USS Olympia - From Cali to Philly via Manila

Today we take a look at some of what's on offer aboard the protected cruiser, USS Olympia.
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[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :) As noted in the video, some weird EM interference was going on above decks (and also happened aboard NJ on the other side of the river) but vanished once we were behind enough steel within the ship. Anyone familiar with the area got any ideas?

[@thecount5558]

What else could Admiral Montojo have done to at least make things a lot more difficult and cause more casualties to Commodore Dewey's fleet during the Battle of Manila Bay?

[@pinrouter]

You were experiencing the remnants of the Philadelphia Experiment.

[@brendonbewersdorf986]

How different would things be in WW2 if Japan had been allowed to build 4 amagi battle cruisers on the condition they scrap all 4 Kongos? Could these ships have made a larger impact or just ended up being destroyed just as easily as the Kongos?

[@joshthomas-moore2656]

Before your channel most of what i heard about the Carriers of WW2 was on the Yorktowns esspecially Enterprise and in the odd occasion i'd find a note on the Shoukaku's in the margin somewhere, do you think the Illustrious class and Shoukaku's deserve a bit more limelight, esspecially the Illustrious class given they poundings they took in the Med?

[@tedjohnson4451]

Is the Philadelphia Experiment is still going on? LOL.

[@Kellen6795]

"And as we walked around to find how you access the ship, I was gratified to notice the Bolivian Navy had sent a representative!" - I burst out laughing at that, HARD

[@AdamMGTF]

In the finest tradition of drachisms

[@firefalcon100]

yeah that caught me off guard and i had to see that again.. LOL.

[@MGMan-ce7sf]

Yes, I had to play it twice as that was one of the driest Drach deliveries ever! Hilarious!

[@micheallinke9278]

I had to pause to get the giggles out, always refreshing to have humor in your videos. Glad I wasn't the only one to enjoy the joke.

[@hughculliton3174]

YOU try to patrol Lake Titicaca with a protected cruiser! Always use the best warship for the job!

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

-The Philadelphia Experiment is working- I mean, the EM interference is really messing with the audio otherwise a fine tour of Olympia

[@therealuncleowen2588]

I came here to make the same reference. Glad to see someone else thought to make the same joke.

[@mbryson2899]

Y'all beat me to it!

[@phil20_20]

Degaussing you mean. lol - I am relatively "positive" that is what "The Philadelphia Experiment" really was! ⚠🔌

[@michaelmacleod7051]

I'm a big ocean liner fan and when I was over in the States I went to Philadelphia to see whats left of the SS United States. On the way to the harbour I happened to see the USS New Jersey on an ad in the taxi, looked out the window and the battleship was right there across the river. Went onboard that and then spotted the Olympia moored nearby and checked that out as well as the Becuna and the Moshulu restaurant ship. Ended up visiting five ships in one day without knowing the last four were even in the city when I got there.

[@jt3055]

That's Philadelphia! Full of surprises! You found all of the good ones;-)

[@jmolony31]

I have also been all those as well. I was amazed how little armor the Olympia has. I also saw them from the now defunct Duck Bosts.

[@stevecovaleski6315]

Incredible nautical history here in Philadelphia... you could have hit the Philadelphia Navy yard and upped your count 10 fold. Only 15 minutes down I95 from the others that you saw!!!

[@melvindurslag4460]

Fortunately you made it out alive !

[@johnnymcblaze]

@@melvindurslag4460 Lol, The greater Philladelphia area is booming. My hometown, Chester, went from being "The next New York City" in 1925, to the worst ghetto in the country, in 2005, now there is white people buying up houses for next to nothing and fixing them up. My family was the only white family for miles, now there's little white kids getting off the school busses, it's crazy.

[@michaelimbesi2314]

Awesome! Olympia is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting museum ships in the world because most museum ships are from WWII and she provides a completely different perspective.

[@Chilly_Billy]

What impressed me the most visiting her was the incredible wood furnishings. It was like walking through a Victorian parlor... with naval artillery.

[@metaknight115]

IJN Mikasa is also pretty interesting. Unlike most preserved battleships, she actually did what she was designed to do, sinking several enemy battleships

[@hisdadjames4876]

Well said! Despite the sound quality issues this was one of the most informative ship videos that Ive so far seen👍

[@austinm.9832]

There's also the Russia cruiser Aurora, of similar age and type, but it's of course not visitable by most people currently

[@andyhastings5950]

The Turner Joy up in the SeaTac area is also a ship with a well known past. But she sure is not as good looking as the Olympia.

[@swampyankee]

Was fortunate to go aboard the Olympia in 1972, being a Coast Guard Damage Controlman at the time I crawled my way through the entire vessel... Left with a deep appreciation of modern watertight integrity and damage control.

[@SwiftTrooper5]

Fellow Coastie here. I bet you were at Base Glouster (spelling?) at the time. I believe Olympia was not at her current location when you visited her. I was a Gunner's Mate and also got a great appreciation for Olympia's watertight integrity.

[@swampyankee]

@@SwiftTrooper5 I was actually taking some shipboard firefighting training at the naval base.

[@b05296]

The second indicator on the engine room telegraph is for the engine room to acknowledge the command given by the bridge. So if you set full ahead for example, the second indicator won't read full ahead until down in the engine room they see and acknowledge the command.

[@tehllama42]

Aye Aye, sir

[@JoshuaTootell]

Former EOW, can confirm.

[@TDOBrandano]

I think also that moving the lever rings a bell, so in order to attract the attention of the engine crew the telegraph would be swung fully to one side and then to the desired position.

[@markholmphotography]

Was there last in the last week of April 2012 - I didn’t get any EM interference then. I agree that it is one of the most interesting ships in the Us because it isn’t WW2 era like so many museum ships. BTW if you ever get to California to see the museum ships - don’t use the term Cali - it is California and never call San Francisco - ‘Frisco’ again it is considered an insult in my home state of California. Frisco is the name of a small town in North Carolina or Colorado. There are 24 museum ships in California of which 14 are military - tho not military the RMS Queen Mary is definitely worth a visit and you can even spend a night on it - my favorite tho has to be the USS Hornet not just because of the role she played in WW2 but also because of her connection with the space program.

[@Tomyironmane]

I believe the second telegraph is for the other engine and screw as well.

[@jonbicho9840]

I used to work in that area of Philly and we always had problems with our radios being interfered with by transmissions from aircraft, Pennsylvania University Security, and other high powered transmitters.

[@user-bi7xd8ry5p]

I can imagine people (including Drach) just leaning over and shouting "Oi haven't you lot heard about bloody radio discipline? I'm trying to work here!"

[@RCAvhstape]

@@user-bi7xd8ry5p It's Philly, you have to be careful who you're yelling at.

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

I was going to say, you're in the immediate flight path of PIA right there... Aircraft on short final and coming off the runways.

[@jonbicho9840]

@@pastorjerrykliner3162 PHL. That and several high power transmitters from the USCG station, several private helipad, tugs, ships and barge traffic, Fire, Police and EMS repeaters.

[@Heckle1903]

the 466 lbs was for just the breech mechanism. as you opened it you said about it being heavy chunk of metal, and i was thinking "yeah, like 466lbs of it."

[@starrk07]

My great grandfather served on that ship. I saw it a few years ago. It’s definitely showing it’s age and needs a lot of work, but it is still a beautiful ship. Ships of that age are more a work of art than warship. Very classy.

[@tamlandipper29]

It's ironic that technology was evolving fast back then so ships so aesthetic became obsolete. Whereas modern ship hulls are expected to last many decades but we design them as anonymous boxes.

[@tamlandipper29]

Report of spam comments sighted

[@SwiftTrooper5]

@@tamlandipper29 , yeah. Hit my comment. Grrrr.

[@jeebusk]

If you don't do work, who do you think will?

[@budlanctot3060]

I believe my father sailed on that ship. He had a framed picture of it in his war memorabilia. He served in the USN just after ww1 & reenlisted for ww2.

[@Chilly_Billy]

One of the best photos I have ever taken is one of the New Jersey framed in an open porthole of Olympia. It was in the days before digital, so the almost perfect exposure of Olympia's interior and New Jersey in sunlight was nearly miraculous.

[@michaelimbesi2314]

The Engine Order Telegraphs aren’t disconnected, the lever and the arrow are two different things. The lever of one is connected to the arrow of the other and vice versa. The reason for this is so that the bridge can use their lever to give an order, which appears as the arrow and the bell in the engine room, and then the engine room can acknowledge that they have received the order and are able to comply by using their lever to match the arrow, which appears as the arrow on the bridge. That way, the bridge knows that the engine room has noticed the new engine order and is responding appropriately.

[@gregorywright4918]

Yeah, don't force the arrow manually...

[@charlesrogers9068]

Hope you enjoyed your visit the Philadelphia area and thank you for highlighting this unappreciated piece of American Naval history. As the saying goes "You may fire when ready Gridley". Looking forward to your presentation on BB-62!

[@IainWigglesworth]

Glad to see USS New Jersey making a cameo appearance! Olympia is a gorgeous ship

[@richardcuneo1727]

She is THE ship that sparked my interest in naval history. Having been on USS Constitution and other tall ships and modern ships like Massachusetts, I was in awe at this odd confluence of old and "modern". She's such a steampunkish wonder to walk about and touch. Drach, do you have a script for the video you could publish so we can read some of the missing bits?

[@DEP717]

Very well said. Olympia is a must for any Steampunk enthusiast. The machinery and look are both so perfectly fitted to that alley of interest.

[@wlewisiii]

My favorite US ship, I am so grateful she has been preserved.

[@garywilliams1935]

The bastard who is chief of the Seaport Museum has said many times that he would like to tow the ship out to sea, and scuttle it. I would like to dump him in a deep cess pool.

[@jeffreycler495]

The Olympia was the flagship of the US Navy Asiatic fleet under the command of Admiral George Dewey in the Spanish /American war. He had her equipped with a Ice Cream maker machine which was a first for a US Navy warship.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

The White Fleet color scheme is stately and magnificent. That was part of what made it "great". Solid content

[@blabbitch]

It was never part of the Great White Fleet so joke’s on you.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

@@blabbitch did I say Olympia was part of the Great white fleet? What is the "joke" you are talking about? Go strawman somewhere else. Please DO note my comment is about the paint scheme: stately and magnificent.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

@@blabbitch Where did I say Olympia was part of the Great white fleet? What is this "joke" you are talking about? Go strawman somewhere else. Do note that I am talking about the paint scheme. Stately and magnificent.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

@@blabbitch where did I say Olympia was part of the Great White fleet?

[@ricardokowalski1579]

@@blabbitchdid I say Olympia was part of the White fleet?

[@thomasharvanek2411]

Drach thanks for the programs Hey I think regarding the engine room telegraphs the order gets acknowledged, that's why the arrow and levers are independent

[@0ld.Richard]

And to this very day, engine orders are still called bells, and the throttleman's log is called the "bell book".

[@Maty83.]

Olympia is amazing. One of the 6pdr mountings near the bridge is from 1893. Really puts a perspective on the other museum ship just across the river.

[@michaelsommers2356]

_Olympia_ and _New Jersey_ are only fifty years apart.

[@KPen3750]

Yay! A local ship to me! She is well worth the visit and there’s so many cool artifacts on board!! I actually got a personal tour of the boiler and engine room there is so much to see and talk about! My particular favorite fact is that these engines could turn at 140 RPM and I think it comes across in the video just how short these VTE's are compared to those on Texas and even on a Liberty ship, which couldn't turn must faster than 100 RPM. Plus all the bracing around the engine to stiffen it from the rotation, given that the crankshaft doesn't have counterweights.

[@rogersmith7396]

See "The Sand Pebbles".

[@sjTHEfirst]

Philly ships rock!

[@matttaylor292]

Go Phillies

[@Jacob-W-5570]

steam engines, by design having double acting pistons (power stroke in the downward and upward movement) don't really need counter weights on the crankshaft. it does help a bit against vibrations yes, but there isn't as much need as with a ICE.

[@KPen3750]

@@Jacob-W-5570 That is true, but it is still quite some mass and vibration. I'm basing it off of traction engines and other road steam vehicles, those with a balanced crank can go faster than non-balanced

[@frankmarano7530]

As a former Naval Officer, 1975-82, I was amazed how ornate and luxurious the Olympia’s Officer wardroom was, compared to the modern Cruiser I was serving on. The mahogany wood paneling was indeed impressive.

[@christopherseivard8925]

As a child, I would see “Olympia” quite by surprise, usually on the way to the Philadelphia Art Museum, an usually stuck in traffic. Olympia would take me by surprise,looking quite incredible. I am so glad she has been saved, and is on display.

[@soundrecordings2659]

Boats/ships use very powerful radios, they tend to mess up consumer radio equipment when nearby. Also you are using a radio on a giant metal ship on the water, it could be interfering with your transmission. Try to keep the transmitter and receiver in line of sight. Most wireless mic systems can also scan for the best possible frequency to use. Your point of a backup wired mic is valid, usually run a shutgun mic on the camera in that case. Love your work, best of luck.

[@uberdang830]

I wonder if they are using electrolysis to preserve the hull. That could cause interference.

[@tamlandipper29]

User name definitely checks out! Nice of you to offer advice.

[@michaelsommers2356]

Boats and ships do not use very powerful radios. On Channel 13, for example, you are limited to one watt. On other channels, you generally use no more than about 25 watts, and less if possible. There should be absolutely no interference with consumer electronics. Also, the microphone and camera were just a few feet apart, with nothing in between them. The ship itself should not have any effects. 73 de AB2SB

[@soundrecordings2659]

@@michaelsommers2356 Professional wireless microphone systems use between .20 and .05 MILI-WATTS. That is less that a quarter of a watt. Also the user could have set up the device incorrectly, but I was trying to be helpful and nice.

[@edcollins6776]

You look SO HAPPY in the engine room! Awesome job. Keep up the good work.

[@douglastarbox7640]

Lord it's been ages since I visited the Olympia as a kid when my family lived in NJ. Still it was exciting for a young fellow who's parents were both former Navy.

[@joshuacook3069]

I was fortunate enough to be stationed in Philadelphia in 1998 when I re-enlisted and was able to do so onboard the USS Olympia! Great ship with lots of cool history. Thanks again.

[@emilkarpo]

Went for a visit of the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, a Liberty Ship in San Francisco but stayed for the day because it was a steaming day. Watched the volunteer crew of yes "old guys" fire up her boiler, ended up having lunch in the galley and latter watching her steam plant turned over a few revolution ahead and astern. Service in the engine room, nothing between the hull plates and the ocean, anything happy and you are going down. Hats off to snipes everywhere.

[@mpersad]

Thank you Drach for another terrific review - you have a real facility for clearly explaining the history of ships, and their engineering, in a manner that even non-engineers (like me) can follow and enjoy. Great job!

[@adamalton2436]

Been to Olympia, amazing ship. So strange to see the mating of warships passing into history and a view of the future.

[@bullettube9863]

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit! I first saw the Olympia 40 years ago and again 12 years ago. She has been kept up quite well and my hat is off to the volunteers who keep her looking great! I know it doesn't matter to a Brit, but a visit to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell is something every American must visit. It's the birthplace of our Republic and it should be on every American's bucket list of places to see.

[@rob5944]

Oh I don't know, it's still a poignant thing to see, being such a pivotal time in a great nation's history.

[@BlackCoinCrypto]

The phase alignment of the triple expansion steam engine is not for the distribution of output power but becuase the pressure from #1 can move to #2 and so on whilst maintaining a somewhat continuous rate of expansion. Great video BTW, these of ships are like works of art.

[@rob5944]

Perhaps he's thinking of internal combustion engines?

[@raltgaither]

Beautiful woodwork inside. The difference between the Officer and enlisted quarters is eye opening.

[@rogersmith7396]

Theres a lot more than he showed.

[@javiermedina9080]

can someone pretty please make a meme template with the section drach said “ i wasn’t asking” with the big ass rench, he pretty much did the meme for us, and I would really love to see that as a meme. I don’t know, Drach holding a giant ass rench and casually saying, “ I wasn’t asking” is the funniest thing I have seen all day.

[@josephpicogna6348]

Another great program, I am proud to have been aboard all these years as a patron. As I’ve noted before, I grew up in this area and was hanging around the Navy Yard, doing odd jobs as a boy not much more than eight. I got to climb over around and through each of the ships still active and more importantly, those coming in to be mothballed and then , for secure storage, after the war. My uncle, who was a supervisor at the yard and cared for me during the summer months, often remarked that I had probably spent more time on board more World War II battleships than anyone else. I was there in 1958 when I met Admiral Halsey, and that cemented my career as a naval officer, for 25 years. This ship, and it’s accompanying story, was part of my upbringing. Therefore, I was always attuned to any information or commentary regarding USS Olympia. I had received so much training as a young man about US Navy ships, that, after my release from the United States Marine Corps as a platoon leader candidate, due to a back injury, I was commissioned almost immediately, on board a warship as a U.S. Navy, lieutenant, junior grade. Being well known to even the Flags staff at the Navy Yard, a board was convened, I was given an examination, and assigned for practical training as a ship driver. I never attended OSC , SWO school or even the knife and fork course but did lecture at SWO , west coast detachment, USNA and War College. My love was always the Iowas, and during my studies, I learned about the several models, made of various materials, each more than 21 feet long, that were used on maneuvering tables, and for other studies, such as radio and electronics transmission and interference. I recall, from all those years ago, there was a discussion about the tin clad Olympia being the type of ship that would create a great deal of interference with modern day electronics. I’m too old and too ill to go do any research on it, but here in may be your answer.

[@bryanburke2884]

I don't think i've gotten to a Drac video this early before

[@Gotee93]

Hell yeah! I love the Olympia. What a beautiful vessel. Visited it last year!

[@pmiller7886]

Our old neighbor in the 70s in Florida served on the USS Olympia, Henry Miller. He has been gone for a long long time, but what an absolute character. An amazing ship for sure!

[@bangongoful]

The father of my grand father was an major spanish army in Manila in 1898. He see USS navy to bomber city. The Olympia is only survivor the war.

[@admiraltiberius1989]

Absolutely love that Drach finally got to visit this ship. I remember the video he did on her all those years ago. Fantastic work as always Drach.

[@TheDkeeler]

I have loved this ship since I built the Revell model kit in the early 1960's. I hung onto this model and in the 1980's I broke it down and rebuilt it but didn't finish it . During the COVID lockdown I finally finished it employing better materials and far better skills. So it has been 60 years in the making . An excellent kit for it's time.

[@admiralbeatty6083]

Born in Camden - have been through Olympia many times - hope she continues to get the support and maintenance she deserves!

[@KennyCnotG]

Admiral Beatty was born in Camden??? Lol

[@admiralbeatty6083]

@@KennyCnotG Lol - yes Camden, and New Jersey as a whole, good places to be … from!

[@johnstudent6968]

Living in the area, I can confirm that there are plenty of areas with radio and electronics interference throughout the 30 mile radius. Usually it is in industrial areas or the borders of cell or radio tower ranges.

[@bobfrye6965]

The condition and presentation of the ship is impressive.

[@ceddavis]

Toured the ship several times. Awesome to see that transition period in history.

[@45sticky]

Your video was first rate. You did this great fighting ship proud. On my bucket list is to visit every military museum ship here in the United States. We are so blessed to have these wonderful pieces of history.

[@johncashwell1024]

Ahh! The one I have been waiting for! Drach was there the week before I got there. The crew said he was fantastic and they thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Its a shame Drach wasn't able to get the USS Becuna as well; the guides are excellent on that tour if anyone visits, you will not be disappointed. I am grateful that they let him down into the engine room and the boiler rooms because those areas aren't generally open. It was fantastic to see what I missed out on in the tour but I really would have like to see the engine room for myself. Those triple expansion vertical (as well as, inclined and horizontal) ship's engines of the day are really quite impressive to see in person. Anyway, if you haven't been to the USS Olympia, you really should, there is a lot more to see aboard her and her mooring sister the USS Becuna.

[@kalif404]

Excellent Video!! It's amazing that there is such a contrast in warships over time in the same general viewing area. Thank you so much

[@Hokieredneck]

Best ship historical channel on the web

[@robertf3479]

I had the very good fortune to visit this Lady during a port visit to Penn's Landing in 1986, we moored just about where that small harbor tug is tied up. As we had just come from our little 'dust up' with Libya where we did take part in the combat operations, some of us manning the rail ducked, eyes wide when Olympia fired a saluting charge unexpectedly, from that saluting gun you leaned against. I remember my tour as fascinating, impressed by all the beautiful woodwork in Officer's country and the crowded boiler and engine rooms. Those were a far cry from the gas turbine powered destroyer I was serving in. I'm glad to hear that Olympia is undergoing hull preservation, I had heard at one point she was actually resting on the bottom of the river due to flooding of magazines and tanks through the hull though I don't know if that was true.

[@Kevin_Kennelly]

Philly Drachism 25:14 "the expoldy stuff goes in there"

[@SwiftTrooper5]

Thank you Drach for visiting my favorite historical warship. I've visited her many times and regularly donate to her upkeep. You got to see her engine room and boilers which I've never been able to do. Still, having you give detailed descriptions while visiting those spaces is probably more informative than my own presence on scene without a Drach voice-over.

[@garywayne6083]

Keep an eye out for special guided tours that will take you down there.

[@davidstange4174]

I love this ship. I am glad she is still around.

[@darrellwestrick2110]

I've always loved this ship. Taken my kids there half dozen times.

[@RCAvhstape]

I grew up not far from there, Drach, wish I'd known you were coming by. I've been aboard Olympia a few times, but I've never been to the engine or boiler rooms. Those steam engines are absolutely beautiful things, what I'd give to see them in action again someday. If I had Musk/Bezos/Gates money I'd make good and sure that Olympia was taken care of. She's the only one of her type and era left in the world, and she's a much-overlooked important link in the history of the US Navy.

[@craigfazekas3923]

I had a weird experience roughly 10 years ago. I was building an upgraded USS OLYMPIA from Revell at the time. I had to drive my truck to S. Lawrence St. in Philly to one of the frozen food warehouses. My next stop was in Delaware, so I hit I-95 south & over to my left ? There's the OLYMPIA !!! Trust me; in the modelling world ? THIS NEVER HAPPENS- to drive past a subject you are currently building. Never, ever happens.... 🚬😎

[@garywayne6083]

I love visiting those ships, been all over them many times! Awesome staff there. Those windows around the casemates in the Captain's and Admiral's quarters are original, they would be replaced with metal versions before going into combat. So grateful the decision to toss all that beautiful wood before going into combat at Manila wasn't given so we still have it now.

[@gregorywright4918]

If they have the time before combat the paneling and wardroom furniture is packed below.

[@John-ci8yk]

Thanks for coming to Philly to see our ship, have a nice day and thumbs up.

[@michaelbourgeault9409]

Acktchewally Jingles...errrr, Drachinifel! Philidelphia is a city, and the state it is in is known as Pennsylvania

[@lawrencegreenwood2646]

I have had the pleasure of touring it a few times. It really needs drydock time but it's still a beautiful ship.

[@dmphoenix973]

An excellent video depicting a warship and technology of a bygone era; this period is particularly interesting.

[@craigcollings5568]

That was brilliant! Thank you so much. What a wonderful ship.

[@BHuang92]

Cruiser or Battleship? US Navy: *Yes*

[@rogersmith7396]

Congress: No.

[@blabbitch]

Nope. Always just a cruiser. Nothing like a battleship at all. The Navy was very clear on that.

[@warhawk4494]

Love this ship! And she's a very important part of history and must be saved. And she needs to be added to world of warships

[@toddr737]

Olympia is in serious need of dry docking for repairs to her hull, hope she gets there soon. She is too important to lose her. Only a decade ago there was serious talk about taking her out to sea and sinking her as an artificial reef. Glad that she was saved.

[@lionsfaninva5536]

Served on New Jersey in the eighties. Just went to visit her for the first time since then. Saw the Olympia and knew I had to visit her. Wonderful people running her. The tour guides for the Becuna were great, especially when they found out my son who was with me serves on submarines. The engine room on the Olympia was fascinating to me.

[@rickashcroft8226]

The small pointer is what the engine room uses to acknowledge an order. For example, the main lever is at 1/3 ahead and the small pointer is aligned - that means that the bridge called for 1/3 ahead and the engine room acknowledged receiving the order and adjusted the propulsion plant to achieve that speed. Now the bridge calls for ahead standard. The outer lever is moved to the ahead standard position, but the inner pointer remains at the 1/3 ahead location. When the engine room moves their lever to ahead standard to acknowledge they received the order and are acting on it, the inner pointer moves to ahead standard and aligns with the outer pointer again. It's just a way of transmitting an engine order and providing a response so the bridge knows the engine room is doing what it has been told to do.

[@klydon1291]

I am not sure if Drach mentioned it, but both Olympia and Becuna are part of the Independence Seaport Museum complex. The Museum itself is very much worth visiting as well as the two vessels. Here is the wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Seaport_Museum Of course, the New Jersey is right across the river. I was in the area for two weeks of training several years ago and spent a day visiting the museum and vessels. For the noise interference, I don't live in the area, but that is a busy area. I think part of it could have been radar (hear a short bzzt in some cases) and it could have also been radio transmissions (intermittent interference for a period of time). I hated when radar was running in port when I was on a ship (wasn't often) but it would mess with all sorts of stuff and be a timely bzzt as the radar would sweep around. Drach was able to see a lot more than we did when visiting. The engine and boiler rooms were not available for viewing. Besides the Victory and Constitution, I think the Olympic is one of the oldest capital ships still around in the world. I don't think you missed a lot with the Becuna. She is a guppy conversion, so doesn't really bear any resemblance to her WW2 version. The other thing is there are number of US subs as museum exhibits all over the country, so I am sure you had the opportunity to run into another in your journey around the states. :)

[@gregsmall5939]

IIRC. Some of the "modern" 5/51 cal guns were recovered from USS Nevada when she was scrapped and donated by the Navy for the mids 50's "restoration" prior to being towed to it's current museum position. Prior to that it sat downriver, in mothballs, in the Philadelphia Navy yard where it was reputed to be haunted by Adm. Dewey's Ghost. Also, the "Ice maker" refrigeration unit was the first to be installed on a US Navy vessel and is a historical artifact in it's own right.

[@tomrecane6366]

Those old steam engines are gorgeous. All that polished brass and steel with decorous gages and labels. Sure they can kill or maim you in an instant of inattention but nobody said they’re perfect.

[@elmvideographer]

Thank you, I'll take this as a sign the Phillies are going to win again tonight

[@snagletoothscott3729]

Philly is a unique port. While it's not tops on the list of any particulate type of maritime activity, it is one of busiest in terms of overall confluence of traffic types. It has several major transatlantic ports, along with being the center point of a couple of inland and coastal barging networks, along with still having a fairly busy naval facility. Add in Philly airspace being not only for it's own airport, but is fairly close of an approach area for several major coastal airports. A lot of radio traffic going on there. To add, Philly is also fairly dry and has a lot of natrual static electricity, in no part also because of the confluence of sea water and fresh water. I used to haul containers out of Chicago. We had a fairly regular run from the ADM plant in Bushnell to Packer Marine in Philly hauling frozen natrual ingredients for shipment to Puerto Rico for pharmaceuticals. Spent a fair amount of time at the Walt Whitman in those days. Philly was always a very noisy place on the radio, needing a high squelch to get above the static noise due to the natrual static air of the place. So while I'm surprised at the *amount* of interference you got, I'm not surprised at all you getting some. The naturally dry and static environment coupled with a massive amount of radio traffic from several transport and telecom's makes Philly a very noisy place, signal wise.

[@CorePathway]

The static is a prank New Jersey plays on Philly. Electro-magnetic equivalent to “Hey Philly, you suck!”.

[@chiconian49]

Excellent upload, thanks. I first saw the Olympia in the 1993 Tom Hanks film "Philidelphia," Upon arriving home from the theatre, I accessed all the information I could find. I believe I used the keywords Philidelphia and museum ship. I was totally taken by surprised that one of these old ships still existed.

[@mattblom3990]

I found this one quite relaxing. April spring sunshine, Drach having mostly the run of the ship, almost the ideal way to tour it.

[@davidnikoloff3211]

That is the ‘Pennsylvania’ / New Jersey border. As for the electromagnetic interference, everyone knows it is because of the Philadelphia Experiment. 😊

[@hugod2000]

I served in the Bolivian navy for 4 years. We used to stay up all night telling each other stories.

[@jeffreyskoritowski4114]

Did you need the help of a certain white powder?

[@franklinkz2451]

The submarine docked next to the Olympia is where my grandfather and I used to go to all the time when i was a little kid!

[@christopheroshea97]

Thank you for helping preserve these ships

[@Broomtwo]

The engine room was fascinating with all the steam-punk looking machinery and the oversized tools.

[@jrocketcan710]

Oooo that means USS New Jersey is up soon!!

[@tacticalmanatee]

This was amazing. I love older ships like this, there are few left and fewer good tour videos of them.

[@limitsedgemachineworks1433]

Great video Drac, just out here in the shop cutting cylinders down and had to take a break to check out your newest content. Thanks a bunch for all your hard work.

[@malcolmtaylor518]

Beautiful example of a protected cruiser, wish we had preserved one of ours in the UK. We have the HMS Belfast of course, but there is a certain look to these victorian era warships, perhaps stately comes to mind. HMS Powerful or Terrible?

[@johnloman2098]

Yeah it is and it wasnt modernized in the 40s either so you get to see the ship the way it was intended when built

[@gregorywright4918]

If only they had not removed the 8" turrets...

[@beatlebass2002]

Thanks for the great tour. Your vids are fantastic. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Philly and the Olympia has been a favorite visit of mine since the mid 1960's

[@stephenvignovich8654]

Live a couple of blocks away and never had any issues with electronics But your are between the USCG HQ and PPD HQ. My dad took me there almost 50 years ago. I have visited it several times over the years. But never got to see the engine room and boilers before and was stunned to see how good of shape they were in. Thanks!

[@sargonofakad]

Great video, despite the mysterious interference...microwave transmitter towers? The Olympia has always interested me although I've never visited her. This is definitely a trip I should make with my two sons. Thanks.

[@VintageCarHistory]

Sounds like occasional interference from the search radar from the nearby Philadelphia Airport.

[@michaelimbesi2314]

I was thinking that it was either the airport radar, or a radar on one of the ships in the river.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

It's more likely the local radio as well as TV stations located close by. The Philadelphia Coast guard station has a transmitter located just a few blocks as well.

[@russkinter3000]

Visited the Olympia several times with boy scouts as part of touring Philly. The Olympia was my favorite stop.

[@ganzhorton]

I love your content dude, perfect amount of information and a real variety of stuff

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

Manila, the city in the Philippines, has ONE L.

[@JedTheRedd]

Hi Drach, lovely video but its "Manila" not "Manilla".

[@michaelsoland3293]

Was here in May, loved getting to check it out and relax on one of the hammocks

[@keab42]

I love how many bits of the ship Drach got to touch and play with on this tour.

[@cellbuilder2]

Ah yes, the ship that got an equally historic ship (BB-3) scrapped. FDR had a choice between Oregon and Olympia, and for some reason he chose Olympia. The rest is history.

[@Colonel_Overkill]

I suspect it came down to combat record. Olympia basically kicked the Spanish navy out of manilla by herself iirc.

[@timmaddox]

I love the USS Oregon. She had such an interesting history even after Santiago. I grew up in the Willamette Valley as well, so I dearly wish she had been saved so that I could have visited her constantly.

[@timmaddox]

@@Colonel_Overkill I think it had more to do with quantity of steel. Oregon ran around South America then ran down the newest Spanish cruiser at Santiago, was the first ship through the Panama Canal when it opened, and served as President Wilson's flagship when he reviewed the Pacific Fleet in 1919. Olympia had Manila and then was basically out.

[@Colonel_Overkill]

@@timmaddox tbh given the fucking moronic stunts pulled by the bean counters in that time period it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

[@davidkaminski615]

Olympia was active for WWI and served as a convoy escort. Her final duty was to transport the casket of the Unknown Soldier back to the United States from France.

[@talonharibon8577]

The Olympia is more or less used as the de facto symbol of US Imperialism and Colonialism in the Philippines, akin to that of the "Blackships" forcing Japan to open it's ports. The historical movie "Heneral Luna" (General Luna), has the most recent iteration of this iirc.

[@michaelsommers2356]

What is the symbol for Spanish imperialism and colonialism in the Philippines and South and Central America?

[@talonharibon8577]

@@michaelsommers2356 That I'm not sure tbh for the Philippines specifically. But if I have to make an educated guess, it's the name of the country itself. Since it's named after King Philip II.

[@michaelsommers2356]

@@talonharibon8577 Surely, since Spain was a far bigger colonial empire than the US ever was, and since imperialism and colonialism are so evil, there must be physical symbols of Spanish colonialism and imperialism. You had no trouble finding one for the US, why can't you find one for Spain?

[@talonharibon8577]

@@michaelsommers2356 There's no tangible symbol/s per se. The country's very foundation is Spain's symbol, from a good chunk of it's culture to the majority religion.

[@michaelsommers2356]

@@talonharibon8577 Now, can you point to any Americans who point to _Olympia_ and think of her as a symbol of colonialism? I think you'd have a hard time finding many who even know the history at all.

[@MrMasterSpam]

Having lived about ten miles away across the river, I have visited Olympia a few times in the last six years and looked forward to your tour. Sorry you had the frustrating experience but enjoyed it none the less. Now awaiting the USS Bacuna and of course the USS New Jersey!

[@vadersbain]

It's funny you put this up today. I was just looking at information on Olympia earlier this morning.

[@davewitter6565]

I was just on the Liberty Ship Jeremiah O'Brien for Fleet week. To see the triple expansion engine at work is something you never forget. Fuel for the Liberty Ship was fuel oil vs. coal. Thank you for posting such a comprehensive tour of this iconic Navy ship.