Comments by "Adam Bainbridge" (@AdamMGTF) on "USS Iowa (BB-4) - Guide 273" video.

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  6.  @bkjeong4302  I can't agree that it's a ww2 battleship problem. Unless you mean ones built during the war. I could agree that for the war in the Pacific once the Americans got into the fight they were a strategic failure. I base this on the Americans getting stuck in in mid 42. With decisive battles in 43. By 44 when the battle fleet was resurfacing (no pun intended). They were as you say strategically obsolete. However that can't be applied as a sweeping statement because the RN, MN, and KM were in the fight from day one (to three) in 1939, and the RM were in the fight not far behind but also had to be factored into deployments even before the Italians began hostilities. The battle fleets in 39-41 were the prime strategic assets. I would say even in 42 and at times later in the med. Which I am convinced was the most important theatre of the European war. The battle of the Atlantic gets all the attention at sea, the battle of Britain in the air and Barbarossa on land. But had the RNs battle fleet been wiped out and the RM given free reign in the med. Then Africa, the middle East oil and all of Europe west of the Urals was there for the axis to take. We've gone a little off topic lol. Point being. I totally agree the Iowa's were a waste of resources. Naturally that's why the last 2 were cancelled. Here is a thought. HMS Ark Royal was scrapped. I don't even think there was any sort of fuss made to preserve her. She carried a proud name. Had just had a refit so wasn't about to fall apart and she had much more effect on the history of the UK than any Iowa's. So were the Iowa's kept just because they could be? Or was it because they could make money as tourist attractions 🤔
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  8.  @robertf3479  I agree that in war you have to consider the side of caution. Especially when friendly lives can be spared by using material might*. However your falling into a way of thinking that seems common in the modern world of computer games and internet information. The reality of the time we are studying was not one of ship Vs ship or keeping your forces ready in nearly controlled packs to be moved like chess pieces. To counter the yamato and musashi, the USA didn't need an Iowa. They already had huge numbers of capital ships. Plus by the time the Iowa's were worked up, the war in Europe was basically over as far as battle units was concerned. Ok the RN had run its ships ragged to keep up with the demands of 4-5 years of war. But even still, the RN had Nelson, Rodney, Warspite, Queen Elizabeth, Malaya, valliant, revenge, royal sovereign, ramillies, resolution, KG the fifth, Anson, Howe and Duke of York. I know some would be in refit and the Russians did a number on royal sovereign.... But... Ontop of that you could include the littorios and the Richelieus. Plus of course, North Dakota, Washington, south Dakota, Indiana, Massachusetts, Alabama, and a dozen (more?) Standard types. If all that couldn't stop 2 battleships, which had no air support worthy of the name and not enough fuel for a return trip from a sortie. Then the bloody things must have Shields taken straight from startrek and cannons that fire sharks with feikken Lazar beams on their heads. The allies had over kill in the bag. They had shore bombardment tuned to the point that it probably scared Odin. They had air supremacy. And ask BKJ points out. If all the Iowa's were good for was shooting down kamakasi. The resources used on the Iowa's could have done so much more effectively and much less cost. *Yet oddly, contemporary American staff officers critisied the British general staff for being too cautious and not risking men to win. Not a accusation made against the admiralty as far as I know (except by Adm. King). But it is an interesting juxtaposition.
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  14.  @Easy-Eight  I don't see how that's comparable. Your all in one country. Comparing Southampton to Naples is comparing Dallas to Bueno Aires. Two different countries. Do citizens of America living in North Dakota pay for the same air force as citizens of America who live in Texas? Also. (This has probably changed due to the UK leaving the EU. But it applies to the EU and EEA etc). Countries in the EU do pay to assist the arts, cutlure, sciences and of course history and museums in other EU countries. Funds are allocated to points of special historical or scientific interest. While the UK voters decided to leave the EU (by a tiny margin. But we are a democracy and chose freely). I know of nobody before then who complained about money being spent on museums. But we shan't get into that. It's a political mess. I like my politics to end around 1950 lol. Ironically. I live in England. I'm English and I pay taxes in England. Some of that money funds the upkeep of Edinburgh castle. Which is in another country. It also payed for the millennium stadium in Cardiff (again in another country) and towards the Titanic museum at Harland and Wolff in Belfast, which is not only in another country. But a country that shares no land boarder with my country. I have no issue with any of that. I can travel without hinderance to any of thoes countries. They are open boarders just like you have in the USA. I can go and see what my tax money paid for and enjoy the museums and attractions. Can uss Texas only be visited by people who live in Texas?
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