Science Hypothetical: The Navy drafted you in WWII. - Page 8

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 03:32 PM

I found a database of major American WWII ships the other day and pulled it into Excel. Then I found information on crew sizes. Now I have a simple simulator.

So if you were drafted into the Navy in World War II and were assigned to a large ship (e.g., submarine, destroyer, cruiser, or larger), I can now randomly assign you to a ship. Report in this thread to get your assignment.

I'll tell you your ship, and then it's up to you to look it up and see where it went and what happened to it. If the ship took casualties, let me know how many were killed and wounded and I'll do a random draw to see if you would have survived.

As for me, I would have been one of 700 sailors aboard:

Juneau** Atlanta-class Light Cruiser**

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Juneau_(CL-52)

That's not really a good thing. I hung out with a nice set of five brothers from Iowa, the Sullivans, but we saw some bad things.

We launched early in 1942 and did some early runs in the Atlantic and Caribbean before heading to the Pacific Theater. Right out of the gate in the Pacific we had to rescue sailors from an aircraft carrier that sank from a sub attack, and then we headed to Guadalcanal.

Our task force fought off four attacks from the Japanese, one of which took down another aircraft carrier.

Then another big Japanese group attacked, and we took a torpedo. We headed off toward Vanuatu for repairs, running with two other damaged ships, when we were attacked again by a Japanese sub. We took another torpedo which blew the ship to smithereens and we sank in 20 seconds.

The other two ships assumed there were no survivors and took off running. In actuality, 100 of the crew survived the sinking, but only about 10 survived the next eight days until rescue aircraft found them.

Based on a random dice roll, I went down with the ship, so my naval career ended late in 1942. I hope America won.

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

I'm in. As long as I don't get the USS Indianapolis

Arizona** Pennsylvania-class Battleship**

Well, you didn't get the Indianapolis.

(Rolling dice.) However, I'm pleased to say that you survived. Maybe you were late getting back from leave or something.

Rasputin · 10-09-2014, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

You are on ....

Juneau** Atlanta-class Light Cruiser**

Hey, we're shipmates! Oh, and you died on the ship, too.

Oh I'm dead that's just great.

stumppy · 10-09-2014, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Did you watch anything about the...

Saratoga** Lexington-class Aircraft Carrier**

A quick ck says the Saratoga made it all the way through the war only to be sunk at Bikini Atol after the Baker test firing of the atomic bomb. She served her country well.

GloucesterChief · 10-09-2014, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

No sooner said than it happens. A submariner.

Carbonero** Balao-class Submarine**

Didn't do much during the war. The sub was commissioned in 44. Looks like the only action is saw was merchant raiding in the Pacific. Did get to go to Key West, Panama, Phillippines and Pearl Harbor though. Lots of nice places to go and not much danger. Its a great assignment.

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Lt. Discuss Thrower ready for duty

Alaska** Alaska-class Large Cruiser**

These types of ships intrigue me. It's not a battleship or an aircraft carrier, but depending on the numbers you read it had a crew of 1,500 to 2,200 men. It was enormous.

Pilsner · 10-09-2014, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Oh, cool. Another submariner. Tell me how it turns out.

Blackfish** Gato-class Submarine**

Sunk a German Patrol Boat and a Japanese Cargo ship in its 4 year commission. I'm not reading any reports of casualties so I probably would have lived?

Though I think I have syphilis now.

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

There weren't any Iowa-class BBs at Pearl on December 7.

What's the difference between the classes? I've seen at least three different classes.

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldandslow

Got my orders, Admiral...I expect Command of a ship, lol.

Monterey** Independence-class Light Carrier**

I'm confident that you can run it. Let me know if it saw action.

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seclark

i wanna serve my country. it don't have nothing to do w/that pregnant girl. i wasn't even in town back then. carriers ok w/me.
sec

Natoma Bay** Casablanca-class Escort Carrier**

You want a carrier? Sure. We strive to please. I'm not familiar with this one, though.

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCCHIEFS27

Here I am..I prefer to be on a minesweeper. That way I already know a few things about my situation..

Marcus Island** Casablanca-class Escort Carrier**

Hopefully you don't hit any mines in it.

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumppy

A quick ck says the Saratoga made it all the way through the war only to be sunk at Bikini Atol after the Baker test firing of the atomic bomb. She served her country well.

Ah, interesting. I was thinking something bad had happened to it. It's famous for something, though, right?

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GloucesterChief

Didn't do much during the war. The sub was commissioned in 44. Looks like the only action is saw was merchant raiding in the Pacific. Did get to go to Key West, Panama, Phillippines and Pearl Harbor though. Lots of nice places to go and not much danger. Its a great assignment.

Yeah, that's pretty much the perfect gig other than maybe the underwater part. You shoot at vulnerable ships and then go to the beach.

Fairplay · 10-09-2014, 06:02 PM

Please don't put me on the Indianapolis sir.

**Rain Man** · 10-09-2014, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilsner

Sunk a German Patrol Boat and a Japanese Cargo ship in its 4 year commission. I'm not reading any reports of casualties so I probably would have lived?

Though I think I have syphilis now.

Yeah, as long as you didn't get crossways with any brothel owners in Singapore, you're good.

I wonder how many ships took out both a German and a Japanese ship? That seems like it would've been unusual.

stumppy · 10-09-2014, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Wow, that's interesting. You'd think there would've been more. Weren't other ships in the area? I guess maybe it's a cold-water thing, but it must've sunk fast.

No, just as the battle began the Bismark scored a hit on the Hood that went through the decking and into the magazine. Blew it the hell up. I think they said it had a crew of either 1200 or 2000.

10-09-2014, 03:32 PM
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-792449 VARSITY	Hypothetical: The Navy drafted you in WWII. I found a database of major American WWII ships the other day and pulled it into Excel. Then I found information on crew sizes. Now I have a simple simulator. So if you were drafted into the Navy in World War II and were assigned to a large ship (e.g., submarine, destroyer, cruiser, or larger), I can now randomly assign you to a ship. Report in this thread to get your assignment. I'll tell you your ship, and then it's up to you to look it up and see where it went and what happened to it. If the ship took casualties, let me know how many were killed and wounded and I'll do a random draw to see if you would have survived. As for me, I would have been one of 700 sailors aboard: Juneau Atlanta-class Light Cruiser http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Juneau_(CL-52) That's not really a good thing. I hung out with a nice set of five brothers from Iowa, the Sullivans, but we saw some bad things. We launched early in 1942 and did some early runs in the Atlantic and Caribbean before heading to the Pacific Theater. Right out of the gate in the Pacific we had to rescue sailors from an aircraft carrier that sank from a sub attack, and then we headed to Guadalcanal. Our task force fought off four attacks from the Japanese, one of which took down another aircraft carrier. Then another big Japanese group attacked, and we took a torpedo. We headed off toward Vanuatu for repairs, running with two other damaged ships, when we were attacked again by a Japanese sub. We took another torpedo which blew the ship to smithereens and we sank in 20 seconds. The other two ships assumed there were no survivors and took off running. In actuality, 100 of the crew survived the sinking, but only about 10 survived the next eight days until rescue aircraft found them. Based on a random dice roll, I went down with the ship, so my naval career ended late in 1942. I hope America won.
Posts: 145,617

10-09-2014, 06:02 PM	#118
Fairplay A certain set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: texas Casino cash: $10026683 VARSITY	Please don't put me on the Indianapolis sir.
Posts: 25,265