To be noted in advance, the fireworks in the title are not metaphorical, but the innumerable detonation of battlecruisers
In the process of naval development in war, there will always be countless fireworks as brilliant novelties that have faded into the long river of history, and today's protagonist - the battle cruiser is one of the classics.
This article will introduce the background of the birth of the battlecruiser, the combat history of the classic battleship Hood, the history of the development of the American battlecruiser, and how it was eventually banned by history.
It was born in response to the "Turtle Speed Era".
In fact, the so-called battleship battleship is the ship lined up on the battle line, 300 years ago, they were lined up in a straight line at sea, and the enemy was shot at close range (that is, the concept of fleet decisive battle), which laid the foundation for its abandonment of maneuver in exchange for firepower and protection. However, this concept was overstretched in World War I, and often the most inextricable thing to fight in naval battles was the torpedo boats, destroyers, and cruisers of both sides, for a simple reason - the battleships were too slow, and by the time the battleships climbed onto the battlefield, the naval battle had already ended.
It is precisely for this reason that the word "fast" was also put on the agenda of the Royal Navy, and Admiral Fisher proposed a completely new concept - the battlecruiser, to put it bluntly, it is to move the battleship's guns to the cruiser, againSlightly toughen up the armor (it's time @Hood).
Poor protection
Soon, the British Royal Navy's dream ship, the Invincible battlecruiser, was launched, and the old men of the Admiralty found that this was a good thing, running fast and strong, with diverse functions, which could not only fight alone, carry out anti-sabotage operations in the Atlantic, but also be included in their own Grand Fleet, so the British happily took their own battle cruiser Invincible, Invincible, and Queen Mary to participate in the Battle of Jutland, and the result... The Invincible, the Indefatigable, and the Queen Mary were all killed!Collectively sink to the bottom of the sea!
After the investigation, it was found that some of the martyrs were really not to blame the war patrol, but to blame the British themselves. The first reason is not direct, and it is also the most wronged: the British commander used them as if they were serious battleships... Which commander once said, "Ah, they look so strong, so indestructible... The second reason is the pot of the Royal Navy - in order to increase the speed of shell delivery when shooting, many fire doors that must be closed from the turret to the ammunition depot were actually opened by the British, and they were opened all year round, so the fire burned directly to the ammunition depot without any suspense... This is the direct cause of their martyrdom.
HoodIn 1920, the British Royal Navy entered service a new type of warship, which had a high speed of 32 knots, equipped with eight British ancestral 381mm cannons, and had strong firepower. During the war, the Hood won several victories for the British Navy due to its excellent performance and combat effectiveness.
However, I believe we all know that the Hood can go down in history and be talked about by countless military fans not for these reasons, but because - martyrdom!Putting aside the problem of their thin armor, the British found themselves as if they were the ones with the biggest problem, because they forgot to close the fire doors again!
Battlecruisers of the United States Then, let's take a look at the history of the development of the American battlecruisers. The United States also had extensive experience in the development of battle cruisers. From the early Pennsylvania-class battlecruisers, to the later South Dakota-class and North Carolina-class, the United States continued to innovate and improve in design and construction. These battle cruisers played an important role in the Pacific War, winning for the United States.
However, history is always full of uncertainties. With the rise of aircraft carriers and the rapid development of missile technology, the battlecruiser gradually lost its place in the Navy. The precision strike capabilities of missiles and the rapid deployment capabilities of aircraft carriers made the role of battlecruisers in warfare less and less.
In the end, in the 60s of the 20th century, the battlecruisers were eliminated by history and withdrew from the ranks of the main branches of naval warfare. Despite the diminishing role of battlecruisers in warfare, their place in history was irreplaceable. As one of the main branches of the navy, the battle cruiser played an important role during World War II. Their firepower and high-speed sailing capabilities make them the hegemon of the navy. Whether attacking or defending, battlecruisers were an indispensable force. The historical place of the battlecruiser is still worth remembering. They have made great achievements in wars and have fought ceaselessly for the interests of the country and the nation. Today, although the battlecruisers have retired from the stage of history, their spirit and influence still ripple in our hearts. We should remember history, cherish peace, and strive for future development.