The Drydock - Episode 291 (Part 2)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:25 - What were the biggest differences between the US Navy's Patrol craft and Sub Chasers?

00:07:49 - Was there any effort to salvage and repair the Royal Oak?

00:13:35 - What do you think are the most ridiculous weapons used for boarding actions throughout the period the channel covers?

00:18:40 - What is the etiquette concerning use of the term "skipper"?

00:21:43 - What websites or books or other resources would be good for finding blue prints of British WWII warships?

00:26:43 - How difficult was it for the US to carry out the refit of the Richelieu?

00:33:01 - Why did the US give its older fleet tugs (AT) a different classification (ATO) in 1944?

00:38:50 - How many depth charges were carried on WW2 destroyers?

00:44:50 - 'Fake fighting' at sea?

00:51:53 - Who takes over if Lion blows up at Jutland?

00:56:15 - WW1 US sailor travels?

00:59:33 - English fleet ammunition loads during the Spanish Armada campaign?

01:05:43 - Is there a steam-and-steel period admiral that in your mind resembles Admiral Sir Edward Hawke?

01:10:20 - What was the last US Navy ship to capture a vessel for which prize money was paid out?

01:14:32 - How did they measure (rotational) torque? How did a torque sensor work for a battleship's shaft?

01:19:26 - Examples where one ship of a class significantly outshone all her sisters?

01:23:10 - Blind-spot in HMS Warspite's refit armament?

01:25:22 - How aware would the stokers, trimmers and engineers deep in the belly of coal fired warships be of the battle going on outside of the ship? Also what would the action stations be of said crew members who were off duty?

01:28:15 - Why were 18lb cannon considered so inferior to 24lbers when the diameter is not that much different?

01:33:31 - Why does Halsey partially get away with his mistakes compared with Beatty?

01:40:06 - Should Hampton Roads be considered a total Confederate defeat?

01:44:52 - What is the shortest range naval gun hit?

01:48:24 - What was the 'Unrotated Projectile' system the British experimented with in WW2?

01:54:26 - In ships of the "Steam and Steel" era, how much did crew stations factor into a ships design/stability calculations?

01:57:26 - In the theoretical decisive battles of the dreadnaught era, how did the on paper order of battle of a fleet translate into the actual structure of the fleet in battle?

02:03:01 - The modern us navy uses a series of operating manuals to provide the standard for ship operations. These primarily being CSOSS and EOSS. Were there any precursors to this system in the past and how did those work?

02:09:35 - Building ships in one place and assembling them in another?

02:16:08 - Even at the peak of the Napoleonic wars the Royal Navy created many more officers than necessary to command the fleet, to the point that even quite famous officers had trouble finding active employment. How did the Navy justify the expense of keeping so many supernumerary officers on half-pay?

02:23:39 - US Navy Search and Rescue for its carrier pilots and aircrew in the Pacific theatre?

02:29:04 - For the British Navy in the age of sail, 1650 - 1850, when signing up to serve aboard a ship, does this entitle your family members to collect your pay if you happened to die in service or was it up to the individual to send home money if they made it to pay day?

02:37:58 - What were the manufacturing tolerances for guns and shells required to have to get that consistent accuracy?

02:42:21 - How bad could flag signalling get?

02:49:18 - How common was it for submarine commanders to be as politically adept as Fluckey of USS Barb was portrayed in his book?

02:54:43 - Effectiveness of heavy AA?

03:05:34 - How effective were the Romanian and Bulgarian navys against the Russians during the black sea campaign in WW2?

03:07:45 - Naval jet aircraft in late WW2?

03:10:55 - What was the intended role of the Helmover 'Super Torpedo' and do you suppose it would have actually worked?

03:14:55 - Other than the Anzac landing, are there other interesting or decisive naval battles in the region that contributed to the Ottoman Empire loss and the subsequent British/French mandate for the region?

03:17:39 - Why weren't the IJN alerted at Midway on the 3rd?

03:18:48 - Battle of Leyte Gulf sailings?

[tagfu]

My head is full of interesting naval facts that I probably have no use for, except to say, “Wow, I never knew that.” Thank you Mr. D.

[anatolib.suvarov]

The PRR (Pennsylvania RailRoad) actually had a small fleet of special flat cars for transporting Naval main gun barrels 12", 14", and 16" from wherever they were removed from the ship, to the gun re-lining facility at the Philadelphia Naval yard, and later at the Norfolk Naval yard in Virginia. These special cars could be dispatched from the East Coast to the West Coast, with re-lined barrels in six days, and be back in Philadelphia a little over a week later with the barrels that needed to be re-lined.

I have a set of these models in HO scale on my RR. One set carrying 16" tubes, and another set carrying 14" tubes.

[bartsutra]

I’ve probably heard this Drydock 4 or 5 times, and this is the first time I’ve heard you calling me out for being awake. Way to shame us sleepy time listeners! 😂 Never doubt that your videos are multipurpose; unparalleled educational material, and superb sleep aid.

[Uncle_Neil]

Always up early on Sunday for Perun's weekly PowerPoint, and Uncle Drach obviously.

[billbrockman]

Anyone interested in subchasers in WW2 should read Edward P. Stanford’s book “Subchaser” about his time as CO of one before he became XO of a DE in the Pacific (which led to his book “Little Ship, Big War). Both are great reads!

[Charliecomet]

Is it okay to call the Captain "Skipper" if he calls you "Little Buddy?"

[philipdepalma]

On Subchasers you should do a five minute guide on PC-1264 which not only served on anti-sub patrol in the Atlantic in WW2 but as one of 2 US Navy ships with African-American crews helped lead to the integration in the Navy post war. There is a good book written by her commander which I have a copy of and could send you if desired.

[robertsolomielke]

TY Drachinifel, Your ocean of naval wisdom is always welcome at our house.
Despite living on an Island (Vancouver Island) there is not much to document.
We did build some few Flower class, and did receive tiny bombing, and shelling from minor Japanese forces, yet forgettable. Perhaps a TY for the RN forces, and Royal Marines, as they built the defenses of Fort Rodd Hill. 1896-1956.

[pyronuke]

Technically the first carrier based jet was the little-known Ryan FR Fireball (though they only get half points as they were a mixed jet/propeller plane). VF-66 aboard the carrier Ranger was the first to receive them in March 1945, but due to the pilots having to get used to the handling characteristics they were never used operationally before the war ended.

[kmechrd]

Currently sitting through the first of two Easter celebrations. I cannot WAIT to get home and have a 6 hour Drach marathon while I unwind :)

[DubGathoni]

Question: In an episode of the Great War covering early 1915, Indy states that the British and French were unwilling to open a campaign in the Adriatic against the Austro-Hungarians because they had "newly built dreadnoughts". This strikes me as odd, because the Tegetthoffs were not that new by comparison to what other nations had, in terms of technology and likely could be overcome. How would we define the threat that these ships pose? What constitutes a modern ship or an obsolete ship?

[dscrye]

I just noticed the Sulla comparison at 2:50:00. I'm very pleased to know Drach is a Cain enjoyer (although I really shouldn't be surprised).

[greenseaships]

Of course I'm awake! Preview said you answered my question about Virginia at Hampton Roads in this episode! :D
Thanks!

[GrahamWKidd]

Nine Drydocks to 300. I say again, NINE Drydocks to 300!!!

[Boric]

Wow you got to meet Capt Brown ? A proper hero of mine and maybe the greatest pilot of all time. Was he as much a gentleman as he always seemed from his interviews ?

[tylerservies]

I generally agree with your assessment of Halsey. He built up a store of positive results pre war, the carrier raids and Solomons campaign that help his reputation. Beatty just didn’t have that store of positive results.

[timhurtienne]

Nothing better then playing world of warships and listening to warships

[Trek]

Drach, if memory serves the first landing of a jet powered aircraft may have been one month earlier the Captain Brown's attempt - a Ryan FR Fireball landed on in November 1945 after the prop engine failed the pilot got the jet engine started and completed the landing recovery

[dougjb]

8:00
A 20-year old capital warship that is torpedoed several times and sinks more-or-less upright, and with its upper deck clear of the water, can be salvaged, especially if some or all of the main machinery and dynamo / generator spaces stay watertight.

If that same warship is torpedoed even once and capsizes, it is irretrievably wrecked. Every major piece of equipment will, if not break completely free of its mountings, twist and warp all physical connections to the point that putting it right will be more work than building an entirely new ship of a modern design.

[leonmusk]

thanks Drach :) for more awesomeness. Also you may use skipper for reference to ships pilots when you have a captain on the bridge and a pilot on the wheel you may use skipper to reference the pilot to save on confusion.