On December 7, 1944, exactly three years after the Pearl Harbor attack that pushed the United States into World War 2, the 77th Infantry Division led by Major General Andrew Bruce made an amphibious landing 3.5 miles south of Ormoc City, Leyte, in the Philippines.
The area was Leyte’s largest and most crucial Japanese stronghold and supply base, and while the 77th’s three Infantry Regiments came ashore virtually unopposed, the same could not be said of the Navy’s ships in the surrounding area.
As the American destroyer USS Mahan patrolled off Ponson Island, nine Japanese bombers and four escort fighters suddenly appeared on the horizon and attacked her with all their might. The ship then suffered the wrath of one kamikaze bomber, but just as the crew thought they were done, one bomber after another kept diving straight into them…
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Inexperienced as those sailors might be after that battle they became the most qualified 😊
My father was in the navy in the South Pacific . After Hollandia they sent him back to the states to work in shipyards . At Hollandia he saw his brothers ship . He got permission to go over to his brothers ship and visit before leaving for the states . As there was a war on they didn't know if they would see each other again .His brother went on to Okinawa .
When then said, "survived", I thought the ship would Iast! Slight click-bait, he sing-songs.
I served aboard a destroyer in 1973-73. ( U. S. S Cook, DE 1083 ) We often referred to WW 2 destroyers as the old NAVY. When the ships were made of wood and the men were of IRON. Best compliment we could give to the sailors who came before us.
nowadays you keep telling no other weapon except your own can sink your ships, isn't it?
6 died but other get the metal..
There have been so many conflicts that take place simultaneously that is difficult to find reports on the less spitaculare. For example, in 1973 I was aboard the USS Aylwin DE 1081. Along with the USS Hawkins were were the sole US presence in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean during the Egypt-Israli War. Most of the rest of the Navy was occupied in Vietnam. Reporting lessor known missions would broaden the knowledge of what was happening in the world at that time instead of just one theater of operation.
Does anyone know how to get in touch with the producers? I have an idea for a story, but I can't find their contact info.
Most of this current generation of 18-22 year olds couldn't do what the WWII era same age did. I've often thought and worried about this. America needs some type of required military service/training.
Thanks
As brutal as this attack was, I would say the second USS Laffey hold the honor of the most brutal attack survived by a destroyer.
Bravery at heroic levels BUT did they ever have their morning latte get the wrong swirl on top ? Did they ever get get called by the wrong pronoun ? This generation needs a trial by fire to regain its sanity .
"Forecastle" is pronounced FOKE sul. Why? it just is.
Naval terminology can be tricky, "Forecastle" is pronounced "fohks-ul" The first syllable sounds like 'folk' as in folks, the second syllable is guttural sounding and the 'r' is silent. The origin of the word comes from medieval european shipbuilding designs. In medieval shipbuilding, a ship of war was usually equipped with a tall, multi-deck castle-like structure in the bow of the ship. It served as a platform for archers to shoot down on enemy ships, or as a defensive stronghold if the ship were boarded. I served twenty years in the US Navy, those words are burned into my brain forever.
I often forget that it was mostly teenagers, hell of a way to become a man .
Destroyers were/are known as "tincans" but the men in them were made of iron. I'm proud to have served in a destroyer during Vietnam.
My dad served on the USS Cummings, DD-365, the next ship built after Mahan in the Mahan class of destroyers. His ship also participated in the battle of Leyte Gulf, but I'm not sure if the Cummings was near Ormoc City on 12/7.
5:27 – "Japaneeses?" Are you kidding me? Are these people narrating this total tards?
That would be "Japanese."
Harumph.
I'm just sayin'…
…
The Johnsoton
'Attacked her with all their might and fury'…………………………Had to turn it off with all these breathless dramatic sound bites.
Look up the USS Laffey (DD-724) 5 bombs and 4 kamikaze hits and survived and is currently docked at Patriots Point naval & maritime museum Point Pleasant South Carolina, it is the most decorated destroyer.
Sorry about the typo it is Mount Pleasant SC
W-T-F?????? IT DIDN'T SURVIVE THE ATTACKS! I WATCHED THIS BECAUSE IT SAID IT DID! Yes, it was a miracle so few died or were wounded, but that's not the title of the video! Stop the lying! 😡
Survived? WTF? The ship sank. HUH?
The forward part of the ship encompassing the command stations / bridge is pronounced " folks-il" although spelled as forecastle. Great story on the A. T. Mahan. I worked at the US Naval War College, which owes its existence to a large part on Mahan's study of the influence of naval sea-power in world history. Narragansett Bay
Great episode once again thank you.
You have the carrier name wrong it was the Enterprise not Lexington.
My dad, the late Capt.D.C.Redgrave 3rd., was x.o. of DDG-42 Mahan.
It's a long A on Mahan.
Mayhan.
Good video, just another of the countless tales of men going above and beyond to survive, so that they could fight another day. How about a video on the U.S.S. Laffey, and the attach it suffered near Okinawa in 1945.
Why is it the officer only got the models?
Alfred Thayer Mahan for whom the destroyer was named after was not just a naval historian. He was also a Rear Admiral in the US Navy.
Love your work Team. Thank you
MY FATHER ON THE SOLMAN'S ISLANDS HIS NAME 1ST. CLASS, CHARLES DULD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHIP HE WAS ON BUT IT WAS SUNK WITH 2 TORPEDOES. WHEN THEY GOT TO GO ON LEAVE 6 OF THEM GOT TATOES ON THE LEFT ARM.
As a,Navy vet, I can't imagine what it must have been like in the moment.
Terrifying.
Loved the video @Dark Seas! Can't wait for the next video man! Have you done a video on either "The Blue Ghost" or "The Fighting Lady" before? Yes, I'm talking about Essex-class Aircraft Carriers USS Lexington (CV-16) and USS Yorktown (CV-10).
5 inch caliber–not 3 inch
The title indicates that the USS Mahan survived the engagement. That is not the case. The Mahan was so badly damaged that it was scuttled, so it was not a survivor.
In the mathematics of war, they did exactly what they were made to do. They took the attack so the larger capital ships wouldn’t.
I recently talked to a guy who told me the following story:
My father was an anti-aircraft gunner on a ship in the Pacific. (Didn't say which one). They were attacked by a kamikaze which was coming straight at his gun position. Dad went one way, the other two went another. The other two were killed. He was wounded but survived. He was sent home. When he got home, he ran into a girl on the street that was the younger sister of one of his friends. She asked him, "What happened to you?" He replied, "I zigged when I should have zagged." He then asked her, "What have you been doing?" She replied, "Waiting for you to get home." A week later they were married. Nine months later I was born. They went on to have 3 other children.
Why show 3 gun turrets film of a cruiser when discussing single gun turrets. You need to get it straight dude! Many factual errors exist
Thanks for telling history and not embarrassing what happened 10/10 ThacK YOU
Another clickbait title. Please make your good videos without the clickbait…
I hesitate to present this video to my future son-in-law, because at 25 and a senior computer tech at a major tech company, I don't think he has any idea of the the situation and age of the US Navy forces who held their ground in the Pacific at the median age of 19. It was a different time, with different sacrifices at hand and in their faces, to be sure. Thank you for creating this recreation, Dark Docs. It will be remembered by me, and…hopefully, my son-in-law…someday.