A ship that refused to die - USS Marblehead, her crew and a voyage around the world

Today we examine the career of USS Marblehead, with particular focus on how her crew managed to coax a half-broken ship from the Java Sea to New York, with a few stops along the way.
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[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@brendonbewersdorf986]

Do you think it is possible to save hmas Cerberus? Or is she doomed to rust away?

[@bkjeong4302]

If Force Z had survived and joined ABDA, is it possible that the Kido Butai would have played a larger role in the DEI campaign hunting down the British capital ships, or even that Yamato (which was already complete and had passed sea trials by PH and was commissioned on December 16) would have been sent to the DEI to counter Prince of Wales?

[@DaveSCameron]

Thanks for your work and efforts on this, I really enjoyed it.

[@DaveSCameron]

@@brendonbewersdorf986 divers paradise I think 👍

[@jenniferclark746]

Drach Beatty had not Thrown Seymour under the bus how would the rest of Seymour‘s career go

[@aidanfarnan4683]

"Found the news that they had been sunk with all hands lost, but carried on working." “Paying particular attention to the ship full of Beer and whiskey.” "Bought a Cobra from a local snake charmer." “Lead a spirited attack on a school of fish.” “Physically beat the fire to death with mattress.” “Had to be ordered to lie-down and take morphine.” “Suddenly remembered the gunpowder in the chief petty officers room, which was on fire.” “Covered themselves in oil, in a ship that was already on fire.” “Normally, this sort of lunatic idea was considered far too dangerous, but…” “Found the equipment battered into a series of modern art sculptures.” “But this was Friday the 13th of February. So of course, the tug’s cable broke and they differed into the friendly minefield.” “Making an icemaker out of various bits of equipment.” “Making what meals you got a rather random experiment.” “The mayor’s day-Job was in the dockyard, so he could be found working on the vessel.” “No one was willing to try to get a 200lb dog to do anything it didn’t want to do. But the dog departed in search of it’s favoured meal: a bowl of beer.” “Are you *sure* you’re Marblehead?” This ship has Florida man energy.

[@RuralTowner]

Every single one of those lines was hilarious to listen to.

[@stitch626aloha]

This ship MUST be in both Val'Halla and Sto'Vo'kor!!!

[@cainprescott4937]

I don't know why, but just reading this list of quotes it also feels like the Marblehead somehow managed to channel the collective spirits of the 2nd Pacific Squadron and I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse.

[@markmontagna7637]

It should be renamed Murica

[@binyominsilverman1592]

When will Marblehead tour? I would love to go to a Sabaton/ Marblehead concert.😂

[@deezn8tes]

“Man physically beats fire to death with mattress.” Yeah that sounds about right for a Pacific Theater US ship

[@pepebeezon772]

Gigachad

[@jaystengel7511]

When u max out constitution over wisdom 🎉🎉🎉

[@michaelray3865]

Hey, what works, works.

[@jaystengel7511]

@@michaelray3865 absolutely

[@Agnemons]

Obviously he was one of those people that hates to get woken up.

[@christinasmith7034]

My father was a 21 year old gunner's mate on the USS Marblehead. He described the fires and the struggle to get the ship home. He met my mother when the ship was dry-docked in Brooklyn. She literally ran into him as she rounded a corner at Coney Island. So you might say that I wouldn't exist without this event.

[@theophrastus3.056]

She came home from the carnival with more than just a stuffed toy!

[@Restilia_ch]

Sometimes it's the most tragic of circumstances that lead to us existing. I wouldn't be here if my grandmother's first husband had been one of the three survivors of Hood.

[@musicandairplanes6330]

My father was a signalman on the USS Marblehead during this battle. He told us about how he was burnt and did not realize it until they got to the hospital and one of his buddies told him to look in the mirror. He said he had blisters on his ears that look like quarters. His hands were burnt pretty bad, so they put salve on his hands and wrapped them. When the Japanese were approaching, the captain said anyone who can walk and do their duties get back on the ship. Everyone else will have to leave in the hospital. There’s a movie called the story of Dr. wassail about the Marblehead being there, and the men who were left. My father met my mother in Brooklyn, New York. My father later was on a ship on D-Day he said.

[@Caktusdud.]

Interesting story. Imagine being on your own vessel when you hear reports of her being sunk. "We're dead?"

[@phaasch]

The crew of Ark Royal had the pleasure of that experience on more than one occasion!

[@Caktusdud.]

@@phaasch i actually didn't know that. I guess some crews are just lucky

[@treyhelms5282]

Also happened to ENTERPRISE CV-6 many times. And you know the USN took trolling to new levels. Japan: sinks USS LEXINGTON (CV-2) USN: sails new USS LEXINGTON (CV-16) Japan: WTF? We're getting radio reports of a USS Lexington? OK. WE KNOW WE SANK THAT SHIP DIDN'T WE?!?!?!?!?

[@aceade]

Seeing this just after Drach mentioned the near-miss with the cobra...I immediately thought of this -cobra- scary cober insisting that it is dead. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF6tYaGtj9-SnNE

[@phaasch]

@@Caktusdud. It was German propaganda. Each time it was announced, the messdecks of the "Ark" would erupt in ribald jeering. Probably did wonders for their morale, if nobody elses.

[@jonathanfrank1189]

USS Marblehead (Turn up in the states) Yard worker: You’re supposed to be dead!” Crew member: (in a jack sparrow voice) “am I not?”

[@gregorywright4918]

(in a John Wayne voice): "Not hardly..."

[@natp8387]

The Japanese certainly seemed to have a habit of being haunted by ships they were sure were dead, didn't they?

[@halo129830]

Uss enterprise: I didn’t hear no bell!

[@natp8387]

@@halo129830 'Grey Ghost? You flatter yourself in your ability to kill me.'

[@PeterMuskrat6968]

@@halo129830Man is just forgetting half of Battleship row. Destroying two Japanese battleships in the last BB vs BB fight ever.

[@gmat5046]

More the American habit of hitting ctrl z on the sinkings.

[@ThePizzaGoblin]

Yorktown, baby. Yorktown. We hardly knew ye

[@bullnukeoldman3794]

This is a heroic tale to say the least. Some of the same damage control schemes used to save this ship were still in use when I retired in '92 - racks holding temporary electric cabling sections associated with "biscuits" for attachment between compartments were located everywhere to allow power distribution through damaged areas were one of the items of these schemes still existing. What always was on my mind was, "Dear God, be good to me. The sea is so wide and my boat is so small." -Breton fishermans’ prayer.

[@wesleyworley8982]

About 20 years ago I ran into a retired Naval Officer who served on Marblehead from 1940 until her return to the East Coast. It was the only time I appreciated an extended wait time at the Naval Hospital Emergency Room.

[@kittymervine6115]

as a member of the Navy family... my children seemed only to become ill at around 2am on a Friday or Saturday night, and we were sharing the ER at Groton with a roomful of Marines that had appeared to beat each other up? I always suggested the Marine who appeared ready to lose an eye, or the one that seemed to have a broken arm, should go first. But a child with a serious ear infection was always taken first, while the nurse would warn the Marines to keep it quiet and no bad language or they would wait even longer! I would love to have met a hero at the ER, though I was lucky to meet many in real life via the Navy.

[@AceSea130]

A few years back on fathers day, i was a server and was waiting on a family and one of them was someone who served on marblehead, if i recall he was one of gunners (i cant recall his exact position he said he was in) for one of the forward turrets. He was wearing the ship hat and looked fairly bummed, while the family he was with was largely ignoring him. When i asked if that was the omaha class marblehead his whole mood changed and he became super happy as he told me all about his time on it. I regret i largely forgot much of the details he mentioned but it made my day just to talk to him, and i think it made his day as well.

[@patagualianmostly7437]

@@AceSea130 I'm sure he appreciated you too...to realise his story...whilst his own folk were sadly & largely ignoring him..... I daresay he was lost in his own reverie....and you acknowledged his service. I thank you both. I salute you both. God Bless.

[@briancooper2112]

Thank you for your service 🇺🇸

[@mitchelloates9406]

You made mention of the doctor, who saved many of the Marblehead's wounded, who were offloaded to a hospital prior to her setting off for Ceylon. Way back in the 1970's as a young lad, I watched a Sunday afternoon movie broadcast by one of the TV channels. It was obviously made during WWII, given the propaganda tone of the movie. It starred Gary Cooper, and specifically told the tale of said doctor and the wounded men from the Marblehead under his care. Doing a quick search of Mr Cooper's filmography, the movie in question is "The Story of Dr Wassell", made in 1944, telling the tale of Dr Corydon M. Wassell and the men of the Marblehead.

[@oddforoddssake3751]

Genuinely went "nooooo ;-;" when "Bull" died, what an unfathomably brave hero I salute the entire crew of the Marblehead for their service

[@scribejackhammar]

What has his full name? I'm trying to find his full record.

[@mikespangler98]

I did the "noooo" as well. That is one thing they repeated constantly in the navy, do not run into a compartment to rescue one without checking the atmosphere first. OSHA has the same rule for the same reason.

[@swj719]

When ya hear that help was summoned, ya just knew it was going to be Bull that answered.

[@swj719]

​@@scribejackhammar his name is listed at the end of the video, along with the poor soul who fell first in that pit.

[@TreeTop1947]

I wonder what, if any, medals were bestowed upon "Bull" post-houmously? TreeTop USMC 1968-72

[@billbrockman779]

For some reason, the Omaha class interests me. I recently noticed an Omaha in the photo of Tokyo Bay on surrender day. A little research showed her as USS Detroit, Pearl Harbor survivor. Well earned honor.

[@ph89787]

She and West Virginia were the only ships to be present at both Pearl Harbour and the surrender. Pity Enterprise wasn’t among the ships present. Or the one having the Japanese sign the surrender on her flight deck.

[@mbryson2899]

They fascinate me as well. Finding information about their careers is difficult, they seem to not attract the attention other US cruisers get. The experience of the USS Richmond at the Battle of Komondorski Islands is a good example. A few mentions, very scanty details.

[@hugmynutus]

Finally proof you CAN have shit in Detroit.

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

USS Detroit was the flagship of COMSERVPAC - Commander Service Forces Pacific - during the Okinawa Campaign. She was big enough to absorb his staff and fast. He would cut away from an outgoing UNREP (Underway Replenishment) Group at nightfall , speed through the night, meet the next incoming UNREP and take command. My dad's ship, the CVL San Jacinto, was part of Task Force 38 - which was divided into four task groups (TG 38.1 through TG 38.4). After conducting three days of strikes, Dad's TG would pull out at dusk, meet the current UNREP at dawn and spend the day refueling, replenishing ammunition and ordnance, refilling the galley's storerooms and drawing other supplies. The UNREP included some CVE's to provide replacement aircraft and crews as needed. Then at dusk, back to Okinawa, passing an outgoing TG, launcing first strikes at dawn while the other TG replnished itself. A well oilec machine!

[@billbrockman779]

@@ROBERTN-ut2il Great that he passed that down to you. My Dad said little about his war.

[@thisherehandleIdospout]

If any Omaha-class ship deserved better than to be sent to the breakers, it was Marblehead - Rest in peace, old girl 😔

[@hammer1349]

I feel like being sent to the breakers isafe out to be much a worse fate than it is. While perhaps being sunk out at sea intentionally would be more fitting, I feel like being broken up is like being buried, finally laid to rest after a duty honourably discharged. Mother nature is unfortunately relentless and time takes its toll, meaning any ships saved must continue their fight against the inevitable, that is not to say they should not be cherished while they are still with us

[@GreggGermain-lk8if]

As a long time resident of Marblehead and a lifelong aficionado of all things salt water, the Odyssey of the USS Marblehead has long been of great interest to me. Just last year I discovered and read the book you mention at the end of the video: "Where Away": an excellent book. Thanks for producing this video and highlighting an incredible story from the early days of WWII. One largely forgotten amidst the stories of Midway, Guadalcanal etc.

[@DaveSCameron]

Fantastic, I'm here in the empire city of Liverpool and we of course have a fascination and affinity with our American cousins especially you Mass., New England fellows. Great comment and best wishes 🎶🇺🇸🇬🇧☘️

[@RojCowles]

Also a resident of M'Head, been looking forward to this video for a while. Excellent job from Drach, as always

[@charlesrogers9068]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the ship's bell on display at Abbot Hall in Marblehead?

[@bara922]

Marblehead: I didn't hear no bell!

[@johnwalsh7256]

Howdy neighbor!

[@Trek001]

The story of _Marblehead_ is truly one for the ages

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Real Marblehead: 'tis but a scratch WoWS Marblehead: Dies from a falling leaf

[@DaveSCameron]

Haha! Indeed yes, only the USS Liberty is the example of incredible survival.

[@MISANTHROPE00]

Yeah, it's a huge citadel there

[@Joe-Dead]

'that will buff right out' seems apropos as well ^_^

[@orzorzelski1142]

AL Marblehead: gyaru waifu 🥰

[@brianberthold3118]

you must have no clue how to play the Marblehead one of the best ships in the game for a Omaha Hull C

[@thevictoryoverhimself7298]

I like how it goes from not having a radio to becoming the radio station for a city in the span of like 3 weeks

[@Trainman2177WS]

Wanted to engage and say I really appreciate the maps provided here - makes the voyage much easier to follow and it's a meaningful production improvement in my eyes.

[@jamescook8644]

Agreed

[@Johnnycdrums]

I love maps, the more the merrier.

[@Lazbotable]

There was an Australian cruiser that was badly damaged in the Pacific and was forced to sail to Britain for repairs as no docks were available in Australia. Edit, it was HMAS Australia, which also suffered the most kamikaze attacks of any ship in the pacific.

[@DaveSCameron]

Any idea what name at all?

[@kemarisite]

@@DaveSCameron our dear friend Google says this may have been HMAS Australia at the end of WW2 because Australian yards were under instructions to prioritize British Pacific Fleet ships.

[@ph89787]

@@kemarisite Had a distant relative serving on her.

[@scotthill8787]

What a story! And, what brave men! Thanks for telling their story, Drach!

[@genericpersonx333]

It appears it was not so much forced as it was just a logical move to make at the time. HMAS Australia needed a lengthy refit, which meant a slipway in Australia being tied up for a long period of time. With the war in Europe winding down, the Royal Navy was preparing move more strength to the Pacific, meaning more ships would need minor repairs over there more. With Australia being the best place to perform minor repairs on British ships in the Pacific, it made sense to keep the slots open for those ships. In turn, English shipyards were the best equipped in the Empire to perform refits on cruisers like the County Class. Sending HMAS Australia to England thus was the best option: it kept Australian yards open to keep more ships active on the frontlines while HMAS Australia got the best possible care from the Empire's most experienced repair facilities.

[@76MUTiger]

My uncle, Dick Carpenter of New Mexico, was a 21 year old electrician aboard this ship during the battle. In the aftermath, he was trapped below decks, and the only man who survived in his compartment. He banged on the hatch with a wrench for hours. Of course, protocol dictated they couldn't open the hatch for fear of losing the ship. Nevertheless, someone let him out and they managed to close the hatch. Dick later had four daughters and a son. At the time of his death he had 23 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren... similar to the flock Private Ryan showed in the movie. He was a great man.

[@davidnelson5891]

My dad was on her as called the ship he had dreams for years. PSTD saw the blast hit the stern was in agun tub from what Ivan figure

[@76MUTiger]

@@davidnelson5891 God bless him.

[@kennethhanks6712]

The Omaha class suffered thru such an extremely extended design stage during WWI, which included so many changes in mission parameters and philosophies, as a proposed scout cruiser that she missed the war and was basically obsolete when finally completed. By WWII the Omahas weren't quite "lambs amongst the wolves" but like their 4 stack destroyer brethren were a classic example of "having to do with what you have".

[@BleedingUranium]

This seems to be the case with a fair of of American stuff in WWII. For example with small arms, the Thompson and BAR are very much late-WWI design doctrine weapons that either just missed the war or barely saw use, but were kept around as standard into WWII.

[@st.michaelsknight6299]

@@BleedingUranium Kinda. While the bar imo wasn't a great machine gun (was never intended to be a machine gun) the Thompson was a fantastic sub machine gun

[@pyro1047]

@@BleedingUranium A lot of US stuff was like that in WWII, for instance the M1/M2 155mm "Long Tom" howitzer was basically just an upgrade to the WWI French 155mm GPFs the US had used for 20+ years. The M4's 75mm gun is decended from the WWI M1897 field gun which was also adopted from the French modèle 1897. The 3-inch gun on the M10 TD and M5 AT gun is just a modified AA gun from 1918, which is itself a modified coastal-defense gun from 1898-1903, etc. The Browning M1919 is just an air-cooled M1917 from WWI, even the M2 HMG still in service today is from the early 1920's and was being designed during WWI.

[@jacobdill4499]

For the gun examples above, if it isn't broken don't fix it. The ships are very much a case of we have these & might as well use them.

[@guyplachy9688]

Thank you for that minute's silence for the Honour Roll of those lost, Drach. As an (Australian) ex-serviceman it's appreciated.

[@arkzulu]

Marblehead was a stubborn one, wasn't she?! But she did her duty and brought her sailors home. Nothing more can be expected of such a valiant ship.

[@76MUTiger]

And then returned to action! Well done old girl!

[@phaasch]

What an absolutely incredible story! Why this ship is not as legendary as, say, the escort group of Taffy 3, I don't know. It's a different feat of endurance, yet every bit as jaw-dropping. Immensely cinematic, too. "Bull" Aschenbrenner, I immediately pictured as Ernest Borgnine, and what a heartbreaking way to die. I would love to see this odyssey portrayed on the big screen. The story of Marblehead's crew hearing the report of their own demise reminds me of the crew of HMS Ark Royal listening in to Lord Haw Haw asking repeatedly " where IS the Ark Royal, and the entire mess deck roaring"Here we are!"

[@sadwingsraging3044]

Bull died trying to save Ski.😪 There can be no more honorable way to die.

[@LukeBunyip]

There's a movie script there, just begging to get funding. Cheers Drach, nice one mate.

[@phaasch]

Too right! But is there the necessary calibre of actors available these days? I immediately saw Ernest Borgnine in the character of "Bull"

[@DrGhostGames]

The history of this ship is just awesome. The things that this light cruiser accomplished is just astonishing. Despite her being a very weak ship, the crew still managed to keep her in action and kept her going! Without the experience of the crew, odds are the USS Marblehead would've went down.

[@gregorywright4918]

Although serious, the damage was mostly topside. The torpedo hit the Raleigh took at Pearl would have sunk her had she not been moored with a lot of external help.

[@heinrichbross1368]

Drach. The density and lyricism of your prose is remarkable. Really enjoyed rewinding to unpack it all. Talent by itself is not enough to achieve this. Respect the passion.

[@krismurphy7711]

My Dad was serving on the USS Otus, a sub tender, which escorted the Marblehead part of the way home. He was proud to be part of this story...proud of the Navy and this Crew getting the ship back home.

[@christopherrowe7460]

Great video, Drach! Just a bit of trivia... the Chief Radioman aboard the USS MARBLEHEAD in the mid-1920's was L.A. "Pat" Hyland, who'd play a significant part in the U.S. Navy's development of radar at the Naval Research Laboratory in the early 1930's.

[@18robsmith]

Truth is much stranger than fiction. Marblehead deserved to enjoy a long and peaceful retirement as a museum and memorial to those that served and repaired her.

[@jona.scholt4362]

There something about the aesthetics of Inter-war, Treaty era cruisers. Maybe it's because many classes have 3, or in this case, 4 funnels combined with long lines. The County Class are my favorite of the era, and perhaps have the best looks of any cruiser from any era where guns were the primary armament. I also love all the casemates on the forward and structures on the USS Marblehead and the Omahas. Gives them a very unique aesthetic since ships made from the era onwards began dropping casemates for more turrets. She's very much a ship caught between two eras design wise.

[@ahmadjavedaj]

Words can't express how much their bravery means to me when I heard about them. I am forever humbled listening to stories of men and women putting their lives at risk for things that they care for. Hope all you lived happy lives afterwards.

[@celineshoup6039]

My father was aboard the Marblehead during this time. I have six brothers and sisters. We are fortunate to be alive. My father spent 30 years in the Navy: 1939 to 1969. His name is R. E. Burnham. He never talked about his time on the ship. And now I wish he had. He died in 1992.

[@hudsonball4702]

The only other Omaha-class that saw this much action and was damaged just as badly was the USS Raleigh CL-7. She was *AT* Pearl Harbor when the attack happened. She downed five planes (created with the very first Japanese plane shot down in the battle) and was also Torpedoed. Amazingly NONE of her crew were killed in the attack and they swiftly stopped the flooding, even though she listed heavily, and she kept fighting to the end of the battle. After that she was relegated to convey escort duty.

[@michaelagriesti7462]

Richmond was at the Battle of Komandorski Islands in the Aleutians

[@theawickward2255]

The reaction of Marblehead's crew to being challenged is amusing to think about: "Really?" [gestures to ship covered in the WW2 equivalent to duct tape] "Look at us! What kind of idiot Axis captain would attack you in this thing?!"

[@bigtiddymoth4853]

many people tell stories to bring glory to themselves, to bring to attention their research, their whatever that led to the telling of it. You, thankfully, are not one of these people, you show the utmost respect to those who lived and died and fought aboard these vessels, and for that, I and many others of relation to them, are forever grateful to you, to not allow their sacrifice be forgotten, or their names. Thank you.

[@GrouchierBear]

My family on my mom's side had a relative on the Marblehead during these events, and I probably read our old copy of "Where Away" a dozen times in my younger days, so the ship holds a special place in my heart. Thank you for making this video.

[@xcc9162]

I would love to see more in depth videos like this on other American ships.

[@DaveSCameron]

#metoo

[@Marin3r101]

Well to be fair Drach does just that. Dont know why you feel the need to make that request...when that is the norm for him.

[@xcc9162]

@@Marin3r101 It’s not a request, just a statement.

[@bebo4807]

I’m an American. I want to see in depth coverage of all nations ships.

[@gabriels5105]

@@bebo4807 thats just the issue. With alot of nations they dont all have a big record of all their stuff. With the ones where you really get details they tell the same sad story. Germany retells its bismark story with a diffrent angle. Japan talks about Yamatos maintenance. Britain tells everyone about the time they scared the enemy into not leaving port again. It could be about how a flag ship had to guard its port because they did not want it to sink. Not only were there alot of US ships across a large area but most of the were special. They were also reliable enough to have a big storys to tell. You could make a video about the US fast oilers or the random unique transport ship and it would probably be interesting in some way. Alot of US ships saw service and got over shadowed and that really is what makes their history funny.

[@merafirewing6591]

The story of USS Marblehead would definitely be a very good movie.

[@johngdoty]

Now that's resilience for you. These sailors took "Don't Give Up the Ship" pretty seriously.

[@slots1407]

Nuisance was/is a South African legend; very few schoolkids grew up without hearing the story of this noble dog.

[@billbaker4519]

I first read a book about the Marblehead in 1961 when I was in the 5th grade. About the only thing I can add to your very complete (by my standards) account is that when they raised the bow in that small drydock, 50 caliber machine gun belts were hanging out of the bottom of the ship. I felt very sad again when you talked about Bull's death. I had actually bonded with him in the book's course. He was an important part of the book's early phase. Thank you for a sweet sensitive treatment of the subject.

[@76MUTiger]

What book was that?

[@billbaker4519]

I have lost the cite. I am 72 now, and I read the book in about 1961. I am sorry I can't do better.@@76MUTiger

[@jlvfr]

On a side note: we need a video on the antics of the dutch subs in the far east.

[@CaptainCoffee37]

Yay! Finally a video on the pluckiest Omaha

[@g.mantua1195]

Thanks for doing this video. It's a story that needs telling, and it's not really about the ship. It's about the resilience of her crew. A ship is only as good as the crew. They served her well.

[@peterhughes7099]

Again, Drach you have presented an amazing story of seamanship with a little humour and respectfulness. Please continue to provide these documentaries when you can 🙂

[@captainpotatoaim9381]

Omaha class cruiser irl: "i will survive under any conditons!" Omaha class cruiser in World of Warships: "EVERYTHING HURTS!!!!!"

[@DaveSCameron]

USS Liberty is THE epitome of survival!

[@brianberthold3118]

so you are saying you have no clue how to play the ship in the game .. got ya

[@hawkeye5955]

@@brianberthold3118 : To be fair, the majority of the players potato their way up the tech trees.

[@brianberthold3118]

@@hawkeye5955 ya thats why random is a complete joke ,... coop players have more brains then random most of the time

[@christopherreed4723]

I've played through the Omahas twice, the first time to complete the regular tech tree advance, and the second time after the US cruiser tree split in order to unlock the USS Dallas (and close an annoying gap in my list of available ships). I then, after selling the ship off for the second time, received a s00per d00per prize container, which contained...USS Marblehead. In WoWS, skill can, indeed, keep you alive much longer than the mere stats of your ship might indicate. The problem faced by Omaha and her in-game sister ships is that all the skill in the world won't help you when - not if - a shell hits your armor belt, discovers there isn't one, and skips merrily into your citadel, probably the largest space on the ship (Omahas were notoriously cramped) and placed invitingly above the water line. At which point your Omaha will do what Omahas do best in WoWS...blow the #$&% up. Until that happens, however, an Omaha can be an incredibly irritating ship for the opposition. The AP is kind of meh, since you're shooting regular AP, not super-heavy, but her HE shells hit quite hard and set a lot of fires. In capable hands, an Omaha can be a bit of a seal clubber...until the kaboom.

[@bullettube9863]

What we now consider heroic was in fact just the typical sailor doing his best to save their ship. Sailors develop a very strong attachment to what ever ship they are on, and in when ever possible, they do the seemingly impossible to save them. We are eternally grateful that so many sailors and soldiers did their duty for the future generations that have followed them!

[@NemoBlank]

Especially when the ship is alone in enemy waters with the boat davits removed to clear the AA guns firing arcs. That's do or die time right there.

[@jj3449]

Thank you for producing this. S1C George Albert Corbitt is my great-great uncle and it is nice to have a timeline of what he went through. I’m grateful for his shipmates who kept the ship afloat and for Dr. Wassell who cared for him at the end.

[@millstodd8874]

I am also a grand neice of George Corbitt. My mother told me the story when I was younger.

[@jj3449]

Which of his siblings are you descended from? I’m a great grandchild of his sister Virginia.

[@millstodd8874]

@@jj3449 Homer was my grandfather. Judie was my mother

[@paulwallis7586]

This is why fiction has no chance against fact.

[@phaasch]

There's a film in this, and can't think why it was never made. Too unbelievable?

[@gregorywright4918]

@@phaasch Today that kind of stuff doesn't get made because it "glorifies war"...

[@phaasch]

@@gregorywright4918 Hmm...yeah. Certainly not much opportunity for "woke" there, but again, they managed to turn "Midway" into a Marvel feature, so God knows.

[@TheBruceGday]

I love this story! Have since I first heard it from The History Guy. This ship deserved to be a museum ship. Seems to me she and her crew earned it.

[@davidb6576]

A remarkable story, and well presented. Thanks, Drach.

[@Troubleshooter11]

Marblehead: "I still got 1 HP left. LET'S GO!"

[@heikedrakakis8988]

What an amazing tale. I am not even that intersted in ships but the way you narrate is so outstanding that I wouldn't miss an episode. There is such fine humor when you talk about all the mishaps but it still tugs at the heartstrings when tragedy strikes. Kudos!

[@stephenmarshman3133]

My uncle, James Lyons, was an 18 year old able seaman on this ship during this adventure. He gave me a copy of the book (Where Away} when I entered military service, but would never speak to me about this experience. I have learned that internalizing is typical among servicemen and women. I am glad so many spoke up for the author. It is important to remember...and for others to know...

[@equallyeasilyfuqyou]

Nobody is named Bull anymore. What a badass name.

[@Wpns175]

Able Seaman Nuisance...favorite dinner a bowl of beer. Why is he not a chief? This dog rocks!

[@johnsykesiii1629]

It was sailors from Marblehead, Massachusetts, who rowed George Washington and his troops across the Delaware River to defeat the Hessian mercenaries at the Battle of Trenton during the US Revolutionary War.

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

Colonel John Glover's 14th Continental Regiment - also performed the "American Dunkirk" evacuating the Continental Army after the Battle of Long Island

[@MrAWG9]

@@ROBERTN-ut2il wait, shouldn’t Dunkirk be called the “British Long Island” then?

[@SailFanatics]

Read "The Indespensibles"...

[@crystaldbj]

The Marblehead's story is well remembered in the Marblehead Town Hall, in Marblehead MA. Also the home of Glover's regiment, all sailors, who saved Washington's army several times, and rowed them across the Delaware for the critical battle of Trenton. If you are there, walk around the corner for a peek at the painting "The Spirit of 76", which is also owned by the town.

[@terrygardner3031]

The wait has been worth it. After reading Where away, I put her name in the pinned post and then back when you used to put what was coming next was excited to see her name. A year later and some her story has been told by one of the best naval historians of the modern era. Thanks Drach.

[@harrykouwen1426]

What a fantastic ship she was, outdated by navy standards but of the best fighting spirit as her crew. Thanks for this amazing story, not to be forgotten.

[@scottwyatt2614]

"A flying fish through the porthole..." I laughed so hard... 1981 I think, USS Berkeley, DDG-15, I was doing my mess duty at the deep sink, cleaning pots and pans. I had the porthole open because it was really hot in there. I saw a flash of silver out of the corner of my eyes and then heard a "SPLAT, FLOP, FLOP." That was an odd sound, so I turned and looked around to try to figure out what it was. A flying fish had come in through the open porthole and had landed in the pineapple-right-side-up cake mix from the night before, dying rather quickly. (Flipping a cake on a pitching, rolling destroyer was problematic, so the cooks cooked it by putting the pineapple on top. It made for a very goopy mess, but it did taste good). Anyways, I was looking at the flying fish and wondering who had put the LSD in my coffee. Then I went into the galley to get somebody to confirm that a flying fish was, in fact, dead in the cake mix. The Filipino cooks were on shift, and one of them came into the deep sink area with a very puzzled look on his face, certain that he had misunderstood me. Not surprising, as I had just told him that a flying fish had died in the cake mix. He looked at it for a bit and asked, "You want?" Do I want? What? I said, "No." Then he asked, "I can have?" Now it was my turn to think that there was some kind of language barrier thing happening. I looked at him and asked, "You want the fish?" "Yes!" he said, "Is fish! Fish is good!" So, I gave him the fish. He took it into the galley and he and the rest of the cooks happily filleted it out, fried it, and ate it. I, personally, would never, ever, eat any critter, regardless of how tasty, that had died in the pineapple-right-side-up cake mix, but... to each his own, I guess.

[@Joe-Dead]

i really dread hearing that 'and scrapped' yeah, it costs to keep a museum ship i get that. warspite, enterprise and marblehead have stories and histories as they were the steeds of the crew that sailed them, fought with them or died with them. they were the villages that supported them and were a piece of their homeland in the world at large. thanks for maintaining the history drach.

[@cf453]

This meme bugs me. "Swords into plowshares" SHOULD be the end goal for any weapon of war. Maybe her steel is now tractors that feed people, or school busses that take children to get educated. Maintaining history is important, but living is the point.

[@idontwanttoputmyname403]

@@cf453 It’s not really a meme? And while I do generally agree with you, I argue sometimes objects (both simple and complex) can have such a history associated with them that’s their loss from not being turned back into something is offset by their existence and ability to keep the history and story alive. Like USS Texas, or HMS Victory.

[@cf453]

@@idontwanttoputmyname403 The original definition of meme as enduring or common idea. I'm absolutely sympathetic to the position you expressed, I'm just offering additional perspective, because I see a lot of comments that get all maudlin or resentful about scrapping and that's the end of their thinking.

[@murrayscott9546]

Old soldiers never die . . .

[@idontwanttoputmyname403]

@@cf453 That’s fair enough. Hardly anyone uses the original definition of meme these days, at least in common discussion, so there’s the disconnect. Anyways, I usually see people more upset about “special” ships being scrapped than just your average vessel. Nobody really seems to get upset when amphibious transport #40150 gets scrapped after all, just when something like Whitehead or Warspite or other things that were more than the sum of their parts.

[@kendramalm8811]

I read about her in "The Lonely Ships" by Hoyt when I was a teenager; still one of my favorite books!

[@stevengrotte2987]

My father was on a troop convoy from the US to Great Britain in , I believe 1943, he said when he would wake up in the morning and go out on the deck he was always glad to see the 4 stacker cruiser beside the troop ship.

[@forresthayes9018]

Great story. Excellently told with amusingly dry English humor, as always. Lots of fun. An amazing historical story of survival, bravery and perseverance. Thanks

[@kemarisite]

The powder story at @20:20 may be a testimony to the comparative stability of US propellant charges in comparison with British cordite. Boise would similarly benefit from that stability in October 1942 when she took her magazine hit from Kinugasa at Cape Esperance.

[@Larken42]

That’s what you get when you use the forbidden spaghetti: cordite

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

US propellant was single base (just Nitro Cellulose). Cordite was "hotter" as it was dual base (Nitro Cellulose and Nitro Glycerine) which yielded increases muzzle velocity, apparently at a cost of being less stable. The US Army and US Navy have never trusted dual base propellants and wouln't/won't touch them with the proverbial Ten Foot Pole (or Eleven Foot Czech). Cordite cooking off on its own sank the BB HMS Vanguard at Scapa and the Armored Cruiser HMS Natal near Cromarty during the Kaiser War (as well as other vessels, maybe including an Italian BB) As late as 1943 the BB HIJMS Mutsu entertained the citizens of Tokyo by blowing up before their eyes in the Sagami Wan. Her propellant? Shimose, the Japanese version of cordite.

[@kemarisite]

@@ROBERTN-ut2il one minor correction, shimose powder was the Japanese name for their picric acid explosive filler, not their propellant.

[@andrewhaley2758]

I'm from Marblehead, Massachusetts, namesake of this wonderful ship. If you ever find yourself there, check out Abbott Hall. They have a small display concerning it. Home of the U.S. Navy!

[@myke49]

This is a wonderful example of The Gods being in an amused mood and deigning to look the other way. Well told Mr Drach. Mike in Oz

[@davidsachs4883]

I was surprised by the tribute at the end of the video. Usually when ship’s casualties are listed the men’s ratings are listed as if it were part of their names

[@petestorz172]

LOL! Four-pipers used "obsolete" Mark VIII torpedoes, not newer Mark XV torpedoes. Evidently the Mark VIIIs actually worked.

[@mikearmstrong8483]

Report that a Japanese carrier was coming to mop up the fleeing merchant ships that gathered around the Marblehead as she left her home port, which was being overrun by a brutal race bent on conquest. Sounds familiar. I wonder if Battlestar Galactica was inspired by this?

[@thatww2nerd81]

There is something about the Omaha class that I just love. They look so goofy with the low stern, the split superstructure, and the four funnels. But that's what I love about them, not to mention the stories that some of them have.

[@edwardloomis887]

Hearing the story about fellow Minnesotan Clarence "Bull" Aschenbrenner in this video reminded me of my dad telling me about discrimination German-Americans experienced during and following World War I. I have often mentally linked -- rightly or wrongly -- the extraordinary heroism displayed by some of them in World War II as possible evidence that they may have been doing their utmost to show their loyalty to the U.S. LT Karl Timmermann who led the charge across the last bridge across the Rhine River at Remagen, Germany is another person who I've always wondered whether that might have been in the back of his mind.

[@bigblue6917]

As I've often said. If you want an eventful life in the navy pick one of the smaller ships.

[@yes_head]

Now THAT was an adventure! The honor roll at the end was a nice touch. Thanks, Drach.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

I will always be impressed by the ingenuity and dedication of ship's crews in performing damage control and effecting temporary repairs. There was a lot more skill in the Navy than could be readily shown by just seeing the men at their usual stations.

[@damaddog8065]

holy crap, a dead ship barely able to be called a life raft, survived all that? That was a good ship.

[@keithdubose2150]

The reason the stories of these heroic men and their efforts exist is because the ship survived .. Makes me think about how many hero stories are lost in time when by some quirk the ship and hands were lost .. Great video . Thanks

[@gregorywright4918]

The story of the Houston did not come out till after the war when the few survivors returned.

[@lloydryan7716]

An amazing story well told. She definitely didn't want to die. She also had a hell of a crew.

[@martinhowell3475]

Able Seaman Nuisance... brilliant

[@WormsWolfe]

This is genuinely one of my favourite videos on youtube

[@Spacek531]

Omaha is my favorite ship in WoWS. Murmansk is fun too but Marblehead is unfortunately so powercrept with its range problems.

[@marinablueGS]

Yet another amazing and inspiring story of bravery and determination...thanks, Drach!

[@ZosoZeus]

I love Drac story time! That USS Franklin one was one of the best things one KZbin…

[@CTXSLPR]

Drach, thank you for leaving the names of the KIA up long enough to recognize them vs. just a brief flash.

[@petercurran3723]

She is surely missed! Much love and thank you for your work

[@John-ci8yk]

Never heard of USS Marblehead, thank you for all the time and effort you put into this video, thumbs up.

[@drstevenrey]

This has to be the single one most incredible story I have ever heard. This thing really had a spine that was not going to give up. Yes, luck was a factor, but the crew was absolutely fabulous. This ship should be in a museum. Sadly not.

[@byronharano2391]

Thank you for this brief history of USS Marblehead 🇺🇸. Never would know about this at all. Much appreciated

[@toddr737]

A really well done piece on a great lady of the sea and the brave men who served aboard her.

[@kryts27]

Sorry, an error regarding the sinking of the Leander class light cruiser, HMAS Sydney. Sydney had been sunk by the auxiliary Kreigsmarine cruiser HSK Kormoran (both ships sank each other in a one-on-one point blank engagement well away from the coast North-West of Geraldton, Western Australia). Sydney had no destroyer escort and the sinking of Sydney occurred on the night of 19th November 1941, before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and did not involve the Japanese. The narrated events involving the bombing of USS Marblehead by the IJN occurred in the Battle of the Java Sea, in February and March 1942 in which allied mainly naval forces (mainly the Dutch, Americans, Australians and British) were at war to unsuccessfully prevent the Japanese from taking over the Indonesian archipelago. By then the sinking of the Sydney was old news.

[@kennethhanks6712]

You are correct to a point but the fact was that the German raiders were presumed to be able to show up at almost anytime and place (Atlantis had managed to remain at large for 600 days) so the threat always had to be respected. In fact some of the Omahas were used in especially the South Atlantic to patrol against German raider and blockade runner threats until '44.

[@Drachinifel]

Also, it took time for the RAN to work out what had happened and then distribute this information. I am relaying what the crew were being told at the time, that we know now what the actual sequence of things was doesn't change that their actions at the time were dictated by what they thought was true at that moment.

[@marhawkman303]

@@kennethhanks6712 yeah, by this time everyone had heard of it... and gotten scared.

[@mhudzinski1]

Reminds me of the quote: Heroes are ordinary men who rise to extraordinary circumstances. Well done crew of the marblehead.

[@slick4401]

Surabaja, Java, Christmas 1941 “Fire Controlman First Class Riches discovered a fortuneteller in a Marine canteen and, impressed by the things the fortuneteller told him of his past, he invited several of his comrades along to have their fortunes told too. Among these was Shipfitter Bernie Wardzinski, whom everybody called ‘Ski’ for short. Ski went along but refused to have his fortune told. He was an easy-going fellow, well-liked by his shipmates, and a particular friend of the Bull’s. Ski was as dark and the Bull was blond, ... Ordinarily Ski was agreeable to almost any kind of excursion ashore, but today he was stubborn about the fortuneteller. On being pushed to have his fortune told, the color left his face, as Ski said he already knew his future and it wasn’t good. “‘I’m going to die, and I know it. ... I don’t need this guy to ... to rub it in.” - From the biography of "Ski" Wardzinski in the USS Marblehead web site.

[@JackBWatkins]

Join the Navy and See the World. A very heroic voyage by the crew of the Marblehead.

[@dorfrez]

a wonderful story telling of a fighting ship and courageous crew

[@phatallbutt7879]

Glad to see the Marblehead get some shine. For obvious reasons, the exploits of the Houston tend to overshadow her.

[@williamlydon2554]

I almost asked at the Q&A recently if you had any Java Sea content in the works, but didn't. I'm glad to see this

[@pjeverly]

Love these longer format stories. The details are always more fascinating than expected.

[@alanzelanski7288]

An excellent video. This was one of the first USN naval stories I ever read when I was much younger. I would love to see you do a video like this on the battle to save the light cruiser USS Houston.

[@stevewixom9311]

She was a heavy cruisier. CA-30

[@alanzelanski7288]

@@stevewixom9311 Nope I'm interested in the story of USS Houston CL-81. This was the Cleveland class light cruiser named after the heavy cruiser lost early in the war. The light crusier was nearly lost to two torpedo hits off Japan late in the war.

[@jhare18]

Heroism in a very tough Ship.