Today we take a look at the background and thinking behind the inter-war USN Fleet Problems, with summaries of Fleet Problems 17 through 22, the last of the fleet problems.
Fleet Problems I through VII – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaQ_VGhFP8k
Fleet Problems VIII through XII – https://youtu.be/rwf4kfLddbE
Fleet Problems XIII through XVI – https://youtu.be/BEty-Z9Www0
Sources:
To Train the Fleet For War: The U.S. Navy Fleet Problems, 1923–1940 – Albert A. Nofi
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Testing-American-Sea-Power-Williams-Ford/dp/1603449892
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-War-Trent-Hone-author/dp/1682472930
https://www.usni.org/press/books/learning-war-0
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/177129362
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/177131112
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/177144463
US National Archive Videos:
428-NPC-782
428-NPC-2952
428-NPC-3125
428-NPC-3485
428-NPC-3532
428-NPC-3534
428-NPC-7471
428-NPC-15549
00:00:00 – Intro
00:00:48 – Fleet Problem 17
00:13:17 – Fleet Problem 18
00:21:37 – Fleet Problem 19
00:32:27 – Fleet Problem 20
00:40:21 – Fleet Problem 21
00:45:12 – Fleet Problem 22
Naval History books, use code ‘DRACH’ for 25% off – https://www.usni.org/press/books?f%5B0%5D=subject%3A1966
Free naval photos and more – www.drachinifel.co.uk
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source
Pinned post for Q&A 🙂
Pensi the cruise liner, I guess when you have all the protection of someone standing on deck and yelling "NO!" at the incoming shells, hiding yourself in plane sight (similar to the rouse that the crew of the Stingray did mid storm in 'Down Periscope') is your best bet.
That said, Pensi is still my favorite cruiser at T6 in WoWs
Listening to drachinifel with my new born after feeding and then nap should be a prescription for bliss 😊
Fantastic job on this Drach, every bit of it from research to script to presentation to production.
BTW I'm the guy that sends you The History Guy videos when he drops something navel.
You can see why Bloch was put in a shore command.
I think that halsey, like macarthur, benefited from the fact that the US needed heroes and victories so their large mistakes were overlooked.
Thank you, thank you
I'm impressed with the pragmatism and professionalism in the folks that designed these fleet problems. You could completely imagine them being unrealistic, self-serving and ridden with confirmation bias. You know your armed forces truly want to win wars when they plan for unpleasant contingencies.
Idk, turning into a torpedo strike instead of turning away from one seems like a quick way to have the bow of your ship removed. However, as an after thought, in turning away it would seem you are gambling with losing your rutter and/or your propulsion. But, of course, I keep forgetting that US torpedoes during this period are about as imputant as 100 year old man prior to viagra!
Hated those types of exercises when I was in the Navy. Officers got lots of flying maintainers got lot's of broken aircraft and a ton of General Quarters drills!
It pisses me off you would tie the number 3 baseball team to bud.
That was awesome. Thank you.
I have always enjoyed wargames
I do so enjoy your podcasts. They are inevitably quite informative and as a narrator you are one of the best.
Thank you, sir!
Were there fleet problems covering why you avoid typoons since they foresaw Pearl Harbor?
19:32 marvellous
Please tell me Blochead was eventually either court-martialed for incompetence bordering on treasonous, or was shamed into admitting he knew absolutely nothing about carrier warfare.
Yes, refusing to admit the error of your opinion, when proven factually incorrect is high incompetence, if it had been actual combat and not simulation, or worse the war started before a competent admiral gained command of the carriers, a lot of needless death would have resulted from his inability to accept the superiority of the carrier to the battleship.
For some reason this reminds me of when in the 80s I was a Marine on the Dubuque off of Korea during a really bad storm. I was one of the few people that was immune to sea sickness so I had second and third helpings in the galley because there was no one there but me! 👍
I tell ya, eating chow on a ship during a really bad storm is an art form in itself. You have to wrap a leg around the table leg, and have your arms around the cup of bug juice and your tray at all times!
I remember people calling the ship the "Du Puke" LOL!!!!!!!!
Halsey and poor weather always turn out a bad combination.
What strikes me is that, despite it being brought up as a serious deficiency, the USN still had nothing resembling an effective night fighting doctrine for some time once the war had started.
Whats with the constant use of "French Frigate scholz as an island
And again we see the massive impact that radar made. Aircraft hiding in rain clouds, or running from cloud to cloud? Ships simply poping out of a small fog? Nope, not any more!
I'd like to know how those BCs in the fleet exercise were ruled to have sunk Saratoga (which was off behind the battle line, presumably by some margin) given she could do 33.25 knots. A Kongo class couldn't catch her, and I don't believe any navies had any capital ship that could. Not even CAs could, and, let's remember, Saratoga (and of course Lexington) at that time still had 8 x 8"/203mm guns themselves (!!).
I've no idea what ships "NOT Japan" was meant to have, but that seems a bit of a stretch to say the least.
Was the crew of the missing flying boat recovered?
One minor nitpick: Lahaina = luh HAI nah. Great series of videos, especially the footage! Lay people often overemphasize platform and weapon capabilities and fail to understand that the underlying strategic and operation doctrine and working out tactics to employ your platforms and weapons is just as important.
Excellent! Thank you
Now I want Drach to do an entire video about a battle using only pro wrestling references!
Great video!
Ah, the ghost of camchatka at 34:11…. "Do you see torpedo boats?"
Excellent film footage. Dying to know where you got your hands on some of it, which I have never seen before. I'm an avid naval history fan, and have been all of my life. Some of fleet footage is brand new to me. BTW, thanks for your efforts and the sharing of your research on a free basis. Anyone studying history would do well to watch all of your videos.
As an American I’m shocked to learn about these battles that cost so many American lives. Why hasn’t the government been held accountable for this? And why didn’t England (our ally) send any ships or troops?
"A messy night action". All the Guadalcanal naval surface fights summed up in a single phrase.
I suppose the reason why the air strike on pearl contingency was not actioned was due to the failing relations with the US Army at that time, theirs was the responsiblity to defend pearl and these are after all Navy findings?
Thanks Drach
Will we get a video about LSD?
Landing Ship Dock (those commissioned from the mid 1930s to early 1950s) of course, not Lake Shore Drive. 😊
Of course, if Drach ever goes to see U-505, he will end up on LSD to get there. 🤣
I heard That ARK ROYAL. Engines where 4 rolls Royce jet engines just like the CONCORDE. Except tuned down and obviously geared down. Lol.
I just found these WWII familiarization videos about US Navy mechanical fire control computers. If you haven't seen them they're worth it to understand what goes on inside those big boxes.
Pt 1:
https://youtu.be/gwf5mAlI7Ug
Pt 2:
https://youtu.be/5GZa63x3k60
Thank you Drach! One of your better ones. Along with with second night battle of GC and what if Lee had his way with Yamato
Did Japan do anything similar, or were they too busy fighting their war in China to do exercises like this?
When the navy did know the differences in gender….
Thanks!
One of your most interesting posts. I appreciate the subtle humor.
19:32 The surprise sporting commentator announcement from Drach about King and Ranger with a steel chair both startled me and made me laugh out loud! Brilliant stuff!
Really great footage you put together! It’s sad to think of how many of those ships and men didn’t survive the war. The USS Lexington is such a sharp looking carrier.
This would make a great computer game. Especially with AI Settings and ability to create scenarios. There is also the opportunity to sell add-ons such as The Royal Navy, etc. It would also allow with updates, hypothetical combat testing of ships that never were and ones like the Yamoto being used properly…