Comments by "John Fisher" (@johnfisher9692) on "Drachinifel" channel.

  1. I agree. People praise the Japanese and German ships while very conveniently ignoring just how massively they violated the treaties they signed.
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  2. No Drachinifel has used his command over the power of time and space and has a museum of all the most important ships the channel covers including Dreadnought, Warspite, Hood and Vanguard as well as many others too numerous to mention. All preserved in perfect condition And by bending the rules ever so slightly he can have recordings of Jackie Fisher yelling at members of the Treasury.
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  3. That was incredibly interesting and well done. The Indefatigable must have been a much sort after berth for many crewmen given her success in capturing ships. I can just imagine a sour faced Franch shipyard manager telling a new ships captain to not damage the ship before he turned it over to HMS Indefatigable. It's a question of pride in his workmanship to hand over a ship worth keeping.
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  4. Really interesting and well thought out alternative time line. In many ways it show just how brilliant the Queen Elizabeth design was since these ships were based on it as were the proposed Italian Caracciolo BB's. All armed with the magnificent British 15/42 gun and efficient twin turret
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  5. Getting accurate history seems to be becoming harder and harder as people desperately try to rewrite it to make it conform to their own approved/prejudiced ideas. I applaud Drach for looking at all sides and presenting a neutral and accurate view rather than trying distort it to suit his own likes and he always explains the WHY he thinks a particular way and backs it up with research. Look at the way Bismarck fans try to make everyone think it was the mightiest Battleship to ever exist and would sink Yamato by looking sternly at it. A teacher would probably say of Bismarck "Adequate but plenty of room for improvement with the appropriate effort"
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  6. Great work as always Drach I loved the comment about one of the reasons for Derfflinger's toughness was defective British AP shells. This is all too often ignored by those less informed but rabid supporters of uber German toughness. Hope you have a great time on your US trip. One warning I can give you is to be very careful when using US currency. Unlike Australian or British notes, theirs are all the same colour and size so you have to pay attention when using them. Showing Aussie notes to US shop assistants their response was "Oh why can't ours be like that? They are so easy to tell apart"
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  7. Thanks Drach What was that website to order a BB from? And can I put it on my credit card? Building up a navy is way more complex than just buying some ships and having Naval reviews to scare your enemy One point in the planning I feel you overlooked is People. Building up the machinery to make what you need is nice, but you nee the trained and experienced people to actually use that machinery and produce quality ships. This is an ongoing and very expensive part of the production. Those dock workers are another of the unsung heroes of any nation, the one's who actually build the ships and weapons and even the task of repairing a damaged ship. Did the Washington Naval Treaty play a part in the Depression? All those industry's withering away from lack of orders?? Excellent point about the equipment needed at a dock yard. The Yamato's were so big that the Japanese spent a fortune to enlarge the docks and had to strengthen cranes just to lift the guns and turrets onto the hulls. They even needed to build a special ship just to transport the turrets from the maker to the dockyard. One author said the German Navy had a huge advantage over the British as their dock yards were new and designed for a steel and steam navy whereas the the British one's were designed in the age of sail and had to be adapted. One the other hand the British yards had highly trained people and there were a lot of them.
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  8. Well that was almost an hour Drach, keep going an you'll crack that magic 60 minute mark soon. I have read as much as I can find about Admiral Jackie FIsher. A complicated man but a true workaholic and dedicated to the RN. The name Dreadnought was indeed deliberately chosen as he wanted the ship to be a symbol of Britain's might and if you wanted to play in the big leagues, this is what you had to match. I find it ironic that the French in the Napoleonic era built a homogeneous class of ships, yet later on in the pre dreadnought era they wre notorious for building a fleet of 'samples' and as you've pointed out, couldn't resist fiddling with the design while under construction. Is there a reason for this?
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  9. Thanks for another awesome informative video The Essex class really were superb carriers and well suited to their role in the Pacific. the only rael 'weakness' of the design was the open bow, which like all too many ships with this feature, led to problems in very rough weather. The rougher weather more typically encountered in the Atlantic led British to use an enclosed or 'Altantic' bow for their modern carriers. Interesting to see teh US alternative design was for an armoured deck as per British practice. It shows just how operational requirements and location affect choices. The British carriers were meant for a close range hard punching war where enemy land based aircraft would be available in numbrs sufficient to swamp any air defence a carrier could put up. A deck armoured Essex in the Med would have been an interesting thing to see. For a video about carriers, perhaps a comparison on the differences of damage control, ventilation and aviation fuel stowage between the British, American and Japanese Navies to show just why Japanese carries were so vulnerable to fire and tended to explode or burn so violently.
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  10. It really shows just how fast the pace of naval development was when such powerful ships were declared obsolescent barely a decade after entering service.
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  11. As the famous quote goes "Amateurs study tactics, Professionals study logistics"
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  12. Thanks Drach. As always a learning experience to stress my poor brain. You have to give credit to the crews of all merchant ships. Sailing into a warzone in a slow and unarmed ship took courage. Not enough credit is given to all those brave souls who risked death repeatedly. Without them there could be no victory.
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  13. Looks like Drach has been in Drydock himself and been converted into a very long range youtuber. Wonder what episode 100 will bring and will I need to reserve a week to watch it?
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  14. It is fully justified as I did the same when one of my questions was answered.
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  15. Our first rum ration of the year, with lime juice mixed in of course. Though a friend wonders if you could switch to vodka for his ration, it's his preferred tipple.😄
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  16. Thanks Drach. I don't know how you manage to put out so much high quality material but I hope you continue. Many other youtubers could learn from you.
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  17. Thanks Drach This is probably been answered in a drydock but was there any reason cruisers stuck with single guns so long? given the advantages of a twin turrets, and the fact turrets had been used on BB;s for decades, why not on the larger protected cruisers?
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  18. Thanks Drach Looks like things haven't changed much in all the years since the 40 thieves were built. Contractors still have "Cost over runs" and use substandard material whenever they can get away with it.
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  19. Loving the Drydock episodes as I have from the start. I learn so much despite the problem of stuffing more information into my worn out old brain. Maybe I need a refit. The part about the limited use of Pre-Dreadnoughts in a Dreadnought battle fleet was well done. I did cringe then then the questioner made the statement that they could at least be used to catch shells for more valuable units. Obviously this person has played too much WoWs. These ships would be crewed by PEOPLE and I'm uncomfortable with someone disposing of them so callously. As I'm sure they wouldn't like it nor would their brothers in arms. I guess too many MMO players forget this real life difference. People aren't pixels. Another point I thought of during the discussion about dense tank like shells is that compared to naval battles, tanks engage at what would be considered point blank range for a large ship and the trajectory is flat, where as naval gunfire at most battle ranges is a parabolic arc which would somewhat negate the hyper velocity you are trying for. Drach, if you want an engineering nightmare imagine designing a taper bore gun for a Battleship's main armament. On that I leave you to your nightmares.
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  20. Considering the American Captains dirty tactics in trying to run after he surrendered I'd say many people would have called his dishonorable or perhaps even oath breaker. a true insult in that period. Or as the British might say "Not a Gentleman"
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  21. You have said the US Navy learned a great deal about how to correctly operate fighters from carriers when HMS Victorious had its temporary name change to USS Robin. What were those differences that made RN fighter direction so much better?
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  22. Awesome information as always I'd like to see a movie about Jutland. There is very little done about it whereas as Trafalgar has had a lot. Of course I'd want the movie to be as accurate as possible and none of the current British bashing about exploding BC's we're getting. Both Lion and Tiger survived very heavy battering and were in battle worthy condition the following day while the German BC's were hor's de combat. I'd also like the British characters in the movie to actually have British accents (gasp) Looks like you can easily capture Drach by asking an engineering question. I imagine a cat looking at something shiny waved in front of its nose "Here Drach, here's a pretty engineering question" Then rolling the question across the floor and watching Drach pounce on it from hiding :)
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  23. His troops in the Philippines called him Dugout Doug because he never left his very deep and well supplied hole in the ground.
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  24. A beautiful looking ship as well as a powerful warship. To quote another author:Vanguard may not have been the best in any single category, but she scored high in all, thus making her one of the best BB's ever built
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  25. I've read a book called White Coolies by Australian Army nurse Betty Jeffrey about the experiences of her and her fellow nurses and their terrible treatment after their hospital ship was sunk during the evacuation of Singapore in 1942. AHS Centaur wasn't the only hospital ship put down by the Japanese. It's well worth a read. Sink the Bismarck is an epic film and the only flaw is the portrayal of Lutjens as a rabid Nazi, which he certainly wasn't. I shudder to think of the mess it would be if remade today.
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  26. Thanks Drach While the US Admirals wanted a perfect ship this lass proves the old British maxim, a lot of good ships is better than a few outstanding ones.
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  27. Thanks for an excellent video I think you hit it right on the head with your analysis of Rozhestvenstky's actions. It's usually the armchair admirals or politicians who are most eager for battle, even when it's hopeless.
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  28. Excellent and comprehensive history of this ship. To me it seems her bad reputation stems mainly from being rushed into service without proper training and served with an Admiral whose 'gung ho' attitude didn't allow the ship to be used to it's best potential. The German BC's get massive praise for their toughness yet you clearly show that the British BC's were equally as capable of taking punishment and it was mainly poor stowage of their propellant that cause the losses. Plus a generous slice of both luck and skill for the Germans to hit the British ships turrets. Both Lion and Tiger took almost as many hits as the much more heavily armoured German BC's yet at the end of the day were still combat capable and spoiling for a continuation of the battle the next day while the German ships were hors de combat and running for home with their tails firmly between their legs.
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  29. Awesome video Regarding the Bismarck I have read about Pro Bismarck fanatics swearing that the ship was completely intact below decks with the engines humming along as if waiting for an Admirals inspection and the ship could have easily been gotten back to port. I think we can dismiss those fantasies. The ship was doomed and going down no matter what. The best answer I've read as sto what actually sank Bismarck is "It doesn't matter" The ship was a flaming wreck incapable of retaliation or fleeing and her sinking was inevitable. Interesting idea of the French Navy joining the British. The biggest problem I can see is maintaining the ships due to differences in equipment, especially replacing shells due to the French using different gun sizes.
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  30. Very interesting video I was very surprised that none of the French pre Dreadnoughts were in this book, especially the one you refuse to name. I believe the term "My eyes, my eves, they burn" from a previous video is appropriate.
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  31. Thank you for another massive dry dock Drach Take care of your health first and foremost, we can wait till you're healthy for a live stream
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  32. Loved seeing all these navies put into one video. It makes sence of their arms race and how it affected the policies of the various governments. Q&A what are the advantages and disadvantages of the very different methods of loading the propellant charges in BB guns? The British and others used bagged charges while the Germans used brass cartridge cases for all guns, right up to the very biggest in WW2. Is one system superior to the other or is it trade offs between the two? I can see pluses and minuses to both.
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  33. Another great video Drach. One point about the contest between the various Navy's BB's is the weakness of US masts. The cage mast was shown to cause lots of vibration which would have degraded the accuracy of fire and even the Colorado's used this. The section on Impressing sailors was great. Many people point to t;his as proof of British cruelty and hypocracy but VERY conveniently ignore how many other country's did the exact same thing, or worse
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  34.  @Dave_Sisson  I have read some of his fanatic rantings and find he is mono focused on the Pacific war and he totally ignores just how helpless (and perhaps useless) a carrier would have been in the Battle of North Cape against Scharnhorst where the action took place in the darkness of winter in the Northern latitudes and during a storm.
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  35.  @bull614  Not to mention cutting into the cuddle time with Mini Drach and do you want to face the wrath of mini Drach?? I'm not that crazy 😄
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  36. An excellent and well thought out video The lesson presented here is how operational location greatly effects which system is better. A Yorktown or Essex operating in the Med eaarly in the war would have been overwhelmed and sunk by massed attacks no air group could have fought off. Similarly an Illustrious class would have been defeated by Japanese carriers greater striking power but might have remained afloat if it could dodge the torpedoes. British Admiral: "Another kamikaze! If this keeps up we'll have to order more brooms, Make a note of that yeoman" Where both the RN and the USN proved far superior to the IJN was in the area of damage control and Avgas security. Avgas is one of the most dangerous things for any ship to carry and carriers have to ship massive amounts of this. The Japanese method of storing what is essentially a massive bomb was flawed and combined with the single ventilation system it turned their ships into floating bombs waiting to go off after battle damage.
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  37. Thanks for another awesome video Loved how you pointed out that the Japanese, Germans and to a lesser extent the Italians broke the Various Treaty's limits. It's disgusts me to read people approving of this and some even saying "Who follows a treaty during wartime" but they forget (of deliberately ignore) that these ships were designed and construction began during peacetime. The much vaunted Bismarck's were announced as 35,000 tons but came out at 41,700. You don't add that much to a ship without creating severe problems with speed, stability and sea keeping ability and only after the war was it proved just how much they were over the limits, much like all German major units. None of the over praised Japanese ships were near their announced displacement and most broke the various treaty limits. The comparison of air attacks in the Med and Pacific was very interesting. One point you didn't cover was aircraft toughness between the Axis powers. Japanese aircraft were much more fragile then German or Italians. They achieved their speed, range and capacity at the expence of any protection, many not even having self sealing fuel tanks.
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  38. And here we are for round two of the marathon I've read that prior to the Washington Treaty the Japanese were spending as much as 40% of their GDP on the Navy alone, so the Treaty saved the country from bankruptcy although they don't like to admit that. And for abiding by the Treaty's, basically the Japanese never did. All the cruisers built under the treaty were grossly over the announced displacement as well as over the 10K limit for CA's. The carriers were also over the agreed limits and the Japanese just lied. In building the Dreadnought Jackie Fisher said "It was better for the RN to take the lead rather than play catch up" The US ships were NOT laid down before HMS Dreadnought. Both being laid down in December 1906 while Dreadnought was laid down in October 1905 and completed in December 1906 I agree the Danton's were the best of the last Pre-Dreadnoughts but they were built years after the others. The sailors of the HSF didn't think much of their Pre-DN's as main battle line units dubbing them the five minute ships. The enemy would spend four minutes laughing at them and one minute to sink them
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  39. Thanks for another drydock Drach though I'm so cunfused. You said tis is episode 79 while the vudei flash up the number 80 So one of them is wrong :) A point about the Norway campaign is that the KM had one priceless advantage over the RN and MN. The KM KNEW where they were going and the timing while the British and French did not. They hay had had guesses but no definite information.
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  40. So Drach, when did you first meet your old friend Square Cubed Law? You seem to know each other very well and I hope Mrs Drach doesn't get too upset with the two of you talking the night away😁
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  41. Agreed, The Invincible and the Indefatigable class should be referred to as Dreadnought Armoured Cruisers as that was what they were designed to be. Their role was to hunt down raiding cruisers and scout for the battle fleet and they did this job perfectly. They were never meant to face Battleship level guns. The Germans built ships that were more fast Battleships, meant to help in battle line but sacrificing gunpower for speed. They had the massive advantage of going second and building to defeat a known design much like the I's were designed to kill cruisers they knew about. The German Navy likes to forget their first responce to the Invincible, Blucher, didn't measure up and call her a cruiser.
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  42. Great video as always. When I first saw these ships I had to wonder what was going through their designers minds (if anything) when I saw just how close the lower 6inch guns were to the waterline. Did they not can't bad weather into account? Seems not.
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  43. Thanks Drach It shows how even minor hits can lead to disaster in the right circumstances. HMS Invincible's accurate gunnery shows how effective the British BC's were when they had a chance to properly practice, something not possible in Rosyth.
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  44.  @reaperking2121  You are totally correct. The Japanese plan was to present the declaration of war to Secretary Hull only 30 minutes before the attack was to start, thus giving the US absolutely no chance to respond. Hull declared he had never seen a document so full of lies and distortions. This was a cowardly and purely political face saving attempt to show an 'innocent' face to the world that the Japanese were an honorable nation and not a collection of gutless murderers who only attack when you aren't expecting it. That plan failed due to not trusting a trained typist. As one historian commentated "Japan has never started a war by declaring war before an attack" See the attack on Port Arthur for proof.
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  45. Speaking to us from the past? Drach, What have you been told about walking into a big blue box with a certain crazy person? You'd think a native Brit would know better than that but Drach was probably asking how the engineering for the larger internal space worked and didn't realize what he was walking into.
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  46. Great video Drach and I'm glad to hear you sound much better, Tgose pictures of ship covered in ice and snow were chilling. It showed just how harsh and tough a place the Artic Ocean is in winter and how dangerous it was to run convoys to Russia in such conditions. THe biggest danger seemed to be the build up of ice on a ship wich could jam vital equipment and maybe even capsize a ship if left unchecked. The crews on both sides fought bravely in appalling conditions in proved that the Battleship still had a role to play. A Carrier would have been useless in this situation.
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  47. Thanks for answering one of my questions Drach, it was very informative. I always look forward to the Drydock. I'm happy with whatever format works best for you to bring us, your loyal followers (minions?) our dose of naval education and lessons in dry British understatement. I've read that one of the reasons the British chose the 5.25inch was that the 4.5 was considered too light an armament for something the size of a cruiser, the 4.5 being more a DD gun. Perhaps the Admiralty was reluctant to use the 4.5 for a BB's secondary armament because of criticism of the early Dreadnoughts weak 4inch secondary guns. But as you said. Hindsight is 20/20 One of the top contenders for unstable and top heavy ships are the Japanese interwar designs which were notorious for 'Problems' requiring extensive refit to correct.
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  48. Exactly the same problem that Craddock faced at Coronel. Out gunned and out paced by newer and more powerful ships. At least Spee had highly trained regular crews while Craddock mostly had untrained over age reservists.
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  49. While absorbing the lessons in this video I had this thought. What would have happened if the Union navy had decided to concede the coast to the CSS Virginia and adopted a distant blockade similar to the one used by the British in WW1? The Union ships could have intercepted any Confederate ships trying to get through and dared the Virginia to come on out and fight on the open sea. Would the CSS Virginia have been seaworthy enough to survive chasing ships at sea or remaining afloat after battle with Union steam frigates?
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  50. Thanks Drach Loved the explanation of the value of crossing the T. Another major reason Scheer was able to run was all the smoke caused by funnels, guns and haze. Jellicoe saud that he personally only ever saw the first 4 ships of the HSF, the rest were hidden in the smoke. And it's a lot harder to stop an enemy who can turn and disappear into the muck at 20 knots than it was in Nelson's time. Viewers need to remember that World of Warships is a game, and a very inaccurate and biased one. The Russian Navy wishes its ships were a tenth as good as the paper designs they have put into the game,
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