Comments by "AtomicBabel" (@AtomicBabel) on "Drachinifel" channel.

  1. Mr. M. Kaufman, WW2 USN submarine veteran, world traveler, a wonderful person and the best middle school social studies teacher in the world.
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  2. Re: AA fratricide, men in desperate situations may easily fixate on a target and not notice friendly ships in the arch of fire. 40mm Bofors shells are "Self Destroying" (SD), the tracer base burns into the explosive filler and detonates the round. The "timing" is not adjustable, it is "set" as a requirement and implemented during manufacture. This results in some protection to other ships in the formation, from getting hit with a live shell.
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  3. The "Profile, Warship" series of booklets, number 14. Not a book, more like an extended 5 min guide with it's pictures and a centerfold.
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  4. Japanese Submarines, when HOLLYWOOD, HOLLYWOOD, HOLLYWOOOOOD!!!!!
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  5. A literal Kamikaze
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  6. The last time I was this early, everyone wore their pockets full of posies and not face coverings (barbers excluded).
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  7. Greg, "some of you may be wondering about the individual exhaust stacks on the A6M5 model 32 with the Sakae-21..." Also, the points made about the exhaust smoke when on WEP and that about the negative G carburetor valving were very "Greg". Would be interesting if he is reading this thread.
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  8. A ret USN officer once told a sea story that he was greeted aboard a CCCP Battlecruser (Kiev???) for one of those goodwill visits. He noticed that everything had a fresh coat of paint on top of many layers of paint, including the training gears and grease fittings on the torpedo tubes.
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  9. Kurita had 2 ships sunk from under him during the battles of Leyte Gulf and many believe that this had an effect on his decision to withdraw from Samar
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  10. A ship with land attack / bombardment capability is different from a battleship which was to rule the waves. The Zumwald were supposed to have some of that land attack capability and then ... got massively. expensive.
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  11.  @sarjim4381  and other fans, the link to the I-19 5 min guide https://youtu.be/buRQY_qCrXU
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  12. Oh, just wait, the design fun for the Midway just doesn't stop. When you add blisters to improve stability and have it backfire on you. There is a small group of men who gets to wear the patch for the mighty roll she took and almost did not come back.
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  13.  @stonks6616  additional, it not only favors a turn to port, it induces a strong reactive turn to port. For a very informative discussion on P Factor, search for the channel Greg's airplanes and automobiles, episode on P-47 part 5 starting at the 23 min mark.
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  14. So which design elements of the H-1 were original Howard Hughes ideas that were "stolen" by the A6M design team? To qualify "original", that it was not thought of or built into another military or civilian (commercial or racing) aircraft that was not by Hughes. Yes, there are some design elements that look similar. There are elements on the H1 that are exhibited in other racing planes of the 30's and then even on the F4U. Point is that talented designers often barrowed from each other or come up with similar solutions independently. To say that your competition stole from you is an easy declaration to cheapen their efforts and elevate your own. Popular "history" and current events is full of these myths. It's about time that these myths are busted with facts.
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  15.  @cvproj  could be much worst. You could have added: Name of theme for both 5min and drydock Reason for debris in the opening Iowa vs Yamato vs Bismarck vs ... what if Every Samar what if Every IJN 25mm lament Every Kamchatka fail Alternative Admiral what if Where are all the mine voices ... etc 😁
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  16. Here we go again! 25mm type 96 AA Why they sOck = drydock 18 Why they persisted = drydock 55 This has been a public service message 🤓
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  17. A moment for remembering the human tragidity that came to an end 75 years ago this month.
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  18. Last time I was this early, there were not enough names for this class
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  19. That 18inch 45 is still sitting like that. At the gun range, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Virginia.
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  20.  @CosmicFugue83  but then we wo n't get to watch Ripley prepare for cyro sleep.....
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  21.  @stonks6616  The technical reason is something known as propeller "P Factor". Simply, due to the different apparent air speed on any part of a propeller's rotation when the airplane is at a high angles of attack (nose up for landing) application of power favours a left turn for most aircraft. The reverse is true if the prop turns the opposite way, but most aircraft pulls to port. There are human factors, but I'm people blind.
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  22. 65 looks so sad sitting at NNS/HII. If ship could talk, she would have been mentoring 78 and now 79 outfitting on the next pier. I just hope that she remains there for a little longer so that she can pass the torch to CVN 80.
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  23. Greeted at an Honor Flight arrival in DC several years ago. A veteran with an O'Bannon cap on came thru, He was in a wheel chair and missing an eye (maybe a missing limb too). Alas, my brain did not connect quickly enough to let him know that some do want to remember.
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  24. When even the streets were on fire.
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  25. Do I wish it was that easy? They may let you buy them, but the budget...oh the never enough budget.
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  26.  @bigblue6917  that belongs on a shirt, a flag AND Monty Python
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  27. Same for RN X craft Takao
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  28. Me: more 40K from Drach ! Me with glasses: 🤓
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  29. Check out the monitor Cheyenne ... wink
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  30. In all honesty, if the sinking occurred a month earlier, it would be recorded as another "typical" wartime loss. The press would talk about the heroism of the men, the rescuers and the sacrifices of the families for the ultimate victory. No tribunals, at worst an inquiry and even a few medals to go around. That this news broke after the world started to celebrate the end of hostilities was a shocking blow in the US. Just, imagine the joy one moment that your son is no longer in harm's way and then to receive the news that he is already dead and died tragically. To the bereaved, it transcends a war loss and can easily turn into blame for an institution and a person's actions. The USN caved and offered McVey's head, far far far from a moment in the "finest tradition" of the service.
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  31. Thank you Mrs Drach for reprising the friendly mine voice.
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  32. USS Princeton perhaps? (1) Civil War era experimental gun explosion (2) CVL-23 magazine explosion (3) CG-59 Mining
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  33. The shall remain un-named guy in charge placed his flag on San Fran which he commanded in the past and the crew was very fond of him. Unfortunately, he was more of a staff officer than a tactical combat commander. Scott (on Atlanta) was experienced, CAPT Gil Hoover of Helena knew how to exploit radar, but un-named came out of a desk job, was in-experienced with new technology, commanding a task force in combat yet he was the senior officer. IMO, Scott would have done better (after learning from experience) and Hoover would have mopped the slot that night.
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  34.  @trinalgalaxy5943  yes, she's been picked thru and prepped for disposal. It's sad the state she's in. We'll have a new Enterprise in eight years and perhaps in 6 years time, we'll see the new and old share neighboring piers. But perhaps not.
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  35. Tang, some felt really depressed and returned home for a hug.
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  36.  @Kevin_Kennelly  and red uniforms!
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  37. Text to voice: "Casa-mate" for casemate always made me smile
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  38.  @bigblue6917  to Jack Ryan, " I read your book, your conclusions are all wrong. Halsey acted stupidly". You really can't argue with Sean Connery.
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  39. So everytime Marinette (Wisc.) delivers an LCS or FFGX, Canada, UK and USA can go to war? 🤓
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  40. Time to give the rack another turn
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  41. Never short change a squad of RN destroyers, or they will make sure you regret it. Haguro
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  42. Best Midway "movie" is the TV miniseries "War & Remembrance". The making of the miniseries employed more airplanes than the 1976 movie.
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  43. FFG 58 Samuel B. Roberts, mining.
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  44. For the IJN ship that took the most beating and was afloat and fighting at the end of the war. That honor goes to Suzutsuki. 1st she took 2 USN torpedoes (both exploded) losing her bow and stern. Got repaired and then took another sub torpedo, losing her bow again. Got repaired and sortied w Yamato at Ten Go, again losing her bow, but this time to probably the most concentrated air attack ever unleashed on any fleet. Made it back to port and continued fighting as a stationary platform thru the end of the war. All that for a wartime destroyer!
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  45. As an engineer and designer of warships, I agreed.
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  46. Totally agree with Adam B. There was a lot of blood and desperation since 39 and for many 37. IMHO, the generally told & known story of WW2 in the US is bracketed by Pearl Harbor and the atom bomb. More and more it's just the atom bomb.
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  47. Saving this to savour at the end of a beautiful spring - summer day.
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  48. ​@fred1451 none a dust pan for DC, not something that comes up at first thought. Come to ponder on it, did the dust pan need to be certified?😂
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  49. It's been a long time since my middle school English class book report on the story of this ship. By the time the the sinking and loss of life were reaching the news, the war was supposed to be over with the dropping of the 2 atomic bombs and VJ day. It was a shock to all that were celebrating that the killing was at at end and loved ones were coming home.
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  50.  @agesteiro7326  yeah Samar was crazy. If I remember right, Samuel B Roberts did dig down to the Starshells (some DD or DE did if not SBR). And no kidding, cans of tomatoes were thrown, but by the Japanese. Potatoes and swords were another action.
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