The Sailor
12-02-2008, 06:42
Mitchell was concerned that the building of dreadnoughts was taking precious defense dollars away from military aviation. He was convinced that a force of anti-shipping airplanes could defend a coastline with more economy than a combination of coastal guns and naval vessels. A thousand bombers could be built at the same cost as one battleship, and could sink that battleship.[2] Mitchell infuriated the Navy by claiming he could sink ships "under war conditions," and boasted he could prove it if he were permitted to bomb captured German battleships.
For the first few days of tests he successfully sank the ex-German destroyer (G-102) on July 13, 1921 and the ex-German light cruiser Frankfurt.
On July 20, 1921 the Navy brought out the ex-German WWI battleship, Ostfriesland, considered unsinkable. One day of scheduled 230, 550 and 600 lb. bomb attacks by Marine, Navy and Army aircraft settled the Ostfriesland three feet by the stern with a five degree list to port; she was taking on water. On the morning of July 21, the day assigned to 1,100 and 2,000 lb bombs, five of Mitchell's bombers each dropped a single 1,100 lb bomb, scoring three direct hits. By noon, Ostfriesland had settled two more feet by the stern and one foot by the bow. At this point, 2,000 lb bombs were loaded and Mitchell's heavy bombers dropped six in quick succession, aiming for the water near the ship. There were no direct hits but three of the bombs landed close enough to rip hull plates. The ship sank in 21 minutes, with a seventh bomb dropped on the foam rising up from the sinking ship.
Below: Ex-German battleship Ostfriesland takes a gigantic blow from a 2,000 lb. aerial bomb burst far enough below the surface that fountains of water erupt high above both sides of the ship. Minutes later, the target ship sank by the stern. This was the finale of Billy Mitchell's anti-ship bombing demonstration in July 1921.
For the first few days of tests he successfully sank the ex-German destroyer (G-102) on July 13, 1921 and the ex-German light cruiser Frankfurt.
On July 20, 1921 the Navy brought out the ex-German WWI battleship, Ostfriesland, considered unsinkable. One day of scheduled 230, 550 and 600 lb. bomb attacks by Marine, Navy and Army aircraft settled the Ostfriesland three feet by the stern with a five degree list to port; she was taking on water. On the morning of July 21, the day assigned to 1,100 and 2,000 lb bombs, five of Mitchell's bombers each dropped a single 1,100 lb bomb, scoring three direct hits. By noon, Ostfriesland had settled two more feet by the stern and one foot by the bow. At this point, 2,000 lb bombs were loaded and Mitchell's heavy bombers dropped six in quick succession, aiming for the water near the ship. There were no direct hits but three of the bombs landed close enough to rip hull plates. The ship sank in 21 minutes, with a seventh bomb dropped on the foam rising up from the sinking ship.
Below: Ex-German battleship Ostfriesland takes a gigantic blow from a 2,000 lb. aerial bomb burst far enough below the surface that fountains of water erupt high above both sides of the ship. Minutes later, the target ship sank by the stern. This was the finale of Billy Mitchell's anti-ship bombing demonstration in July 1921.