Computer Generated Animation

[Art]

There was a post on the books section about the new "Midway" movie and how computer generated graphics can make the past come to life. The attachment is a CGI animation about the Battle of Santa Cruz by a Japanese company. The CGI is good but not great, still, it shows the potential for a great movie on the subject if the CGI images were to be combined with live actors.

Santa Cruz was the fourth carrier engagement between the Japanese and us. It was a Japanese victory and essentially eliminated U.S. aircraft carrier operations in the South Pacific for quite a spell, and the Japanese had more total aircraft available after the battle... but the losses to the Japanese in aircrew were devastating. Our side lost 81 of 175 aircraft engaged but only 26 pilots and aircrew. The Japanese aircraft losses were between 90 and 99 depending on your source but they lost 148 aircrew, that's more than their total aircrew losses in The battles of Coral Sea, Midway and The Eastern Solomons combined. To make matters worse the Japanese losses included 2 Dive Bomber Group leaders, 3 Torpedo Squadron Leaders, and 18 other Section or Flight Leaders. The U.S. ships at Santa Cruz had been extensively up gunned in the anti aircraft department especially with the addition of director controlled 40mm Bofors guns in dual and quad mounts. These guns which were slaved to a fire control director's analog computer which transmitted a constantly updated firing solution to the gun mount became a grim reaper of Japanese aircraft. In fact the Japanese were so shaken after the battle that one officer was rendered temporarily mute and they had to wait a while to get his report.

So here's the video. One thing I thought was an error was the Shokaku is shown with a radar antenna. In fact the Shokaku was equipped with a radar set right before the battle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFn6p9s7KJU

[Vern Humphrey]

Well done.

[Roadkingtrax]

CGI was certainly well represented on Flags of our Fathers. Loved the bombardment scene attempting to soften Japanese strongholds.

[m1ashooter]

Thanks for the post.

[togor]

For Japanese Naval Aviation, the torpedo was the primary ship killer. We never got to that point.

[lyman]

if you watched the past Star Wars movies, or Bladerunner 2049 you can see they have made great strides in CGI on people (Rachel, in BR2049 as an example)

just skipped thru that movie clip, and it looks good, but I would say they have already produced better

[Art]

For Japanese Naval Aviation, the torpedo was the primary ship killer. We never got to that point.

True before 1944.

While the Dauntless was responsible for the sinking of more Japanese ships, large and small, than any other aircraft; after the Avengers replaced the Devastators American torpedo bombers were much more effective and were primarily responsible for sinking a lot of Japanese heavy ships including the Zuikaku, the Yamato and the Musashi. The Yamato and Musashi were virtually unsinkable by any bombs carried by carrier aircraft.

[Vern Humphrey]

True before 1944.

While the Dauntless was responsible for the sinking of more Japanese ships, large and small, than any other aircraft; after the Avengers replaced the Devastators American torpedo bombers were much more effective and were primarily responsible for sinking a lot of Japanese heavy ships including the Zuikaku, the Yamato and the Musashi. The Yamato and Musashi were virtually unsinkable by any bombs carried by carrier aircraft.

One of our problems was we had such lousy torpedoes. "Mush" Morton fired torpedoes against a cliff in Hawaii to show how worthless they were.

[Art]

One of our problems was we had such lousy torpedoes. "Mush" Morton fired torpedoes against a cliff in Hawaii to show how worthless they were.

This is correct. The most effective torpedo we had early in the war was the old Mk 10 which was limited to use on the pre WWII "S" boats. Neither its speed or range were great but it did go "bang" when it hit. You are absolutely correct about the problems with the Mk 14 detonator problems and the Navy Bureau of Ordnance's massive cover up of the Mk 14's defects was one of the most scandalous episodes of the war. The Mk 13 aerial torpedo had equally significant but different problems, it would usually explode when it hit but would too often run on the surface, or worse, not run at all.

The bugs were mostly worked out by the end of 1943 but it shouldn't have taken that long.

[Vern Humphrey]

There is a great deal to be said for summary executions in time of war. A few shootings in early 1942 would have made a great difference.

[togor]

There is a great deal to be said for summary executions in time of war. A few shootings in early 1942 would have made a great difference.

Is that a plug for Uncle Joe? (Stalin, who was familiar with that tactic.)

[free1954]

There was a post on the books section about the new "Midway" movie and how computer generated graphics can make the past come to life. The attachment is a CGI animation about the Battle of Santa Cruz by a Japanese company. The CGI is good but not great, still, it shows the potential for a great movie on the subject if the CGI images were to be combined with live actors.

Santa Cruz was the fourth carrier engagement between the Japanese and us. It was a Japanese victory and essentially eliminated U.S. aircraft carrier operations in the South Pacific for quite a spell, and the Japanese had more total aircraft available after the battle... but the losses to the Japanese in aircrew were devastating. Our side lost 81 of 175 aircraft engaged but only 26 pilots and aircrew. The Japanese aircraft losses were between 90 and 99 depending on your source but they lost 148 aircrew, that's more than their total aircrew losses in The battles of Coral Sea, Midway and The Eastern Solomons combined. To make matters worse the Japanese losses included 2 Dive Bomber Group leaders, 3 Torpedo Squadron Leaders, and 18 other Section or Flight Leaders. The U.S. ships at Santa Cruz had been extensively up gunned in the anti aircraft department especially with the addition of director controlled 40mm Bofors guns in dual and quad mounts. These guns which were slaved to a fire control director's analog computer which transmitted a constantly updated firing solution to the gun mount became a grim reaper of Japanese aircraft. In fact the Japanese were so shaken after the battle that one officer was rendered temporarily mute and they had to wait a while to get his report.

So here's the video. One thing I thought was an error was the Shokaku is shown with a radar antenna. In fact the Shokaku was equipped with a radar set right before the battle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFn6p9s7KJU

great. thanks for posting.