Comments by "Admiral Tiberius" (@admiraltiberius1989) on "The Battle of Samar (Alternate History) - Bring on the Battleships!" video.

  1. The Brooklyn class cruisers would have been a game changer in this fight. They had the most recent radar, they had 3 extra 6inch barrels over the Cleveland's and the ammunition loading process was mostly automatic. Allowing them to absolutely pour fire non stop. The Boise and Helena(A different class but a half sister nonetheless) proved this in 42/43. They did have light armor but its hard to fight back when 6inch shells are walking up and down your decks and wrecking everything. Lastly, I don't think the Fletchers and the one Tribal class would have ever stopped firing the main batteries. Fire whatever guns you can bring to bear. And keep firing till either you sink, the barrels melt or the magazines are empty. The Japanese fleet would have been absolutely been buried under waves of 4.5, 5inch and 6inch fire. Add in some 8inch and 14, 16 inch fire for good measure.
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  2. If this had been a real situation. I think Kurita seeing ACTUAL battleships and cruisers would cause him to have a total meltdown. Maybe his Chief of Staff could take command, maybe not. Where as Oldendorf may not be the most creative Admiral ever, but he is rock steady in a crisis. And he knows what his force can and can not do. He also fully understands radar and how it can change the balance of things. I think he would order his lighter forces to open fire and keep firing till they sink, or the barrels melt. A 4.5inch, 5inch and 6inch shell in a little drizzle wont do much, but an absolute tidal wave of them can really seriously hurt your upper works, take out primary and secondary guns, and as Drach says, cause your lovely pure O2 filled Long Lances to explode. Lastly I think the American crews, particularly gun crews have better training, more experience and it would show itself as the battle goes on. As we saw in the actual battle, American crews will fight even with most of the ship wrecked around them. Johnston's Mount 5 gun captain was hollering for more shells, aiming through the direction vison scope with Japanese ships at point blank range. Like something from the days of sail. That's not to say the Japanese sailor was not brave, cause they were. Impossibly brave and steadfast until the end. But they were let down by leadership and technology. I love the way you did this video Drach. And I love the Texel video too. Keep it up sir.
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