The Empire of Japan made a critical and costly mistake in 1941. Today I follow with much joy the new democratic Japan's rebuilding of a very capable Navy by a great seapower. I am most glad that this new Japan is an ally and hoepfully a good one in any future Pacific war (re: CDR Sal's recent and most educationg posts). .
I have it on good authority that the Takao made one final sortie out of Singapore in 1947 to take on a massive threat to the Japanese Home Islands. She went down with all hands after an honorable and courageous battle against overwhelming odds.
Anybody who was crew of X Boats or Chariots was full bore for sure. I had occasion in 1983 to be at a RN party where one of the guests was the retired CAPT RN who was responsible for the training base for Chariots and X Boats (and, I believe, explosive divers). He was astonished that I, a USN CDR , had even heard of X Boats! We had a very nice conversation--with Scotch. Very unassuming, but admitted undying and unlimited admiration for all of his students. A rather large proportion of those students did not survive the war.
There are just some jobs/missions that the people involved must have thought "it seemed like a good idea at the time." in retrospect. BZ, and fullbore for sure, especially considering their awards weren't posthumous.
Fullbore. Recently had the chance to visit Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Portsmouth and see the sole surviving wartime X-Craft up close - a fiendishly effective craft for those intrepid young JOs aspiring to “early command” opportunities.
A Big A$$ Full Bore. shoulda been VCs all around. The description reminds me of when I was a volunteer docent for the CSS Hunley in ChuckTown SC after I retired. How you got men to WILLINGLY step up for such a mission is beyond me. We need more of that grit today.
Full bore, indeed! How do you get balls that big to fit into a midget submarine? The Aussies menaced the harborage at Singapore on two other occasions. One a failure (1944), the other a rousing success (Operation Jaywick).
Our enemies make one error.
I don't give free analysis to the internet or our enemies, but here's a freebie for the day.
In 1945, such men fought each other.
If you so choose, you'll get to fight them both.
The Empire of Japan made a critical and costly mistake in 1941. Today I follow with much joy the new democratic Japan's rebuilding of a very capable Navy by a great seapower. I am most glad that this new Japan is an ally and hoepfully a good one in any future Pacific war (re: CDR Sal's recent and most educationg posts). .
Submarines once!
I have it on good authority that the Takao made one final sortie out of Singapore in 1947 to take on a massive threat to the Japanese Home Islands. She went down with all hands after an honorable and courageous battle against overwhelming odds.
https://youtu.be/LGuvPu0uyW0?feature=shared
Well done. Leading Seaman Magennis also served in Operation Source, the use of earlier midget submarines against the German Navy in Norway.
Anybody who was crew of X Boats or Chariots was full bore for sure. I had occasion in 1983 to be at a RN party where one of the guests was the retired CAPT RN who was responsible for the training base for Chariots and X Boats (and, I believe, explosive divers). He was astonished that I, a USN CDR , had even heard of X Boats! We had a very nice conversation--with Scotch. Very unassuming, but admitted undying and unlimited admiration for all of his students. A rather large proportion of those students did not survive the war.
There are just some jobs/missions that the people involved must have thought "it seemed like a good idea at the time." in retrospect. BZ, and fullbore for sure, especially considering their awards weren't posthumous.
Fullbore. Recently had the chance to visit Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Portsmouth and see the sole surviving wartime X-Craft up close - a fiendishly effective craft for those intrepid young JOs aspiring to “early command” opportunities.
On a related note, there’s a couple of good reads out there on the subject, including the biography of another Midget VC who went on to one heck of post-war career: https://www.amazon.com/Midget-Submarine-Commander-Godfrey-Place/dp/1848848005
A Big A$$ Full Bore. shoulda been VCs all around. The description reminds me of when I was a volunteer docent for the CSS Hunley in ChuckTown SC after I retired. How you got men to WILLINGLY step up for such a mission is beyond me. We need more of that grit today.
I actually served on the Hunley and survived to talk about it…
Ok the Marine detachment USS Hunley (AS-31) home port Naval weapons station North Charleston…
He who dares wins.
They made heroic men those days.
Giants among men
Where do we get such men. I fear the well from which they come is no longer very deep.
A rain puddle in a parking lot
Full bore, indeed! How do you get balls that big to fit into a midget submarine? The Aussies menaced the harborage at Singapore on two other occasions. One a failure (1944), the other a rousing success (Operation Jaywick).
Astonishing navigation. I assume eyes and compass. Periscope up, mark, back down. I should read the AAR, comments?
BZ
Many compliments to this read. You are the Paul Harvey of naval history.
“And now you know; the rest of the story…
I have always felt the Takao class deckhouse looks a lot like a Burke and even more like a Kongo, Atago, or Maya.