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| -Land of the Free |
| This week in History 2: The Battle off Samar |
| 2014-10-23 |
| This article on USS Samuel B Roberts describes just one of the remarkable Davids vs Goliaths battle off Samar. If you don't have time to read The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, by James Hornfischer, at least go to Wikipedia on the subject. |
| Posted by:mom |
| #7 IIRC, the aircraft available were rigged for anti-sub and ground support, as the IJN wasn't supposed to be there, so the aircraft were ill-equipped to handle IJN heavies. Also, IIRC, the Japanese didn't get their colors of range rounds coordinated and were dropping the same smoke, and the way the wind was blowing, also contributed to the Japanese initially misidentifying the escort carriers as the main carrier fleet. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-10-23 14:46 |
| #6 I think it had something to do with the fuses. Essex - 27,100 ton displace (empty) with armor ranging from 1.5" to 4" St. Lo - 7,800 ton displace, no armor The Japanese were sporting some large warships. The idea is to get the round to explode as far internally as possible but there was not enough resistance to activate properly; like shooting empty soda cans with a 22 compared to a full can. Also, the opening moves of the Japanese can be generally viewed as a slug juggling salt packets, with credit going to effective smoke screening as well as good use of rain squalls, and harassment from aircraft. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-10-23 14:18 |
| #5 ... but the Japanese, thinking they were the main US carriers and not escort carriers, were using AP rounds which would carry straight through the ships.... That's odd. The first USN carriers to have an armored deck was the Midway class. The lead ship of the class, USS Midway (CV-41), was not commissioned until September 10, 1945 (8 days after the Surrender of Japan). |
| Posted by: Sninerong Hupinemble5552 2014-10-23 13:34 |
| #4 TLSofTCS notes that in the initial confusion of the Japanese battle orders, the escort carriers were hit a number of times - but the Japanese, thinking they were the main US carriers and not escort carriers, were using AP rounds which would carry straight through the ships, causing little damage and confusing the accuracy of the Japanese gunners. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-10-23 13:07 |
| #3 The Samuel B. Roberts fought well that day. Those who survived the fight, their ordeal was only beginning as they had to await rescue, enduring sharks and exposure. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-10-23 12:59 |
| #2 I've watched interviews of some of the crew of the Sammy B. They all should have received the Medal of Honor. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2014-10-23 12:32 |
| #1 If you don't have time to read The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, get the audio version. And if you get the audio version, don't listen to it in traffic. It is a bit intense. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-10-23 11:43 |