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

  1. Lee had fresh memories of taking an ad-hoc group into action against a well trained enemy. The Battle of Guadalcanal had also demonstrated the damage he could expect if he got into a night knife fight against the IJN. Remember his statement about our ships not being built for the a close in fight. The there is his primary mission, protect the main striking force of the USN, the carriers. If we assume he has at least taken damage he could be out of position to not be able to carry out his primary mission. It is a conservative decision, weighted to protect the carriers. His potential fleet would not have sailed and trained as a unit.They would have to be extracted from present assignments, Assembled along with their escorts, Again a group that would not have at least exercised together. As for the officer the made the comment that radar controlled gunnery doesn't care if it is night or day, this is true, but it also doesn't care if it is friend or foe.
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  2. The rule of war is don't start one. Planes, ships, vehicles and most importantly people die. To complain after the fact are the tantrums of a child.
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  3. Has anyone considered that Oscar (unsinkable Sam) was actually in the employ of the Germans? While mousing he may have been collecting information for the Kriegsmarine.
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  4. Between the ever tightening noose around the Japanese Islands interdicting their supplies courtesy of usn submarines and the attrition to industry later as the b-29 offensive began, it's a wonder the Japanese were able to do anything. Pretty sad to be constructing aircraft carriers and not having any cruise to fly off of them.
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  5. There was one good source, a voice in the wilderness, largely ignored by the US Military and intelligence organs. General Claire Chennault .
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  6. Not to take away from The Bravery of Captain Evans and his crew, you get down to it they had little choice. They could have tried to stay with the carriers which would have limited their speed or they could go out and engage the enemy. The fact that they engage the enemy with the tenacity that they did instead of resignation, is what amazes me. A lot of people would have looked at the situation and just got their personal effects ready to go over the side. These men instead fought their hearts out and gave their all just as their ship did. These men fought in the finest tradition of any Navy in the world.
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  7. -Thanks for going back a redoing the audio for these and future clips. I much prefer your narration to the digital narration. You dry wit is part of why I enjoy your channel so much.
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  8. I have read of Nuisance over the years. How could anyone not love this Pup.
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  9. Your great uncle has been one of my personal heroes for over 50 years. He was an incredible professional naval officer. A master at his craft. He had more guts than most people ever could imagine. You have every right to be proud of your heritage and pass it down. My son that is 38 years old learned very young about your great uncle. He was taught by me.
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  10. I must admit your wry wit had me chuckling away during this video. I can just picture a conversation with the pilot as to just where he put his plane. The Pilot responding like a 5 year old, "I don't know"! It is always sad when a valiant ship is scrapped. I know we can't keep them swinging at anchor. It is just sad none the less.
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  11. Actually I can't remember which battle it was at Guadalcanal, but are heavy and light Cruisers took on a battleship and Japanese Cruisers and destroyers. The Admiral in command was killed in the battle but his last words were we want the big boys. They split the Japanese formation with turrets turned out either side firing away at the Japanese. This was the first naval battle where Japanese navy experienced American full beast mode in a surface action. It was a bloody battle and I think it was the Japanese battleship Hiei that was sunk.
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  12. The Diesel engine that became the life saver of the Fleet submarine, was the Fairbanks-Morse. Admiral Richard O'Kane, XO USS Wahoo and Captain USS Tang called them rock crusher for their dependability. During the course of the war, the Navy tried a new engine, the HOR. This was a disaster. They were unreliable to the point of tear. Every sub equipped with the HOR engines went into major overhaul just to replace the engines with Fairbanks-Morse system. Post war the Navy again tried to install a different engine in new build subs. The engine was the GM Pancake engine. Once again an abject failure. Fairbanks-Morse to the rescue. This required lengthening the hulls of subs that had been built to accommodate the compact GM engine. Fairbanks-Morse provides diesel auxiliary engines for the Ohio-class and the Seawolf-class.
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  13. Drach, just got a rescue Bull Mastiff. Sweet dog. When Graff Spee's picture came up he started growling and barking softly. He must have an English heritage!😂😄😉
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  14. Very well presented truth about HMAS Sydney. The German merchant raiders performed some incredible feats in WWII,
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  15. Unwashed foreigner? LOL!
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  16. My fascination, respect and hero worship for Ching Admiral Willis Lee started about 1974. It has not diminished over the years, it has increased. A courageous leader that happens to be a genius and Olympic Gold Medalist. Not to mention took on the Bureau of Ordinance and won!. What isn't to like and or respect.
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  17. Love the IPhone analogy!!!
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  18.  @GTLandser  the fact that you're willing to ask that question of yourself, makes me think you would do the right thing. No one really knows until they're confronted with life-and-death what they will do.
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  19. Probably a 50-50 mix there. He was probably frustrated that he had nothing else to use. Target Rich environment you know.
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  20.  @gth042  I was thinking the same thing. Airport and port radars, ( surface search ) for maritime traffic
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  21. Thank you for recognizing this fine ship, crew and her amazing captain.
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  22. Glad your grand uncle survived. It is hard to imagine the boilers weren't ready for action.
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  23. Well she did kind of find a sub! So half the mission was a success!
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  24. Re-watching this episode and your sardonic humor is just cracking me up I could use a laugh at this point. Thanks again for your excellent videos
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  25. Wouldn't the Yamato-class be three ships since the carrier losses of 1942 would not have happened?
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  26. The RN sailing up the fjord to attack Tiripitz would be a disaster. The RN Sailing line ahead, assailed from all sides by coastal batteries and from above by the luftwaffa then have the Tiripitz crossing the T. The steep walls of the Fjord would protect Tiripitz from plunging fire.
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  27. Post the Battle of Midway, some press guy was rummaging around on someone's desk. He saw a document that indicated we were reading the Japanese Naval code and probably posted an article about it and some little Podunk newspaper that thankfully the Japanese did not read. Yeah the press is not the military friend even when the bullets are flying and people are dying.
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  28. A Night action at Jutland? I would call that a bar room brawl that would make the Duke proud.
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  29. A warship like HMS Warspite and her reputation of excellence becomes prized assignment for crew. You don't want to be a slacker and given the boot. The ship competes with the fleet and crew with each other. This is one American that wishes the fund could have collected to preserve her.
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  30. You missed something Admiral Kimmel. Order the anti-torpedo nets re-installed on battleship row! Another option is to order the PBY patrols to focus their patrols along the threat axis.
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  31. The invasion of Peleliu became redundant and unnecessary when they advanced the timetable for the invasion Leyte. This was recognized by all the higher echelons of command yet proceeded anyhow. The excuse being to many assets were in motion to stop it. What is you take on this, given roughly 21000 casualties for both sides?
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  32. Meanwhile the deep fryer experienced significant animosity, resulting in it being jettisoned off of Japan.
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  33. I think it would be good to discuss the lessons learned at Tarawa. Prewar doctrine vs results and subsequent changes.
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  34. ​ @matthewhecht9257  it was planned to have 15" guns. They weren't read so they ended up using upgraded 11"
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  35.  @JohnSmith-kg2rt  yes she was crippled by the night battle. ultimately sank by air attack but I don't think she would have made it much further either way. I think it was the second Battle of Guadalcanal
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  36.  @timbrwolf1121  my dad built his own private Jeep after the end of World War II. He got all the parts from the scrap heaps around France. Used to use a tow chain from an M4 Sherman to tie to a Lamppost and lock it. It was literally his Jeep since it was made from scrap.
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  37. Captain Evans during his commissioning speech, said he intended to take his ship into Harm's Way. By God he kept his word. I don't care whose Navy it is, he is one hell of a destroyer man.
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  38. I agree with most of your assessments and comments regarding armor decks and unarmored flight decks. Where I part ways with you to a degree is the loss of the Yorktown. Yorktown was or deed suffering from some significant battle damage prior to the Battle of Midway. This occurred in the Battle of Coral Sea. It was estimated at the time that it would take three months in the yard to overhaul and repair the damage from that bomb hit. This bomb head not only damaged her engines but also compromised her watertight Integrity to a degree. When the Battle of Midway occurred it was after 36 hours if my memory serves of dry dock and bubble gum and baling wire. They repaired vital systems but they did not repair the engines. Who used to say how many bombs would have struck had Yorktown been capable of full speed. Further when she was struck by the air launched torpedoes Abandon Ship while premature was prudent where to damage previous to Midway that affected her watertight integrity. Once again her damage from the Battle of Coral Sea haunted her in the Battle of Midway. Her condition when she was torpedoed by the submarine may have been somewhat different and her position may have been out of range of that submarine had she not been abandoned. To exclude Ark Royal from your critique was interesting. there were compromises in her design as you and I are both aware. But if you compare saratoga's being torpedoed repeatedly and put in Dry Dock repeatedly to be repaired oh, you have to wonder about their respective torpedo defense systems. The much-maligned Lexington battlecruiser Hulls seemed to be pretty durable however there turbo electric Drive seemed more vulnerable to damage. Makes me wonder about the Zumwalt. personally in a situation where you have a lot of seawater potentially pouring into the engine room, the last thing I would want is electric motors in that area! I can't remember exactly what was happening whenever Saratoga would take a torpedo but it was something that was causing a part of the power plant to jump out of its mounts for beds it's been a long time since I read about that like 40 years? as I said other than the Yorktown there isn't too much I take exception to in your comparison
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  39. Ah yes censoring photos! I Read in a book written by Peter Cremer, German U-Boat commander, That they had some fine photo's of British escorts Taken in Spain across the bay to Gibraltar. These photo's showed the HUFF DUFF antennae, at least until censors edited the background so no one would be able to tell where the pictures were taken. They also removed the critical antennas from the photo. This occurred as U-Boat losses were increasing precipitously and Admiral Doenitz was, along with the staff were trying to figure out how the Allies were suddenly so successful. If you would like to read the book, it is U-Boat Commander - Peter Cremer. I wouldn't call it a text book, but it is an excellent written account of his experience,
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  40. LOL!
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  41. Capsizing is generally a bad idea. Hats off to the USCG and the many different jobs they do. Largely unsung. After reading the book " Bloody Winter " by a retired WWII Coast Guard Officer, John Waters, my respect is equal to any other service. USCG does battle 24 x 7 x 365 every year.
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  42.  @BoeingB17FF  Hiei was also mauled USN cruisers. Two admirals were KIA that night. Hiei was still afloat come daylight. She was heaviy damage from the engagement and limping up the slot. I think Cactus went after her, but either way she would not have made it to a friendly port/
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  43. That Adventure alone would be worth a movie or at least a Drach video!
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  44.  @danielgregg2530  Your opinion
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  45. Prior to WWII the RN was heavily dependent on established bases for replenishment. The US Navy had established much of the procedures for underway replenishment. The RN was hampered to a degree by their logistic fleet train, procedures and available suitable ships. The habit of the USN to build advanced bases as needed was more than remarkable. These bases even sported floating dry docks.
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  46. Friendly fire at sea: USS Enterprise - The Enterprise suffered casualties when 5' proximity fused shells were fired from a neighboring escort passed over the flight deck. This triggered the fuse for air burst killing and wounding some of the air group deck crew and I think damaging some aircraft.
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  47. One of the biggest problems for the Bismark, Vice-Admiral Günther Lütjens prolific use of his radio. He did not realize the difference between radar signals being picked up by the Metox assuming they were equipped with that or something similar, did not indicate they were at the range approaching detection values. He assumed since they were detecting radar signals they were being tracked. There were a few instances of the trailing cruisers having lost radar contact, but Vice-Admiral Lütjens did not realize this.
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  48. The Clemson Class frequently were converted by removing two boilers not sure what other mods were made. I believe top speed was 25 knots in that configuration.
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  49. The enigma of the Fairey Swordfish! As you stated in your list of attributes, the Swordfish, was a quite capable fly anachronism. It has a list arms length list of why it shouldn't have been a front line aircraft yet it worked. The Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm did an amazing job of exploiting the attributes of this plane and her crews, while protecting it from its own weaknesses. The one time all its shortcoming were completely exposed all at once, Operation Cerberus. The results weren't much different to the Devastator at Midway. Incredibly brave men went up in the string bag. The Pilots and crew of all the Swordfish should have all received high decoration for Operation Cerberus.
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  50. I did have an interesting interaction with a pigeon on the interstate in Tampa Florida back in 1975 I think. A pigeon landed in front of me. A traffic at 275 and Hillsborough avenue tends to be pretty heavy to this day if the Sun's up you your car is all around you. Why it landed where it landed I have no idea. I couldn't change lanes, I wasn't about to slam on the brakes and cause a pile up, so I tried to center over the bird and hopefully pass over it. Alas my efforts were for naught. The section of my car passing over the pigeon resulted in it impacting the underside of my car. I looked in the rearview mirror at about the moment a cloud of feathers exploded out from under my car and into the front of the car that was trailing behind me. That guy was all over the road! He was totally freaked out. I'm sorry I'm laughing about the memory right now. To this day I feel bad for the pigeon but there was nothing I could do. I have a few more bird suicide stories with my vehicles but I'll share them somewhere else some other time.
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