Obscure Ships - Five vessels that deserve to be better known

Today we look at my picks for five ships or ship types that displayed excellent traits of design or performance, but don't usually get as much notice as they should.

[erikgranqvist]

A couple of slightly obscure oddballs from a main navy player during WW2: USS Wolverine and USS Sable. They were both side-wheel steamers, converted to "aircraft carriers" and used on the Great Lakes for training. Both did a real and valuable contribution to the allied war effort.

[robertsantamaria]

Glorioso deserves a movie, it's the 18th Century "Sink the Bismarck" but with 2.5 times more battles.

[timsimms]

I have an antique metal etched plate commemorating the capture of the Glorioso hanging right above my computer monitor, I had no idea she fought so many engagements before her capture! If Glorioso were a British ship she would be a household name to this day.
Thank you for another fine video Drach, I don't know where you get your energy but I am happy you are using it so productively for the benefit of naval history geeks like me. Cheers!

[RexsHangar]

Holy smokes the Birger Jarl sounds like something straight out of a Patrick O'Brien novel. If somebody gave Jack Aubrey a frigate with 36-pounders I believe the French navy would openly weep.

[anselmdanker]

Thank you for covering the Spanish Glorioso - what an incredible story. If it was written up as a novel I would not have believed it🤣.
Wonder how many Spanish warships carried her name ?

[bjornkallander]

To clarify about the Swedish Skärgårdsfregatter (Archipelago frigates). Both the coasts of Sweden and Southern Finland have vast archipelagos that are very difficult for sailing ships. Not only are the waters often shallow and full of rocks, but a rule of thumb states that the wind is ruined 10 times farther away from an island than the height of the island. Shallow draft and oars allow you to sneak up on your enemy (spells Russian or evil Dane) in situations where sailing just not is possible. You seldom go far from land and resupply is most often within a day or two of sailing, so you can load lots of guns and ammo.

[mpersad]

This video, and it's subject matter, really epitomises what is so great about the channel. Terrific research, excellent visuals and commentary, and you come away having learnt a lot more than you initially knew! Top work Drach!

[marrvynswillames]

3:34 ARA La Argentina
10:21 Edgar Quinet
18:40 The Glorioso
25:45 Hemmemas
34:14 Inca cargo ship

[seaape]

The Inca vessels were (to me) incredibly fascinating and the most interesting off today's list. I couldn't imagine sailing one of those but was a very creative and economical solution. Keep up the great work Drach!

[Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Glorioso living up to her name. It was indeed _glorious_

[taivaankumma]

The inclusion of the Hemmemas and Turumas was certainly a nice surprise. The names live on in the Finnish Navy as Hämeenmaa and Turunmaa.

[pavarottiaardvark]

Something to note about the Centreboards you can see on the Inca raft at 37:29 By the Spanish accounts, those boards were *moveable and interchangeable* this made them dagger boards, with the added feature that they could be moved into different slots on the hull to steer the vessel or adjust its trim. I find this interesting because these adjustable rudder-dagger-boards are a an entire feature that you *can't* do with a Old World style hull (well, not without putting lots of holes below the waterline....)

[chpet]

So glad you chose the Edgar Quinet ! Ive always been fascinated by the idea of the Armoured Cruiser and this without doubt one of my fav AC designs. I actually watched that segment twice 😂

[SuperchargedSupercharged]

Drachinifel, you are a treasure that is to be respected. Thank you for the years of great content.

[jonathan_]

I only knew about the Inca seagoing rafts because a friend gave me a copy of Heyerdahl's 'The Kon-Tiki Expedition'; so I'm glad you mention his experimental archeology expedition when covering them.

[Fredrikgaard]

Udema, Pojama, Turuma and Hemmema are Swedified names of Finnish region or Countys. Appropriate as those ships seems to be designed to be used in the Finnish archipelago, against Russia.
Starkodder were a nordic fairytale Hero, born by a giant and a protege of Oden. He did a lot of raiding to the East against what become Russia, therefore also a appropriate name for a ship to be used in the eastern part of the Baltic sea.
Your pronounciation of these names were pretty good by the way, and also a thank you for covering the smaller navys to.
I do recommend a visit to Sjöhistoriska museet in Stockholm next time you visit Sweden, if you haven't been there already, they do have a lot of old ship models including some of the shiptypes in this vlog.

[Stupidhead-etje]

I recommend the Wolf, a German commerce raider that served in World War 1. This ship was involved in one of the longest and most epic voyages of modern history.

[hughbeein]

Interrupted a Drydock episode to watch this.

[greenseaships]

Glorioso is definitely the stand-out of this video. WOW. Looking forward to her in-depth guide.

[barryhunt]

Tells us the first ship will get its own five-minute guide... and then gives us a six-minute description. Keep up the great content