lordroel
Administrator
Member is Online
Posts: 64,751 
Likes: 45,851
|
Post by lordroel on May 4, 2021 16:39:39 GMT
Almirante Latorre (Ex-HMS Canada): The Battleship That Nearly Fought for the U.S. NavySo it seems that the United States offered to buy former HMS Canada, in service with the Chilean Navy as Almirante Latorre after the attack on Pearl Harbor actually offered to purchase Almirante Latorre to bolster the United States Navy. The offers were declined, and the warship only took part in neutrality patrols along the coast of South America for the remainder of the Second World War. So what if Almirante Latorre (Ex-HMS Canada) was sold to the United States, would she be of any use.
|
|
gillan1220
Consul General
I've been depressed recently. Slow replies coming in the next few days.
Posts: 12,144
Likes: 10,788
|
Post by gillan1220 on May 5, 2021 4:55:37 GMT
Almirante Latorre (Ex-HMS Canada): The Battleship That Nearly Fought for the U.S. NavySo it seems that the United States offered to buy former HMS Canada, in service with the Chilean Navy as Almirante Latorre after the attack on Pearl Harbor actually offered to purchase Almirante Latorre to bolster the United States Navy. The offers were declined, and the warship only took part in neutrality patrols along the coast of South America for the remainder of the Second World War. So what if Almirante Latorre (Ex-HMS Canada) was sold to the United States, would she be of any use. Big chance no change at all. The USN after World War II had hundreds of surplus ships that could easily be reactivated. Plus, the Fletcher-class and the Gearing-class destroyer would have the technological advantage over HMS Canada. |
|
stevep
Fleet admiral
Posts: 23,400
Likes: 12,012
|
Post by stevep on May 5, 2021 12:56:55 GMT
Almirante Latorre (Ex-HMS Canada): The Battleship That Nearly Fought for the U.S. NavySo it seems that the United States offered to buy former HMS Canada, in service with the Chilean Navy as Almirante Latorre after the attack on Pearl Harbor actually offered to purchase Almirante Latorre to bolster the United States Navy. The offers were declined, and the warship only took part in neutrality patrols along the coast of South America for the remainder of the Second World War. So what if Almirante Latorre (Ex-HMS Canada) was sold to the United States, would she be of any use. Big chance no change at all. The USN after World War II had hundreds of surplus ships that could easily be reactivated. Plus, the Fletcher-class and the Gearing-class destroyer would have the technological advantage over HMS Canada.
You may have misunderstood. Lordreol is talking about immediately after Pearl Harbour so the USN wants every ship it can get, hence the interest in the Almirante Latorre and it is a battleship, albeit a relatively older one.
It probably wouldn't have been much use to the USN as it would be non-standard and hence complicating the logistics/supply chain and also is rather thinly armoured for WWII. Also while it had gone rto the UK for a refit in 1929-31 on its return the Chilean economy was badly hit by the Great Depression and that led to cuts on military spending and then a naval mutiny as a result so it spent most of the 1930's mothballed as the country couldn't spare the resources to keep it active.
Even so it was a bit faster than most BB's of the WWII period - presuming it still had that speed - and had a good main armament with 10x14" guns so possibly with some modifications it could have had a role for shore bombardment, either in the Pacific or Europe.
Steve
|
|
gillan1220
Consul General
I've been depressed recently. Slow replies coming in the next few days.
Posts: 12,144
Likes: 10,788
|
Post by gillan1220 on May 5, 2021 15:06:17 GMT
Big chance no change at all. The USN after World War II had hundreds of surplus ships that could easily be reactivated. Plus, the Fletcher-class and the Gearing-class destroyer would have the technological advantage over HMS Canada.
You may have misunderstood. Lordreol is talking about immediately after Pearl Harbour so the USN wants every ship it can get, hence the interest in the Almirante Latorre and it is a battleship, albeit a relatively older one.
It probably wouldn't have been much use to the USN as it would be non-standard and hence complicating the logistics/supply chain and also is rather thinly armoured for WWII. Also while it had gone rto the UK for a refit in 1929-31 on its return the Chilean economy was badly hit by the Great Depression and that led to cuts on military spending and then a naval mutiny as a result so it spent most of the 1930's mothballed as the country couldn't spare the resources to keep it active.
Even so it was a bit faster than most BB's of the WWII period - presuming it still had that speed - and had a good main armament with 10x14" guns so possibly with some modifications it could have had a role for shore bombardment, either in the Pacific or Europe.
Steve
So it would be as fast as a cruiser then? The USN during WWII had numerous cruisers in service. |
|
stevep
Fleet admiral
Posts: 23,400
Likes: 12,012
|
Post by stevep on May 6, 2021 9:29:29 GMT
You may have misunderstood. Lordreol is talking about immediately after Pearl Harbour so the USN wants every ship it can get, hence the interest in the Almirante Latorre and it is a battleship, albeit a relatively older one.
It probably wouldn't have been much use to the USN as it would be non-standard and hence complicating the logistics/supply chain and also is rather thinly armoured for WWII. Also while it had gone rto the UK for a refit in 1929-31 on its return the Chilean economy was badly hit by the Great Depression and that led to cuts on military spending and then a naval mutiny as a result so it spent most of the 1930's mothballed as the country couldn't spare the resources to keep it active.
Even so it was a bit faster than most BB's of the WWII period - presuming it still had that speed - and had a good main armament with 10x14" guns so possibly with some modifications it could have had a role for shore bombardment, either in the Pacific or Europe.
Steve
So it would be as fast as a cruiser then? The USN during WWII had numerous cruisers in service.
No it was fast for a WWI BB, about 23 kts when new. Which is quite slow by WWII time although assuming its refit included new boilers and a switch to oil propulsion it might be a bit faster. However going to be slower than a WWII fast BB let alone a cruiser.
The USN had a fair amount of cruisers and more on the way but its now in a world war and fighting on several fronts. In a year's time the losses in the Solomon's are going to strain its cruiser strength, although since it has more depth and probably more luck than the Japaneses so they had more staying power. The Almirante Latorre wouldn't be a good replacement for a cruiser, except possibly in a crisis but given the losses at Pearl - albeit only a couple were permanent - its not surprising that the UAS at least looked at possible supplements to their strength.
Steve
|
|
1bigrich
Sub-lieutenant
Posts: 453
Likes: 567
|
Post by 1bigrich on May 9, 2021 15:19:48 GMT
I do not know what the US would want with another old battleship. Certainly if the US were desperate for old battleships after Pearl Harbor (five US battleships sunk, though three would return to service) it would have been easier to re-militarize Wyoming than take a foreign-built ship in. In capability, Admiral Latorre would be very similar to Arkansas and Wyoming with their turbines, and similar to the firepower of New York and Texas with their 14in guns without increased elevation like the Standards received. (New York and Texas had VTE engines, not turbines) ![]()  Wyoming as training ship AG-17 in the 1930s. But let's say the US does acquire the Chilean dreadnought. She would probably be assigned to Battleship Division 5 with the oldest USN dreadnoughts. Her service would be very like that of Arkansas New York and Texas, convoy escort in the Atlantic with a stint as a training ship to help with the fleet expansion. She would probably be providing fire support for amphibious operations as the other three BatDiv 5 ships did, but once Germany was defeated she would come west for Operation Iceberg and the invasion of Japan. Post-war, she would likely be returned to Chile or if purchased outright, scrapped. Over on the late Stuart Slade's old forum, member Theodore did one of 'alt-DANFS' entries for Adm. Latorre in US service www.tboverse.us/HPCAFORUM/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5934where he dubbed her ' Nebraska' in US service. All that said, several years ago Dick B (former member of Stuart's old forum as well as various Yuku boards) had an offline conversation about giving Admiral Latorre a full rebuild around 1935 or so. This is what I came up with  Regards, |
|
