the comedian wrote:Antiquus wrote:Reading "Neptune's Inferno" about the Navy's battle at Guadalcanal when the not quite ready for war Navy went up against the best surface action and night fighting navy in existence, got their asses whompped badly and then learned how to beat them. Few of us realize the Navy suffered 3x the casualties that the Marines did at Guadalcanal.
Think I will pick that one up. The naval battles in the Solomons in 1942- 43 were slaughters for both sides. In the end we had more ships, better radar, and ( eventually ) better leadership.
Oh, and air supremacy.
Air was the key, amazing how superior the Japanese were to the Americans at the start of the war, but 6 months in the Americans adjusted and were beating the Japanese regularly, even though the Zero was quite capable of out-dogfighting anything we had. The Americans stopped dogfighting and just started using the strafe and run tactics, depending on superior firepower and armor and self sealing gas tanks.
Yea off the north coast of Guadalcanal the water is still called Ironbottom Sound. What a cat fight that was. Interesting point I didn't know - Admiral Callaghan getting ready to fight the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - one of 5 major battles fought around Guadalcanal - knew he was facing at least one battleship and was overheard stating the only way to fight a battle ship with a cruiser (he had 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers against a battleship, cruiser and 2 destroyers plus transports) was to get within 2000 yards, which was suicide and he knew it. He did it and died in the battle, But his force damaged the Hiei so badly she was was still circling helplessly the next morning and was a tasty breakfast for the Cactus Air Force, the first Japanese battleship sunk in the war.
When only cops have guns, it's called a police state.
I carry due to toxic masculinity.......just other people's.