General Discussion

Abnredleg

(1,260 posts)

3. Naval Gunfire is not that accurate

Reply to Hermit-The-Prog (Original post)

Mon May 27, 2024, 01:36 PM

May 2024

And the targets for the most part were small and well protected. Naval gunfire can erode an enemies defenses but to totally defeat them would take so much ammo and time as to be impractical.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Hermit-The-Prog

117 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Any military 'geeks': Can someone explain D-day to me? [View all] Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 OP

i believe that nobody wants to admit epic mistakes Tetrachloride May 2024 #1

I remember reading an account of a commander in the Pacific... Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #6

There was plenty of bombardment of the beach defenses... brooklynite May 2024 #24

Yep; Iwo Jima was bombarded for over 70 days & look how that went oldsoftie May 2024 #57

70 days aerial bombardment, 3 days naval bombardment. sl8 May 2024 #104

Not that easy. German machine gun nests in dug-in, hardened concrete pill boxes. brush May 2024 #2

The German positions were also set up at angles to provide crossfires. They weren't easy to fire right into brewens May 2024 #38

Back in 94 there were commemorations for the 50th anniversary of D-day Dave Bowman May 2024 #40

I don't recall that 50th anniversary, but Dan May 2024 #48

He's a Bullshitter. Grins May 2024 #67

He probably meant that he killed that many soldiers during the whole battle of Normandy. Dave Bowman May 2024 #73

Nope Mountainguy May 2024 #91

Yes, I edited my post to add some information about that guy after doing a search about him and Dave Bowman May 2024 #92

Trying to remember from Vietnam... Grins May 2024 #117

Naval Gunfire is not that accurate Abnredleg May 2024 #3

If it took a lot of time that would have defeated the purpose of a surprise attack. Irish_Dem May 2024 #8

The other thing i read DiverDave May 2024 #109

Yes, but there were already some German divisions stationed in the area. Irish_Dem May 2024 #112

It helped the allied forces DiverDave May 2024 #113

Yes the allies took full advantage of the German problems. Irish_Dem May 2024 #114

Naval gunfire back in '44 wasn't all that accurate, but today's naval gunfire MarineCombatEngineer May 2024 #10

Exactly PJMcK May 2024 #75

my father was the gun control officer ( but enlisted ) on the USS Parker ( a destroyer ) lapfog_1 May 2024 #93

I can't picture what you mean. Irish_Dem May 2024 #4

Just carve a canyon for some. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #9

Back in '44, the accuracy and lethality of naval gunfire was very spotty at best MarineCombatEngineer May 2024 #12

Every time I see the stats for D-day, I wish the Navy could have wasted the whole area. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #14

I hear ya, even the fighter and bomber aircraft of the day MarineCombatEngineer May 2024 #19

US troops would still have to scale canyon walls and would be sitting ducks. Irish_Dem May 2024 #16

The Germans also had buried huge heavy metal spikes, aimed toward the sea, to disable tanks coming ashore. Lonestarblue May 2024 #65

Yes I knew about the deadly spikes. Irish_Dem May 2024 #69

Consider that this strategy was tried in WWI, and failed miserably each time. NutmegYankee May 2024 #34

It's not quite a new idea, is it? I didn't think to compare it to those actions. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #43

But the cliffs were the top of the land . they were not free standing with nothing behind. I doubt there was a through. Srkdqltr May 2024 #53

The Normandy beach attacked that day was 40 miles long, for one. Swede May 2024 #5

Just one path. I torture myself every Memorial Day by watching documentaris of D-day. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #13

Bunching up the invaders in one spot was probably dismissed early on. Swede May 2024 #15

Oh, yeah, but clearing a path anywhere surely would have helped. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #18

I believe your plan would have resulted in a massacre of allied troops. Irish_Dem May 2024 #31

Be glad we have more informed people in charge of our military. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #41

I am only an old Air Force brat, but it did not sound good to me. Irish_Dem May 2024 #44

Watched "D-Day: Lost Films" earlier today and I just wish we could rewind and re-do. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #46

The men who died saved lives. Irish_Dem May 2024 #55

There were 200,000 allied troops on D-Day. You cannot put them in one spot. Irish_Dem May 2024 #22

Oh no, not what I meant Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #26

The men still have to get to the other side on that one path. Irish_Dem May 2024 #35

Union Forces in the Civil War were 'fish in a barrel' during Battle of the Crater BoRaGard May 2024 #37

Yep this is the picture of the canyon on the D-Day beach I was seeing. Irish_Dem May 2024 #42

One path for five beachheads? rsdsharp May 2024 #52

You have an extremely optimistic and unrealistic view of the effective of bombardment Prairie Gates May 2024 #7

No doubt. The documentaries running today give me heartache. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #11

It also would have given time for the Wehrmacht to move their forces to block the breakout Prairie Gates May 2024 #17

Yes, it was over a month of brutal fighting before it was clearly a successful invasion. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #20

Not that easy maxrandb May 2024 #21

To honor those sacrifices... Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #23

I have a picture of my Grandmother that was in a CT newspaper maxrandb May 2024 #28

Such images are precious. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #39

I was thinking about part of your comment earlier today coincidentally. Irish_Dem May 2024 #25

I think circumstances would demand it maxrandb May 2024 #84

But Americans are turning on our democracy now. Irish_Dem May 2024 #86

I guess we'll find out in November maxrandb May 2024 #89

The media was not yet totally corrupt like today. Irish_Dem May 2024 #90

Hardened bunkers reisist naval gun fire. We had the same problem in the Pacific. NutmegYankee May 2024 #27

We were stationed near the Okinawa beaches in the 1960's. Irish_Dem May 2024 #47

Depth, probably. Detroyers came in and hitt the German defenses, though. Gore1FL May 2024 #29

You need to land sufficient troops and equipment in a short enough RockRaven May 2024 #30

Uh, there were sailors and soldiers between the ships and the beach Bad Thoughts May 2024 #32

For a few reasons DetroitLegalBeagle May 2024 #33

The Nazis had prepositioned eight divisions along that beach... jmowreader May 2024 #36

If such a thing had been done sarisataka May 2024 #45

There were a number of problems jobendorfer May 2024 #49

Thank you. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #58

Good summary. Irish_Dem May 2024 #87

They real answer is "they did" FBaggins May 2024 #50

The amphibious invasions began at 6:30am. Sunrise was 5:58 am. Irish_Dem May 2024 #61

I've always envisioned it just as depicted in The Longest Day FBaggins May 2024 #68

So many good movies about D-Day. Irish_Dem May 2024 #71

A top military strategist told Eisenhower that the D-Day death rate could be as high as 75%. Irish_Dem May 2024 #63

All true FBaggins May 2024 #70

Yes it was not just about Europe. Irish_Dem May 2024 #74

Because Adm. King wanted to keep most of the Navy capital in the Pacific haele May 2024 #51

Yes moving some of the US naval fleet to Europe doesn't make sense. Irish_Dem May 2024 #76

Destroyers were very effective. kairos12 May 2024 #54

This is such an interesting part of the D-Day story. Irish_Dem May 2024 #79

Question sounds simple but the answer is complex Picaro May 2024 #56

If D Day had failed the war would have ended very differently. Irish_Dem May 2024 #80

Spot on Picaro May 2024 #82

FDR, Churchill, Eisenhower knew full well was what at stake. Irish_Dem May 2024 #85

Eisenhower had prepared a statement in the event the invasion failed Ex Lurker May 2024 #100

That is Ike down to the bone. A true leader. Irish_Dem May 2024 #105

It was a massive operation with a thousand moving parts Shermann May 2024 #59

The Germans were a formidable military force. Irish_Dem May 2024 #81

IIRC, there was another sneak attack on Nazis. GreenWave May 2024 #60

They Did ._. May 2024 #62

Accuracy sucks, rate of fire sucks more, payload per shell is pathetic. Angleae May 2024 #64

I don't have an accuracy percentage sarisataka May 2024 #72

BBs could hit other BBs at ranges over 10 miles Kaleva May 2024 #78

They would fire dozens of rounds to get one or two hits Ex Lurker May 2024 #101

The Rodney hit the Bismarck on it's 3rd salvo Kaleva May 2024 #103

Rodney had a main battery of 9 16 inch guns Ex Lurker May 2024 #115

You make valid points Kaleva May 2024 #116

I never ForgedCrank May 2024 #66

Weather and fierce fighting by the Germans were two factors. Irish_Dem May 2024 #83

Damn, someone get a quick message to General Eisenhower!! marble falls May 2024 #77

This thread is making me laugh and cry. Irish_Dem May 2024 #88

Me, too. Grinding the chaff makes no more flour. But it is fun watching them standing with a bag awaiting the result ... marble falls May 2024 #94

Thankfully, there have been many enlightening comments. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #98

What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub? Xavier Breath May 2024 #95

The USN is under the impression they were at Normandy with the big guns Operation Neptune ... marble falls May 2024 #96

Thanks. My question was less "what was" and more of "what if"... Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #102

EVEN iF? A battleship's guns can put a shell 25 miles aways within 4ft of the target. A broadside from a battleship ... marble falls May 2024 #106

I don't understand your questioning my use of "even if" Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #108

WHAT IF???? There, all better. If only some of those armchair Admirals had been there, Normandy would have ... marble falls May 2024 #110

I hope whatever is making you mad goes away soon. Be happy. Hermit-The-Prog May 2024 #111

The Navy can't win a ground war. n/t Alpeduez21 May 2024 #97

Hear of the Marines? The world's largest air force is the US Air force, the world's second largest air force? the USN. marble falls May 2024 #99

YouTube Channel: World War Two tazkcmo May 2024 #107