The gruesome irony of the Swordfish's success was that it was obsolete. The skin covering the wings was so thin and fragile that it actually made it MORE difficult to shoot it down. Some Swordfish pilots admitted that the German guns tore through their planes like tissue paper but that was what saved them. This prevented extra damage to the wings so they were still able to fly. Talk about irony!
When Churchill sent every ship to find Bismark, it makes me wonder, was England too lightly defended by sea to stop the Germans if they had gathered all their ships and U-boats and attacked immediately through the English Channel?
@starlionblue Not every ship was sent,rather capital ships within range were ordered to converge on the Bismarck,some of the older 'R' class battleships were still in home waters as were some cruisers and a sizable force of destroyers which would have deterred any sort of ad hoc operation by the German on the Channel .
Swordfish planes, made of wood and cloth, also wiped out most of the Italian fleet in a daring raid on Taranto harbor. After that, Mussolini's navy was finished.
Its strange that none of the Arado Seaplanes on board the Bismarck were used to help fend off the Swordfish Attacks, since the Arado Seaplane is equipped with Machine Guns.
Actually, the Arados were primarily supposed to be used for reconaissance purposes. The machine guns they had were solely for defensive purposes. I also believe the North Atlantic seas are far too rough for seaplanes to be recover afer use.
@EvilFingers It may be that the seas were too rough to safely launch and recover sea planes. Or quite possibly they just did not have time to launch them after 1st sighting the swordfish
The night before BISMARCK was sunk, Lutjens tried to fly an Arado to France, with BISMARCK's logs. But they couldn't launch, as the catapult had been damaged, presumably by the PRINCE OF WALES or maybe the VICTORIOUS's torpedo attack. It seems likely that the Arados could not have been launched to defend BISMARCK. Remember too the horrendous launching conditions almost stopped VICTORIOUS from launching the attack.
@SuperAncientmariner But isn't the range you cite for going out and returning, i.e. the Arado can go out 680 nm and return? BISMARCK was just going to fly her Arados out, no return. That would give the Arados enough range.
@leoamery My comment on the range was in regard to your comment on flying the logs to France. (The range of the Arado was 680 nm, that meant 340 out and 340 back.)
Those torpedo bombing pilots were very courageous and committed to the mission. They were willing to risk gunfire for the second time so that they could get a clear shot at the Bismarck and they succeeded on the second run.
Wow, this is amazing. I remember my Great Aunt recorded this program for me when I was a child, as I always loved military history. I lost the cassette, and couldn't get a copy online. thank you so much for posting this. It's utterly amazing. Oh, by the way, do you also have the A&E special on the Lucitania?
No, not true. In fact, a greatly embellished, if not fabricated, lie. It was just a tough, tough airplane. At least as successful as any American plane in the Pacific. Fuck that geezer.
Sad. All these guys going to their doom before they even started life.
Albacorewing 1 year ago
The gruesome irony of the Swordfish's success was that it was obsolete. The skin covering the wings was so thin and fragile that it actually made it MORE difficult to shoot it down. Some Swordfish pilots admitted that the German guns tore through their planes like tissue paper but that was what saved them. This prevented extra damage to the wings so they were still able to fly. Talk about irony!
starlionblue 1 year ago
When Churchill sent every ship to find Bismark, it makes me wonder, was England too lightly defended by sea to stop the Germans if they had gathered all their ships and U-boats and attacked immediately through the English Channel?
starlionblue 1 year ago
@starlionblue Not every ship was sent,rather capital ships within range were ordered to converge on the Bismarck,some of the older 'R' class battleships were still in home waters as were some cruisers and a sizable force of destroyers which would have deterred any sort of ad hoc operation by the German on the Channel .
iroscoe 1 year ago
amazing a little fly kills a big whale. eternal lesson here.
Rico8458 1 year ago
95 mph!!!!!!
suffern63 1 year ago
I should add that you are right regarding damge to the catapult. Also launching in general when the sea state was rough.
SuperAncientmariner 1 year ago
Swordfish planes, made of wood and cloth, also wiped out most of the Italian fleet in a daring raid on Taranto harbor. After that, Mussolini's navy was finished.
ANDPRY 1 year ago
Les Sayer MBE died on 1 November, 2008, at his home in East Anglia, aged 93. RIP
snowboredsnj 2 years ago
Its strange that none of the Arado Seaplanes on board the Bismarck were used to help fend off the Swordfish Attacks, since the Arado Seaplane is equipped with Machine Guns.
EvilFingers 2 years ago
You have got a point.
G777GUN 2 years ago
Actually, the Arados were primarily supposed to be used for reconaissance purposes. The machine guns they had were solely for defensive purposes. I also believe the North Atlantic seas are far too rough for seaplanes to be recover afer use.
AlphabetSoup03824 2 years ago
The guns on the Arado are not Generally for defensive purposes only, they can also be used offensively.
As for recovery, ships that carried Aircraft (except Aircraft Carriers) the crews are trained to handle the recovery process in rough seas.
EvilFingers 2 years ago
@EvilFingers It may be that the seas were too rough to safely launch and recover sea planes. Or quite possibly they just did not have time to launch them after 1st sighting the swordfish
snowboredsnj 2 years ago
The night before BISMARCK was sunk, Lutjens tried to fly an Arado to France, with BISMARCK's logs. But they couldn't launch, as the catapult had been damaged, presumably by the PRINCE OF WALES or maybe the VICTORIOUS's torpedo attack. It seems likely that the Arados could not have been launched to defend BISMARCK. Remember too the horrendous launching conditions almost stopped VICTORIOUS from launching the attack.
leoamery 2 years ago
@leoamery Doubtful. The Arado only had a range of app. 680 nm. Bimark was, during the night, over 780 miles from france.
SuperAncientmariner 1 year ago
@SuperAncientmariner But isn't the range you cite for going out and returning, i.e. the Arado can go out 680 nm and return? BISMARCK was just going to fly her Arados out, no return. That would give the Arados enough range.
leoamery 1 year ago
@leoamery My comment on the range was in regard to your comment on flying the logs to France. (The range of the Arado was 680 nm, that meant 340 out and 340 back.)
SuperAncientmariner 1 year ago
Those torpedo bombing pilots were very courageous and committed to the mission. They were willing to risk gunfire for the second time so that they could get a clear shot at the Bismarck and they succeeded on the second run.
supermouse1969 2 years ago
You got that right!!!
HoustonGD 2 years ago
Wow, this is amazing. I remember my Great Aunt recorded this program for me when I was a child, as I always loved military history. I lost the cassette, and couldn't get a copy online. thank you so much for posting this. It's utterly amazing. Oh, by the way, do you also have the A&E special on the Lucitania?
lawrence5584 2 years ago 8
Your welcome!
kingtiger88 2 years ago
"You used string to repair it"
No, not true. In fact, a greatly embellished, if not fabricated, lie. It was just a tough, tough airplane. At least as successful as any American plane in the Pacific. Fuck that geezer.
beastatlay 2 years ago
Thanks so much for posting!
Bullettube 3 years ago
very nice video thanks! 5/5
rawkon91 4 years ago 5