Comments by "doveton sturdee" (@dovetonsturdee7033) on "Fleet Admiral Ernest King - Semper Iratus" video.

  1. Forgive me for asking, but is your knowledge of the Sicily campaign based entirely on 'Patton - Lust For Glory?'
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  2.  @Drachinifel  British/Canadian dead and wounded :- 2938 dead, 9212 wounded, 2782 missing. American casualties :- 2811 dead, 6471 wounded, 686 missing. Sadly, the more outspoken people on the subject of Sicily seem to have taken their information from the 1970 movie, based on Farago's hagiography about Patton, rather than from books or archives.
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  3.  @nickdanger3802  Sixty-nine. on 3 September, 1939, the Kriegsmarine had 57 in commission.
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  4. Didn't like the US army, the US Marine Corps, the US Army Air Force, either. Apparently, he didn't like many of his fellow naval officers either, although it seems that their wives were a different matter.
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  5. Oddly, despite his dislike of Beatty, King copied one of his mannerisms, which was to have a handkerchief pocket in his uniform jacket above his medal ribbons.
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  6. Indeed. King's handling of Paukenschlag can be compared to Patton's Lorraine campaign.
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  7.  @nickdanger3802  I thought this video was about Ernie King? Isn't your comment irrelevant to that theme, except as what is seemingly an attempt to invoke national prejudices?
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  8.  @nickdanger3802  How does any of this bear any relevance at all to the merchant ship losses during Paukenschlag? The British began convoy operations within days of 3 September, 1939, the US (or King) didn't do the same until many months after 11 December 1941, despite having over 70 modern destroyers available in their Atlantic Fleet, despite British Intelligence warning King of the impending arrival of a number of Type IXs, and despite Admiral Andrews begging him to release some of the destroyers. Perhaps you should read Michael Gannon's book on Operation Drumbeat before simply attacking the Limeys! Especially since, in March 1942, those Limeys sent 34 convoy escorts, which they could not really spare, to support Andrews after King refused. The British carried out 78 Arctic Convoy missions. Only two, PQ17 & PQ18, suffered significant losses. At the time of the Channel Dash, the British Home Fleet was in Iceland and Scapa Flow, providing the cover for those convoys. Why is Royal Oak relevant?
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  9. As there were substantial Anglo-American forces based in North Africa, and as the allies were far from sufficiently well-equipped to attempt a landing in France, wasn't a continuation of the pressure on the axis by means of an attack on Italy the obvious next step?
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  10. I believe it was actually Mountbatten who gave that reply.
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  11.  @nickdanger3802  Most of these references are irrelevant to the main criticism of King, which relates to his response, or lack of response, to Operation 'Paukenschlag.' The lack of resources claim really doesn't hold water. According to the United States' Naval History and Heritage Command site, in the Order of Battle for the United States' Atlantic Fleet for 29 January, 1942 there were eleven Destroyer Squadrons, totalling just over 100 boats, and a further 25 Coast Guard Cutters, in service.
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