Subject: SMML VOL 2856 Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 00:53:37 +1000 The Ship Modelling Mailing List (SMML) is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com For infomation on how to Post to SMML and Unsubscribe from SMML http//smmlonline.com/aboutsmml/rules.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 USS Nimitz 2 Re USS America 3 Re USS America 4 American sinking 5 French WW2 Naval Officers and Seamen's Uniforms 6 USS America 7 USS America v. the satellites 8 Re SINKEX Results -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1 1/48 Scale Corvettes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Peter Chant" Subject USS Nimitz Hello, Some help from our US carrier experts please. I have been looking at all the photos and plans I could find for the location of the third Phalanx CIWS on the USS Nimitz in the early 1990s. I can see the one on the port bow sponson and the second right aft, but is the third below the port aft Sea Sparrow launcher (as on the Lincoln and co.) or where? Peter Plymouth ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "Robert Mosher" Subject Re USS America I don't believe that the Russians still have global satellite coverage, but they are not the only ones likely to be interested in the event who have satellites in orbit. It would be interesting to hit some of the space related websites to see if the orbit tracks for known satellites match up. Robert A. Mosher ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From potter4@att.net Subject Re USS America >> Hear what you guys are saying, but find it unlikley that the US DOD loaded her with a few 100 thousand gallons of AVGAS and the usual stocks of munitions and combustibles! Sure this would have a major factor in exactly the punishment a Supercarrier can take! << USN aircraft carriers haven't carried AVGAS in 30 years, since the retirement of the piston-engine E-1 and S-2. The similar C-1 COD transports operated from shore bases and fueled ashore. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From Rusty White Subject American sinking >> I can understand that this is kept secret but surely it was not hidden from satellites? I am sure the Russians wanted to know what was going on. I wouldn't even be surprised if they had a sub in the area. So, think there is any possibility that pics will show up from "other" sources? << Dean, Of course this sort of thing couldn't be hidden from sattleite imagry. The area could be easily monitored for subs though. However, in order for satellites to be any good, you must know the coordinates which were no doubt kept secret AND one must have sufficient time to relate the satellite in the proper orbit which takes time. Moreover, trying to glean any reliable, accurate information from something like an ordinace test from satellite photos would be impossible. In order for this imagry to do you any good you must know what kind of ordinace is being used (not just a bomb or torpedo for example), how it is delivered, range, etc. So unless all this imformation is known, just blurry photos from a sub or satellite will do little if any good to our advisaries. Hell, the Ruskies could do the same tests on thier own scrapped carriers and get far more reliable information than blurry shots taken from a satellite or through the periscope camera of an Alfa class sub. Just my opinion. Rusty White Flagship Mdoels Inc. Home of the "how to" modelling Cds flagshipmodels.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From "James Davies" Subject French WW2 Naval Officers and Seamen's Uniforms Does anyone have any information on the uniforms worn by officers and men on board French warships in 1939/40 (ie before the Armistice)? I can't seem to find any good pictures or descriptions anywhere. Thanks in advance, James ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From Kelvin Mok Subject USS America >> Hear what you guys are saying, but find it unlikley that the US DOD loaded her with a few 100 thousand gallons of AVGAS and the usual stocks of munitions and combustibles! Sure this would have a major factor in exactly the punishment a Supercarrier can take! << Is it necessary to sink the ship? Wouldn't doing enough damage to make it inoperative be enough? The critical spots will be the flight deck, the Island and the stern rudder or props. If she cannot launch operations then its a piece of floating iron. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From "Phillip Anz-Meador" Subject USS America v. the satellites Regarding satellite observations, sats are well characterized in terms of both their location in near-Earth space AND their function by US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), the Russian Space Surveillance Service (SSS), etc. Thus, it's an easy matter to perform tests when specific satellites are not above your local horizon... Phillip Anz-Meador ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From "Hank Lapa" Subject Re SINKEX Results With the Cold War at its height when UNITED STATES was laid down, I am sure the armor situation was well considered by the time the big decks were launched. This goes back to RN experience with armored decks in WW2, and the USN's lack of the same. All trade-offs in the design. Further there was precedent on what "lucky shots" could achieve with large ships. Lessons of Midway were likely considered -- need for urgently fast repair turnaround for YORKTOWN and susceptibility of carriers during arming and fueling ops. So, the big decks probably had improved DC design, but the bombs, rockets, and avfuel issue never seems to have been successfully addressed, e.g., FORRESTAL and ENTERPRISE. I think overhead photos would be of limited use except for flight deck images. Damage from cruise missiles and torps would be tough to get. And images alone might not be totally useful without sensor readings from the target. When satellites were plentiful, the Soviets surely watched shock tests on US hulls many times, and went aboard "visit ships" (CVs) in the US and abroad with only a petty officer to guide tourists. Hundreds of occaisions is very conservative. A true blend of politician and warrior, Putin probably values "visible" assets over satellites, like Blackjack overhauls, Typhoons "ready to sortie," and mobile ICBMs, etc. Appearences are everything. If the Russians are weak in overhaed assets, the cheapest thing to do about it is to refine and perfect camouflage against visible and invisible wavelengths, and ground-mapping radar, thus denying US much value from some overhead sensors. Other ships (and planes, etc.) are being turned into seed for new reefs by being dropped into the sea. (Even old NYC subway cars if I remember.) There may have been some weapons resistance tests associated with that, too. The above are my best guesses. As a former USN officer, I have been mostly our of the loop on these matters for some years. Hank 1805 Trafalgar 2005 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From Chris Murphy Subject 1/48 Scale Corvettes We have imported 6 1/48 scale Fleetscale corvettes 3 Agassiz and 3 Bryony. These hulls are absolutely beautiful with hull plating and rivets molded in. The hull come with plans and the book The Flower Class Corvette Agassiz by John McKay and John Harland. This book has 100's of scale drawings. We are selling these for 450.00 Cdn ( 357.00 USD) plus shipping. If interested I can reached via the above email or by following this link http//www.lakeheadmodels.com/Products/details.asp?ID=1795 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume