90 years ago: Jutland

This very same day 90 years ago Battle of Jutland was fought. Hundreds of ships taking part to this massive seabattle. Seabattle that has created more 'What if' -scenarios than any seabattle ever.

 

dzeejes, it's raining anniversarys this month. first the hood and bismarck and now the battle of jutland.
seems may is like hunting season for ships

anyway, it was one big battle (one that i know just very small things. i'll have to learn more about that. after my exams offcours )

 

if you want more details try to get the book:
jutland, an analysis of the fighting by john campbell

 

thanks for the tip. i'll sure try to get a hold on that book

 

Jutland my favorite Battle so much happened at that moment .

 

Yeah, like Beatty getting half his battlecruisers destroyed. :roll:

 

hence the famous quote
"there seems to be something bloody wrong with our ships today"

 

There was an interesting program on History Channel. It seems that the prime reason the BC's (and other RN ships) blew up so spectacularly was because they were carrying a large amounts (~50%) of extra ammo. There was apaprently enough room in the magazines for the shells themselves, but the cordite propellant was stacked all around the ship. The RN also put an emphasis on rate of fire, so crews got into the habit of stacking shells and cordite in the open to achieve maximum rate of fire. One bright flash and the cordite goes boom!

 

Yeah, BCF was trained for high ROF because that was just about all they could train when deployed in Rosyth. Therefore their gunnery lacked accuracy. On the other hand, main body of RN based on Scapa were training regularly on firing ranges and that really shows when looking at records of Jutland.

 

I read once that HMS QUEEN MARY was one of the best gunnery ships in the Royal Navy before her loss at Jutland. Was this for her accuracy or just ROF?