. Yeah, grad school and getting engaged has taken a lot of time. But now I have some leisure reading time so I figured I'd get started on this one again. Forgive me?
...Where's the update?
It's coming! Don't worry. I've found a bunch of new books and I'm working on fixing some earlier parts of the TL. In particular I've changed the POD slightly and I'm beginning to flesh out the strategic implications of MacArthur's death in TTL.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US!
Sorry guys...just wanted to let you all know that new material is on it's way. I'd also love to have one of those fancy photoshopped covers for this TL. If anyone's interested feel free to use all your creativity and artistic talent to make something that makes up for my obvious lack of the latter. PM me with your ideas so that I can give the final approval. If not...I'll just be creative some other way.
...So what's with the TLIAD-esque fake dialogue?
Because I'm realistic. I'm never going to be able to do a TLIAD. Y'all are just going to have to put up with my updates (...or lack thereof ) I figured...why not?
Stay tuned for a new thread that will see the redone parts of the TL posted along with new material fairly quickly! It might take a bit to get to where we were in this thread...hopefully not. But trust me...things are going to be VERY different...hopefully better.
...
Heh...long time no see I guess. Yeah, grad school and getting engaged has taken a lot of time. But now I have some leisure reading time so I figured I'd get started on this one again. Forgive me?
...Where's the update?
It's coming! Don't worry. I've found a bunch of new books and I'm working on fixing some earlier parts of the TL. In particular I've changed the POD slightly and I'm beginning to flesh out the strategic implications of MacArthur's death in TTL.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US!
Sorry guys...just wanted to let you all know that new material is on it's way. I'd also love to have one of those fancy photoshopped covers for this TL. If anyone's interested feel free to use all your creativity and artistic talent to make something that makes up for my obvious lack of the latter. PM me with your ideas so that I can give the final approval. If not...I'll just be creative some other way.
...So what's with the TLIAD-esque fake dialogue?
Because I'm realistic. I'm never going to be able to do a TLIAD. Y'all are just going to have to put up with my updates (...or lack thereof
) I figured...why not?Stay tuned for a new thread that will see the redone parts of the TL posted along with new material fairly quickly! It might take a bit to get to where we were in this thread...hopefully not. But trust me...things are going to be VERY different...hopefully better.