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Question of the Hour

The acronym stands for Principal Salvage Officer.  Learning the new acronyms is one of the main tasks of anyone who has been out for a while, this is merely an old one and it was usually abbreviated as PSO.  So who was it?


(correction of word error)
 
Perhaps a hint is in order.  This PSVO person was famous for his work in submarine salvage (among other things) and his nickname included a rank which at the end of his career he had left long behind
 
redleafjumper said:
The acronym stands for Principal Salvage Officer.  Learning the new acronyms is one of the main tasks of anyone who has been out for a while, this is merely an old one and it was usually abbreviated as PSO.  So who was it?
(correction of word error)
Well this gave it straight away. (PSO now = Personnel Selection Officer..and PVSO wouldn't google for me...I tried!!  >:( )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Ellsberg

"Ellsberg was commissioned in the Navy in 1914 and served on active duty until 1926. He became an expert in undersea salvage and rescue. In 1925, he raised the Navy submarine, S-51. For his efforts he was promoted to the rank of commander by act of Congress and given the distinguished service medal by the Navy Department. Since he has popularly been known as "Commander Ellsberg." Ellsberg described the raising of the S-51 in On the Bottom."

"From Massawa, Ellsberg went to North Africa to become Principal Salvage Officer in that theater. He worked under Admiral Andrew Cunningham, the British officer commanding naval forces in the area. Ellsberg's activities were detailed in No Banners, No Bugles.Ellsberg, worn out from constant work, was ordered home in early 1943 to recuperate. After a time inspecting ship construction activities, Ellsberg was sent to England in time for the Normandy Invasion. He remained on active duty after World War II rising to the rank of rear admiral before retiring in 1951."



 
During WWII Canada use the Bren as there main light machine gun US Army used The BAR or Browning M1917 or one of its marks
What other noted light machine gun was used by both Canada and the US troops?
 
The Johnson.  It was a USMC weapon, that was also used by the FSSF.


http://www.olive-drab.com/od_other_firearms_mg_m1941m1944johnson.php3
 
FSSF (First Special Service Force)
While most of the M1941 Johnson Light Machine Guns in U.S. military service were fielded by the Marine Corps, a limited number were procured by one of the most elite, and most unusual, U.S. Army units of the Second World War. The First Special Service Force (FSSF) was a joint American-Canadian outfit that was formed in early 1942 for the purpose of conducting winter warfare operations in German-occupied Scandinavia. The unit received intensive training in airborne operations, winter combat (including fighting as ski troops) and demolition. The FSSF was able to obtain several items of non-standard weaponry, including the unique V-42 stiletto.

The M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun was viewed by the First Special Service Force as an ideal arm for its purposes as outlined in a "Confidential Memo" dated February 15, 1943, from Lt. Col. O.J. Baldwin, executive officer of the FSSF to Asst. Chief of Staff, G-4 which, in part, stated:

Subject: Johnson Light Machine Gun
The 1st Special Service Force has a serious need for a lightweight machine rifle, of characteristics similar to those of the Browning Automatic Rifle, that can be carried with parachute troops in parachute operations. The weapon most nearly meeting these special qualifications is the Johnson Light Machine Gun equipped with bipod mount. This gun is now a standard item for Marine paratroopers.
It is requested, therefore, that action be taken to secure for the 1st Special Service Force, by transfer from the Marine Corps, 125 Johnson Light Machine Guns, complete with accessories, spare parts, and instruction manuals, as are now furnished to the Marine Corps.
The advantages of the Johnson Light Machine Gun, which are the basis for this request, are:
The weight with full magazine is approximately 14 lbs. in contrast to approximately 231bs. for the Browning Automatic Rifle.
The gun can be broken down into three pieces of a maximum length of approximately 22". "This permits it to be parachuted in the same manner as the M-1 rifle. The lightness in weight and ease of assembly (from 20 to 50 seconds) makes it an extremely valuable parachutist weapon.
The Marine Corps approved the request for the 125 Johnson Light Machine Guns on April 20, 1943, and they were delivered to the First Special Service Force on June 29, 1943, with Johnson Automatics, Inc., handling the transfer from the Netherlands Purchasing Commission to the FSSF.

Before the First Special Service Force was fully trained and ready for deployment, the Scandinavian operation was cancelled, and the unit was eventually deployed to Italy where it played a key role in the pivotal Anzio campaign. The Forcemen (as they called themselves), and their Johnson M1941 Light Machine Guns, were credited with helping to break out of the Anzio beachhead and securing the hard-won victory. The FSSF troops were every bit as enamored with the Johnson light machine gun as were the Marine paratroopers and Raiders who used them in the Pacific. It is reported that many of the Forcemen were reluctant to turn in their Johnson light machine guns when the First Special Service Force was deactivated in the South of France in early 1945.

http://www.jcs-group.com/military/navy_marine/1941johnson.html
 
armchair said:
During WWII Canada use the Bren as there main light machine gun US Army used The BAR or Browning M1917 or one of its marks
What other noted light machine gun was used by both Canada and the US troops?
Great now can you give its name in a later war what army used it?
 
Are you looking for the Communist Chinese in Korea, or Castro Rebels at the Bay of Pigs?

Did you want what weapons may have characteristics of it in their design today?

The conclusion of the Second World War spelled an end to active combat use of the M1941 Johnson Light Machine Guns by the American military. A few turned up in the hands of the Chinese Communists during the Korean War, and some were used by Castro's rebels in Cuba in the late 1950s. Melvin M. Johnson, Jr., developed improved versions of his light machine gun design, but the subsequent guns were only manufactured in limited prototype numbers.
The M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun incorporated several design features which are still used on front line military arms today. Although its use was relatively limited, the Johnson was clearly ahead of its time in many ways, and it gained an enviable reputation with the majority of its users. If the Johnson Light Machine Gun had been developed as fully as the BAR and standardized by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Maxine Corps, it would have played a much larger role in World War II and would undoubtedly be viewed today as one of the best Allied infantry arms of the war. Instead, the M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun, along with its M1941 Johnson semi-automatic rifle counterpart, is but a footnote to U.S. ordnance history.
Surviving examples of the former that have been properly registered with the BATFE, and eligible for civilian ownership, are quite rare and are among the most valuable, and elusive, fully automatic arms on the market today. The M1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun remains one of the least known, but one of the most innovative and effective, American arms of the Second World War.
http://www.jcs-group.com/military/navy_marine/1941johnson.html



Mel Johnson continued to develop small arms. His most successful venture was working with ArmaLite and Colt's Manufacturing Company promoting their AR-15 rifle. This rifle used Johnson's patents for its bolt and bolt carrier. The M1941 bolt and bolt cam system is still manufactured today prolifically in the M16 rifle and all its various subvariations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_M1941_Rifle
 
The Israeli Army used the Johnson Light Machine Gun under the name Dror in small Numbers in the first Arad Israeli warin 1948
The Israeli all manufactured it in small Numbers.
 
Armyvern's answer on Rear Admiral Ellsberg is correct.  This officer had an amazing career and played a significant part in opening up African ports.  He was also a gifted and prolific writer.  His exploits in his role as PSVO for Admiral Cunningham are recounted in his book "No Banners, No Bugles".  Cool question on the Johnson LMG - I do so like the firearm questions.

Let's go back a little further in history for a change:

When silver was discovered in Maroneia in the mining district of Laurion, it was first proposed to divide the silver bullion amongst the citizens of Athens.  A gifted speaker persuaded the Assembly that the money should be spent in another way.  Who was that speaker and what was his proposal that the Assembly of Athens adopted? 
 
Gee gang, it is a relatively well-known decision that had tremendous historical significance.  I had hoped that someone would nibble at this question about warfare and ancient Athens.  If you need more of a hint, I will give you the source:  Herodotus (and also mentioned by Thucydides)

I have been trying to craft my questions to make them a little more challenging than a simple google search; enjoy!



(added Thucydides to avoid the expected "father of history, father of lies" comments!)
 
redleafjumper said:
Armyvern's answer on Rear Admiral Ellsberg is correct.  This officer had an amazing career and played a significant part in opening up African ports.  He was also a gifted and prolific writer.  His exploits in his role as PSVO for Admiral Cunningham are recounted in his book "No Banners, No Bugles".  Cool question on the Johnson LMG - I do so like the firearm questions.

Let's go back a little further in history for a change:

When silver was discovered in Maroneia in the mining district of Laurion, it was first proposed to divide the silver bullion amongst the citizens of Athens.  A gifted speaker persuaded the Assembly that the money should be spent in another way.  Who was that speaker and what was his proposal that the Assembly of Athens adopted? 
[/quote
When a rich new vain of silver was discover in the fifth century B.C. Themistokles (ca.525 460 B.C.) persuaded the Assembly to use the surplus
to build some were between 70 to 200 triremes (type of Greek ship) with the Athenians used in there wars with the Persian
 
During WWII sub-machine guns came into were own. At the start of the the British needs were so great they decided that they
would copy one instead of using one of there own design Who did they copy it from and its name it was known by?Most were
used by with service?
 
The Lanchester smg was a close copy of the German MP 28/II.  Most Lanchesters went into navy service. 

Armchair is correct. Encouraged by Themosticles, the Athenians bought triremes which they used to great effect in becoming masters of the Aegean Sea.  This was an important decision which directly contributed to the victory of the Greeks over the Persians.

In WW2 Germany lost 9 ships variously classed as battleships or battlecruisers.  What were the names of these ships and how were they lost?
 
RedLeaf:
1)Bismarck-sunk English Channel 1941
2)Tirpitz-sunk Norway 1944
3)Graf Spee-scuttled by Commander at the River Plate 1939
4)Admarial Scheer-sunk Baltic Sea
5) Gneisenau-scuttled March 1945
6)Scharnhorst-sunk 1943 off  North Cape
7)Deutschland(Lutzow)-sunk Baltic Sea
8)Schleswig-Holstein-scuttled 1945
9)???????????????????
Cheers
 
3rd Herd said:
RedLeaf:
1)Bismarck-sunk English Channel 1941
2)Tirpitz-sunk Norway 1944
3)Graf Spee-scuttled by Commander at the River Plate 1939
4)Admarial Scheer-sunk Baltic Sea
5) Gneisenau-scuttled March 1945
6)Scharnhorst-sunk 1943 off  North Cape
7)Deutschland(Lutzow)-sunk Baltic Sea
8)Schleswig-Holstein-scuttled 1945
9)???????????????????
Cheers

The ninth would have been the old Battleship Schlesien Launched: 28.05.1906 Commissioned: 05.05.1908
blown up 04.05.1945 (Swinemünde)
 
Good work 3rd Herd and Danjanou.  Here are some more details about how the German battleships met their ends:

Graf Spee – Cruiser; gunfire damage leading to her being scuttled

Bismarck – Battleships, destroyers, aircraft; gunfire and torpedoes

Scharnhorst – Battleship, cruisers, destroyers; gunfire and torpedoes

Tirpitz – Aircraft; five bombs

Schleswig-Holstein – Scuttled after bombing

Gneisenau – Scuttled after mining and bombing

Schliesen – Scuttled after mining and bombing

Lutzow – Scuttled after bombing

Scheer – Aircraft; five bombs

Source:  Westwood, J.N. Fighting Ships of World War II.  Chicago, Ill.  Follett Publishing 1975.


What sort of a ship was HMS Dido?
 
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