WWII history and tactics

[Griz882]

As we all probably recollect, on December 7, 1941, the standard Navy fighter was the Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat.

My old man flew FM’s off of a CVE in the final months of the war. The Wildcat actually had a great reputation with the Japanese who considered it a comparable fighter to their own Zero. As @Llarry notes, it was the American ability to innovate tactically that secured the South Pacific during the first 24 months of the war while flying soon-to-be surpassed fighters like the F4F and P-40. On an interesting side note, the glamorous P-51 was not highly regarded in the Pacific, where pilots and ground crew found it too picky and flimsy for the harsh environment.

 

[Griz882]

Today, and the next two days, mark the anniversary of the hard fought and deadly series of naval engagements at Guadalcanal. The fight to take and keep Guadalcanal was key to securing the flank of the entire battle for the South Pacific (1942 to 1943). It was here that the famous Cactus Air Force eventually changed the course of the war.

 

[wink]

It was here that the famous Cactus Air Force eventually changed the course of the war.

And Wildcats played a huge role. Joe Foss flew his into history. I had the honor of meeting Gen Foss a few times as he was the uncle of a good friend. awesome man. Incredible life.

 

[Randy Daytona]

Today, and the next two days, mark the anniversary of the hard fought and deadly series of naval engagements at Guadalcanal. The fight to take and keep Guadalcanal was key to securing the flank of the entire battle for the South Pacific (1942 to 1943). It was here that the famous Cactus Air Force eventually changed the course of the war.

View attachment 43903

USS Washington BB-56 under the overall command of Rear Admiral Willis Lee opening fire on IJN Kirishima at point blank range just after midnight.

 

[Flash]

USS Washington BB-56 under the overall command of Rear Admiral Willis Lee opening fire on IJN Kirishima at point blank range just after midnight.

View attachment 43904

I find it fascinating that as good as the Japanese were at night surface battle at the time the one 'evenly matched' battleship versus battleship duel of the entire Pacific war ended with an emphatic US victory. There was a lot of luck involved but Admiral Lee's and the crew's skill was the deciding factor, while not a 'significant' victory in the grand scheme of things it is still a magnificent one.

The battle also showed how well 'peak' battleship armor performed, with the South Dakota taking a beating but able to sail away with only moderate damage (albeit with one big ass dent on the aft main gun turret barbette from an almost direct 14 inch shell hit) and relatively light casualties.

Photo 35: Hit No. 26. Point of impact of projectile on barbette No. 3.