Today we take a look at the career of Admiral Raymond Spruance, from his birth to when he took a lead role in the Battle of Midway.
Sources:
The Quiet Warrior: a biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance – Buell, Thomas B.
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN; A Study In Command – Admiral E. P. Forestel
Naval History books, use code ‘DRACH’ for 25% off – https://www.usni.org/press/books?f%5B0%5D=subject%3A1966
Free naval photos and channel posters – www.drachinifel.co.uk
Want to support the channel? – https://www.patreon.com/Drachinifel
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‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
source
Pinned post for Q&A 🙂
Another excellent video.
Can't wait to hear part 2 looking forward to that. Surprised to hear it was Shingles Halsey had suffered from, had that myself a couple of years ago, excruciatingly painful.
Thank you for the detailed narrative. Great content!
Interesting😊. Superb work again sir
👀🇮🇪👍⚓
Those who know, know. Nimitz knew.
BALTIMORE MENTIONED DUMMY, RAAAAAAAA
Thank you!
Er are we going to get an episode 2, unpacking his critical decisions at Midway?
If you come to San Francisco I can take you to the grave of Admiral Spruance. It's very close to me in San Bruno. He is buried next to Admiral Nimitz
Love these biographies
WTF DRAC? You just gonna leave me hanging? You telling this most interesting story of one man’s journey through the ranks and trials of pre-war and war up to the climax of the story. Then just “that’s it for now”.. .
Drach old boy… Having followed the growth and development of your channel for a number of years, I can state with confidence that of all of the different kinds of videos that you produce (ship guides, dry docks, battle scenarios, etc.), your biographies of the officers and sailors who've served throughout history are the best. Although obviously intended to be serious in content and historically accurate, your sense of humor makes them fun to listen to, and your insights into the subject's quirks of personality adds to the enjoyment. Your 'Voyage of the Damned' and several other story telling videos (the great dane video, cats as ship's mascot video, etc.) are also outstanding and well produced. Thx.
he stuffed up iwo jima and he almost stuffed up midway
Summer in Maryland…yuck. but good preparation for Annapolis…..
Thanks Drach! Love these episodes on admirals!
1:14 – I'd read somewhere that in that period of time (and earlier), in Western societies, small boys were dressed pretty much the same as girls, in dresses, until they were "breeched" (i.e. given pants to wear) at a certain age (can't remember the age). Hmmm….
Indianapolis having an "intellectual scene" was a bit of a surprise
I find these character profiles very interesting and a logical continuation from your excellent description of the assets and rules of the big gun game.
thanking you all
Heard so many good things about this guy from seth and cpt totis podcast
Definitely an admiral I'm interested to learn more about. Nothing flashy or flamboyant about him, but just a calm quiet competence with clear-headed assessment of the situation at hand. He's not the sort of commander that people make action movies about, and his quiet nature did lead to him being a bit overshadowed at times, but I'd consider him a model of effective leadership.
Leaders tend to want to lead sometimes to the department in their youth
My mind's eyebcan not take itself away from him in the high Rigging creating a Cascade because I'm sure once he became discomfortable when it began to rain down onto others thay reciprocated in kind. It's probably caused a chain reaction all the way to the deck I don't think he was very popular there for a while at least a few weeks after the brooms and mops
The Connecticut was his Crucible this ship and captain turn him from a shy young boy into a assertive young man Good Ship captains do this.
The Destroyer Attack on the battleships that was pretty much the tactic that was used by the Destroyers in Taffy III can we see who developed the skill because I'm sure every Destroyer captain and every young ensign could see what was going on there
The holiday incident it must have been something interesting for him to call that holiday I'm pretty sure of it I think the runaround was something the crew needed I would love to have known that little scenario and story
I love naval history, but have limited technical knowledge. Can someone explain to me what the “outrigger” structures are on the stern of the destroyers? I cannot for the life of me figure out what they might be used for….
Brilliantly done, Drach! Your biographies are among your most engaging videos, full of fascinating and previously unknown (to me) minutiae that bring these characters to life, and offer a valuable perspective that a non-historian (like myself) would otherwise never have seen, much less appreciated. Now I see your sinister mind — subverting us all into an ever deeper appreciation of naval history! I doubt I'm alone in my perception that your work qualifies you for an Admiralship among naval historians. 😎
he dont look nothing like Glenn Ford. "Midway" but then again Robert Mitchum doesn't look anything like bill halsey.
Spruance is mentioned in the movie "Hunt for Red October" in that Marko Ramius states that he has read Jack Ryan's book on the admiral.
In the novel itself, however, Jack is said to be still writing the book at that time.
In the most recent Clancy book, "Act of Defiance" (2024), it receives another [incorrect] mention.
Not the end of the world, but I offer this as an interesting quirk . . .
Based Electric Brain
thank you for covering this able commander of men, sir. he were a good'un
Adm.Lee had the 2xNC's, 4xSD's more than enough. Remember the Japanese turned around with just D and DE's attacking.
Briliant
Great job Drach. When is part 2?
Thank´s
I read somewhere that he had the nickname 'electric brain' for his ability to rapidly assess a situation and decide on a course of action.
11/10! Again. Thank you really appreciated.
Drachinifel, what is the music that your videos currently start with, including this episode on Admiral Spruance?
You can do other nationalities you know. Though I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate these as an American. Have you done Pound or Cunningham?
And one must remember that at Midway he had to deal with Halsey's staff; not his own. Browning was not exactly suited for his position
It would be nice if tou could do something like this for more minor nations like Australia, not that i recommend much aside from Eric Feldt, the creator of the coastwatchers, or perhaps something on the collaboration between the coastwatchers and US submarines and aircraft.