Flintlocks in WWI? What? - Page 2

Double Naught Spy · August 6, 2015, 03:00 PM

Quote:

The Graf Spee was a "pocket" battleship, which was in reality not much bigger, heavier, or more heavily armed than a heavy cruiser of the day. It was much smaller and lighter than American battleships of the era. Germany was subject to restrictions regarding the number and size of military ships they could build, so the Graf Spee (and a sister ship, whose name I don't remember) were built to nominally conform to the restrictions (although the Germans cheated a bit -- surprise, surprise).

....

The Graf Spee clearly wasn't in the same league as a "real" battleship.

No, it wasn't a "real" battleship and the Germans didn't call it or consider it to be a "real" battleship. They were Deutschland class Panzerschiffs (aka "armored ships" or cruisers). It was the Brits that gave Graf Spee and her two sisters the name of "pocket battleships."

The use of the Baltimore Class cruiser for the Graf Spee was actually an very good match.

Bart Noir · August 6, 2015, 05:43 PM

thallup, you are very right. I looked into it. The African-American soldiers who served in France were still denied the acclaim they earned and were not allowed to be a part of the US portion of the big Bastille Day victory parade in 1919.

What I must have slightly dis-remembered was that the US troops were given the lead in the parade, over all other non-French troops, appearing right behind the French army units. And the French did include their black colonial troops in the parade.

I am sure that nobody was marching with flintlocks

But were any French troops carrying the Fusil Automatique Modèle 1917 semi-auto rifles? One wonders . . .

Bart Noir

**Mike Irwin** · August 7, 2015, 05:20 AM

"The use of the Baltimore Class cruiser for the Graf Spee was actually an very good match."

Until you start counting turrets...

**Aguila Blanca** · August 7, 2015, 04:28 PM

Details, details ...

thallub · August 7, 2015, 05:59 PM

Off topic:

My Dad had a friend named Jack who was a WW1 vet. i often deer hunted with Jack. Jack was a platoon leader and later company commander of a machinegun company. After arriving in France Jacks unit was issued Vickers machine guns and Chauchat automatic rifles. They loved the Vickers: The Chauchat not so much. The Chauchat was soon replaced by the Lewis gun.

Just before the war ended Jacks unit was issued model 1917 Browning machine guns and Browning automatic rifles.

Some where in my junk are the indirect firing tables for the Vickers.

August 6, 2015, 05:43 PM	#27
Bart Noir Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2000 Location: Puget Sound, USA Posts: 2,215	thallup, you are very right. I looked into it. The African-American soldiers who served in France were still denied the acclaim they earned and were not allowed to be a part of the US portion of the big Bastille Day victory parade in 1919. What I must have slightly dis-remembered was that the US troops were given the lead in the parade, over all other non-French troops, appearing right behind the French army units. And the French did include their black colonial troops in the parade. I am sure that nobody was marching with flintlocks But were any French troops carrying the Fusil Automatique Modèle 1917 semi-auto rifles? One wonders . . . Bart Noir __________________ Be of good cheer and mindful of your gun muzzle!

August 7, 2015, 05:20 AM	#28
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"The use of the Baltimore Class cruiser for the Graf Spee was actually an very good match." Until you start counting turrets... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 7, 2015, 04:28 PM	#29
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,473	Details, details ...

August 7, 2015, 05:59 PM	#30
thallub Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: South Western OK Posts: 3,112	Off topic: My Dad had a friend named Jack who was a WW1 vet. i often deer hunted with Jack. Jack was a platoon leader and later company commander of a machinegun company. After arriving in France Jacks unit was issued Vickers machine guns and Chauchat automatic rifles. They loved the Vickers: The Chauchat not so much. The Chauchat was soon replaced by the Lewis gun. Just before the war ended Jacks unit was issued model 1917 Browning machine guns and Browning automatic rifles. Some where in my junk are the indirect firing tables for the Vickers.