Pelayo - Guide 420

[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@bkjeong4302]

In your opinion, between Vanguard, Richelieu and Littorio, which was the most powerful of the 15” gun final-generation European battleships, accounting for Vanguard being built a few years later than the other two?

[@scottmason2557]

As someone who is a high functioning person on the Autism Spectrum I have always been curious how would a navy of the period the channel covers deal with someone on the spectrum if they were accidently recruited into their navies or if someone who is high functioning like me had willingly joined but suddenly has something make them freak out such as a for me a sudden loud noise or being shouted at? I am assuming not something good....

[@John.0z]

Hi Drach. Your comment about ships from the lowest bidder being more expensive reminds me of the recent Spanish submarine that had to be lengthened during construction - or it would have sunk when launched.

[@WarrantOfficerWill22]

was the fall of the Spanish navy completely due to factors outside of their control? Or were there any particular naval defeats that butterflied them into a downward spiral to the bottom? And alternatively, were there any notable moments that could have gone the opposite direction and kept the Spanish navy relevant for longer?

[@baxter9725]

if the Bismarck broken out into the Atlantic after fighting the battle of the Denmark straight what type of measures would the British take with their convoy escorts how much damage with the Bismarck and flicked on Atlantic shipping and what type scram of battles the Bismarck fight 155

[@mitchm4992]

I half-expected something about how, after it was sold for scrap, the scrap somehow got in one last bombardment of Morocco.

[@GabrielBarbosa-gs6vk]

😂😂😂

[@JohnBianchi]

😂😂😂

[@antonisauren8998]

Who knows, maybe she got melted into future shells. :P

[@moo5289]

I bet Morocco would have paid a premium for the privilege of being the ones to scrap her.

[@evenodd3339]

The scrap was actually melted down into shells that bombarded Morocco.

[@davidg3944]

"Sold for scrapping". [Morocco breathes a sigh of relief]

[@zlatanclovecic1944]

Morocco was not so unhappy with Pelayo's interventions, rather The Barbary pirates were ☠😜

[@iffracem]

Well... she definitely *looks* French built

[@roelantverhoeven371]

but without exagerated superstructure, i like her looks!

[@marcomontanarini1836]

but much better looking than real French battleships. ;)

[@markmaki4460]

When the length of your admiral's name is longer than the list of your navy's combat ships, there's a problem.

[@chrissouthgate4554]

When the name of your Destroyers has to be abbreviated to fit on the side, that's Italian!

[@RayyMusik]

@@chrissouthgate4554I think the lengthy names rather belonged to cruisers (“Giovanni delle Bande Nere“ etc.).

[@tomlindsay4629]

Spanish naming conventions are really confusing to cultural outsiders. I asked a Mexican friend how many names he had, and he left me completely lost about when he started explaining about taking names from your inlaws.

[@jfangm]

@@tomlindsay4629 Traditionally, Hispanics have four names: first, middle, first last, second last. The first last name is their mother's maiden name and the second is their father's surname. Women will typically drop their mother's maiden name upon marriage, with their maiden name becoming their first last name and their husband's surname becoming their second. This helps keep track of lineage.

[@RedXlV]

@@RayyMusik "Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi"

[@VintageCarHistory]

Starting your day with Drach... That's sailoring.

[@MAA1591]

That's seamanship Mr vintagecarhistory, by God that's seamanship.

[@VintageCarHistory]

@@MAA1591 Yes, that's my style Sir!

[@RCAvhstape]

Mr. Drach's coat buttons up nicely over a number of other duties.

[@Wolfeson28]

@@MAA1591 "Do you not know that in procurement, one must always choose the lesser of two bids?"

[@paulgoyne6926]

One of my favorite pre-dreadnoughts - no particular reason, I just like the way she looks!

[@khaelamensha3624]

Quite disappointed to learn that after she was sold for scrap she did not pay another visit to Morocco 😂

[@jimutermark7227]

Hi Drach! I hope you, Mrs. Drach & Baby Drach had a wonderful Christmas together. Just taking the opportunity to thank you for the phenomenal content you’ve produced over the years. It has been interesting, edifying & very entertaining! Wishing you the very best for 2025!

[@xsveron1287]

here here well said

[@Doc_Tar]

Good on the Spanish for getting the most out of this warship.

[@TheNinjaDC]

Looks like a surprisingly competent pre dreadnaught for a French built ship.

[@The_Fishy_Fish]

Spain has two cities on the North Moroccan coast, Ceuta and Meilila, both established in the early to mid 15th century, both still part of Spain today, and at the time of Pelayos antics had a small protectorate they were attempting to pacify and subdue connecting these two cities and containing the surrounding lands. Spain would fight a serises of small campaigns through the first two decades of the 20th century before the big one kicked off. In 1921 the Disaster at Annual would see the largest defeat of a European power at the hands of a native force, and kick off the Rif War. A fascinating conflict for those interested.

[@notshapedforsportivetricks2912]

Ceuta and Meilila are sort of like Gibraltar, but the spaniards don't like to talk about that. 🥸

[@Benito-lr8mz]

​​@@notshapedforsportivetricks2912Iam.Spanish and you very very inept or ocult the information Accord U.N Gibraltar IS a colonny Ceuta and Melilla NO lol ( by the way is massive no known this in British or foreigners people incredible)

[@Benito-lr8mz]

​@@notshapedforsportivetricks2912Acord U.N Ceuta and Melilla No is a colonny Gibraltar yes

[@thekinginyellow1744]

The Rif War is a fascinating piece of history. Some guy named Francisco Franco shows up there.

[@gbcb8853]

“….Dozens of small auxiliary warships” and, presumably, a partridge in a pear tree

[@Dave-sy3rg]

It could have been interesting for Admiral Dewey if the Spanish had managed to get the Palayo out to Manila before the US showed up.

[@kemarisite]

Could also have been interesting if she'd run into the USS Oregon around Cuba.

[@Charliecomet82]

"Escuadrón Segunda del Pacifico?"

[@thekinginyellow1744]

@@Charliecomet82 "¡Necesitamos más binoculares!"

[@jony663]

A battle with Dewey vrs Pelayo and Carlos V would be interesting, I am not sure if Spain could get them there in fighting shape.

[@questionmark05]

A very interesting period of ship construction. An intresting topic, needed that this week, thanks Drach.

[@zlatanclovecic1944]

I'm happy that you've focused on this interesting warship, a serious attempt to bring Spanish naval force back to 1st league.

[@M.M.83-U]

French style pre-drednought... Wonderfull!

[@richardbennett1856]

I appreciate you giving us so much in depth variety. Proof there were other navies to cover, like Dutch, Swedish and South American.

[@beaglemusiclabs]

Took one look at the ship, saw it was 5-Minute Guide 420, and just nodded with a smile. 😆

[@klavakkhazga3996]

Isaac Peral whose name you see there in a picture was a brilliant guy and an important figure in Spain. I'm not sure if he's credited as the inventor of the submarine but his design was the first to really work

[@chrisf4659]

I love these one-off ships made for/by smaller navies. Sure, the British and US navy ships are cool, but after you ctrl-v them a dozen times the fascination starts wearing off.

[@roelantverhoeven371]

as far as pre-dreadnoughts (especially early ones) go, she is a great looking ship!

[@cartmann94]

Nice! Drach blazing it with today’s video.

[@UncleJoeLITE]

Unusual looking ship indeed. Thanks Drach. 🇦🇺 ⚓

[@tim2024-df5fu]

That's one way of putting. I'm usually sad when a ship goes to the breakers but not in this case.

[@alun7006]

The French copy noone, and noone copies the French.

[@Torquemada1555]

With that name, it’s Morocco bombing destiny was sealed. Pelagius of Asturias is the man credited with stopping the Muslim expansion and beginning the Reconquista period back in 8th century Iberia.

[@davidbrennan660]

Great photos on this one Drach.

[@forgetmeshots]

Guide 420. Cheers to that. 👍🏻

[@robertbertagna1672]

Thanks!

[@casey203]

Pelayo has ironically been the bane of Morocco since 718.

[@hankbirmingham6662]

After all the years I’ve been watching Drachinifel…😎 I realize that it’s always wonderful to see a bunch of black and white photos of amazing warships..!🔥 Never a dull moment!☠️ Please keep up with your great work and come back to see us soon!🇺🇸😎

[@biotrekker]

Thank you for using "comprised" correctly and not as simply a replacement for "composed".

[@lewiswestfall2687]

Thanks Drach

[@notshapedforsportivetricks2912]

As is also the case when you select the highest bidder.

[@daguard411]

Thank You.

[@jasonz7788]

Thanks drach

[@chriscalvin5083]

Thank you hoped you do a video on this weird ship for a long time

[@gj1234567899999]

It’s weird how these ships had such a short shelf life when we still have ships like carriers and subs built in the 70s still in regular active use.

[@milferdjones2573]

Massive improvements in engine, armor and guns plus everything else occurred then we have ran out of the easy to do significant improvements. Still those 70’s ships been rebuilt many times if in modern navy.

[@RCAvhstape]

Modern advancements in technology over the last few decades are mostly in the realm of electronics and software, so a well-maintained ship can last a very long time with upgrades.

[@gj1234567899999]

@ it seems like tech in certain areas “plateaus out” and many tech are “good enough”. AK47 designed in 1947 is still a perfectly serviceable rifle for any infantryman. T55s are still useful tanks as direct fire support and still actively used in conflicts.

[@toxoide12]

Has much to do with changes in war, better steel armours, better guns and changes in engines Modern (1960) to date ships were fitted with big electrical generators that can be swapped for more efficient ones wile engines more or less are still serviceable, and guns were replaced with missile launchers that you can replace with same diameter missile I suppose fairly easy In carriers are even easy, you only change the plane if it still fits on the elevators and you are mostly done

[@alun7006]

Pelayo had a near-40 year life, which is pretty good by any measure. Most of her contemporaries were around for a much shorter time. The pre-dreadnought was a period of enormous technological advance so ships were outclassed very quickly.

[@charlesburns1572]

I'm impressed she had such a long service life during that period of time. I understand that was out of necessity, but it's nevertheless an impressive run.

[@renesagahon4477]

Hard to believe at the dawn of the 1800s Spain not only built some of the best and largest ships in the world but by the end of that century couldn’t build one major warship on its own

[@diegoferreiro9478]

The Napoleonic wars had a heavy toll on the Spanish Navy. Then came the American Emancipation wars, and much worse, years of neglect and abandon by the many governments that followed. I am not sure how many Navy ministers were appointed along the 19th century, but the average term was below a year. With such short mandates and almost no funds it was impossible to implement a naval plan, even if it was minimal.

[@renesagahon4477]

@ well said!

[@philipdove6987]

Muchos gracias.

[@hello-rq8kf]

*Muchas

[@josemanuelalvarezfernandez4356]

Only one point, even if Spain has an empire then, it was always a "royal navy" not an "imperial navy", and Spaniards called it simply "la armada" ("the navy") The only time when the term "imperial" was used was in the XVI century and that was because it also included the Holy Empire as part of the king/emperor command

[@BrianFullerPDX1]

I love your content but I wish I could ask for as many photos as possible (I assume there are very few) of interior shots. They give such a distinct view of what it might have been like to be on these ships. I wish there could be at least one interior shot of each covered ship, but of course I know such media most likely doesn't exist.

[@timandellenmoran1213]

Always interesting!

[@Paul-p1p6m]

Thanks.

[@Oliepolie]

RISE AND SHINE NEW GUIDE VIDEO IS HERE

[@Thom4ES]

Arrives as if sunshine , press on. Comrades!

[@tra-viskaiser8737]

Should have added a quip at the end... And it was sold to the jamaican navy and was used to grow on... I may love history and ships... but 420 is good too... lol Thank you for the happy number over 400 videos.. i got here when you had 20k subs, so long ago i cant remember when exactly. But its a great channel, and i love most everything(not so much when others come and talk with you. I enjoy your voice more than others). Your work is fantastic, and the net would be far less without your work.

[@CyberDoedel]

Congrats on guide 420. Waiting for guide 6969 now

[@vanvan-oc4nj]

Have a good 2025 Drachinfel !

[@Strong_UP_Calvins_zombie]

Guide # 420!!! Sweet

[@GianDaEastRoman]

How about a guide on the Andrey Pervozvanny class of pre dreadnoughts?

[@benjaminepstein5856]

Nice

[@randomwarehouse4702]

It's interesting that this ship didn't go out in a "blaze" of glory. For some reason, that seemed likely.

[@kennethdeanmiller7324]

Seems to me that Morocco would have paid more $ to scrap her than the Dutch! Or they just were NOT made aware of the opportunity.

[@Davidsladky135]

Missed it being made into a bong 😂

[@solarflare623]

420 BLAZE IT!

[@TheFleetOfOceans]

And now we come to my other favourite ship of the era. The one and only modern ironclad/pre-Dreadnought of the Spanish navy, the beautiful splendid Pelayo.

[@shanehansen3705]

I thought you were going to say "as is often the case when you go with the French" but realised it is the same thing

[@stamasd8500]

That's not quite a Spanish hotel. :)

[@khaelamensha3624]

The 5000 less pèsetas were caused by the absence of the wine cellar 😂

[@Bakes-z4c]

Needs arches and tiles

[@danielstickney2400]

One has to wonder how effective her armor would have been with all of those gunports.

[@zhouenlai2569]

Usually those gun ports were above the armor; main belt is mostly 1,5-2,5m below and 1-1,5 m above the waterline.

[@molybdaen11]

The gin deck looks very similar to that of older ships of the line.

[@andrewp8284]

“Gin deck” - I didn’t realize gin was so popular in Spain! (I know you meant gun deck)

[@molybdaen11]

@@andrewp8284 Becoming drunk is a tradition amoung sailors. Sadly it sometimes blow ships up, like the Mutsu.

[@thhseeking]

@@molybdaen11 Or maybe the "Maine"??

[@molybdaen11]

@@thhseeking I think this one was sunk intentional to have a reason to go to war. The American pacific fleet was to good in position to be there by accident.

[@thecount5558]

It's not the fastest, toughest, or has the most guns, but it's certainly my favourite ship design (at least aesthetically).

[@AlbertComelles1970]

"Toujours le Pelayo", since for many years she was the only capital ship showing up...

[@Rob.DB.]

I half expected episode 420 to at least be on H.M.S. Jamaica, or perhaps the peculiar strong smelling smoke that prevails in that part of the Caribbean to this very day . ;) "Pass it to your left, gentlemen". Or shall I say , "Pass it to port! "

[@fiodarkliomin1112]

Early conception of All Big Gun 😮

[@Darkwizzrobe]

I hope you do the Canarias at some point.

[@JGCR59]

The namesake Pelayo or Pelagius is the semi legendary first King of Asturias, who carried on the torch of resistance against the muslims after the arab conquest in the 700s by founding the Kingdom of Asturias in the north of Spain.

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@joelzdepski9884]

You should have reviewed a Jamaican ship for #420

[@Based_n_Boredpilled]

I got a minute for guide 420

[@harryflower1810]

Clearly a French design with that tumbledown

[@guaposneeze]

"Should we have twelve inch or eleven inch guns?" "Yes." Gotta love pre-dreadnaughts trying to make everything as complex as possible. Those are so close to be the same thing!

[@TheBetterManInBlack]

3:53. Why is there a guy with a drawn sword on the gun deck? Was discipline THAT bad?

[@joselitostotomas8114]

Interesting that she had a long active career compared to more modern british bb's built after her, that didn't last a decade on active service.

[@kavemanthewoodbutcher]

Guide No.420, at 4:20am, while I 420. Life is good.

[@Benepene]

Still Not at 4.20

[@Bakes-z4c]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ymishaus2266]

Look everyone, it's the guy who can't even remember his home address and smells like burning grass and dog shit all the time: Weed Man! Will he develop a real personality this year? Only one way to find out!

[@bernardobiritiki]

Il say it again drach please anything portuguese i beg , Il take a carrack at this point

[@SuperCrazf]

This Pelayo reminds me of a teacher I had of the same name. Old man with old ideas, no one particularly liked him, couldn’t get rid of him because he was important, finally left many years later. At least the ship had more use unlike my teacher who made everyone’s life miserable, especially for the girls

[@Knightlancer44]

🎵 Pelayo... Pelayo ... 12 inch guns and a tumblehome.

[@lancerevell5979]

Great grandfather of the US Navy Zumwalt class DD. But Pelayo was actually successful. 😮

[@tim2024-df5fu]

I'm usually sad when a ship goes to the breakers but not in this case.

[@kayjay7780]

How much endurance ?

[@balli7836]

I really like the design, however does Pelayo (and the french battleship it was based on) really count as a pre-dreadnought instead of an ironclad battleship? If i think about pre-dreadnoughts, something like a Majestic or a Mikasa comes into my mind, which looks quite different.

[@osvaldoruiz3826]

Pretty busy ship for being obsolete from his construction

[@peterharrington8709]

Indeed. I guess she was 'the big stick' of the Spanish navy for at least 20 years!

[@Bakes-z4c]

Picking on the little kids

[@adamesd3699]

A very steam punk looking ship. Actually, a lot of the French-designed pre-dreadnoughts look like they came out of a steam punk illustrated book. Question: Had she managed to get to the Philippines in time for the Battle of Manila, could she have actually made a difference? She would have had the biggest guns and the thickest belt armor of all the ships in the battle. But that’s still one powerful ship and a bunch of rust buckets against a modern fleet. I don’t see how she could have made enough of a difference. My guess is that she would have put up a good fight, only to be eventually overwhelmed by the numerous slightly smaller but modern and well-crewed American ships.

[@NaomiClareNL]

Would the Dutch company scrapping the Pelayo be Frank Rijsdijk in Hendrik Ido Ambacht, halfway between Rotterdam and Dordrecht? There is a book, either just out or coming soon, about this shipbreaking business which turned many navy ships into scrap metal, besides civilian ships.

[@KarlfMjolnir]

Why was i expecting a guide on some ship named the Mary Jane for guide 420?

[@claytonbradish4034]

THE BANE OF MOROCCO. So what would happen if Olympia and Pelayo happened to fight ?

[@jeromethiel4323]

Gotta wonder what happened to Spain. Used to be a world power in the age of sail, now you don't hear much. It's like they kind of disappeared, which i know isn't the case, it's just you never hear much about what's going on there.

[@nmccw3245]

An yes, the bane of Morocco. 😜

[@ReclinedPhysicist]

So which one are you better off with? Lots of fast armored cruisers or slower battleships? You can't do both like the Brits did.

[@c.h.s9022]

Makes me think what could’ve happened if they sent her out fir the Spanish-American war. Questionable at best, maybe worked out for short Bombardment? Perhaps tipped the scale a little if she wound up at the battle of Manilla bay, but I doubt win though, and Samtiago de cuba? Even ignoring everything else its 4 battleships against 1, even with a therotical licky hit on something she’d be lucky to get away and not join the Spanish cruisers in get hammered to pieces. Odd but interesting ship

[@pendragooon]

At least she fired her guns in anger

[@dziugasluscinskas5742]

Is there a schedule for this channel?

[@khaelamensha3624]

By jove, obviously! Wednesdays, Fridays, the 5 minutes guides on Saturdays and the holy Q/A on Sundays with Father Drachinifel answering the questions of his flock. This channel is a very serious one you know. If you do not attend the videos, you will be working forever putting coal in the heater of Kamtchatka chasing Japanese torpedo boats in the North Sea 😇😁🤣😂

[@orbiradio2465]

Kind of. 5-minute guides usually on Saturday. Rum rations (longer videos) on Wednesday Fun Friday I guess there is a schedule for Dry Dock, but I forgot it. And than there a live events, anniversaries etc. Expect at least two videos per week, usually more.

[@chrisb7198]

Click the notification bell icon and subscribe and you will get notice of new video's.

[@BleedingUranium]

@@orbiradio2465 Dry Dock is Sundays :)

[@tmdblya]

Hilarious. Im getting Spanish-language ads on this video. 😂

[@randyfant2588]

I am always interested in unique ships. Technically, I think this is one of the worst 1st line Pre-Dreadnought Battleships to enter service. Still, I do have her in my 2400 scale collection. It's interesting to think What might have happened if Spain had entered WWI on either side. As an Ally, perhaps she may have ended up in the Dardanelles while one or more of her larger replacements is sent to Scapa Flow, or if they joined the Central Powers, they may have had to deal with French or Italian Dreadnoughts, Pre-Dreadnoughts or even the French Semi-Dreadnoughts.

[@paullaw1438]

Why such thick belt armour?

[@glenchapman3899]

In the era she was built. Combat ranges were expected to be almost point blank range, like less than 3000 yards. Also the quality of armor was nowhere near what it became later

[@jacklucas5908]

There are so many comment spam bots...

[@khaelamensha3624]

Not on this channel, just a lot of people who are waiting their weekly ration of Drach like old sailors waiting for a ration of rum... Let say a bit addicted you see 😂

[@BishopStars]

High time you released this guide.

[@sfs2040]

Ship vs Morocco?

[@Muinko]

Let's go!

[@Muinko]

The last minute of these 5 minutes guides are always sad to hear the fate of these beautiful warships. "Sold for scrap" while it makes sense is a sad fate. I had helped out with the restoration work on USS Texas and keeping her in the sad state she is in a massive undertaking.

[@earltaylor1893]

A French design that looked more like a warship and less like a hotel, go figure.