The official AHF WW2 quiz thread

[John Hilly]

"However, it was the 26th Cavalry Regiment, consisting mostly of Philippine Scouts, that was the last U.S. unit to engage in a horse-mounted attack. This charge occurred at the town of Morong in the Philippines Islands against the Japanese on January 16, 1942."

http://hglanham.tripod.com/uscavalry/uscavalry1.html

Your turn Clayton!

With best,
J-P

[Graham Clayton]

Thanks J-P! Here is my question:

Q: Which Allied aircraft carrier only had a service life of 9 months before being destroyed by an explosion?

[Rob Stuart]

HMS Dasher.

[Graham Clayton]

Rob - correct.

HMS Dasher was commissioned on the 2nd of July 1942, and lost in an explosion at the Firth of Clyde on the 27th of March 1943.

[Rob Stuart]

Thanks Graham.

Continuing in the same vein, which Allied carrier was in service for only six months and a day before being lost?

[Polar bear]

hi,

USS LISCOME BAY had, probably, the comparatively shortest career with a little bit more than 3 months.

HMS AUDACITY was in service for 6 months and four (4) days, so that's a wrong answer, as well.

I'm too tired to check now through all the CVE classes ..

greetings, th pb

[Rob Stuart]

pb, I was thinking of Audacity. I said that it was in service for six months and a day because the Wiki article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Audacity_(D10) says it was commissioned on 20 June 1941 and sunk on 21 December 1941. This seemed likely to me but maybe it's wrong by three days, so I'm going to give it to you. Well done.

Rob

[Polar bear]

hi, Rob,

Thank you. I'm sorry you missed the "Canada remembers" question in the Allied Navies thread, that was meant for you

The next question refers to a naval action of WW II which - in hindsight - turned the tide with respect to Axis attacks.

The operation's name refers to cultivating plants, possibly in a garden

greetings, the pb

[Rob Stuart]

Hello pb,

I saw your "Canada Remembers" question, but it just stumped me. I thought the monument a general one for the RCNVR and not for a specific event, so I struck out. And your current question stumps me too. From your description it sounds like Matapan, the Channel Dash, Midway, or something like that, but I can't find any such operation with a codename which matches your clue. I expect that someone will take a guess before long, however.

Cheers,

Rob

[Polar bear]

hi, Rob,

From your description it sounds like Matapan,

It's not Matapan, but the same sea ... and the operation's name was British.

greetings, the pb

p-s. I beg everyone's pardon if I do not answer within the next 6 days, I'm off for a look into archives.

[Polar bear]

hi,

one week later, another hint:

The "hero" of the story is a USN ship, escorted- mostly - by the RN.

greetings, the pb

[Rob Stuart]

Well, it can't be Wasp's two runs to Malta with Spitfires, nor Ohio's participation in Pedestal. I'm still stumped.

[Polar bear]

hi, Rob,

Well, it can't be Wasp's two runs to Malta with Spitfires,

Yes, indeed, it can and it is ... Operation BOWERY

although it was a "negative" answer , I think that you hit it ... your turn

greetings, the pb

[Rob Stuart]

Hello pb,

I ruled out BOWERY because I thought it had no connection with cultivating plants. Who knew!

Okay, here's my question: What unit, formed during the war, was informally associated with the moniker "Tusker"?

[Polar bear]

hi, Rob,

What unit, formed during the war, was informally associated with the moniker "Tusker"?

For you, the proud Canadian: RCAF 413 Squadron http://www.manitobamilitaryaviationmuse ... uadron.pdf

But this one, south of the long border, too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/758th_Tank ... ed_States)

greetings, the pb