My father took this picture in the 1930s in, I believe, Surabaja or Batavia. What is the name of the ship and in what navy was it?
Most likely the New Orleans class light cruiser USS Astoria (CA-34). I replied in the other thread as well.
This was a rather sly little ship to track down, but I got her in the end: She’s the Royal Siamese Navy coastal battleship Dhunburi (also written as Dumburi or Thumburi), laid down in Japan in 1936, launched in 1938 and sunk January 17th 1941 by a Vichy French light cruiser.
The next mystery in the series, I give you a ship that will hopefully be easier to identify:
Hi!
This ship looks familiar for me
:lol:
I guess - this is Hugarian!
(thanx for that - we ar not a regular naval nation :oops:)
Ex austro-hungarian patrol vessel Győr (from 1929) (ex Compo).
Armed with two l/50 8cm Bofors AA gun
After WW II American loot (prize) disassembled in 1950.
Is it correct?
TGR
Absolutely correct! The Győr was indeed highly recognisable because of her distinctive 8mm turrets, which, as you correctly stated, could be used in an AA role as well.
I got the idea to post this particular ship because about a month ago I saw a very interesting exhibition about the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the Military History Museum of Budapest.
It is now your turn to post the next enigma, Mr Tiger!
Maybe its too easy, I don’t know.
What’s the name of this ship?
What was her great victory?
TGR
Oh, the German merchant raider Kormoran (HSK-8, ex-Steiermark), known for sinking Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney in November of 1941 while being disguised as the Dutch freighter Straat Malakaa.
Congratulation Mr. Librarian!
I had a feeling, this should be easy for you, but never thought that SO easy…
It"s your turn now, I am waiting for a question!
regards:
TGR
Thank you, my dear Mr. Tiger 205. You know… when an typically civilian-looking ship is famed in a topic which is dedicated to warships, then probably that vessel really has some truly authentic wartime connotation.
And here is my latest offer, honorable ladies and gentlemen:
Yes, yes – I know: this ship indeed looks a little bit… well, old fashioned, but I am assuring you that this Old Lady was in active service even in 1943!
It looks like an aged sloop…
TGR
Actually, that is the old Gazelle class light cruiser SMS Niobe serving with he Yugoslavian navy as the [b]Dalmacija [/b], before being torpedoed in 1943…
Such a shame! :oops:
I spend some days every year in the Dalmatan coast, and I forgot this famous sea power :army:
Of course I ran throug the original light cruisers, but forgot the reconstruction/rebuilding opportunities!
Congratulations:
TGR
Heh. For me it was a lucky encounter - I always look at Yugoslavia first when dealing with good Mr Librarian’s riddles, but in this case, what really struck me was the similarity of the silhouette (especially those twin funnels) to the old Hochseeflotte Gazelle class, ignored the raked bow and it was plain sailing from there…
In any case, please allow me to introduce the next enigma, which I’m sure will be identified quite easily…
Oh, what a nice snapshot of the Russian Imperial Yacht Standart, converted during the late thirties into the Soviet minelayer Marti, which served in the Baltic, laying mines and bombarding enemy positions along the coast until the end of the war.
Here is a direct link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marti1942.jpg
In 1957 this truly curious vessel was converted yet again, this time into a training ship called Oka, which continued serving in that role until she was scrapped in 1963.
What a magnificent career!
And what good eyes you have to have spotted her right off the bat!
But of course, I have to say I am hardly surprised anymore when that happens, my dear Mr Librarian.
In any case, the Standart was a very nice looking ship, don’t you think? I think her lines were better than those of the SMY Hohenzollern, for example.
As is the customs, please proceed in dazzling us with the next enigma.
Indeed, my dear Mr. Wingsofwrath – that vessel had broken new ground with its luxury and good looks, being smooth and stylish, as well as technically distinctive in its military role. You know… a huge, two funnel, distinctively non-American flush-decker, displaying a flat stern – things that were to dominate naval styling for the next 30 or so years. A magnificent technological package.
As you know, I do adore those unique technical solutions applied both in design and manufacturing processes which are connected with numerous material artifacts of human existence, and ships are not an exception.
So here is my new proposal for you, and for all members of our distinguished forum as well:
This ship indeed was an extraordinary exemplar, being evenly a distinctive technological forerunner and an admirable naval combatant!
My, my. That looks like the Japanese light cruiser [b]Yūbari[/b], a one-off “scout cruiser” built in 1922. Never knew there was a colour photograph of her though.
Indeed, my dear Mr. Wingsofwrath. Light cruiser Yubari of the IJN really was our most recent offer. What can I say else but – the job well done!
As usually, it’s time for you to take the lead.
I fear there is not much going on for the Navy on the Quiz thread, so in order to resurrect this particular topic, please allow me to post what will hopefully prove to be an easy riddle:
HMS Soveriegn, lend it to Russia,… Named Archangelsk from 1944 to 1949