ASW- that surprising act of war predicated on 50% probability of detection. Kudos to Tidwell for not revealing the location and/or ripping it open to find the gold.
And despite The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, and all the dog faced soldiers that gave their all on the beaches of Omaha, the hedge rows, March to the Rhine, Tarawa and Iwo Jima, the war was won at Bletchley Park and Station Hypo.
Regarding the Japanese attempt to produce an atomic bomb - There is evidence that strongly suggests they were really, really close to having that capability. After the war, most of the records of that research were destroyed as part of their government’s “Oh, we were only victims. Nothing to see here.” official party line. Just thank God we got there before they did. You only have to remember their chem/bio warfare experimentation on the Chinese to know what they would have done with nuclear weapons.
I know the tales of sunken gold make us all wannabe salvors...but in light of recent events like the unauthorized salvage of the Repulse and Prince of Wales, among others... Id have to say that going after the gold would be looting a war grave, and absolutely shouldnt happen...
A great reminder of the sacrifices made on all sides of war, and the impact (no pun intended) that one forward-leaning individual (with the right munitions) can have!
Only 120 days or so away from the first Kamikaze flights.
One could only imagine what it was like to be in the IJN (or in the U-boat Flotillas) and knowing that your enemy was almost omnipotent and you most likely weren't coming back.
We often talk about the big brass ones and the odd battle of the protagonists futiley steaming into battle like HMS Jervis Bay or Taffey 3. But, could any of us imagine serving when we know every uniformed member of our country will likely die in a losing battle?
Quite a condrum when you consider who they fought for and the atrocities they committed.
Dad was a Bosun's Mate on USS Croatan (CVE-25). Of note, she was built in Seattle in 115 days (15 Apr 42- 1 Aug 42) Her last major mission was delivering the helicopters of 1st Cav to Nam in 1965.
Digression from main thread comment: Japan DID know how to build atomic bombs. I am one of a group of 18 scholars who have developed research on this subject, 2 of them heads of USAF and Navy teams including scientists operating with Presidential authorization. Mainly because the roots of DPRK nuclear weapons come from their program. Early on, Japan was neck and neck in the technology race, ahead of Germany (although somewhat cooperating with it), aware of US R&D. By midwar, accurate intel caused Tojo to conclude "atomic bombs will decide the war" and to order IJN and IJA to cooperate with each other (not their SOP). We persuaded the author of the first widely published book on the matter - a journalist - to republish to scholarly standards. Already published in Chinese and English by US and ROC publishers - his new edition was published in Japanese - after Japan decided to end its denial of serious wartime research - on the anniversary of Hiroshima in 2018. By December, he was picked up by a US publisher in English. He only used a fraction of the thousands of pages we generated - expanding his original by 3 chapters. Long ridiculed by scholars, he has been vindicated by our scholarship. Although my collection is in mothballs (during building construction), the book is the third Edition of Japan's Secret War. I was surprised he was called by a Japanese general asking to translate his second edition. I didn't expect to live long enough to see Japan reverse its policy of denial. But it has decided to go nuclear - has a peculiar policy of building components but not assembling them - and its official threats to field "more than a thousand" if PRC does not change its aggressive policy are serious ones. It would take them about 8-12 weeks to assemble, deploy and train users.
ASW- that surprising act of war predicated on 50% probability of detection. Kudos to Tidwell for not revealing the location and/or ripping it open to find the gold.
And despite The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, and all the dog faced soldiers that gave their all on the beaches of Omaha, the hedge rows, March to the Rhine, Tarawa and Iwo Jima, the war was won at Bletchley Park and Station Hypo.
Full Bore Saaa-lute!
Regarding the Japanese attempt to produce an atomic bomb - There is evidence that strongly suggests they were really, really close to having that capability. After the war, most of the records of that research were destroyed as part of their government’s “Oh, we were only victims. Nothing to see here.” official party line. Just thank God we got there before they did. You only have to remember their chem/bio warfare experimentation on the Chinese to know what they would have done with nuclear weapons.
What an incredible story. Very impressive video and supporting documentation Thanks for a great FBF.
I, too, am glad they did not loot a war grave of it's gold.
FullBore indeed!!! What an amazing story!!
I know the tales of sunken gold make us all wannabe salvors...but in light of recent events like the unauthorized salvage of the Repulse and Prince of Wales, among others... Id have to say that going after the gold would be looting a war grave, and absolutely shouldnt happen...
Fullbore, all. Lesson of the Jeep carriers should be borne in mind by today’s gold-plated Navy.
A great reminder of the sacrifices made on all sides of war, and the impact (no pun intended) that one forward-leaning individual (with the right munitions) can have!
Only 120 days or so away from the first Kamikaze flights.
One could only imagine what it was like to be in the IJN (or in the U-boat Flotillas) and knowing that your enemy was almost omnipotent and you most likely weren't coming back.
We often talk about the big brass ones and the odd battle of the protagonists futiley steaming into battle like HMS Jervis Bay or Taffey 3. But, could any of us imagine serving when we know every uniformed member of our country will likely die in a losing battle?
Quite a condrum when you consider who they fought for and the atrocities they committed.
Dad was a Bosun's Mate on USS Croatan (CVE-25). Of note, she was built in Seattle in 115 days (15 Apr 42- 1 Aug 42) Her last major mission was delivering the helicopters of 1st Cav to Nam in 1965.
A truly well thought out design.
Almost the A-6 Intruder of it's day.
Digression from main thread comment: Japan DID know how to build atomic bombs. I am one of a group of 18 scholars who have developed research on this subject, 2 of them heads of USAF and Navy teams including scientists operating with Presidential authorization. Mainly because the roots of DPRK nuclear weapons come from their program. Early on, Japan was neck and neck in the technology race, ahead of Germany (although somewhat cooperating with it), aware of US R&D. By midwar, accurate intel caused Tojo to conclude "atomic bombs will decide the war" and to order IJN and IJA to cooperate with each other (not their SOP). We persuaded the author of the first widely published book on the matter - a journalist - to republish to scholarly standards. Already published in Chinese and English by US and ROC publishers - his new edition was published in Japanese - after Japan decided to end its denial of serious wartime research - on the anniversary of Hiroshima in 2018. By December, he was picked up by a US publisher in English. He only used a fraction of the thousands of pages we generated - expanding his original by 3 chapters. Long ridiculed by scholars, he has been vindicated by our scholarship. Although my collection is in mothballs (during building construction), the book is the third Edition of Japan's Secret War. I was surprised he was called by a Japanese general asking to translate his second edition. I didn't expect to live long enough to see Japan reverse its policy of denial. But it has decided to go nuclear - has a peculiar policy of building components but not assembling them - and its official threats to field "more than a thousand" if PRC does not change its aggressive policy are serious ones. It would take them about 8-12 weeks to assemble, deploy and train users.