Why Does a Battleship Have a Wooden Deck?

[@Epicawes]

I love how much more comfortable Ryan is getting doing these... he seems to really enjoy them now!

[@mattblom3990]

The early days were a bit rough but he persevered.

[@dragineeztoo61]

I think he was just cold and wanted to get it done quickly. .... Just kiddin' I've always loved these videos but, you're right, he's getting better.

[@kickingitwiththekerofskys8476]

Yeah he is. He is doing a great job.

[@clubtepes2046]

I noticed that as well. He is letting some humor through.

[@agwhitaker]

Agreed, initially he was looking around like something wanted to sneak up and bite him.

[@phillipbouchard4197]

Thanks to all on Battleship New Jersey for your ongoing efforts to preserve and educate the general public as to the importance of battleships in the U.S. Navy. Keep going on your teak restoration project in the spring.

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

As soon as we finish shoveling we will be back at it, decking doesn't want for spring thaw!

[@spvillano]

@@BattleshipNewJersey hopefully, you're getting a decent price break for the quantity of teak you're ordering. That's just one hell of a lot of excellent wood!

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

I am dying to go See the North Carolina with her new teak. It's been done for a while but between life and the whole corona thing, I haven't been able to yet. The New Jersey will be pretty Beautiful when her new deck is finished. I'll have to add her to my list. North Carolina is where my family is from and my Great Father saved and sent money when they were trying to buy her for a museum/memorial. That was a pretty difficult task for Pop with a family of 5 and the enlisted man's pay scale 60 years ago. She (USS North Carolina) holds a special place in my heart. I need to visit the Alabama again, too... Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

[@kilroy2517]

was fortunate enough to have visited the NJ several years ago when another military ship was coming up river and the NJ sounded a salute with the 5" gun. Damn that was loud.

[@brucegibbins3792]

A curiosity piece I have is a set of dark Teak book ends. These were made using Teak wood from the British battleship HMS Iron Duke, which was the flagship of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, during the Battle of Jutland: from 31 May to 1 June 1916, fought off the North Sea coast of Denmark's Jutland Peninsula.

[@B52Stratofortress1]

Any surviving remnants from any British battleship is a rare collectible. You're quite lucky to have such a piece.

[@taustin3067]

My Dad was a midshipman aboard HMS Iron Duke at the Battle of Jutland!

[@hanzinmypockets13]

I have napkin rings made from the teak from HMS Warspite and HMS Valiant

[@johngregory4801]

@@hanzinmypockets13 That we can't walk the decks of the Grand Lady as we can walk Victory's decks is a travesty. From the going up a creek in the third battle of Narvik to the longest battleship-on-battleship hit in history to surviving an attack by 3 Fritz X bombs and much more... HMS Warspite DESERVED to be saved. The Lady agreed, as, in the end, she made the scrappers come to her. Girl wasn't going to the breaker yard, no matter what!

[@wolfhalupka8992]

@@johngregory4801 so true- she really should have been saved & turned into a museum exhibit, next to HMS Belfast or close to HMS Victory!

[@JJ-rf7dg]

Its to protect the steel from weather element and easier for the crew to walk on. The steel deck can be slick and hazardous.

[@Blackjack701AD]

Can vouch for that. I drove a tank (which doesn’t have teak decks) and even with non-slip patches you could easily slip on that CARC paint.

[@swaghauler8334]

@@Blackjack701AD Not to mention being able to fry an egg on it in the desert!

[@JJ-rf7dg]

I worked on battleship NJ as a color guard assisting Ft Dix multiple times.

[@rogersmith7396]

And hotter than hell.

[@happydemon3038]

I also think it's because of softness. People have problems standing on concrete floors all day, steel would have the same issue with how hard it is. But even hard padding is preferrable to stand on than concrete. So even though wood is hard, it's still not as rough to walk on all day as solid steel. Heck, I've heard that you shouldn't jog on asphalt sidewalks, as it wears out your knees, and you should seek gravel or dirt paths to jog on instead.

[@BCaldwell]

This channel is absolutely phenomenal.... Thank you for all you do! The fact that you publish content on so many other ships besides the New Jersey says a lot about your dedication to the history of the US Navy, Along with the people who served aboard these historic ships.... I speak for many when I say that we appreciate your efforts. What you're doing and the awareness you raise is something special. It must be very fulfilling... You genuinely earned my subscription a couple of years ago because of this. We love what you do, My family supports what you're doing and the preservation your organization stands for.... I would love to meet you one day when I visit our majestic New Jersey. The success of this channel proves that I am not alone in my view of what you do.... Hit me up if you ever come to Tampa Bay, We have a full functional victory ship on display. They sail it twice a year. Thank you 🇺🇸

[@joeythedime1838]

Ernest Borgnine reupped a few times and served almost 10 years in the Navy. From Quinton McHale in McHale's Navy to Ice Station Zebra, The Poseidon Adventure, Airwolf and Mermaid Man in SpongeBob, Ernest Borgnine was known as a very hard working actor. If your a fan "Ernest Borgnine on the Bus" is a short documentary that's available on KZbin.

[@johnbockelie3899]

Ernest Borgnine also served in the Navy from late 30's through WW2.

[@breckfoster767]

most importantly he is the record keeper, and knows a cute haircut when he sees it.

[@clubtepes2046]

In his later years, a film maker I know in upper Michigan, used him a lot in movies he was making. I'm told he was a wonderful person.

[@rogersmith7396]

"All quiet on The Western Front". Yeah its him.

[@ripley7t429]

Heck of an actor, and his name always made me hungry too, lol.

[@deksea]

Hi Ryan. Yes, Im a big Ice Station Zebra fan and I think Borgnine delivered a great performance in this movie. The score of that movie is exceptional. I have the DVD for this movie and it was not easy to get hold of!

[@shauny2285]

Let's not forget the late great Rock Hudson who was also in that movie.

[@Raptorrat]

The game made for "deadliest catch" actually had the abillity to give your crew 4 orders: launch traps, recover traps, rest, en remove ice. And the show itself emphasised that it's not just slipping, but also chuncks falling down, and in extreme cases making the ship unstable in a roll. While a battleship has different characteristics, it would seem to me that is still a concern. As for winter-war-movies: "Stalingrad" (1993) would be top of that list. While it has all the issues a German war movie has, it also has the winter as an actual threat as opposed to being the backdrop.

[@whyjnot420]

How would you contrast/compare Stalingrad to Talvisota? Backdrop? Check, is there ever a time in Finland where winter is not the backdrop?. Threat? Check. Puukko everywhere. Wait, what, you meant that winter is the threat? Oh, thats there too. Cover? Check. Group of farmers on skis? Check, currently slaughtering commies. Sorry..... way too bored atm. tbh, Talvisota came out like 4 years before Stalingrad.... certainly, they feel similar to each other as products of a similar time and place the way Tora Tora Tora & The Longest Day fit together. Drop Das Boot in with Stalingrad and Talvisota, and you would have a rather nice marathon. (drinking game, for das boot, drink everytime someone screams ALAAAAAARM, for the other two, drink everytime a communist dies.)

[@Raptorrat]

@@whyjnot420 haven't seen it yet, so couldn't comment. "is there ever a time in Finland where winter is not the backdrop?" It always surprises me when people forget that Finland does have summers.

[@whyjnot420]

@@Raptorrat I never forget that..... but I also never let the Finns forget that they live essentially north of the Hyperborea of Greek myth. (Hyper for 'beyond', borea = Boreas = the Greek personification of the north wind..... therefore Finland = North Hyperborea (or Hyperboreus Superior.... HyperHyperBorea?) Even if the sun is out and it is 85F in the middle of July.... that is just proof that the gods are playing tricks on you by deceiving your senses. In reality it is -40F with a mix of snow and hail, though it is still July. The truth is, you are in the final stages of hypothermia, and your brain no longer knows what hot and cold are. Soon you will run off into the woods screaming that you are on fire, as you throw off your clothes before diving into a snow drift thinking it is a giant fluffy electric blanket and drifting off to sleep. :P caveat: I talk with a handful of Finns quite often, tbh, tough peoples, interesting history, lots of beer, knives, trees, knives, lakes and more beer. (I am of the firm opinion that Mr. Stabby is a Finn.)

[@whyjnot420]

@@Raptorrat Also, I highly recommend that you check out Talvisota (officially called "The Winter War" in English, but really, Talvisota sounds better). Really good war movie. In terms of how it looks/feels... It really does fit in there with Das Boot and Stalingrad in terms of production, storytelling, themes, even just the way people made movies in the 80s and first 2/3 or so of the 90s. Also of note is the 1955 Tuntematon sotilas (The Unknown Soldier), if you want a Continuation War movie to follow after the Winter War one. (of lesser note the 1985 movie of Tuntematon sotilas as well, still based on the same source, the 1954 book of the same name by Väinö Linna, not as good of an overall film as the 1955 one, but it does benefit from more modern tech/kit.... kinda like the difference between the 1930 and 1979 All Quiet on the Western Front, though not as stark of a contrast)

[@boataxe4605]

The sister-ship of the Northwestern capsized and sank due to icing with all hands lost. Stacks of crab pots are practically impossible to de ice.

[@whyjnot420]

Best winter war movie? A movie about The Winter War of course, Talvisota.

[@dannysmith2806]

stumbled across this channel while watching naval documentaries and i must say, one of the best and most educational naval warship channels ive ever seen. yall even did a bit on my homestate ship the North Carolina. love the content and look forward to more

[@Necrotic99]

Teak deck is also very good traction. Walking around a wet deck in the rough seas would be very slippery. They could use anti-slip paint but I am unsure how common it was when battleships were made.

[@Murph9000]

From a lot of experience on yachts, teak decks are about the best grip you can get, especially on a pitching and rolling deck with constant white water on it. Grip tape/paint, and grip patterns, are a very poor second to it. Even as it wears, teak remains good for grip.

[@whyjnot420]

Teak is also one of the best woods when rotting due to lots of water is a concern. It really shows off its tropical lineage. Not to mention people who aren't familiar with teak just do not know how different it is from other stuff like oak or whatnot.

[@cody4783]

Grip was actually a reason I expected the video to be about! Insulation is an interesting main reason, but I was certainly expecting discussion of how likely steel decking would be to collect solid ice and be an immense danger of sending crew sliding around (And into frigid waters...).

[@BeKindToBirds]

@@cody4783 I suspect the reason that it wasn't is because modern rubber coatings and stuff are superior and teak has gone out of fashion as a more expensive alternative with more maintenance drawbacks and higher initial cost.

[@clementgoetke2385]

not as good as nonskid on a navy vessel i spent 4 years on one

[@johngregory4801]

True, but 1/2" teak would provide the same nonskid surface. 2" teak makes for good insulation in addition to the grippiness.

[@objuan6]

Another example of radiant heat on armored deck that some might find interesting was coming back from WESPAC, late 60s, crossing equator, BBQ on the flight deck CVA-66, chow-line strung about 3/4 length of flight deck. Everybody wearing swim trunks, cut-offs, radiant heat off steel deck coming up under the sleeves of those shorts resulted in sun-burn in places the sun usually never shined. excellent video excellent channel

[@objuan6]

@Will he heck as like Well, thanks for correct. At least I got the location right, ie under-cheeks. have a swell day, read some more sea-stories. J

[@bs0u0155]

Hi Ryan, Great that you brought up Ice Station Zebra. My Grandfather worked on lathes in the Cammell Laird shipyard, built HMS Ark Royal, and the Prince of Wales (for all the good that did) amongst others. Anyhow, the scene in Ice Station Zebra with the blocked torpedo tube drain spigots was based on the whole HMS Thetis debacle, which I'm sure you know all about, but not many do. I still have a brass candlestick turned from some scrap from the salvage/recommissioning of the boat (& memorial I guess). Keep up the good work!

[@tretona6934]

Where Eagles Dare is my all time winter fav

[@revenantrex1957]

My first underway about 5 years ago on a ddg,we went to the northern part of japan,i woke up with ice everywhere,icicles the size of a baseball bat hanging from mount 51 and about an inch of ice over every outside surface,it made doing boat report a hell of a lot harder thats for sure

[@barkingmonkee]

As far as winter war films, I think my favorite is "Enemy at the Gates", with an honrable mention for Alexander Nevsky (those German knights crashing through the ice was pretty cool.)

[@MW-bi1pi]

Battleground. My Dad was a 4th Armored Division vet that fought his way into Bastogne and said Battleground was the most true to life of the Battle of the Bulge movies. Ryan was referring to Battleground when he mentioned a young Ricardo Montalban.

[@nelsonschroeder2842]

Ice Station Zebra is a great movie. One of my favorites as well. I bought it on Amazon and watch it from time to time.

[@MrTexasDan]

Ice Station Zebra is still one of my favorites. It still holds up ... except for the MiG in-flight scenes, which are terrible. "Remember, always lift with your non-rates" ... that's golden right there.

[@jasonsabourin2275]

You mean where all 4 MiGs were lined up abreast, and not moving, and the scenery was just going by them, like a they were in a still shot? 🤨🥴

[@MrTexasDan]

@@jasonsabourin2275 and the background was bouncing up and down ... but not the MiGs. Ya that scene.

[@arniestuboud]

I very much still enjoy viewing my copy of ICE STATION ZEBRA every few months. This was Howard Hughes' favorite film and in his days before video tapes and DVDs he would arrange to have the Las Vegas TV stations show it on their late night movie as much as possible so he could watch it. This was also said to be Rock Hudson's favorite of all of his films. I still marvel at some of the special effects, especially the shots of the sub (a large model) under the ice with air bubbles from blowing ballast tanks going UP and no obvious place to hide wires or model-controlling horizontal poles out of shot. I have not yet found any "how to's" about that. Also just stunning aerial photography of the real GUPPY IIA diesel submarine (USS Ronquil SS-396) they used plowing thru the waves. I served on one just like that one. Note, there are only two females in the entire film, both at the beginning in the background, one walking in the street and one as a pub patron.

[@johngregory4801]

Fortunately or not, I read the book well before watching the movie. A pity the stories are only marginally the same.

[@arniestuboud]

@@johngregory4801 Different genre demand different approaches. About any frustrated screenwriter trying to adopt a book to a film will tell you of massive frustration....

[@johngregory4801]

@@arniestuboud Yeah, well, "Full Fathom Five" and Flight Of The Intruder" prove that sometimes screenwriters only take the setting and time of a book and create a completely different story, one that's no relation to the book... To think I wasted hard-earned cash to see those films in a theater. They were so bad I walked out of both.

[@ypaulbrown]

Battleground is my favorite winter movie with Ricardo Montablan and Van Johnson,james Arness, Richard Joeckel and a lotto other stars, all shot in the snow....1949, a classic, hope you can see if you have not.....there are many great foreign winter war movies, but I do not remember the names, the Russian ones are some of the best along with the German ones too... cheers from Florida,Paul

[@Normandy1944]

Heros of Telemark is my favorite winter war movie, Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris, good stuff. Ernest Borgnine was a great American hero....he served this country for 10 yrs in the Navy. Always liked his acting, too many movies to list, but The Dirty Dozen comes to mind always with another iconic hero, Lee Marvin, a Marine, who was shot in the butt. One of the worse winter war movies was Battle of the Bulge, horrifically edited and acted and so untrue. Probably the best winter scenes for a war movie were the parts of Band of Brothers.

[@Errr717]

I was on a destroyer which is now a museum Fall River, Mass. in the 70's. Alistair MacLean was one of my favorite authors; I've read most of his books. I had a good collection of his paperbacks at one time and they were all good thrillers. The fun part as you were reading the book was to try to guess who the villain was. MacLean was so good that he had you guessing until the very last minute. Anyway, my favorite Alistair MacLean movie has to be Where Eagles Dare.

[@Convoycrazy]

Battleground, with Van Johnson, is one of my favorite Winter war movies. (Of course he was great in the Caine Mutiny as well) But the BoB episodes that take place in Bastogne & Foy were great Winter episodes, completely agree.

[@tomdolan9761]

Don't forget James Whitmore as the sergeant

[@rogersmith7396]

In Strategic Command Jimmy Stewart crashes a B 36 in Iceland. He was a Brigadier General in the Air Force. John Wayne had one where he crashed in the Canadian Arctic I believe.

[@rogersmith7396]

Hertgen Forrest.

[@Steven-nd1pz]

Johnny, I remember Van Johnson in a black and white WW 2 movie calling cigarettes "coffin nails." That generation perceived the danger before all the lster medical studies.

[@Convoycrazy]

Yeah, Island in the Sky with The Duke! That was a good one. I thought the Jimmy Stewart movie took place in the desert, but I could be wrong. I always liked seeing him in movies, too.

[@danzervos7606]

I read somewhere that one of the reasons for a wood deck is to absorb shrapnel. When I visited the Alabama it became apparent that the only soft things on the ship were people.

[@flyboy38a]

I also was told while I was in the Navy that wooden covered decks where there to absorb the shrapnel from exploding shells, and that teak was used because it holds up under marine conditions better than other types of wood. I can see his explanation as a secondary reason for the use of wooden decks. So, does anyone have the definitive answer as to why wood was used? Also, since current modern warships don’t use wood on the decks, I would like to know how much of a problem insulation was back then compared to today’s ships.

[@robertrock8778]

Toured the New Jersey in Philadelphia Shipyard in the late 60s. Three things I remember are the teak decks, the two lane bowling alleys, and the fully functioning soda fountain.

[@petenelson7273]

Thanks for the wonderful education. My favorite winter war movies are Ice Station Zebra, Battle of the Bulge and Band of Brothers. Good pulls Ryan

[@rockstarpl0x423]

I just flew over the ship last week coming into PHL. It looks really nice lit up in the dark! Really hoping to visit this year if I have a long layover or overnight

[@daminox]

I've wondered the same! I'm interested to hear Ryan's explanation.

[@optimusdimegatron1297]

this man has the coolest job.

[@Rusty_Shackleford1]

Visited the Iowa last month in L.A. Please talk more about the NBC capability of the New Jersey!

[@theawanonymouscaller]

Glad to hear that the battleship is designed for harsh conditions. I will be visiting the ship in the case of biological/nuclear attack.

[@davelewandoski4292]

Where Eagles Dare, Battleground, Band of Brothers have great winter scenes. Stay warm Ryan!

[@deeexxx8138]

I saw Ice Station Zebra in the original release They used a Nautilus type hull for the sub, which was long obsolete. When IOWA was in Pascagoula for reactivation, a lot of teak mysteriously started showing up as pick up truck bumpers, home bars and so forth. After that, the Navy mandated that all teak removed would be numbered, accounted for and kept in bonded storage until it could be laid back down or was declared scrap.

[@sbrazenor2]

Traction and insulation seem to be the most appropriate guesses, I would think.

[@joporizzoo]

My Dad was born and raised in Fall River MA and I grew up, from probably the age 7 on, visiting the USS Massachusetts, which was berthed just a mile from my grandparents' home, in the early 1970s. I think your channel is amazing, and you are answering so many questions I had as a small kid. Keep up the great work. I'd love to know more about PT boats too, if that's something you're thinking of covering (maybe you have, sorry, I will look deeper.)

[@bernarrcoletta7419]

Funny you should mention Ice Station Zebra. I watched it last week during the storm. Back when I was a kid, the boatyards in Annapolis used to get sailboats from Japan crated in teak. It was a great source for local woodworkers and boatyards. Ernest Borgnine FTW! Favorite winter war movie…The Bedford Incident.

[@steveodeal1921]

Thank you for showing so much of this wonderful information about all this military equipment. I'm a mechanical kind of person, and you have taught me so much. Thank you!

[@richiewong1]

Ernest Borgnine stars as Ryan Szymanski in the Battleship New Jersey Adventure!

[@bubba99009]

Before advanced coatings wood was probably the only option to make a deck walkable in rough seas. Painted steel would be a nightmare to try to walk on even in a drizzle much less a hurricane.

[@glenchapman3899]

Not really. Non slip surfaces were pretty common on warships all the way back to at least the beginning of the 20th century

[@SuperChuckRaney]

Paaint usta be a huge hazard to the crew, it burns extra toxic fumes. Extra Extra Toxic fumes, worse below the deck than the actual hit.

[@glenchapman3899]

@@SuperChuckRaney They didn't use paint, they used variations of linoleum. For example the Japanese used to crush red brick into their coverings, hence the distinctive reddish brown found on their destroyers and cruisers during ww2

[@SuperChuckRaney]

@@glenchapman3899 that's the definition of how paint is made.

[@glenchapman3899]

@@SuperChuckRaney possibly but paint is not traditionally held to a surface using brass strips.

[@APV878]

Seeing you in that field jacket makes me think of my old trusty M1965 field jacket, easily one of my warmest and most comfy jackets I've ever had. Although it's "semi-retired" as it's gotten pretty worn out, I only wear it when it's > really cold < or if I'm shoveling. Other than that I have an MA--1 flight jacket for "every day" cold wear.

[@APV878]

@@SSN515 I didn't say that Ryan's jacket was an M65. I was saying it made me think of > My < M65.

[@pfalzerwaldgumby4798]

I saw „Ice Station Zebra“ in a theater when it came out in 1968 and have read the book in both English and German. It is a lovely bit of silly Cold War paranoia. I recently downloaded it to iTunes and love to watch it when I need a distraction.

[@n4zou]

I was a GS1 on the USS Chandler DDG-996 attached to the New Jersey battle group in the mid 1980's. That was after we deployed with the Kitty Hawk battle group in the Persian gulf. I wish we had a wood clad deck. It got so hot in the Persian gulf the non-skid on our deck would melt and stick to the bottom of our shoes. Despite insulation the deck exposed to direct sun in the Gulf got very hot in spaces below deck. Wood is the best insulation material and is so much better than that tar and fine gravel non-skid on our deck.

[@JohnPaul-gh1fh]

Great questions answered by your videos..! Although I've seen the USS Wisconsin... I'm thinking I'd really like to take a trip to NJ..! Cheers!

[@larryg3326]

Interesting video, thanks. When I was a kid we toured the Missouri in Bremerton. The guy giving the tour said the teak was to reduce ricochet of bullets and shell splinters. Ryan's info is likely better but I bet teak also gives better traction when wet than bare steel.

[@rogersmith7396]

Also its traditional back to the age of sail.

[@robertpatrick3350]

During my apprenticeship I spent a day chipping ice off helicopter landing lights with a guy who served on Duke of York, I stopped complaining when he described breaking ice of the deck on the convoys to Murmansk…. It also helped that he was sharing his hip flask.

[@MrT67]

Respect to him on both counts: Serving on the DoY and sharing the hip flask.

[@N20Joe]

I was about to go visit the BB this past weekend but we saw the weather forecast and decided to reschedule. Still looking forward to it!

[@TTULangGenius]

I remember reading a book about Bismarck’s discovery by Dr. Robert Ballard and how the teak deck is still amazingly intact at the bottom of the Atlantic. It was the first time that I learned about teak and its amazing durability. My dad, who was a sailor on the USS Saratoga in the 70s and a papermaker after he got out of the Navy, has really enjoyed these videos along with me. He’s also the one who told me all about teak after reading the Bismarck book. 😄 I really admire your passion for these old ships, Ryan. Keep up the great work and stay well!

[@davidtriplett3057]

I remember Ice Station Zebra as one of those adventure movies from my childhood that did not age particularly well. The scene where the torpedo tube springs a massive leak, yet the sub still floats is just one of several that come to mind. Still, nice to see we have a common point of reference. I think my favorite winter war movie is Heroes of Telemark, or perhaps Where Eagles Dare.

[@ronandanne1]

"Where Eagles Dare" is probably my favorite winter war movie, but there are a lot of good ones. As far as books go, have you ever read "HMS Ulysses" by Alistair MacLean (same author as "Ice Station Zebra" and "Where Eagles Dare")? It's a fictional account of a royal navy destroyer on convoy duty in the north atlantic, based on MacLean's own naval service during the war.

[@huizilopocht]

Yes, Ulysses is a great one, too. Lindybeige once found: "Alistair MacLean gets as better, the colder it gets." . and I guess, he was right. I remember the HMS Ulysses to be a special cruiser indeed.

[@rogersmith7396]

Yes the best. Guns of Navarone, Force 10. Read all his books as a kid. He was a drunk.

[@jasonsabourin2275]

@@rogersmith7396 Hmmm....maybe I should have drank with my Literature studies.

[@rogersmith7396]

@@jasonsabourin2275 MacLean was an alcoholic Scottsman.

[@jasonsabourin2275]

@@rogersmith7396Yes, but not quite sure what that's got to do with him writing books.

[@jaredhildebrandt7210]

Thank you for everything you do to educate people about the history of this great country!

[@BarryH1701]

I wish I could afford to travel to NJ to see this great ship. I had just gotten out of the service when these ships were put back in service back in the 80s.

[@PhillyCh3zSt3ak]

"It adds a lot of weight." True, but it does look really cool for the photographs.

[@vrod665]

My favorite winter time war movie - Tora Tora Tora. Ok, so technically Dec. 7th is two weeks before “winter” but it’s my kind of winter - palm trees, beaches, battleships and insightfully remorseful Admiral.

[@coderider3022]

I was on Missouri 2007 in pearl and very impressed with how well kept the deck was. I remember a we were told no food or drinks.. During my tour, a toddler dropped ice cream on it and all you hear was…” ice cream on the deck “ repeatedly and about 6 guys in their senior years ran from nowhere to cleaned it up and take what remained of the ice cream from the toddler.

[@rogersmith7396]

Its UV from the sun which destroys it. These ships should have bow to stern awnings on them.

[@etravix]

Ice Station Zebra is a classic. The sub almost sinking was a cool scene.

[@SirFloofy001]

I love watching your old videos then coming and watching a new one. You have grown so much, you have gotten so good at this.

[@danawhite8695]

My personal favorite wintertime action movie is "The Bedford Incident" (1965) with Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier. My two favorite war movies overall are "The Eternal Sea" (1955), the true story of Admiral John Hoskins starring Sterling Hayden, and "Wings", the World War One epic that was the first picture to win the Oscar for Best Picture. It should be noted that "Tora, Tora, Tora" is the most historically accurate Pearl Harbor movie.

[@jameslrbrand2002uk]

my first introduction to Ernst Bourgnine was in Airwolf still my favourite TV show to this day

[@stephenrivera4382]

Hey Ryan, I really enjoyed this episode - thanks! I’ve been on a tour of the New Jersey a few years ago and am looking forward to my next one, hopefully bringing my two grandsons along. I too am an Ernest Borgnine fan, from his many movies to McHale’s Navy which I enjoyed watching in my youth. My favorite wintertime war movie is Where Eagles Dare, starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood.

[@traxiii]

Thanks for that, I always thought the teak deck was for non-slip back before the coatings we have now. I had also heard that they would take up the wood decks when going into a surface action to protect the crew from flying splinters.

[@wawoodsman7170]

Chipping off ice build up was one of the main jobs I had as a greenhorn on board the crab boat in Alaska. That and grinding up bait and filling bait socks.

[@533hornet]

My dad bought a box of leftover scrap teak that was supposedly used to repair the Iowa's deck after the incident with turret 2. He sent it to his dad and he carved a bunch of figurines amd sent it to his army friends from WW2

[@kickingitwiththekerofskys8476]

I remember the days "Holy Stoning" the aft teak deck. Ah the memories of serving on the Big J. It was the good ole days. BM3 onboard, 3rd division, Deck, Left Lower Powder Door Operator Turret 3. 1984 - 1990.

[@slartybartfarst55]

Love Ice Station Zebra - saw it in 70 mm Widescreen when it first came out, & that format beautifully fitted with the look (Especially the stand-off on the Ice)

[@durskoenig]

Ice Station Zebra is a great movie, one of my favorites.

[@SueBobChicVid]

"Remember, always lift with your non-rates." I was in the Navy and never heard that. LOL!

[@josephstevens9888]

My favorite winter scene in a war movie was from Patton, in which General Patton orders his chaplain to compose the now famous "Weather Prayer" during the Battle of the Bulge.

[@paulmurphy773]

Like u, Ice Station Zebra is one of my favorite winter sub movies .... another of my favorite winter navy movies is The Bedford Incident.....

[@davidbarnsley8486]

I have always wondered why the timber on the big boats I use to think it was a hang over from the olden days That’s fantastic 👍👍👍👍

[@davedennis6042]

It reminded me of "Dangerous Catch". Sometimes they had to go chip ice too. I know they hated that job but it has to be done.

[@SnipersLaww]

As you had already mentioned.... Battle of the Bulge is one of my fave winter war movies and just one of my faves period but unfortunately its rarely available on streaming and I lost my hard copy back in Hurricane Katrina and havent been able to replace it.

[@pizzaivlife]

gotta mix up the outro- Battleship New Jersey receives operating support, but not help shoveling from the state of New Jersey...

[@johnshepherd8687]

The 1949 movie about Bastogne, Battleground. Why don't you do what Battleship Texas did and make some teak grips for 1911 pistols?

[@Lucas12v]

I'd buy a pair.

[@PhiddyPford]

I think of Quentin McHale when you say Ernie. He also graced the Great Circus Parade for years.

[@MrCantStopTheRobot]

Heh heh heh... favorite? Das Boot, of course. For recycling old teak, I wonder if teak would work well in a fireplace.

[@davidmg4216]

Loved Ice station Zebra, but I think Ernest Borgnines best performance was in Airwolf.

[@hpharridan]

didn't he get an Oscar for Marty?

[@hpharridan]

cant remember when or what book it was, not Hornblower, maybe Two Years Before The Mast but i have read that the reason that the old wooden ship sailors wore striped shirts is because they would sleep on deck on hot nights and the tar between the plank decking would make stripes on their clothes.....can anyone verify that?

[@rogersmith7396]

He got his Oscar for Marnie. He was also good in that movie about Pearl Harbor with Burt Lancaster and James Dean? From Here to Eternity.

[@TheNeilBlack]

Did he say "Museum and Memorial Skate Park?" I may need to come tour the ship again...

[@fishsquishguy1833]

I work right next to the USS Salem. Where it’s berthed, at low tide it seems to be sitting right in the mud. Is this worse for a museum ship and will the hull rust quicker? On the pier next to it every couple years they’ll have a diver in to replace/inspect the big sacrificial (magnesium?) things that prevent rust. Do they use these on museum ships as well?

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

So, mud can be better or worst for ships, depending on the arrangement. Salem is dredged out to 40 ft, so even at low tide she isn't in the mud, though she looks like it.

[@keiffermcmillan1]

I liked some classics like Tora ,Tora ,Tora !!!! ,Ice Station Zebra , and Under Siege ..as well as Night of the Generals

[@roadskare63]

Ice station Zebra is a CLASSIC!!! A great cold war era romp!!

[@diogenes34]

Thanks for the information I had no idea why they would put teak on the deck but now I understand.👍👍

[@carlhearn108]

Honestly, battleships are neat but not really my thing.... until I started watching this channel. I suppose they are too big to comprehend in a casual glance. So cool. History channel step aside. This is very interesting and this fellow teaching is killing it. Love the channel. Loved Ice Station Zebra. Great work.

[@SethBondArtist]

USS Missouri makes a cameo in the movie "Kindergarten Cop" at 23 min and 9 sec in some B roll. Love all the fantastic content you put out.

[@mulletoutdooradventures6286]

Earnest Borgnine is awesome. He was a genuine really good person. I literally watch all 4 seasons of McHales Navy 3xs a year. Teak is hard to keep up with. I worked on a sportfisher that had teak everywhere and every couple years was sanding and refinishing. Along with treatments multiple times a year. I'd like to know if there is a way to volunteer to do work on the ship? From a family of naval personnel I'd love to give something back to the service and preservation of that amazing ship. Last fall I rode my boat up to see it from the water and it really puts it into perspective. The JFK too.

[@davidparadis490]

"Where the Iron Cross Grows" is an excellent WW2 movie set in wintertime...starring James Coburn and Maximilian Schnell

[@kevinmurphy3464]

That was actually pretty interesting. I had no idea that the the wooden deck was so important for interior temperature control.

[@grahamcheshire9787]

I have a very useful letter opener made from the decks of HMS Anson which I bought in 1961.

[@edmain1137]

FYI. Ice Station Zebra was Howard Hughes favorite movie, he considered it perfect. Living in Vegas as a hermit he ate the same meals everyday and had a projector run this movie everyday for years.

[@VindicatorFSX]

I grew up watching Ice Station Zebra! Haha. Wow I have not watched It for a long time now. Used to watch that and The Land That Time Forgot.

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Ice Station Zebra was a great movie, have to look it up and watch again.

[@robskalas]

Ice Station Zebra is a great movie! One of my favorites.

[@bellvnv2000]

Oh it go's without saying , " Stalingrad , 1993 " ! Never thought I'd ever see the Wehrmacht in a sympathetic light and it has some epic battle scenes !

[@brucerumrey8894]

Ice Station Zebra is still one of my favorites. The scene where the torpedo tube is open to the sea and the engineering officer said, but it in the red. Watch the movie all the time along with Where Eagles Dare". They made some good movies out of Alistair MacLean books.

[@MG-vo7yn]

thank you so much for answering a question that my husband & i have been puzzling over!!! why do some warships have wooden decks? we are both military history fans. we live in RI and have visited the battleship Massachusetts museum. if we are ever in the area, we would love to see the New Jersey (and buy a piece of that deck - can we buy it online?}!! i love that you are restoring it as a museum. THANK YOU for that and for solving a puzzle that my husband and i have had for years!!

[@richardmerrill4036]

Dad was a Company Commander in the Second Ranger Battalion all thru WWII. Silver Star, Bronze Star, 3 Purple Hearts and a PUC. All in the span of 11 months. So Saving Private Ryan is my movie.

[@clacks78]

Assuming it's safe to say Ryan based on my other museum experiences that the gift shop has the thickest teak planking and highest NBC rating? Love your channel.

[@mikeloghry9521]

Always been a big fan of Ernist. Ever since the TV show. PT 73 (-:

[@caseysmith7747]

Favorite winter war movie: "Where Eagles Dare" (I like "Enemy at the Gates" & "Ice Station Zebra", too.)

[@magnificus8581]

Favorite winter war movie? It's a tie. Snowball fight on Elf and The Thing

[@Niftynorm1]

I'm a big Ernest Borgnine(former GM1 in WW2) fan starting with McHale's Navy. I saw Ice Station Zebra when it came out and it is a favorite of mine (it also had Patrick McGoohan who was on TV in Secret Agent Man). Regarding the snow removal what about using snow blowers? The small ones with plastic paddles should be safe for the decks?