DGM Cygnus
Game Master Group
Assistant Admin / DGM of the USS Adagio
Posts: 2,191
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Post by DGM Cygnus on Dec 1, 2019 2:04:25 GMT -5
I posted this on the Discord, but thought it would be fitting here as well.
Since we have a diverse group of players of all ages and cultures, I figured it might be fun to highlight some history of the most legendary vessel of World War 2, and perhaps why its name and legacy was used as the foundation of Star Trek, the USS Enterprise. Enterprise (noun: a project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult or requires effort.) Gene Roddenberry served in the US Army Air Corp in World War 2 and the shared history between the United States and Japan in the Pacific theater of the war was still heavily prevalent in movies and television from the 50's through 70's, this was age when Star Trek was envisioned and created.
American show that has our side of the legacy of Enterprise. Battle 360, History channel. I would love to get some Japanese history and viewpoint to compare against. Hopefully these clips last a bit and are not blocked, as they help paint a picture of the brutal nature of naval battle and war in general. Since the Battle of Midway is getting yet another movie and theater release, we might as well start the legend of Enterprise there....this happens 2 months after the "dubbed" Doolittle Raid on Tokyo that showed Japan they were vulnerable to American attack. Admiral Yamamoto concerned that no American carriers were destroyed in the Pearl Harbor attack is now committed to trying to lure them into a trap...he attacks Midway...
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DGM Cygnus
Game Master Group
Assistant Admin / DGM of the USS Adagio
Posts: 2,191
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Post by DGM Cygnus on Dec 1, 2019 2:12:15 GMT -5
This next episode covers the Battle of Santa Cruz. Enterprise and her sister ship the Hornet..the only two operational US carriers left in the Pacific, as the Yorktown was lost at Midway. Enterprise just two months prior battled fiercely around the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal where she was severely damaged. Also pay special note to the destroyer USS Smith, escort to the Enterprise with the mission, protect the carrier at all costs...
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DGM Cygnus
Game Master Group
Assistant Admin / DGM of the USS Adagio
Posts: 2,191
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Post by DGM Cygnus on Dec 1, 2019 2:14:41 GMT -5
Last up in the highlights but certainly not least...Naval Battle of Guadalcanal..or dubbed Iron Bottom Sound...sight of the grittiest naval battle of the war. The marines at Guadalcanal had been fighting months with the Japanese in a brutal war of attrition..and Japan was committed to eliminating those marines and retaking the base. The Japanese Navy believed they had sunk both Hornet and Enterprise at Santa Cruz some two weeks ago and sent troop transports and supporting vessels to bring reinforcements to Guadalcanal. The initial battle between these forces resulted heavy losses for the US Navy, just to hold Guadalcanal for one more day, but hope is on the horizon...
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DGM Cygnus
Game Master Group
Assistant Admin / DGM of the USS Adagio
Posts: 2,191
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Post by DGM Cygnus on Dec 2, 2019 14:08:25 GMT -5
I hope these videos gave some context to the legacy of Enterprise. The vast size of the battle theater meant the primary naval weapon in the conflict was the aircraft carrier. Both sides would literally throw everything they had at a spotted enemy carrier and the screening task forces surrounding these critical ships did their absolute best to try and protect them. One by one the existing US carrier fleet fell in battle. Enterprise became the only one of her kind, last ship of her class and the only operational carrier the US had left in the Pacific. The entire Pacific campaign ended up on her shoulders...and she would not be a legend if she did not rise up to the challenge.
Some other notes...her elder sister Yorktown would be resurrected as an Essex class carrier (CV-10) and returned to the fight in summer 1943. Not long after her younger sister Hornet..also resurrected as an Essex class CV-12...and both her and the Yorktown ended up as museum ships after their service.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf saw the rather ignoble end to a rival carrier of Enterprise, the IJN Zuikaku...she along with several other carriers were sent out with meager to no aircraft, since there were none or even pilots, to act as bait...and was sunk after successfully luring the US carrier group away.
As for Enterprise, she survived the war. The most decorated and revered vessel. She and her supporting vessels held the line until the US could get new ships, carriers, into service in 1943. There were failed attempts to turn her in a museum ship after her decommission and she was sold to be scrapped in the late 50's. A rather ignoble end to such a fine and proud Lady that served with such distinction and dedication. There have been other vessels bearing the name Enterprise, the construction of CVN-80 USS Enterprise is underway...and we have Gene Roddenberry to thank for helping to keep the legacy of Enterprise alive and well.
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Post by DGM Soft Kitty on Dec 2, 2019 19:50:15 GMT -5
This was really cool to read and watch hon!
Thankies for posting these!
<3
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Post by Lieutenant JG Eleria Scarlett on Dec 3, 2019 14:00:43 GMT -5
Usually I am more one for battleships, but this is very interesting stuff!
Indeed thanks for posting
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DGM Cygnus
Game Master Group
Assistant Admin / DGM of the USS Adagio
Posts: 2,191
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Post by DGM Cygnus on Dec 3, 2019 21:12:26 GMT -5
I am glad people enjoy this. I plan to expand on these ideas and have some more naval legends carried forward in our story while showing Starfleet and Dawn Alliance progress, things not easily seen in the thick of the action of our events.
USS Vestal - Vestal class repair vessel. With input from the fleet, already have the ground work to have this added to our story.
USS Yukikaze - Shield Maiden class escort vessel. With the ceaseless conflicts Starfleet has found itself in, the pressing need for support vessels has became all too apparent. While the Vestal is designed to provide critical field repairs both in combat and in the aftermath of conflict at remote locations, the Shield Maiden class is designed to protect critical and/or vulnerable specialized ships. A limited run of five of these new vessels has just been completed. USS Yukikaze, third ship of her class, was named upon request of her captain. Inspired from the IJN Yukikaze, she hopes to garner the favor of whatever goddess of good fortune that watched over the legendary vessel, that the same good fortune will live on in her namesake. USS Yukikaze has been dispatched to serve as USS Adagio's escort vessel. The Lady A and her Artemis system (which cannot be replicated) is the only match Starfleet has (outside of petitioning Avynei assistance) for some of the threats facing the Alliance in the LMC, thus has deemed Adagio a critical asset.
If people would like to contribute ideas to the design of the Yukikaze, please feel free. I hope some take the time to discover for themselves the history of the namesakes.
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Post by Lt Commander Marcus Aquila on Dec 4, 2019 4:14:47 GMT -5
Hey Cyg, the Yukikaze actually sounds like a good version of an upgrade to the old Fleet Escort ships we haven't got t6's for. Like the Tempest. The idea is its a sleek design, cannons and tough as nails. They were basically bigger defiants ( i think abotu 380m in length) and derived from the old steam runner concept. It would probably fit with what you are looking for, be easily profiled for slip as well. sto.gamepedia.com/Tempest_Patrol_Escort_Refitmemory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Tempest_classCould be a good starting point for design ques and and capabilities. The fact that it derives from the steamrunner also works well since the Kagero class destroyers were steam ships.
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Post by Lieutenant JG Eleria Scarlett on Dec 4, 2019 7:15:58 GMT -5
I am hoping I can find "battle 360 Battle of Leyte Gulf", I believe that is the battle where the Musashi(Yamato Class battleship) is sunk by planes from the Enterprise, the Yamato class being the biggest battleships ever built.
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DGM Cygnus
Game Master Group
Assistant Admin / DGM of the USS Adagio
Posts: 2,191
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Post by DGM Cygnus on Dec 4, 2019 13:29:36 GMT -5
Musashi took astounding punishment to actually go down.
Since we are talking about the "big guns" some interesting facts on what is actually being shot by these monsters.
The 16 inch guns for an Iowa class battleship, they fired projectiles weighing from 1,900 to 2,700 pounds (850 to 1,200 kg) at a maximum speed of 2,690 feet per second (820 m/s) with a range of up to 24 miles (39 km). Each shell weight closely equivalent to a small car, then shot at high speed...
The Yamato and Musashi had 18.1 inch or 46 cm...and purposely designated as less caliber to disguise their true size...
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Post by Lieutenant JG Eleria Scarlett on Dec 4, 2019 16:15:38 GMT -5
thanks for finding that monsters is the right word to use, i found that "little" fact about the guns of the Yamato class to be funny ever since first time i read it.
I had forgotten just how much of an important role Enterprise played in the war.
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Post by Lieutenant JG Eleria Scarlett on Dec 5, 2019 5:19:34 GMT -5
Musashi took astounding punishment to actually go down. Musashi had been struck by an estimated total of 19 torpedoes and 17 bomb So yeah, that's ALOT
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