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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 22, 2008 12:15:44 GMT 12
Looking through the No. 1 (BR) Squadron Operations Record Book I have noted an entry where crews on a particular mission were briefed to look out for enemy 'float flows' at Green Island when they made their raid.
I have never heard of this term before. Does anyone know what it is referring to? Google has not turned anything up. It's written twice in the report so is not a typo.
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Post by FlyNavy on Sept 22, 2008 12:38:39 GMT 12
I guess it refers to looking for submarine bubbles coming to the surface from its diving/floating operations. This disturbed water trail may last for some time and be visible in good conditions for some time and from some distance from slant ranges when airborne. Some techo stuff is here: www.heiszwolf.com/subs/tech/tech01.html |
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Post by FlyNavy on Sept 22, 2008 12:44:47 GMT 12
www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2AirF-c14-11.html"No. 1 Squadron took over... Each patrol covered 700 nautical miles and involved an average of four and a quarter hours' flying time. All of those done by No. 1 Squadron were negative except that on 26 October when a submarine was sighted 300 miles south of Guadalcanal. It submerged as the aircraft approached and was not definitely identified."
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Post by FlyNavy on Sept 22, 2008 12:47:04 GMT 12
rabi.phys.virginia.edu/105/2000/ps4a.html"5. The submarine's pressure hull is essentially a long, rigid tube that can withstand the pressures of deep water. Outside this hull, protected by a thin shell, are some steel tanks that can contain either water or air. While you all are boarding the submarine, these external tanks are full of air. But when it's time to dip below the surface, the captain withdraws that air into the pressure hull and allows the surrounding water to enter the tanks. The submarine begins to sink. When it's time to return to the surface, the captain lets compressed air from inside the pressure hull flow into the external tanks and this air expels the water. The ship then floats. Why does transferring air from inside the pressure hull to the tanks outside that hull cause the ship to begin floating? Answer: Eliminating the water in the tanks reduces the total weight of submarine. It then weighs less than the water is displaces and floats (according to Archimedes' principle). Why: With its tanks full of water, the submarine and its contents are heavier than the water they displace. But by expelling the water with the help of compressed air, the captain manages to reduce the weight of the submarine's contents. As soon as the submarine's weight drops below that of the surrounding water, it floats upward. The buoyant force it experiences from the water exceeds its weight and it experiences a net upward force. 6. During the trip, one of the external tanks on this decaying boat breaks loose, so the captain can no longer replace its water with air. The captain says not to worry. He says that simply releasing some of the compressed air from within the pressure hull will cause the ship to float anyway. He's right. Why does releasing air from this rigid metal bubble and letting it flow into the surrounding ocean cause the submarine to begin floating? Answer: Anything that lightens the submarine and its contents enough (while keeping their volume constant) can cause the submarine to float. Why: As soon as the submarine's weight drops below the buoyant force exerted on it by the surrounding water, the submarine will begin to float. To lighten the submarine, they can eject anything they like: air, furniture, submariners, you name it!"
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Post by alanw on Sept 22, 2008 13:44:05 GMT 12
Dave Not to detract from Fly Navy's comments, when I read Flow, I thought of "Flow" as in Scapa Flow. I searched on line dictionaries and found these definitions: From Wordia wordia.com/words/flow/definitions19) noun, a) a marsh or swamp b) an inlet or basin of the sea c) (capital when part of a name): Scapa Flow Possibly the term "Float flow" may be in reference to a seaplane anchorage which is sheltered/slightly inland connected by a channel/river ? Just a thought Alan |
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Post by FlyNavy on Sept 22, 2008 13:57:57 GMT 12
alanw, AND I thought I was being obscure... ;D Good one. Were float planes being used in that theatre at that time. My lack of knowledge re these Kiwi issues shows eh. ;D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 22, 2008 14:13:08 GMT 12
The Japanese were using lots of Type 0 'Pete' floatplane fighters at the time Phil.
I'm not convinced this has anything to do with submarines because the ORB usually just mentions 'submarines' without the obscure title. You may be right, I just don't know. I wonder if any of our No. 5 Squadron members know of the term, if it's still used today? Sniff? MikeK?
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Post by FlyNavy on Sept 22, 2008 14:32:29 GMT 12
Given that information then: "...look out for enemy 'float flows' at Green Island" combined with Floatplane Fighters it would seem alanw has got the answer. It makes sense to me to look out for enemy airfields - in this case 'floatplane landing sites'.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 22, 2008 14:44:25 GMT 12
Just to clarify this, the entry in the ORB is the 26th of November 1943 and reads exactly thus (poor punctuation and all):
"Four aircraft were ordered to proceed to Green Lisland N.W. of Buka to destroy enemy float flows, bomb and strafe platantion areas destroy shipping and barges and report on A.A. emplacements. The aircraft took off from Munda 1215 hours. All aircraft successfully carried out mission bombing and strafing target areas and sinking one barge. No float flows or A.A. were observed. All aircraft returned to Munda 16.35-16.40 hours.
Flt Lt King and Crew
Flt Lt Spicer and crew
F/O Mounsey and crew
P/O Page and crew"
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Post by FlyNavy on Sept 22, 2008 15:16:18 GMT 12
The context is good. I would once again guess that floatplanes need a beach or 'runup onto shore area' (with associated equipment/refuelling etc.) so this would need destroying to make the waters nearby unusable for such floaty things.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 22, 2008 17:04:56 GMT 12
The main base for Japanese floatplanes was at Rekata Bay, Rendover Island.
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Post by FlyNavy on Sept 22, 2008 17:41:35 GMT 12
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Post by alanw on Sept 22, 2008 18:46:12 GMT 12
Dave Check out this link, Talks about a seaplane base on Green Islands www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/bougainville_nissan.htmlPerhaps could be the Float Flow mentioned. I see that it mentions 1942 there when the Japanese pulled out, maybe the 4 aircraft were going to recon /attack the area if the Japanese had moved back?? Just a thought |
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Post by FlyNavy on Sept 22, 2008 19:38:02 GMT 12
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