USS Birmingham - Three Strikes & Not Out!

Today we take a look at the brief but valiant career of the USS Birmingham, a Cleveland class cruiser of the US Navy.
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[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@Emdiggydog]

You mentioned her 6 inch guns were firing during the Air Attack. Were the Cleveland's 6 inch guns dual purpose or was it a Bismarck main battery situation (shooting at the water/low flying aircraft)?

[@oldiron1223]

Outstanding job pronouncing San Jacinto! See current berthing of USS Texas. San Jacinto was the sight of General Santa Anna's defeat at the hands of the Texicans under San Houston and now a National Monument.

[@salaminshikiya9351]

How was a battleship's secondary gun's ammunition with separate shells and charges like the British 5.5 inch and 6 inch ammunition stored? And how were they brought up from the magazines to the guns that were positioned far away from said magazines?

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

San Jacinto.... you got it.

[@connormclernon26]

What technology would you say was the largest revolution in naval technology in the last 100 years?

[@ditzydoo4378]

18:00 mark: When your close enough to shore that your own 40mm's are directly engaging Japanese trenches... It's at that point your transformed your Light cruiser into the Heaviest PT boat in history.

[@zachariahmorris833]

Brown water navy on steroids.

[@ditzydoo4378]

@@zachariahmorris833 a Brown-Trouser moment for the enemy at the very least. 0~o

[@robertbowen6610]

I think I would let them have the trenches before it rained too hard and that capt tried to sail up them

[@ditzydoo4378]

@@robertbowen6610 Littoral combat at its primal level. It's that, or have the galley sharpen the butter knives for a boarding action. 0~o

[@AgentTasmania]

Kinda missing the T there. I do beleive PG boats existed.

[@gcas9667]

Drach, thank you, This was my dads ship. He was one of the few that came home without a scratch! You missed a few interesting episodes that occurred on the Birmingham. When off Iwo-Jima the ship was moved in close to shore to try and get the Japanese to open up and reveal their hidden gun emplacements. In fact they got so close to shore at the base of Mount Suribachi that even the 20mm were ordered not to fire for fear of ricochets coming back and injuring men on the ship. However, the Marines on board were given permission to use their rifles to fire at Japanese solders as they came out of their caves. Dad said they used the lifeline cables to help steady their rifles. He also watched as the flag was being raised on Suribachi. You also did not mention that it took the Birmingham two(2) attempts to get home from Australia! The first time when they were a day out of Perl, two Australian females were found to be on board! So they turned the ship around and sailed all the way back to Australia! They finally made it on there second attempt. “What some guys won’t try to bring home for a souvenirs!!!”

[@londoncab2814]

My dad served on Birmingham joining the ship following the Princeton incident. He also mentioned the flag raising and returning to Australia after a stowaway was discovered.

[@kaveebee]

Its a. cultural thing for the US navy in Perth, its being going on for decades.

[@appleguyone]

No wonder my dad told me few stories on the Birmingham.....None of them would have been war related.....LOL. Dad what did you do during the war...Oh we tried to smuggle women on board.....

[@kevinmccarthy8746]

Dear sir , god bless you, your dad, and Drachinifel for putting things together. Very heart warming. Kevin from sunny Mexico

[@Saleemsan]

That's pretty damn funny, I hope it's true!

[@5peciesunkn0wn]

I think the floating drydocks are some of our most impressive feats of naval engineering. Imagine telling someone from the age of sail "Yeah we'll completely fix her on a port that floats just outside the battlezone."

[@larryzigler6812]

Nothing special about them. All that was required was the invention of the steam engine to pump the water out.

[@pizzamovies23]

@@larryzigler6812 your wrong. The logistics required to repair ships out of port is immense, the manpower required. Etc

[@larryzigler6812]

@@pizzamovies23 Listen knucklehead must I repeat - A floating dry dock is not one of the most impressive feats of Naval engineering. A rather simple affair.

[@jeffmoore9487]

@@larryzigler6812 Sorry your in a bad mood. I too find big things amazing, and knuckleheads good complany.

[@larryzigler6812]

@@jeffmoore9487 No sex talk please.

[@petewood2350]

I can see the point of two holes, one to let the water in, the other to let it out.

[@davidandmartinealbon3155]

Modern problems require modern solutions

[@aitchisondaniel]

Flooding: Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

[@aldenconsolver3428]

Heck I had fishing boat that worked that way

[@patrickmccrann991]

Having an exit hole reduces the pressure on the shored bulkheads.

[@brandenpost7642]

It’s like a ship full of North Korean generals

[@The_Viscount]

It really is a testament to the designers that of all 27 Cleveland Class cruisers built, all 27 survived the war to be decommissioned. As the story of the Birmingham illustrates, this was not due to a lack of combat action nor effort on the part of the Axis Powers. They really are an excellent design.

[@spikespa5208]

Manned by crews who *knew* how to save their ship.

[@BaikalTii]

well except that CL-61 laid down as Tallahassee was converted to CVL-23 Princeton. and we know happened to U.S.S Princeton.

[@robertf3479]

@@BaikalTii True. There is always one enemy with more than his fair share of luck.

[@erichammer2751]

I understand they were a tad top-heavy.

[@The_Viscount]

@@erichammer2751 that was only after the stupid amounts of added AA guns, radar and fire control. Which, let's face it, happened to every fleet because war time upgrades.

[@paschaldobbins8430]

My uncle was KIA on Birmingham when Princeton blew up. He is buried at sea.

[@stothal]

sorry for your loss. you can be very proud of his work on the Birmingham.

[@paschaldobbins8430]

@@stothal I have heard many stories about him. He was quite a colorful character. I missed out on a good one. I should have asked Dad if the Navy offered to send him home as the surviving son. He was a Seabee.

[@swgard1]

My grandfather was also on the Birmingham, a typist on the bridge and he won’t ever say much about his time aboard but I do know that the sailors who died in the Princeton blast weighs heavy on his heart.

[@paschaldobbins8430]

@@swgard1 I am sure it does. Dad ( A Seabee) was somewhere getting ready to go to the Philippines when my uncle was killed. I never asked him if the Navy offered to let him come home as the surviving son. 15 years to late to ask now.

[@JWSSpeedo]

Bless your family.

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

"Quite happy to introduce the Japanese gunners to their lord and savior, the thousand pound High Explosive bomb. *In considerable numbers.* " 'Merica.

[@lycossurfer8851]

The gunners or the bombs.............

[@davidandmartinealbon3155]

Both

[@turbowolf302]

[ANCHORS AWEIGH INTENSIFIES]

[@Kevin_Kennelly]

Yeah. That's a Drachism. Well done, Sir.

[@LordAnubis0909]

you have to like his sarcastic comments. "lord and savior" :)

[@joselitostotomas8114]

So USN Birmingham joins the Immortal Squadron: Ships that won't just die. Enterprise, Franklin, San Francisco and Laffey. Any other ships that meets the criteria?

[@gwtpictgwtpict4214]

HMS Penolope, though she was finally sunk by a U-boat in 1944 she earned the nickname HMS Pepperpot for the number of holes punched into her during her service in the Mediterranean

[@jamesmckenzie9551]

Warspite, of course.

[@CSSVirginia]

@@saoirseewing4877 Beat me to it!

[@aaronstorey9712]

HMS Warspite should lead the way

[@kellybreen5526]

Illustrious, Eskimo, Athabaskan

[@shingshongshamalama]

USN: *builds a cruiser* IJN Pilots: "Ah yes, another American battleship."

[@jonathanerickson1543]

With triples it really does look like a small battleship

[@antonymitchell3385]

@@jonathanerickson1543 Indeed, the Clevelands are 600ft, which isn't far off the 620ft of a Revenge class, or even the 666ft of a South Dakota. They're also longer than Nevadas!

[@stonks6616]

Antony Mitchell wait wait wait *WHAT*

[@alchemist6819]

@@stonks6616 difference is armour, displacement and guns.

[@onyxdragon1179]

"Another one"

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

How can this ship float when her crew were made of steel plus the several tons worth of awards?

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

Balls of brass, large enough to rival the gravity well of Jupiter.

[@lezardvaleth2304]

Tojo : "Isoroku, what does the scouter say about its award level?!" Yamamoto : *"IT'S OVER NINE HUUUNDREEED!!!"*

[@onewhosaysgoose4831]

By the law of displacement: Badassitude makes membranes hydrophobic, which causes the water to keep a safe distance for fear of getting its ass kicked. As long as density of water, times volume water is to scared to enter, is greater than the weight of the steel crew, they will still be able to float.

[@bigblue6917]

@@onewhosaysgoose4831 I could not have said it better myself.

[@24Belal]

@@onewhosaysgoose4831 they/she would have to float on air as their is no water left? Cleveland class air, only of it's class

[@wildward93]

"Japan's Favorite Target"... meanwhile as the USS Franklin is having flashbacks in the corner, looks up in panic and says "you too?"

[@roscoewhite3793]

HMAS Australia: Mind if I join you blokes?

[@roscoewhite3793]

@TheSlot1942 HMAS Australia: "Hey, pull up a chair, Bunker me old cobber. We're all mates here."

[@penkagenova7073]

@@roscoewhite3793 come now big guys may i also join *USS Johnston probably*

[@jacobmccandles1767]

@@penkagenova7073 you may indeed!

[@gmradio2436]

Enterprise attended by Vestal knocks on the door. "Mind if we join?"

[@GaldirEonai]

"The ship is full of holes, we need to do something about that." "I know, let's add more holes!" :D

[@Grubnar]

"If it's stupid, but works, then it ain't stupid!"

[@salaminshikiya9351]

Why does this reminds me of the Three Stooges?

[@davidelliott5843]

They were adding lightness.

[@mathewm7136]

The new holes are to let the water out.

[@adenkyramud5005]

@@mathewm7136 no shit Sherlock... 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ It's a joke lol

[@sawyerawr5783]

my Grandfather was aboard the troop landing ship USS Karnes at Okinawa when the Birmingham got hit. his ship was anchored pretty close (according to the battle diary it was literally the next ship over) and for a short time the crew on the Karnes--including my Grandfather, who's battle station was the forward twin 40mm mount--thought that they'd actually shot the Oscar down and caused it to crash into the cruiser. his ship was also one of the first to render assistance as the Birmingham worked to deal with its damage.

[@pseudonym9599]

"Their lord and savior the 1000-pound high explosive bomb." My American heart just went into overdrive.

[@bromazepam781]

Drach: "So, the ship would earn eight battle stars..." Me: "What." Drach:"...nine distinguished flying cross medals..." Me: "WHAAAT?!"

[@snowstalker36]

Well, USS Chickasaw, a tug, aquired 6 stars in WW2 with 2 more in Korea to get 8. So a CL getting 8 doesn't surprise me.

[@francisbusa1074]

Actually she earned a total of 9 battle stars.

[@adamdubin1276]

Cleveland class cruisers had floatplanes embarked to act as recon and spotting, It stands to reason that the Pilots of said aircraft could earn distinguished flying crosses...

[@bromazepam781]

@@adamdubin1276 I know that, it's just that the sheer number of medals, flying crosses included, had me thinking "Did they started to fight in 1917. and just kept going until September 2nd, 1945?"

[@cheezitz6730]

@@adamdubin1276 but they were kingfishers. they arent the best aircraft in the world

[@williamwiese9963]

My grandfather was on her in the Lyete Gulf helping out out fires on the USS Princeton. When the Birmingham caught the blast on her starboard side and injured hundreds, they said there was so much blood on the decks and gangways that they had to put sand down to keep everyone from slipping and injuring themselves. I've head many of these stories from my grandfather, thank you for this great video.

[@lezardvaleth2304]

_USS Johnston :_ *"At last, a worthy opponent! Our battle will be LEGENDARY!"*

[@charlesfollette9692]

“Let’s get all the medals”, the Johnston prevented disaster that day.

[@galbert117]

*queue JoJo walk towards each other*

[@Cubcariboo]

I would like to this scene animated.

[@ArenBerberian]

USS Laffey "Am i a joke to you?"

[@matthewtian5486]

USS San Francisco and the New Orleans class cruisers and any us warship during the Guadalcanal campaign : Am I a joke to you or a

[@electrohalo8798]

surprised they didn't classify her as a cruiser or heavy cruiser due to the shear damage she caused, also the weight of her awards must have increased her displacement by a few thousand tonnes

[@Wookieherder]

My grandfather was on that ship in WWII. His station was in the powder magazine. He survived the war.

[@beefy1212]

It was nice to hear about the floating dry docks, at the time a top secret project my grandfather served on the first one, and when they were declassified in the 90’s was happy to finally be able to tell the vital role he performed in WW2.

[@AtholAnderson]

Had to laugh at the Birmigham vs tanks. It's a slightly more one sided fight than Mike Tyson vs a coma patient.

[@obelic71]

Japanese tank. a .50 cal AP round could take it out. a barrage of the Birmingham did them disapear

[@MrDgwphotos]

@@obelic71 6" gun fire from the USS Boise and USS Savannah, along with 5" gun fire from a USN DD, broke up a German tank attack by the Hermann Göring Panzer Division, which included Tiger tanks, on units of the 1st Infantry Division during the invasion of Sicily.

[@kenle2]

@@MrDgwphotos In Normandy, Battleship fire was used against German formations during the battle of Caen, miles inland. The Germans reported near misses with 14 and 16 inch shells flipped tanks like poker chips.

[@mbr5742]

Late in WW2 Prinz Eugen fired on russian tanks during evacuation operations.

[@onyxdragon1179]

@@obelic71 .50 were in face overkill .30 could pen them, but apparently had to be on certain spots (and fired by mgs)

[@robertfrost1683]

My Home Town is " Birmingham, Alabama - this ships namesake. I love the " Lord and Savior - 1,000 Pound bomb !

[@vincentrees4970]

Imagine if Jehovah's witnesses took that approach when knocking on ya door every month... 🤔 They'd be a lot more successful that's for sure

[@xoxo2008oxox]

Isn't it pronounced "Bur- Ming HAM? Whereas the author here says "birming-um".. just some thanks to all.

[@cjclow052]

xoxo2008oxox as a brit i belive its both

[@kenle2]

As the infantry often said with artillery fire incoming: "For what we are about to receive, May the Lord make us truly thankful."

[@_tertle3892]

xoxo2008oxox depends where you’re form if you ask any who’s from anywhere near Birmingham (England) you’ll hear bur-ming-um but else where the may say bur-ming-ham. Don’t now about the anywhere in the US though

[@Blacksheep1968]

Love the individual ship histories. She was definitely a fighting ship!

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

I must admit your wry wit had me chuckling away during this video. I can just picture a conversation with the pilot as to just where he put his plane. The Pilot responding like a 5 year old, "I don't know"! It is always sad when a valiant ship is scrapped. I know we can't keep them swinging at anchor. It is just sad none the less.

[@raygiordano1045]

I think of the horse in Animal Farm every time a warship becomes 'surplus to requirements' and is scrapped.

[@jefferyindorf699]

She would have made a great companion to USS ALABAMA in Mobile bay.

[@francisbusa1074]

@@jefferyindorf699 Indeed, sir! I'd travel to Mobile Bay clear from Montana, just to walk on the same deck that dad swabbed, and was wounded on, during the war!

[@KoRbA2310]

40mm strafe? Reminds me of some crazy destroyers in Battle of Samar Sea sucking enemy into 40mm range :D

[@michaelcourtright4314]

Actually, I believe it was a battery officer on the USS White Plains - 1 of the CVEs - who made that exclamation! And I believe it was on another of the CVEs that a crew member exclaimed "Damn it, boys, they're getting away!"

[@RCAvhstape]

Destroyer USS Laffey came within 20 feet of Japanese battleship Hiei, raking her with machinegun fire and everything else on deck, wounding Admiral Abe and killing some of his officers. She was then surrounded by enemy ships and went down soon after taking a 14" hit from Hiei, fighting to the death against four enemy ships at a point blank range.

[@MrDgwphotos]

@@RCAvhstape Unfortunately, she got so close that her torpedoes did not arm.

[@patrickmccrann991]

This was the first USS Laffey, a prewar destroyer. USS Laffey at Okinawa was one of the first Allen M. Sumner class 2200 tonners completed during the war. Tough ships!

[@slightlyshabby9226]

One wonders if there was in fact a single Japanese Judy pilot with the superpower of, "the CAP doesn't notice me" wreaking untold havoc across the U.S. Fleet. Good thing the war ended before the IJA and IJN got their genetically-modified pilot program in full swing...

[@Cpt_Boony_Hat]

Laughs in USS Enterprise your Bombs dont work on me despite your trickery

[@MichaelLlaneza]

The limiting factor in task force defense is, how many incoming elements can you track at once ? The bottleneck is the master defense plot, and how many tracks the operators can keep updated so the controllers can vector fighters or assign AA fire. When the plot is fully occupied with groups, lone aircraft can slip through just by being one too many threats to keep track of. Individual ships might pick them up, but they're /also/ concentrating on groups in their sector and can miss a leaker. This experience with defense against massed raids drove the development of automated plotting systems that could handle many times the incoming threats that a manual plot could possible handle.

[@duaneraebel4445]

What a great video. This was my dad's ship. He served on CL62, and was on board when the magazine of the USS Princeton (built on the hull of what was to be CL63, another Cleveland Class Light Cruiser) exploded, devastating so many of the crew. He told me about the geyser they built in to protect the bulkheads. Thanks for doing this. I've been told she was the most heavily damaged US light cruiser that did not go to the bottom.

[@swgard1]

My grandfather was a typist on the bridge of the Birmingham, 96 years old but won’t talk about what he saw.

[@venividivici4253]

Yup.

[@willrogers3793]

All the best Tanks aggro the enemy and draw fire away from other party members. However, most prefer to gird themselves for this role with substantial amounts of armor, rather than relying on the fickle favor of RNGesus. A tricky build to pull off, but USS Birmingham seems to have made it work quite well.

[@richardc7721]

How about the USS Augusta? It had a long service life and several crew members that would become famous, one would go on to command a large area of the Pacific, Admiral Nimitz Another was Chesty Puller, the most decorated Marine in the Corps history and had a cousin of note too, George S. Patton. It took part in many operations from Torch to D Day 6th of June 44. FDR sailed on her, along with Churchill and a visit from the King of England. My uncle served aboard her for most of the War and had several interesting accounts. The most interesting story from my uncle was that he was onboard DD 403 from 1938 to 43, then the Augusta until she went in for a major refit, he was then sent to Pearl Harbor to repair ships there. During that time he saw his old destroyer in port. As soon as he could he went on board to visit old shipmates. While having coffee in the Mess an announcement came over the ships PA system telling that the war was over, so for my uncle the war both started and ended with him on board the same DD.

[@CFarnwide]

I did not know Puller and Patton were cousins. Makes sense!

[@anthonyrobinson7715]

Thank you for making a video of a Cleveland-class CL! Great respect from the US Navy! I learn so much from your videos. Birmingham was quite a tough ship.

[@lawrencewestby9229]

The Birmingham and the various light carriers she served with were actually related as those light carriers were built on Cleveland class hulls.

[@garylewis4838]

There is a story about that number 4 turret. It was replaced with a new turret and the old one ended up at one of the countries testing and proving grounds and used as a hardened observation post. It is at Yuma Proving Ground I believe.

[@francisbusa1074]

Interesting. I'll bet it's still there, too!

[@tjcorrao]

My father was on this ship from shakedown through Bougainville. His name was Joe (Joey) Corrao from Cleveland, Ohio. He passed away in 1988 and spoke very little about the war so if any crew members are still with us and if they knew my Dad I'd sure like to hear from them.

[@nobonespurs]

all are gone i suspect 18 years old then would be 96 in 2023

[@davidgrant6451]

You have done an amazing job here! My grandfather served on the Birmingham. Thank you!

[@jackmanatee3162]

I was happily surprised to hear the mention of the USS Santa Fe. My dad served as electricians mate onboard her.

[@francisbusa1074]

Santa Fe, also one heroic ship.

[@williammattingly2967]

Great to hear about the Birmingham. My uncle was one of the badly wounded when the Princeton blew up.

[@edl617]

The Sea Plane Aviators were really a class act on Her

[@bullettube9863]

The CVL-30 USS San Jacinto had former president George HW Bush as one of it's pilots! But it just shows you how tough the Cleveland class cruisers really were, though they had no armor except for the midships belt. This is because the US Navy had fallen in love with STS (special treatment steel) for it's ability to minimize damage, ease of welding, and resistance to heat deformation. STS was used extensively in all US Navy ships prior to and during WW2 not only as light armor but structurally as well. You can see in the photos of the bow and stern damage how the plates deformed without breaking and that the plates did not break apart at the welded seams, while the rest of the hull remained intact.

[@sconner5424]

Great video. Looking at the picture from this video, a 'not' 5 minute guide to floating dry docks could be fascinating.

[@absalomdraconis]

That _would_ be nice.

[@richardmartin6622]

New London sub base had 2 ARDs, no 5 and no 7 in the late 50s. Very dangerous places with 15 or so pound tools constantly falling from the boats onto the drydock bottom where repair crews were walking around. Helmets of little help . I saw many close calls.

[@simonz28]

it never ceases to amaze me just how much punishment these ships can take and still be able to fight , its a testament to the builders and the amazing crews

[@leftnoname]

...And then, thy Captain performed the miracle of calling air support...

[@quackbury9413]

My uncle was a naval architect, and a multiple-time winning skipper of the Chicago - Mackinaw race (big time sailboat race on Lake Michigan between the World Wars). He desperately wanted a sea-going command in the USN and fumed that he spent the war teaching damage control at Mare Island. But it was the USN Damage Control doctrine that saved so many ships like the Birmingham. The IJN cruisers and battleships were arguable as well designed and those of the USN (carriers were another matter) and often times the deciding factor was the skill of the damage control teams. Still, I am in utter slack-jawed awe of what the Birmingham accomplished. Thank you for this well-researched and expertly told episode!!!

[@GearGuardianGaming]

14:29 - literally the greatest line i have ever heard. For those who are looking for the time stamp for the most common comment here. Sad that she couldn't rest alongside USS Alabama...

[@jameshope7933]

Would've looked nice next to New Jersey as well,given the hull number.

[@edcew8236]

Quite the tale, told with the traditional British sense of humor.

[@_.Glennicus._]

14:08 When I heard the words "then the captain had an idea" I payed close attention only to realize that the captain himself used his own ship as a target for the enemy, only for the enemy to realize they screwed up at 1000 pound high explosive bombs rained on them XD

[@blueboats7530]

Japanese Army: "Haha, we have TANKS!" Birmingham: "Clearly you have no concept . . ."

[@mrsteamie4196]

The HE part of the shells probably wasn't even needed - I think her guns could have stoved in the tanks on a glancing blow. Marvelous.

[@T3hderk87]

27:00 USS Birmingham: Do YoU sEe ToRpEdO BoAtS!? Kamchatka: I do!

[@billrich9722]

Yep. That’s another meme. Good job.

[@mastermariner7813]

What a life and service. Nice looking class of ship. Great report.

[@jacqueschouette7474]

My sainted father served on the Birmingham during World War II. I'm not sure if he was a plank owner, but he joined the crew in time for the Sicily campaign and was with the ship until the end of the war. Fun fact: He told me that because of all the battle damage that the Birmingham suffered, he was home for every Christmas during the war. He often said that although the Birmingham was hit by a kamikaze and bombs off Bougainville, the Princeton explosion was much worse and that there was a real chance of the Birmingham sinking. He said that most of the men who were killed by the explosion were just up topside, watching damage control teams fight the fire. He was up there also, but something told him to go below. Luckily for me, he did.

[@francisbusa1074]

Jacques Chouette, glad to hear your dad made it home. My dad served aboard the "B" as well. He was a plank owner. He was wounded in the Princeton explosion, and so I was almost not born as well. That pic of 5" gun mount #6 with the jagged hole in the left side of the mount bulkhead... Dad was the pointer there. That mount captain's legs were smashed and he later died of his injuries. Before the explosion Dad had transferred from that mount to the engine room and made rate as a Machinist Mate. Had he been in that gun mount, then again, I might not have been born. God has His Plan for our lives for sure! And you're right... Mom and Dad were together every Christmas, since they had lived in Menlo Park and Palo Alto when the war started, and it wasn't all that far for Dad to hitch hike home from Mare Island or Hunters Point. Never forget. The greatest generation.

[@jacqueschouette7474]

@@francisbusa1074 Although my dad used to tell me about his experiences in World War II on the Birmingham, it wasn't until I watched the video when it started to sink in just how many times the ship was damaged and could have been sunk and the amount of casualties that the ship took. And you are right, the Greatest Generation. Our generation is nothing compared to them.

[@Phoenix-ej2sh]

I get that the original English city is pronounced Birmingim, but as a 3 decade former resident of the American city for which this ship was named (BirmingHAM), I have to confess that I twitched every time I heard Birmingim.

[@onewhosaysgoose4831]

Yeah, and I am pretty sure CL-62 earned her HAM rations.

[@TheEDFLegacy]

Don't get me started whenever I hear an Americans say "presentation" as "pree" instead of "prez". 😅 English is weird.

[@taccovert4]

In America, we really don't believe in the 'silent' letters. We got rid of the U's in random places, we pronounce H's, and we chopped a whole syllable out of Aluminum........

[@bigniper]

Dawn Alderman Pronounced Birmingam to your Average Limey. We just drop the H normally.

[@rictusmetallicus]

It's Börminghäm in german

[@patricktrevathan4457]

The humorous narration makes the film wonderfully entertaining

[@77Cardinal]

I enjoyed this and I'd give you credit for pronunciation of San Jacinto since there probably isn't a definitive right answer. Texans often pronounce the J and in Spanish the J is pronounced as "H". Also enjoyed your pronunciation of "Birmingham" for the same reason. It's correct of course unless you're in Alabama where it changes from "Burming-um" to "Burmin-ham". I'd say You made the right call though in both cases. Hearing you say, "Burmin-ham" would have been all kinds of wrong. " .

[@user-tp1bi6of3v]

What of the Uss Marblehead that was damaged in the battle of Mckassar Strait where she lost her steering had a cracked keel and had to steer with her engines all the way to Brazil via Ceylon via South Africa to Brooklyn Navy yard for a grand total of a short 16,000 miles! Also had a doctor by the name of Corydon Wassell that saved wounded sailors from capture by Japanese forces. This too would be a good story to tell!

[@AdamosDad]

These men and ships were my heroes, I have often wondered how my first ship the USS Newport News (CA-148), would have fared. The last all gun cruiser in the United States Navy.

[@francisbusa1074]

Any Des Moines class cruiser would have been an absolute terror to Kido Butai. They had nothing like them. The Des Moines class was the post war counterpart to the Brooklyns, which were light cruisers carrying 15 6"/47 cal. rifles in 5 turrets. They could put out over 130 rounds of 6" fire per minute. One jap admiral called them "machine gun cruisers".

[@AdamosDad]

@@francisbusa1074 Those were great ships and men in the War, my dad didn't say much about it, but he was at Pearl Harbor. I think people that fought that war, were the ones that saw the need for ships like the Newport News, but changing times and a post war drawdown, made her the last of a kind. The NN has a museum aboard the USS Salem in Quincy Ma. and some of our crew, have working parties aboard her. Besides spending a few years on the NN 68, 69 and part of 70, I was also proud to have served on the USS Springfield, a converted Cleavland class Light Guided Missile cruiser. "Fair Winds and Following Seas" Brothers 🇺🇸⚓

[@dannyrmartin1]

My dad was on this fine ship! I remember he would mention that he was at Saipan, Tiniann and Guam! He didn’t talk too much about it, but I knew he was proud to be on that ship! He went on to serve in the Marine Corps in the Korean War! He passed away in 1997!

[@RCAvhstape]

"...and then the captain had an idea." Combined arms, thinking like a Marine.

[@solarsatan9000]

how did she have time to fight while collecting all those awards

[@aebirkbeck2693]

I would have said with all that time fighting how did she collect all those medals :>)

[@Axterix13]

And so ended the first attempt at a World of Warships and World of Tanks crossover event.

[@richardnaulty6724]

Thank you to all the crew's that died and lived for such a valiant endeavor

[@Uncle_Neil]

Last time I was here this fast the Kamchatka was surrounded by torpedo boats.

[@mattblom3990]

LOL

[@mattblom3990]

@@batgoat28 It was quite witty

[@christophpoll784]

God dammit, i have to start the model of my kamchatka someday...

[@davidandmartinealbon3155]

@@christophpoll784 i would not advise it unless you have insurance against friendly fire and torpedo boats

[@christophpoll784]

@@davidandmartinealbon3155 I have her worst nightmare next to her: IJN Kitakami :-)

[@williampeterson333]

Great video! I like the longer ones especially considering how much work you put into it. Truly grateful and appreciated!

[@PuggySD455]

My Grate Grandpa was a radio technician on her during WW2

[@eddielane9569]

The USS Birmingham took a tremendous amount of hits and survived being repaired every time. It's terrible about the loss of life of many of the crew.

[@Kerberlos]

USS Birmingham meeting up with USS Princeton and USS Belleau Wood: "Hi big sister Tallahasee and younger sister New Haven, How's the conversion treating you?"

[@DeadBaron]

It always sucks when ships with amazing stories and so many awards get scrapped.

[@EarthenDam]

My Great Uncle was in the radio room of the USS Birmingham when the USS Princeton Exploded, he did not survive the blast.

[@les3449]

I was a Coast Guard First Class Gunners Mate in the 1990s. I thank you so much for your bringing naval history to life. The stories and especially the photographs are a wonderful teaching tool. I was on the decommissioning crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Ingham in 1988. She had been in continual service since 1936. I would love for you to do a video on that historic American ship. Thanks again for your service to history and the maritime public!

[@francisbusa1074]

You Coasties rock! Love your marching song, your training and most of all your dedication. From a USN Vietnam vet Gunners Mate 2nd.

[@les3449]

@@francisbusa1074 thanks for your comment AND your service! God bless you.

[@francisbusa1074]

@@les3449 Thank you.

[@macbeth2354]

Wow, what a career.

[@genemartin6962]

Named for Alabama's Largest City she lived up to the Nickname Birmingham Alabama....THE STEEL CITY. Great video about a great ship!!!

[@BaikalTii]

"Pacific War Diary" by James Fahey recounts life aboard U.S.S. Montpelier (Cleveland class CL-57) as a deck ape. highly recommended to come a gritty understanding of WW2

[@stevebosworth5462]

It's highly unlikely that the Birmingham's Kingfisher was attacked by RAF P39 Airacobras since only one RAF squadron (601) was issued with the aircraft, and these were officially withdrawn from service at the end of 1941. The Airacobra’s brief RAF combat career only lasted from the 9th -11th October 1941. The US still operated P39s at the time of operation Husky and these probably wore white stars on blue roundels which, I guess, could have been mistaken for RAF roundels.

[@captaintreklin3067]

I’m somewhat interested in hearing the story of HMAS Canberra. It clearly must have done something impressive for the USN to name two of its ships after a foreign ship that was named after a foreign national capital.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Canberra was part of a joint USN/RAN Task Force defeated in a night surface action by the Imperial Japanese Navy in August, 1942, at Savo Island. To this day, there is considerable controversy about the sinking, in that Canberra had her port side to the Japanese when she was attacked, yet the crippled cruiser, before being sunk by US navy destroyers on 9 August, showed torpedo damage from two torpedo hits in her starboard side. The only vessel to Canberra's starboard which fired torpedoes at the time was the destroyer USS Bagley. A book, 'The Shame of Savo,' by an Australian author, argues the case for 'friendly fire' quite cogently. Canberra, despite being badly damaged, was in no immediate danger of sinking, but around two hours after the action, at 0330 on 9 August, the destroyer USS Patterson came alongside with orders from Rear Admiral Turner, USN, that she would be sunk if engine power could not be restored within three hours. As this was not possible, and Turner seemingly chose not to adopt the alternative, of towing the cruiser to Tulagi for repairs, the crew were transferred to Patterson. As Patterson was taking them aboard, she was fired on by a cruiser, USS Chicago.

[@dflkfhgpoidsfhg]

thank you for this my grandfather served on this boat and i did not know much about it cause my grandfather would never talk about it all i really know is my grandfather escaped Nazi Germany lied about his age went in the navy and served on the USS Birmingham but after watching this i see why my grandfather did not talk about his time on the Birmingham

[@Corn-y3u]

I was upset that you didn't post a video yesterday... It wasn't untill I was about to go to bed that I realised it was in fact Tuesday, not Wednesday.

[@BobFarnell]

Excellent narration young man

[@klcox3184]

Thanks very much for this documentary. My father was stationed on the Birmingham during her entire lifetime as a postal seaman. He spoke very little about his experiences on board but would mention the Princeton saga periodically. I have found some commendations letters he received. Especially touching was recognition for his actions following the large number of deaths related to the Princeton explosion. I read that he assisted with family notifications of the injured and deceased, and also assisted with trauma care for the injured. I think he, like may others on board, didn't like to relive the images he saw during that terrible accident.

[@mtbodyfarm5174]

My Dad definitely knew yours for he was a mail man on the Birmingham. He was wounded in the Princeton explosion and again in the hit at Okinawa. He got a purple heart and a gold star. He told me his favorite decoration was his "ruptured duck". I have his uniform with the mail ensignia on it. He was a 3rd class petty officer.

[@Scarheart76]

"Do you have a moment to talk about our Lord and Savior, the 1000lb. Bomb?" ~USS Brimingham, to the Japanese positions.

[@CFarnwide]

“It’s the missionaries, again! You come talk to them, they won’t take no for an answer!”

[@ELCADAROSA]

1. Not one Cleveland-class cruiser was lost in battle. 2. Interesting that the Navy re-used the hull numbers (61 - 64) later on for the Iowa-class battleships. 3. Interesting that some of the Cleveland-class hulls were used to build light carriers. 4. Drach's use of creative, clever and comedic commentary never fails to entertain!

[@bfrobin446]

It's a pure coincidence that the Iowas and Clevelands had overlapping ranges of hull numbers. Battleships were numbered consecutively starting with the pre-dreadnought Indiana in 1890, and cruisers were numbered consecutively since "scout cruisers" were redesignated as "light cruisers" in 1920. There was never any relationship between the battleship and cruiser sequences.

[@SteamCrane]

The 2 letter prefix is part of the hull number. Battleships = BB, light cruisers = CL, fleet carriers = CV, destroyers = DD, etc.

[@mrvolcada5355]

You may wish to look at HMS Stork and Captain Walker during WW2

[@alexandermonro6768]

HMS Starling?

[@KSparks80]

My grandpa was on the USS Wichita (CA-45) when she towed the USS Canberra (and USS Boston towed USS Houston), after they were hit during raids near Formosa, to waiting tugs. The Birmingham escorted them to the tugs.

[@kevinwilson1228]

I have been listening to your entire series, since a few months ago on U tube. I personally enjoy your sense of humour weaved through this edition. thank you!!!!

[@tinafoster8665]

Kills the bomber that blew a hole in its side, Downs all five torpedo planes, takes out tanks trying to harass it, this Cruisers Gunners were not only good they were legendary

[@jimtalbott9535]

17:30 - 3 tanks vs. Light Cruiser - this seems like a fun scenario for World of Warships.....

[@shaftoe195]

Japan: "this time it's done!" USS Birmingham: *"I am not finished!"*

[@stewcountrysongsstew4980]

Birmingham...hold my beer....

[@paulwiley9102]

I absolutely hate that this ship was so unceremoniously scrapped after such a short but very active career. The history of these ships is sometimes lost because of a lack of interest. So for this I thank you for presenting the public with this information.

[@aldenconsolver3428]

Is it true that when a Japanese destroyer ran aground in the Philippines the US Navies fleet train showed up and gave it 24 Bofors before they realized their mistake?

[@MagnusVictor2015]

To be fair, given how top-heavy IJN DDs often were, slapping 24 Bofors mounts on any of them is likely going to sink the ship just as well as any ordnance...

[@TexasSpectre]

Towards the end of the war, the fleet train may have been handing out 40mm Bofors guns to passing pedestrians as they had run out of places to put them on ships and in warehouses...

[@jeromebarry1741]

For San Jacinto, the J is pronounced, in English, as the J in the month of June. In Spanish, the J is the quieter "ha" sound".

[@salaminshikiya9351]

Moving at 30 knots with a 30 ft hole in the bow?! How was her interiors not swept away by the water current? Better still, how was the bow not blown off completely when it was US cruisers tendency to lose them rather often iirc?

[@Horseshoecrabwarrior]

It was hard to sink a Cleveland

[@bigblue6917]

I think the phrase you are looking for is 'she's a tough old bird.'

[@ravenwing199]

US Light Cruisers were some of the Toughest ships around. Only Helena was lost and she still needed to take two torps to be sunk.

[@kimleechristensen2679]

Perhaps an example of the difference between an air dropped torpedo and a ship launced torpedo. 🤔 Although the last versions of the type 91 aerial torpedo had a warhead almost as heavy as the type 93 Long Lance.

[@davidvoinier6008]

@@ravenwing199 IIRC, my dad said the Helena took a kamikaze when she was in trail with USS Cleveland. That didn't kill her either. I still have his album with a picture of it in it.

[@RichardHaleCurtis]

My dad was a hospital corpsman in the New Hebrides. He was awakened one night and asked if he'd be willing to get on a ship that was making a speed run (no zig zag) to San Francisco. He volunteered, was given an hour to pack his duffle bag, and was taken with other medics to the ship, which was the USS Birmingham. He said the ship was damaged and full of horribly wounded sailors and the work was non-stop. That's all he knew until when he was in his 80's I learned about the explosion of the aircraft carrier USS Princeton while the USS Birmingham was alongside giving aid. We put it together that the Birmingham left that incident, went to the New Hebrides to pick up medical help, and then made a speed run to the States to take the victims to a hospital.

[@jonnda]

Japanese tank: Banzai! Birmingham: Ummm, I’m a warship. Goodbye.

[@maxinelouchis7272]

When you are assigned to a ship, it is generally not a good sign when the nickname is Japan's favorite target.

[@fortawesome1974]

I find it so sad ships like this and the Enterprise with such storied histories got scraped!! Doesn't seem like a fitting end for them.

[@SteamCrane]

The US is much better than any other country for preserving ships. There are museum ships on the east coast, gulf coast, west coast, up the Mississippi, and several on the Great Lakes. ...plus Hawaii! There were hundreds of USN ships with war records worthy of preservation, be glad about how many are still around.

[@fishingthelist4017]

Imagine Birmingham as a museum ship with her big sister USS Alabama.

[@davidtucker3729]

So many courageous men and so many expended lives, both man and machine. Short but distinguished career

[@BlindMansRevenge2002]

Tracks talent for British understatement is a credit to his people

[@vet-7174]

With a History like The Birmingham they should have made it a Museum Ship !,Great Story 🖒🖒

[@mtbodyfarm5174]

My Dad served on the Birmingham 43-46 and said he never wanted to see it ever again. I'm sure it was from way to many horrifying memories. He got a purple heart and gold star and said his favorite decoration was his ruptured duck.

[@Johnnycdrums]

This is an example of the pinnacle of Naval Gunfire Support (NGFS) in WWII. Gotta' love those old CL's, as some were converted to data link capable (NTDS) CG"s, and as a platform for the legendary for and aft, twin launcher, Talos missile system.

[@tedferkin]

another superbly timed 5 minute summary. Keep 'em coming Drachinifel.

[@stephanrabai2479]

Were there no facilities in Australia when she was damaged in the Pacific? I understand returning to home bases from the Med My godfather was a guest of the Japanese for the duration of the war. He was a Naval aviator trapped in the Philippines when the invasion occurred.