Battle of the Bismarck Sea - Pacific War #67 DOCUMENTARY

[@KingsandGenerals]

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[@sandygehrmann6309]

Once again commenting to correct your narrator's pronunciation of "Kokoda" from "cock-od-duh" to "Koh-kowe-da"

[@n1k2jfan96]

The "unsinkable" Yukikaze is very popular in Japan. She took part in more than 10 major battles, and more than 100 escort missions and resupply transport missions during World War II. She was the only member of her class (the Kagerō class) to survive the war and, along with Ushio and Hibiki, one of the only ships to survive among the 82 Japanese destroyers built before the war - and did so without suffering any major damage. Truly amazing story.

[@satriorama4118]

And also called shinigami by other IJN sailors. Other ships sailors would curses under their breath if they see yukikaze sorties with them cuz they know yukikaze will survived and others will sinks.

[@augustosolari7721]

Yukikaze truly puts Shigure to shame!

[@n1k2jfan96]

@@augustosolari7721 Of the two ships Shigure is probably the better known outside Japan, thanks in part to the memoirs of Captain Tameichi Hara, and her operational history is certainly more fascinating than that of Yukikaze. To better understand how she survived the Battle of Surigao Strait, one must read the transcript of the postwar interrogation of Commander Shigeru Nishino (C.O. Shigure during the battle). The interrogation also sheds light on how devastating - and decisive - the torpedo attacks from the American destroyers were, which makes Shigure's (almost) unscathed escape even more remarkable. Interesting footnote - Nishino was relieved by Lieutenant Commander Manubu Hagiwara on 30 November 1944, less than two months before Shigure was torpedoed and sunk by USS Blakfin.

[@Jerry-ky2nt]

IJS Yukikaze survived the war and was given to ROC Navy in 1947. She was the largest ship and the flagship of the ROC Navy. Her new name was ROCS Dan Yang She was refitted later on with US armament. She went on and saw more actions in the 50s with capturing Soviet bloc shipping passing through South China Sea and the Taiwanese Strait. She was scrapped in 1970 after suffering irreparable damage during a typhoon. Her rudder and anchor was sent back to Japan.

[@augustosolari7721]

@@n1k2jfan96 Very interesting indeed. Thanks mate, seems very interesting!

[@Physiker17]

I've heard of Pearl Harbor, Midway, battle of the Coral Sea, battle of Leyte Gulf... and many others but never heard of this one before. This is why this series (and channel) are so exciting to watch, you never stop learning something new.

[@TimDyck]

I have heard of this one and it was a battle that cost the Japanese ships and men that they could not replace.

[@davidsargent9359]

Strange coz by the time MacArthur was done with it , 15,000 Japanese were dead 😂 😉 Gen Kenney made them practice level bombing, strafing , high level bombing in synchronicity. Fun fact, Australian beuafighters strafed low and could see American bombs skipping off the sea next to them 😂 (skip bombing) Check for Damien Parers footage of the day after strafing runs of life boats. Controversial??

[@ericgrace9995]

There is an original film of the attacks online. There are two versions...one heavily edited. It does not show the Aussie Beaufighters machine gunning Japanese lifeboats in the cleanup after the attack. They were absolutely ruthless.

[@blockmasterscott]

@@ericgrace9995 Cannot blame them though. The Pacific War was almost a case of win or die.

[@Physiker17]

@@blockmasterscott Can't you though? I know judging in retrospect 8 decades later is not fair and the japanese were absolut barbaric. But doing what the Japanese did is stooping to IJN/IJA level and being just as bad.

[@docbailey3265]

Thanks! I’m addicted! This is one of the highlights of my week.

[@88clark88]

I look forward to these each week.

[@TrueXyrael]

A correction. The Asashio sank while attempting to rescue the crew of the Arashio and Nojima Maru. The captain of the Asashio had famously made a promise prior to the launching of the convoy with the captain of the Nojima Maru that, if either ship were to sink, the other would turn around and rescue them. The Asashio captain, Sato Yasuo, commander of Desdiv 8, disobeyed an order to withdraw and relinquished command, and fulfilled his promise to the Nojima Maru. The ship then came under serious strafing and bombing and itself began sinking. When asked to evacuate the ship by his men, he told them "You go, I am tired." and went down with his ship. The captain of the Nojima Maru would be picked up by Allied ships and held as a POW until the end of the war.

[@NELCARM]

The Beaufighter was a hell of a plane ! They were being built in Australia in a converted bus factory. The strafing of life boats was tough on the airmen but Aussies had seen some terrible war crimes committed against soldiers, natives & missionaries in PNG . Not to forget the treatment of captured personal including nurses in the fall of Singapore & other places. The Bismarck Sea was a turning point & a great example of Australian & American joint operations.

[@adamjaquay4279]

The Aussies were the only reason(primarily)New Guinea was held. The US was too strung out and too far away to assist initially. Just look at a world map to see how far the mainland US is from our Aussie cousins lol. Nicely done i say.

[@NELCARM]

@@Heike-- Shooting combatants who will enter the upcoming battles in PNG if they land by whatever means is very different to beheading missionaries ,machine gunning nurses ,raping & killing PNG natives & using captured soldiers for bayonet practice .

[@kevinlatham5661]

australian troops fought the germans and italians in north africa. POWs on both sides were treated well. australians had a soft spot for italian POWs, many were paroled to live and work on farms in australia. however there was a deep and abiding hatred for the japanese who committed many atrocities including murdering australian army nurses. the japanese considered being treated well as a sign of fear and weakness.

[@NELCARM]

@@kevinlatham5661 Yes there was a big POW camp at Yanco ,all Italian. Many got straight back on ships to come to Australia after the war. One of the reasons for the big Italian community at Griffith & other places. The hatred of the Japanese persisted for many years fueled by the horror stories from Changi ,the Burma railroad ,the War Crimes trials as well as actual battlefield experiences.

[@outinthesticks1035]

​@@kevinlatham5661there were Italian pow camps in Canada as well . My father worked with some who were released to work outside every day . He said they would work themselves right into the ground cause rumor was that anyone who didn't work would be sent back to Italy , before the end of the war

[@ronchristiantenala4056]

I was waiting for this moment where medium bombers have undergone field modifications which have brought a great impact in allied strategy, thanks for mentioning Pappy Gunn as he was the brainchild of that ingenious field modifications of the bombers. Pappy Gunn learned this strategy of strafing and skip bombing during the Royce mission in the Philippines in desperate efforts to supply the beleaguered defenders in Bataan in 1942, a week before the famous Doolittle raid. With his B-25 he dove commanding his nose gunner and top turret Gunner to fire with guns blazing towards the japanese shippings then dropping his ordnance.

[@icewaterslim7260]

He and General Kenney thought much alike concerning missions flown on the deck. Kenney was a protege of Billy Mitchell who would send him on searches for lost American troops during WW1 which he did close to the deck so he could see our uniforms and probably to stay out of rifle sight longer. It put him on a path of low level; attack thinking, parafrags and all that. I have no doubt he would appreciate Gunn's out-of-the-box innovation. Perfect combination for some cooperation that produced results.

[@gst32]

Unfortunately they used a pic of McArthur instead of one for Gunn.

[@notreallydavid]

Hi. 'Originator', not 'brainchild' - 'brainchild' is used to indicate the product of someone's thinking, not the thinker. Please kick me. All best.

[@wolfu597]

16:05. The B-25 that attacked Kimuras flagship were flown by "the Grim Reapers" commander, captain Ed Larner. On his approach, Larner discovered another three B-25s on his tail, so he went on the radio and told em' "Dammit, get the hell of my wing and get your own boat".

[@thomasknobbe4472]

Thank you for your detailed coverage of this very important battle of the Pacific War. After Bismark Sea, the Japanese had no effective means of projecting, or even supporting, land power in the Pacific, and they knew it. Your inclusion of the Order of Battle for the Allies helped me to track each Allied unit as it went into battle and played its role. I think one additional detail of note was the loss of several P-38 Lightning pilots, who were shot down after they had gone after Japanese planes that had strafed some Allied pilots that were parachuting down from their stricken aircraft. After these events, it was easier for the Allied pilots to go back out and machine gun the Japanese survivors in the water. it was a total war, with no quarter given, this one.

[@kik1kik]

Great video as always. After all these episodes I was thinking we must be getting fairly far ahead in the war now with all that's happened; then I realized you're only just reaching March 1943 so it's not even close to the halfway point in the Pacific theater... 2.5 more years of fighting and suffering to go before the big bombs drop. Brutal war...

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

If The Marianas was a "Turkey Shoot" , then this was "Ducks In a Barrel"! The wounded IJN commander getting up and walking on when the flags signaled his demise is a priceless anecdote!

[@ALEKSANDER_Aleks88]

The second this gets posted I'm right here, this series is the best thing that ever came into my life!

[@treverblanco]

The amount of detail you put into each episode is amazing! I have to watch a few times to catch almost everything. Thanks for your hard work!

[@blockmasterscott]

Agreed 100%. I look forward every week for this level of detail.

[@vDawGG]

This 19 minute video took me over an hour to get through. So much information. Your researchers are amazing. Your videos are a gift. Thank you.

[@cincinnatus1619]

Pacific war is by far the best series in KNG

[@drows3y_tiger344]

Just been rewatching the Alexander series and then this gem dropped Thanks for the continuous high quality breakdowns on the lesser known battles of history

[@blockmasterscott]

6:50 Man, I love how this channel lists the unit rosters. Don’t ever stop that, I love it!

[@alexius23]

In the aftermath of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea I have wondered of the impact upon the Imperial Naval & Army general staff. The Japanese had anticipated some losses but not the devastating defeat that occurred. It foreshadowed the challenges for Imperial troop movement & resupply for the rest of the War. Some troops did arrive at the front lines but I consider the impact upon morale.

[@Martijn_Steinpatz]

I'd just like to mention that Admiral Kimura Masatomi has an awesome mustache.

[@georgepatton93]

Hey hey people, Kings and Generals here, a warm thanks to our youtube supporters and members of the Merchant Guild who generously bankrolled this video.

[@ALEKSANDER_Aleks88]

Sure thing king!

[@bradmyst1339]

Lol you earned my 69th upvote for that comment. 😜

[@carterwalters5915]

Thought this was zzeth lol

[@blackbaron9544]

Never thought I'd see a sseth reference in a Kings and generals member only video

[@OLDMANWAFFLES]

HEY HEY PEOPLE SSETH HERE

[@nordicgod32]

I am really enjoying this series. It is without a doubt the most comprehensive history of the Pacific War I have ever found-including print publications. The info boxes are great, but I keep having to pause the video to read them.

[@patrickblanchette4337]

Same😉.

[@dwainavance]

Really enjoying this series. Extremely well done!

[@davidhughes8357]

Just outstanding. What else can I say friends. Never disappointed. Your work is always appreciated. Thank you so much.

[@UnNuclear]

Pappy Gunn his modified A-20s is why one should fear grunt engineering. They will come up with the scariest and most insane things for their specific battlefield.

[@xXStrikerDudeXx]

Truly one of the best historical channels ever made.

[@Randall1001]

Battle of the Bismarck Sea! I've been waiting for this one. My dad was there. :-)

[@thesprinklerguy2598]

Tuesday's are the best!

[@ALEKSANDER_Aleks88]

Yeah the reason Tuesday is a special day too me now becuase of this!

[@davidsargent9359]

God or whomever, blessed Gen Kenney with outstanding abilities. Australian and American alike,should know much more about this man. Thanks kings and gens

[@patrickshea3619]

Pappy Gunn was the real hero of this battle, his ingenuity in providing extra 50's on the B25's proved to be lethal to the Japanese transports. He was told by all of the experts it couldnt be done but his persistance won out.

[@wolfu597]

Lessons from this battle: Never play chicken against the Beaufighter.

[@gbbenner9382]

My favorite series on this channel!

[@leontan3512]

Glorious Victory. How have I never heard of this before? Fantastic episode, very informative.

[@seanbryan4833]

I've been eagerly awaiting this one! Bismarck Sea is one of my favorite battles of the Pacific War.

[@herbertkeithmiller]

Skip bombing and mast hight bombing are mentioned in this video. Skip bombing is about what sounds like you fly low and parallel to the ocean surface releasing your bombs at a set distance from the target and they skip across the water hopefully striking the ship along the water line. I had to look up mast hight bombing Wikipedia gave me this mast-height bombing, in which bombers would approach the target at low altitude, 200 to 500 feet (61 to 152 m), at about 265 to 275 miles per hour (426 to 443 km/h), and then drop down to mast height, 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 4.6 m) at about 600 yards (550 m) from the target. They would release their bombs at around 300 yards (270 m), aiming directly at the side of the ship. In practice, the techniques were often combined: a bomber would drop two bombs, skipping the first and launching the second at mast height.[3] The Battle of the Bismarck Sea would demonstrate the effectiveness of these low-level attacks on ships.[4] Practice missions were carried out against the SS Pruth, a liner that had run aground in 1923.[5]

[@vicrod5]

Wow, it just keeps getting better and better

[@ElBandito]

Luftwaffe: We have a Göring. RAAF: We have a Garing.

[@jamesforreal]

That strike force was set up nicely. That's to include the weaving Lightnings overhead. What a devastating attack.

[@christopherhanton6611]

thank you so much for doing this BATTLE Kings and generals! i always like it. how Usa and Australia planes destroyed 99 percent of the transports and half of the escort destroyers of the convoy. Both those two types of bombing were very dangerous . the allies lost lot of aircraft and crews in training. also, another famous skip bombing mission in WW2 was Operation Chastise, commonly known as the Dam Busters Raid,[1][2] was an attack on German dams carried out on the night of 16/17 May 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Command

[@alemander_01]

Paul "Pappy" Gunn sure does look like Macarthur's twin brother. Love these Pacific War videos!

[@freshprinceofnigeria7822]

The graphics in this video are amazing! Bravo!

[@paintingpanzers]

Imagine trying to coordinate something like that today, we'd still struggle! Absolutely mind blowing stuff.

[@gershonportnoy5589]

Wonderful presentation of this long forgotten (...for me) battle😎

[@ronjohnson6916]

Nice coverage of an important and under-appreciated engagement. Great work.

[@krichardj]

Can you imagine the terror on those transports being swarmed by death-dealing planes.

[@thomasdowe5274]

Born a year before Pearl Harbor, I really appreciate seeing and hearing the news I didn't get, or understand, during those first 5 years after birth! :)

[@williamromine5715]

I was born just a month before Pearl Harbor. So, hello from one old fart to another. My only one memory of the war was seeing a blimp and thinking it was an A-bomb. I've been trying to get a little more educated about the war ever since.

[@2ndkombat]

Violence! Speed! Momentum!

[@panostsadaris7932]

Outstanding, as always, coverage of the battle !!!

[@minoru-kk]

Brilliant as always! Only naval officers were cut down by strife in this battle, years earlier Japanese were said to have turned their guns on civilians and in the near future Allies did the same. Right or wrong it was so effective

[@vortega472]

As always the highlight of my Tuesday.

[@jlvfr]

The almost absence of air defense on the IJN ships, at this stage of the war, was nothing short of criminal negligence. The japanese disdain of anything defensive left the IJN with no mid range AAA weapons and only the crap 25mm for short range. The destroyers present at this battle, while being some of the most powerfull in the world for anti surface, had nothing but a handfull of 25mm or 13.2mm MGs to defend themselves from these straffing runs. The Beaufighter's 20mm and B-25's baterly of .50' had an efective range that was _at least_ as much as the 25mm, if not more. And the gunners of the 25mm often didn't even had gun shields. The straffing runs stripped the ships of AAA and left them sitting ducks for the bomb drops. If this was tried against germans (or allied DDs) they would have run into walls of 40mm/pompom/37mm, backed by 20mm. Even if it had succeded, casualties would have been _much_ higher.

[@n1k2jfan96]

At the Washington Conference in 1921, the 3:5:5 ratio that was decided upon for fleet strengths of Japan-US-Britain placed Japan in a position of numerical inferiority. To offset this the IJN formulated a policy aimed at improving its night-combat strength, based largely on torpedo firepower. This policy had a profound impact on the design and construction of many Japanese warships including the Fubuki-class destroyers, three of which participated in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea (Shirayuki, Shikinami and Uranami). It should be noted though the IJN did see the need in the late 1930s for a dedicated anti-aircraft vessel for the defense of carrier battle groups. This led to the creation of the Akizuki-class destroyers, a project designed around the implementation of the 10 cm/65 Type 98 naval gun, by far the IJN's finest AAA weapon. But it was all too little too late - only four Akizuki-class destroyers had been completed by March 1943. One - Teruzuki - was lost to American PT boats off Savo Island in December 1942, and none of the other three - Akizuki, Suzutsuki and Hatsuzuki - was present at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.

[@jlvfr]

@@n1k2jfan96 it would have made no diference if the convoy had 2-3 Akizuki; their primary AAA weapon was a good 100mm DP gun, but this was a _long range gun_ that, like others of it's kind in other navies, where used vs targets at long range. The class suffured the same main problem of all IJN ships: a (when launched) very poor short range defence, latter increase in quantity but not quality, and no mid-tier defence, ie, something like the 37/40/pompom mounts.

[@Chris-um3se]

Thank you for this riveting SEGMENT! Midtown Sacramento Salutes you

[@markusskram4181]

Another great video from my favorite channel😁

[@Sendu7]

The ending of this battle was controversial with the Allies matching some of the brutality that was a feature of the Japanese during the war. To prevent Japanese survivors in life rafts and treading water from being rescued and put back into action, they were machined gunned by strafing aircraft. This is one reason why this battle never received the same recognition and fame given to other Pacific battles.

[@williamromine5715]

Straffing life boats, etc, was very distasteful, but absolutely necessary. If you can't capture the enemy forces, you have to kill them. Otherwise, they live on to kill your own men. War is a nasty buisness, and we should try really hard not to use it to settle differences. But, when the bad guy is breaking into your home to rape your wife and daughter, it's no time to enter into discussion.

[@mtbodyfarm5174]

@@Heike-- and then were properly shot and hung!

[@brokenbridge6316]

Nice video. Some of these lesser known battles really should be taught more in schools. For they are just as important as Midway and Guadalcanal.

[@Wayne.J]

Solomons has Battle of Blackett Strait. Plus a few sub attacks in the area and Bismarck Sea battle, Japanese have lose a third of the destroyer strength in south Pacific in a week! These height were never met in Guadalcanal campaign. Omens for the future

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the information & another very interesting video

[@stevelebreton3489]

Thanks for the video

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , K&G . 🐺

[@davidryan9008]

great content ... love the pacific war series

[@robbabcock_]

Thanks for another great installment! 🇺🇸 🔥 🇦🇺 ⚔ 🇯🇵

[@stewartc4558]

missed the coast watchers involvement

[@frankcomando8440]

Thank you for adding General Whitehead my uncle writing a film about this life. He led that battle in a B17 MacArthur's commanders

[@Jim-Stick]

Really appreciate the work all of you do.

[@crosskoyamayandaytugay3508]

This is the first time I've heard of this war. Probably the most devastating and crushing war in the Pacific.

[@doanphat1480]

This battle was notable for the use of a special bombing tactic called Skip Bombing, and the British RAF would use a similar tactic during the famous Dambuster Raid 2 months later with a special bouncing bomb

[@XxBloggs]

Not quite. The British method was very different

[@蘭巴拉爾]

Fun fact: the "unsinkable" Yukikaze survived the war and later transferred to Taiwan (ROC's) Navy and continued service as "Danyang" until the 1970s for the defense of Taiwan Strait.

[@randywarren7101]

I read a paperback book written about this battle. The commander of the skip bombing squadron was a Major Ed Larner, the squadron was credited with most of the sinking ships! This was about 30 years ago so I don't know if this book is still in print!

[@northtexan95]

Awesome as always! Love this series of videos.

[@cornishdiaspora918]

Brilliant stuff so clearly explained.

[@elitetwo1]

I enjoy your channel. I am impressed with your maps and narration of the day-to-day events of the battles you cover. The information you get are they from daily reports from the historical records ?. I had 5 great uncles in the Pacific War one was in the battle for Aleutian's one was a plank owner of the aircraft carrier MIDWAY which did not see action. The other 3 were in the 40th Div. 185 th The first action was on the island of Guadalcanal. Other campaigns were New Britain. Luzon landing.Panay, Lingayen, Negros and so on . Thank you for your channel I am so impressed

[@RobinWildlife]

I am pretty sure that the V in Bomber Command and Fighter Command is the Roman numeral not the letter. Otherwise, great video as always.

[@crimsonking70]

A minor quibble - your main map was showing Aru Island and a larger than actual portion of Southwest Dutch New Guinea in Allied-controlled areas

[@theawesomeman9821]

The Allied air force were the MVP for this battle.

[@F4R4D4Y]

Great stuff 👏

[@geareas]

Great video

[@robertoamorico2151]

Great work as usual! Regards the strafing of japanese sailors and soldiers surviving at the sinking of the ships of Convoy "81" by PT Boats and aircrafts the Allied giustify this act like a military duty but also for the revenge for the crew of one B-17 shot down upon convoy and gunned by japanese Zeros while descending with parachute. The US crews were eager to fly and strafe the survivors in the sea...a revenge also for many POW allied massacrated.

[@Joeys-Channel]

Very good

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Every HOI player knows the pain of losing transport ships to pesky aircraft.

[@anselmdanker9519]

Great show- thanks

[@shingshongshamalama]

"We got three cruisers!" Doug what are you even smoking there were no cruisers.

[@TheIronChancellor]

Can you please cover Justinian's restoration cause the other one is very old

[@jackland3387]

Great videos, thanks

[@robdave1974]

The Bristol Beaufort, the most underrated plane of WW2.

[@PaulJohnson-su3mv]

Beaufighter goes BRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr..!!!

[@Theearthtraveler]

A very important battle!!

[@Amondil1]

Well the true Grim reaper Squadron of the Pacific was the Fighting Squadron 10 abourd the U.S.S. Enterprise. But I guess the B-25 can have a nickname if they want it lol

[@lagofala]

Imagine being a soldier on one of those transports. There's almost nothing you can do but accept your fate.

[@johndeboyace7943]

The Australians were rather unapologetic about shooting up the lifeboats. It’s nice that you imply they really didn’t want to do it. The Japanese had systematically killed Australian soldiers when the captured them, this would have been known by the fliers. Soldiers wherever they are would be considered targets for destruction. Very few Japanese soldiers were ever taken alive until the end of the war.

[@n1k2jfan96]

Kenney ordered his aircrew to strafe Japanese lifeboats and rafts. He euphemistically called these missions “mopping up” operations. Kenney’s chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Don Wilson, insisted that the Japanese “set the pace for ‘no quarter’ procedures” after an incident on the morning of March 3 involving the only Allied bomber lost in the battle - seven of the B-17's nine-man crew bailed out, but Japanese fighters strafed the airmen as they drifted to the sea six thousand feet below. It should be remembered that strafing Japanese survivors was not controversial at the time, and the public’s view was largely consistent with a comment made by one officer who flew on these missions: “The enemy is out to kill you and you are out to kill the enemy. You can’t be sporting in war.”

[@wesleybeck9413]

Why is it that the RAAF efforts in this battle is underplayed in most sources of information I read? Great series KnG. Keep up the great effort!

[@backseatgamer7367]

Ok you failed to mention that one of the Australian pilot's came home with spew all over his cockpit.... because shooting men in the water is...a war crime.

[@buk1237]

Why does Major pappy Gun look like MacArthur?

[@kylelee9474]

[@greenkoopa]

I didn't get notified of this til today (4 days later) and I have the bell lit up Bad job KZbin

[@phucvinh2883]

Japanese soldiers when they're at dead end: "Emperor Meiji, we're coming for you!"

[@jonbaxter2254]

These battles and wins are becoming crushing. Seems like forever ago Japan had a win.

[@TheMatissV]

Love this series. Japanese are starting to flail at this point in the war

[@Ahjenta]

Excellent video. Thank you for shedding light on this decisive but little known battle. Just one minor nitpick, at 5:50 the year on the upper right corner should be 1943, not 1942. :)

[@IntegralBlinds]

Really interesting….

[@jeanineking7311]

thank you