Commander Speaking!

[shed driver]

No, not me, but the audio memoirs of Commander Ross from HMS Victorious in WW2. Memories of the pacific campaign, meeting Chester Nimitz, rum shortages. Tirpitz and Padang and Kamikaze attacks.

Genuine history, I'm indebted to members of the HMS Victorious Association for sharing these memories with me.

http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation..../Track%201....
http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation..../Track%202....
http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation..../Track%203....
http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation..../Track%204....
http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation..../Track%205....

Stacks more photos on the Victorious Association site - http://hmsvictoriousassociation.com/pictures/

Sorry for the blatant plug, just thought it's worth sharing - these voices from the past are not going to be with us much longer.

SD

[Simpo Two]

You might want to check those links...

[shed driver]

Simpo Two said:

You might want to check those links...

Bad, bad shed driver!

Anyway, updated links that work, honest!

http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation.com/files/audi...
http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation.com/files/audi...
http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation.com/files/audi...
http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation.com/files/audi...
http://www.hmsvictoriousassociation.com/files/audi...


SD.

[Blue Meanie]

Magic! very much appreciated. OK to share on another forum I presume?

[shed driver]

Blue Meanie said:

Magic! very much appreciated. OK to share on another forum I presume?

Of course. I've already posted it to subsim, can't see that I've posted it on Rum Ration though.

SD

[bob1179]

Really wonderful links. I didn't know that site existed, I will have to pass the link to my dad as he served on the Victorious during the 1960's.

[Blue Meanie]

What's the score with the claim that the Americans were losing carriers quicker than they could build them?

[shed driver]

Blue Meanie said:

What's the score with the claim that the Americans were losing carriers quicker than they could build them?

US Carriers at the time had a wooden deck as opposed to the armoured flight deck of RN carriers.


With the armoured deck, flying could resume much quicker, typically within a few hours. With the wooden decked carriers it was more often than not dry dock for several months if not down to the bottom. As to the build comment, the actual build is the quick bit - fitting out, working up a new crew and training all take time, much quicker to get a battle proven vessel and crew where you are only waiting for the transit time to the theatre it is required in.

This page gives some good reading. http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/tech-042.htm

SD.

[Blue Meanie]

Ah, thanks for that. never knew about the wooden decks. So it wasn't that they couldn't build the carriers, it was keeping them in the front line? Cheers...