"it is never about the size of the dog in the fight ..... but the Size of the Fight in the Dog!"
classic statement
"Guile and Treachery, developed by surviving to Old Age ..... Triples the effect of fighting on the defense, until the attackers need a 9:1 advantage!"
"I'm old, fat, slow and crippled. I can't out run you, but I CAN ensure that, even if you win, you will NOT enjoy the Fruits of your pathetic victory."
both from The Old Country Doctor, opining on Sun Tzu and military history.
Never assume “Old”, as in me, Septuagenarian, can be dismissed.
What we’ve gained is “Wisdom”!
I remember my father, he froze and nearly drowned on the Normandy Beaches! Days before, he vomited his guts out hosing down Army Air Corps and British Planes returning from pre-D-Day bombing missions. Dead men, bloody body parts and wounded piloted who courageously landed … seeing their brothers ditch in waters, no rescue to had. My Uncle Elliot Goodwin, was on a U.S. Naval Ship fighting the Japanese! He survived that war but pinned beneath an auto crushing him. In about 2004, my father, Irvin Schneider, held his hand…permission to die, granted! My father didn’t know it, or perhaps he did. His youngest daughter would kill him, 29 July 2005. His oldest daughter,, me, couldn’t prevent murder!
I’m “Captain” of the SS Nurse Jane, 1991-current. When it’s my time to face death, “Jesus Heavenly Father, have mercy on me…a sinner.” Thank you shipmates…you do the same! God bless you! God Bless America!
A man who knew his duty and his job and did not second guess himself when it counted. Spectacularly aided by arrogant German tactics. Significant lessons history teaches us.
CDR Sal — Great story. It strikes me that none of us who served decades ago ever really stop. We just serve in a different capacity. What you and this community do here — keeping these stories alive, making sure a new generation understands what readiness and resolve actually look like — is its own form of the watch. It's how a nation remembers what it owes its Navy, and why.
For my part, that recognition is what led me to start Americans for a Stronger Navy — trying to make the civic and funding case for the fleet we'll need for the next fight, the way Anderssen made his case with two torpedo tubes and a steady hand. Different weapons, same watch, and frankly, the same watch you and this community stand every time you post or comment.
Thank you for telling these stories. The watch never fully ends — it just changes shape, in all of us.
He gave the order to fire despite it being contrary to policy for warning shots. He knew he had exactly two major caliber shots, and must make them count.
It's also an example of friction in war. The German plans were assuming certain timing and resistance, and it did not happen. The slowing down that happened was to the benefit of the Norwegian people in this war.
Age and guile beat youth, ignorance and arrogance.
Every time.
"it is never about the size of the dog in the fight ..... but the Size of the Fight in the Dog!"
classic statement
"Guile and Treachery, developed by surviving to Old Age ..... Triples the effect of fighting on the defense, until the attackers need a 9:1 advantage!"
"I'm old, fat, slow and crippled. I can't out run you, but I CAN ensure that, even if you win, you will NOT enjoy the Fruits of your pathetic victory."
both from The Old Country Doctor, opining on Sun Tzu and military history.
Never assume “Old”, as in me, Septuagenarian, can be dismissed.
What we’ve gained is “Wisdom”!
I remember my father, he froze and nearly drowned on the Normandy Beaches! Days before, he vomited his guts out hosing down Army Air Corps and British Planes returning from pre-D-Day bombing missions. Dead men, bloody body parts and wounded piloted who courageously landed … seeing their brothers ditch in waters, no rescue to had. My Uncle Elliot Goodwin, was on a U.S. Naval Ship fighting the Japanese! He survived that war but pinned beneath an auto crushing him. In about 2004, my father, Irvin Schneider, held his hand…permission to die, granted! My father didn’t know it, or perhaps he did. His youngest daughter would kill him, 29 July 2005. His oldest daughter,, me, couldn’t prevent murder!
I’m “Captain” of the SS Nurse Jane, 1991-current. When it’s my time to face death, “Jesus Heavenly Father, have mercy on me…a sinner.” Thank you shipmates…you do the same! God bless you! God Bless America!
An epic battle that will never diminish with age.
Firepower isn't rounds per minute, it's hits per minute and if you're in a fair fight your tactics suck.
the only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss
- Rules for a gunfight
A shot to the liver no matter the caliber is very effective!
It's not about the size of the dog in the fight, it's about the fight in the dog
A lesson worth remembering from both ends--especially when you are the one with the theoretically overwhelming force.
There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men.
- SGT Charles Zim
P-320 has entered the chat ... :)
You're right though
A man who knew his duty and his job and did not second guess himself when it counted. Spectacularly aided by arrogant German tactics. Significant lessons history teaches us.
CDR Sal — Great story. It strikes me that none of us who served decades ago ever really stop. We just serve in a different capacity. What you and this community do here — keeping these stories alive, making sure a new generation understands what readiness and resolve actually look like — is its own form of the watch. It's how a nation remembers what it owes its Navy, and why.
For my part, that recognition is what led me to start Americans for a Stronger Navy — trying to make the civic and funding case for the fleet we'll need for the next fight, the way Anderssen made his case with two torpedo tubes and a steady hand. Different weapons, same watch, and frankly, the same watch you and this community stand every time you post or comment.
Thank you for telling these stories. The watch never fully ends — it just changes shape, in all of us.
Bill
Only a fool brings ship against a fort - Lord Horatio Nelson
He gave the order to fire despite it being contrary to policy for warning shots. He knew he had exactly two major caliber shots, and must make them count.
It's also an example of friction in war. The German plans were assuming certain timing and resistance, and it did not happen. The slowing down that happened was to the benefit of the Norwegian people in this war.
One of my favorite reruns. Thank you. Perhaps run it on April 9th each year or on Erichsen's birthday. (Or both.)
Outstanding! I'd say he was successful and made the German navy pay for that capture.
It's a great bit of history. They had a job to do and they did it. Guts, determination and belief in self.
The commander of that operation is a shining example of a good leader.
As CDR Sal stated " You go to war with what you have, not what you wish you had" So very true.