Getting Through the Canal

In this episode we're talking about the Panama and Suez Canals.
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[@dougcargill6730]

I’ve been through the Panama Canal 3 times. First with New Jersey in ‘83. The second time was a trip. It was 9 November 1989 and I was onboard USS Luce (DDG-38). We were transiting Caribbean to Pacific and we got fogged in right before the Gaillard Cut, so we had to spend the night in the canal moored to a buoy. We watched the Berlin Wall come down that night.

[@yanni2112]

was on a Sub Tender, FF and LPH, always wanted a BB you lucky Bastard!

[@MartinCHorowitz]

Give the ever given credit, it was more successful at stopping traffic in the Suez Canal than the Axis in WWII

[@IvorMektin1701]

No kidding! The Med should have been an axis lake but having a paper hanger and a kindergarten teacher running the show proved otherwise.

[@crazyguy32100]

Still not as good as Egypt during the 6 day war, kept the canal closed for 8 years.

[@MartinCHorowitz]

@@crazyguy32100 The Ever Given has a smaller government subsidy that Egypt, so not bad at all.

[@jimtalbott9535]

(Rommel likes this.)

[@klsc8510]

The Germans in WWII did drop mines from airplanes into the Suez Canal. They were quickly found and dealt with. The Germans after their losses with the airborne assault on Crete, never tried to assault and take Malta. If the Germans had taken Malta, the war around the Mediterranean Sea would have been more difficult for the Allies. Rommel would have had a secure supply line and more forces. Rommel could well have taken the Suez Canal and secured all of north Africa.

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

My late grandfather had pictures from when his ship, the carrier Ranger CV4, crossed the Panama Canal after the war was over, when she was transferred from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

[@miamijules2149]

Those guys.... they lived a full life lemme tell ya

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

@Ray Bourque 77 Interesting. I'm planning on building Trumpeter's 1/350 scale model of Ranger someday. My grandfather was part of Ranger's Marine detachment. He never spoke of his wartime service aside from a few photos of him in uniform. But I'm pretty sure he was on Ranger during her Operation Torch service, where her aircraft assisted in damaging the French battleship Jean Bart. Being built under the terms of the treaties to only 13,800 tons, she was deemed too small and too slow for Pacific service. There were plans for an extensive refit to make her Pacific worthy, but that was ultimately cancelled because it would have occupied valuable yard space.

[@user-ko7dt1bp1q]

@@joshuariddensdale2126 sounds like you know your history my friend..

[@jasoncarswell7458]

" displaces as much as *all four Iowa battleships combined* " (emphasis added) See, now *that* is the kind of factoid that makes me glad to sub to this channel. A battleship fan can get distracted by the idea that the Iowas were the pinnacle of heavily-armored, heavily-armed ships in the 1940s, but then you realize... the New Jersey's like an armored medieval knight on roller skates compared to the colossal lumbering brontosaurus that is a modern ultra-heavy cargo ship.

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

For reference, it also weighs as much as 2.2 million Ryans. But thats a less practical statistic.

[@Schaz42]

@@BattleshipNewJersey 🤣

[@KutWrite]

@@BattleshipNewJersey: Time to go on a diet! :P

[@JJ-rf7dg]

I was part of a security detail and had the opportunity to transit the Panama Canal on 25" boat. It was an incredible experience.

[@robertdaniels9023]

When I was in the navy (99-03) when we went on 6 month deployment we went through the Suez Canal twice. Once going into the Persian Gulf area and once coming back out to the Mediterranean. Our whole destroyer squadron did.

[@mikeburke8656]

I was a nite check supervisor and flight deck T/S with VA87 aboard the USS Independence attached to the 6th Fleet in the Med in November 1979, the Iranian Embassy was overrun on the fourth. The skipper came up on the flight deck after the incident and asked me to extend my enlistment if we go to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. We didn't go because the Suez Canal was not available to us. Later found out that the canal had a lot of battle damage vessels and gear that needed to be cleaned up for a carrier to transit the canal.

[@johnknapp952]

The USS Midway was already in the Indian Ocean at the time (I was in a LAMPS Det. aboard the USS Stein that was part of her Battle Group). No carriers ever went in the Gulf at that time as it was deemed too confining. We were relieved by the Nimitz in January '80.

[@mikeburke8656]

@@johnknapp952 I found that out within the last couple of years. I read where the Midway was in Perth and went on station in the I/O and was the longest at sea period since WWII. Ninety some days, which is now normal for a carrier before Covid.

[@KutWrite]

So did you re-up?

[@mikeburke8656]

@@KutWrite I did not, our carrier group returned to CONUS and I separated. Often wonder about how life might have turned out if I stayed in.

[@KutWrite]

@@mikeburke8656: I have dreams about being recalled to ACDU! They are not nightmares.

[@christiantroy3034]

I realize this video was off the cuff playing on the current events, but this shows how far you have come in a year Bravo Zulu, excellent video.

[@donaldneill4419]

In 1991 or 1992 I had the opportunity to spend a day aboard HMCS Halifax, a brand new frigate, while she navigated the South Shore Canal around Montreal from East to West to pay a visit to Kingston. As an Army officer it was great fun watching how my Navy colleagues did their jobs in such tight waters (though with a little more than a foot on each side of the ship), and particularly fun watching them sweat scratching the bright new paint! Pretty snug for folks used to having the whole North Atlantic for elbow room. But they did a bang-up job and we made it through without a hitch. A great day!

[@frankconrad7323]

YES, Was on the Jersey both ways thru the Canal. First time we were Pier side that night and WAITING to go thru it. Scuppers had to be removed before we could head East! Best Part and Against all Odds. We were heading West, Coming Home! About the Middle of the Canal. There WAS a Cruise Ship RIGHT across from us Heading East! One of Our Shipmates, Grandparents. Were on THAT Cruise Ship! They Knew he was on the Jersey and they got WORD to our Crew on the Main Deck. Word was spread quickly. And he was Up there PDQ, And waving and they were Talking back and Forth. Our whole Crew were Very HAPPY ABOUT THAT TOO!!

[@F-Man]

Well, this is timely!

[@OpieDogie]

I remember Reagen’s choppers, 3 of them all alike, came in and circled the Jersey. Then started coming in and out like a nut shell game there near the fan tail. Finally, the POTUS stepped out. It was amazing to see. The ship’s final commissioning ceremony was incredible, I wish I still had my photos. I took a lot even though the guard snapped a couple at the sky on the way in.

[@kennethwise7108]

"The power of projection"....

[@tomcoleman4207]

My Dad was on the NJ second deployment to Korea in 1953, his cruise book shows the trip from Norfolk thru the Panama Canal to Long Beach then to Pearl Harbor and a couple of other ports eventually relieving another Iowa class off Korea…great ship!,

[@MJTAUTOMOTIVE]

The Container Ship stuck is called the Evergiven. The shipping company is called Evergreen.

[@brianb8060]

And they were probably drinking Everclear.

[@michaelimbesi2314]

@@brianb8060 Nah. She had a local pilot, and Muslims don't drink

[@brianb8060]

@@michaelimbesi2314 I know. I was just sticking with the Ever.. theme. 🙃 Evergiven Evergreen Everclear

[@steeltrap3800]

Almost. Her correct name is "Ever Given". ;-P

[@cmikles1]

That names have confused me so much. Thank you.

[@jec6613]

I've been through the canal on a cruise ship - all of the new supercarriers, including the Ford class, do meet neopanamax and can transit now (though when laid down they were capesize - too large for either Panama or Suez), but the US Navy won't unless there is a true emergency because it would mean leaving the carriers very vulnerable to being disabled in the canal. When we owned the Canal Zone, air cover was always provided to any vessels going through both from bases in the Zone and during WWII from long range USAAF bombers patrolling out of Seymour Island Airfield in the Galapagos. If you can visit the Galapagos, you can still see some USAAF equipment used for B-24 Liberators when you land at Baltra. Most likely a carrier transit today would involve arrangements with the Panamanian government to disembark at least part of the air wing to shore to operate a CAP during the transit, as well as escorts going through both first and last to guard either side of the canal.

[@glenn9892]

Some great video of the New Jersey. I had the pleasure to steam with her in the mid 80's. I was on the USS Roark FF-1053,and the Jersey met up with us outside of Hawaii and we went to the Pacific side of the canal and back to San Diego. I seen the BB-62 do night gunnery exercises. something I will never see again. The New Jersey is an awesome battle ship.

[@sethhalsey4097]

Thanks so much for all the videos you make. There is no shortage of great content on your channel.

[@ELCADAROSA]

Actually, the US Navy does use the Suez Canal to transit from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf, via the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This has been going on since at least 1987 when the US was escorting tankers during the Iran/Iraq war. I was stationed aboard USS KIDD (DDG-993) during the Persian Gulf Escort Ops ... and I have the T-shirt to prove it! :) I don't recall if any US BBs or CVs transited the Suez during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, but I'm certain that other vessels did. ... On a side note, during the Suez Canal transit in '87, we had a closeup look at a Soviet/Russian destroyer (or maybe cruiser? Not sure of the ship type) while transiting the Great Bitter Lake. The crew were performing calisthenics on deck, presumably to impress us.

[@harrisonblake1978]

Been thru there both ways on a SSN, in May 1980, went thru a day after one of the Iowa's passed thru.

[@miamijules2149]

Cool shit - what an experience

[@garywhite3264]

What a great piece of historical film! Thanks for presenting this, Ryan!

[@vixenraider1307]

She's such a Beautiful ship at sea, I don't know what it is about Battleship and the Iowa class specially that looks so Beautiful and yet Destructive, Carriers just look as cool to me in my opinion. Does anybody else think that?

[@andrewhyde4812]

Its the long lean footprint that the Iowas have. They just look fast sitting still.

[@paulhenry8838]

@@andrewhyde4812 Plus that rising bow. A Beauty it is. I used to make models of these in the 90s. I kept one until last year I got rid of it. It was about six feet long and a foot or so wide.

[@ryanschweikhardt]

I think it's because those ships were built in that merger period of speed and firepower. It's the best of both worlds.

[@toddwebb7521]

An elegant weapon for a more civilized age

[@DazBochiz]

@@toddwebb7521 the brutal deaths of millions in such a short time period don't really agree with it being a more civilised age

[@devilsmarksman]

Glad to see the video!, had a great time at the Museum the other day. The staff is Fantastic!

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

Thanks for coming by! - Libby the editor and Ryan

[@wrench31e22]

I went through the Suez eight times during Desert Shield/Storm leading convoys. There was a concern it had been mined and the USS Yellowstone was the only military asset available for the job.

[@navvet4518]

I was on AD44. Your sistership.

[@wrench31e22]

@@navvet4518 The Shenandoah? I knew a couple of HT's that transferred from there.

[@navvet4518]

@@wrench31e22 Yes the Shenandoah. I was on from 85-88. I think you were later than me. We used to run with the guys from the shipfitters shop. Greenwheel Inn.

[@johnbutler4088]

U

[@navvet4518]

@D W Plankowner?

[@brett76544]

For a while I was living in one of the old arty sites covering the first lock on the pacific side of the Panama canal and just before that out by the 300 m targets on the rifle range. So I lived for a few months on the Panama canal. Even watch the hook up to the little train tractors that they have to pull and guide the ships going into the locks. Then one day on a cost guard boat on the canal I got to see the panel system for lining up the ships on the hills for each side. Then the grass ninjas that cut the grass to keep the signs visible from 10 ft high grass. Tankers, role on role off ships, cruise liners of different sizes , container ships and sail boats.

[@jamesstark8316]

Transited the Suez twice on USS AMERICA (CV 66) and Panama numerous times on small boys. Great and timely video.

[@kapekodbob]

I transited the Panama Canal in spring of 1966 aboard USS Beale DD 471 out of Norfolk with 32 squadron after being hastily transferred from 36 squadron on a round the world cruise with a slight stop in Viet Nam. It was a great transit , we had all the fallout sprayers open and fire hoses goin to flush them. We stoped on the Pacific side NavSta but were not allowed into the city deemed unsafe due to rebellious activity.

[@stevenda22]

Really good video Ryan, this channel has quickly become one of my favourites since discovering it a few weeks ago. Keep up the good work!

[@kevinchildress6569]

Went Thru the Suez twice on the Independence cv 62 1984 / 1985 deployment

[@guillermojohnson9370]

As a kid, had the pleasure of a deck visit in 82 in Balboa... Breathtaking. Ship felt like a living being.

[@vincentlavallee2779]

I have been to the Panama Canal, and watched a big cargo ship (with thousands of containers) go thru the Atlantic lock. It was amazing, and each 'car' on the side that takes the ship thru is something like $3M! There are 3 on each side. These 6 are computer controlled and not only do they pull the ship forward, but also maintain the sideways tension so the ships do not hit the sides. None of the ships go thru the lock on their own power.

[@robsvideos13]

Did two tours on USCGC Mariposa out of Detroit. Our normal op area was Lake Erie and Ontario. We used to transit the Welland canal numerous times a year. Most impressive part was the triple locks by St Catherines. Also did two winter deployments in and out the St Lawrence seaway, and finally a change of homeport out down and around from Detroit to Seattle. via the panama canal.

[@nonamesplease6288]

Back in the late 90s we took a cruise up the Yangtze River. We sailed through the Three Gorges Dam project. The Chinese government built a huge set of locks next to the dam so that ships could continue to navigate the river. Our cruise ship, which was large by river craft standards, but small compared to some of the monsters cruising the Caribbean these days, was dwarfed by the lock we were in and the dam under construction next to it. Our ship was raised to quite a considerable height before we sailed out of the lock. Truly memorable experience.

[@maxcaysey2844]

Man... they all look so cool in their whites... on a battleship. Doesn't get more magnificent than that!

[@oldnavygunner3498]

I was a crew member (Main Battery FTG2) during the 1968 transit to the Pacific. That was a unique experience. This video was well done.

[@smitm108]

I was on the Disney Magic during her first repositioning cruise to the West Coast through the Panama Canal in May, 2005. Unforgettable experience ...

[@spaghetti9845]

my father was on the new jersey. I remember him mentioning it barely fit through the canal and they had to take the scuppers off.

[@gmansard641]

I first went through Suez in July 1987 on USS Guadalcanal. We had been scheduled for a port visit to Mombasa. But the day after pulling out of Mombasa we were re-directed to Diego Garcia to drop off the Marines and embark a helicopter minesweeping squadron. This was when Iran was laying mines in the Persian Gulf. Three months in the Gulf, then in November we went back through Suez on our way home.

[@ltwombat64]

Went through on the New Jersey coming home from Beirut in 1984. Even with all the machinery running in #2 engine room you could hear the scraping as we transitioned. Not as loud as when Midway CV-41 drug a rudder leaving Hong Kong in 83 but still audible.

[@TannithVQ]

All I can say as a Brit is Thank you to the men and women that shared the burden of the cold war

[@jaymuse1044]

Went through on way back to Long Beach in 1984.

[@scotiadrake4245]

A couple of years ago we went through the Panama canal, but for all my time in the Navy this was done on a cruise ship. My uncle still held the family record for passages, having been in the Merchant Marine and as a sailor onboard none other than the New Jersey herself. He told stories about the tight fit and it was a little anticlimactic to go through the wider canal with a drink in my hand.

[@kyotecaller9140]

the wooden fenders on the walls of the chambers were 2' thick and were crushed by these behemoths when the mules tried to center them they would spauld the concrete after splintering the fenders. repairs to the locks were swift 24 / 7 I was able to tour this ship several times. and saw it fire full volleys off the flamingo island. what a blast.

[@BufftatJunkie]

Very cool video! I learned all about the hopping back and forth of ships and fleets from this video, so thank you for your efforts.

[@JasperFromMS]

The Suez Canal was closed for eight years after the Six Day War in 1967. After the canal was demined in 1975, a convoy of ships transited the canal and one of the ships is now a fellow museum ship, USS Little Rock.

[@ryanmclain5869]

The Atlantic fleet uses the suez more then you state, especially in the last 20 years. Did 3 deployments to the gulf from Little creek and each time we went through the suez with the entire battle group.

[@RetiredSailor60]

What LSD were you on out of Little Creek?? I was on USS Whidbey Island from 93-96

[@ryanmclain5869]

44 G-hall

[@X_Peak]

2013 transited the Suez Canal twice on USS Carter Hall 26th MEU at general quarters and in condition river city. We Marines were a grunt unit and had every single heavy weapon mounted on the flight deck and AAV’s on the fight deck each armed with a .50 cal and Mk19. We also had snipers, DM’s and light machine guns in the tops, on the forecastle and on the Fantail. Overall, there were about 150 heavily armed Marines out on the ship ready to defend her from a USS Cole type situation.

[@JohnGuzik]

Went through both the Suez and Panama canals in the Navy. Round trip through the Suez, one way Westbound for Panama.

[@ericmaloney3889]

2:09 Is that a battleship? IDGAF, this is my fishing spot.

[@sugrue8526]

Eisenhower Lock on the St Lawrence Seaway was a great tourist destination when I was growing up. I have been lucky enough to see some military vessels go through, USN Destroyer, HMCS vessels, USCG. A few years ago I took the family there and it is still impressive to see, but gift shop & cafeteria resembles a ghost town. I highly suggest anyone in the northeast to go see active lock for 78’ beam x 740’ length ships. Nearby hydroelectric dam does have good visitor center museum.

[@nohandle62]

Every time I see footage of US warships I am proud of the US all over again. It is wonderful to see NJ in service. 👍🏻

[@JAFOpty]

I am from Panama and got a chance to go onboard the New Jersey when it crossed the Canal in 83. I was just 5 but remember being mesmerized looking up at the gun turrets. 🤓

[@bobwitkowski6410]

When I was in the navy my ship went through the Sueze Cannel. I remember this well because there is a lake they use as an reserve basen to assign ships their que to go through the cannel. While we where waiting for the South bound ships to pass it was Thanksgiving and we had a cookout on the fantail for our Thanksgiving festivities. The next day we led the North bound flow. Apparently North and South are on an odd and even bases according to the last didget of the date.

[@kevinstonerock3158]

I was on a tour boat in the Soo locks shared with one of the ore carriers if that counts. I think it was the Arthur Anderson which turned around to search for the Edmund Fitzgerald. We were completely dwarfed by the ore carrier. We had to look up at about a 40° angle to look at the main deck.

[@jd-vz8cn]

If I remember correctly HMS Unicorn also ran aground in the Suez Canal on her way back from the Korean war.

[@gregoryheim9781]

I saw the USS Missouri go through the Panama canal's Gatun locks in '83 or '84 (I think). I rode an LCM up and down the Panama canal MANY times.

[@michaelmitchell6629]

I was glad I got to see east coast but could not stay very long this time I stayed at Hampton inn in convention center area of Philadelphia downtown an loved it.

[@retrogaminggenesis6102]

I always wonder why our enemies didn’t just scuttle a civilian ship in a straight or canal to screw them up. Like imagine if the Japanese or Germans had sunk a ship in the Panama to harm transport.

[@LordSlayer001]

That was a mission of the Japanese aircraft submarines. Their aircraft were to bomb/torpedo the gates of the Panama Canal.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

The Panama Canal was *heavily* defended during WW2.

[@zeroone8800]

That would require the Japanese or Germans to make a ship look like a friendly vessel to get into the chock point. Second this would close the canal for a few months at most. Doing long term damage is very difficult. Sinking a ship is easy if you get the ship to blow themselves up or burn to death, but canals don't have that vulnerability.

[@ghost307]

That's just what they did with the Evergreen ship. It's a test run.

[@franzfanz]

@@zeroone8800 You'd need to do something like the St Nazaire Raid and blow apart a lock. It was difficult enough to do when the British could launch such an attack from one side of the Channel. Doing it from the other side of the Pacific would be near impossible. Even then, unlike St Nazaire, the Americans would be super motivated to get it back in service quickly whereas the dry dock at St Nazaire was far less strategically important. Hence why the Germans didn't prioritise its repair.

[@michaelmitchell6629]

I was glad to visit my ship after being off it since 1986=I made trip back to see her and did my cool awsome interview with the veterans officer. He did my story for when I served in uss New Jersey during first lebanon war in gorgous long beach naval station way before navy closed it down for good in 1997 I think I gave my interview on pearl harbor day December 7 this yr

[@thawker7424]

I have been on a CVN and DDG going through the Suez Canal and a DDG going through the Panama Canal. The Suez is vital to all ships going to the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf from the Atlantic Ocean because it is so much faster.

[@arkadeepkundu4729]

14:55 Ever Given has a crew of 25 plus the local Egyptian pilot who was driving the Suez. It's full displacement is about 225,000 tonnes, for comparison that's more than double that of the new Ford class carriers. And she's got only 1 centerline screw & 1 rudder plane. So yeah, these ships maneuver like bricks.

[@tobyw9573]

I was stationed at Fort Clayton, CZ for a year and a half 1969-71. Clayton is/was next to the swing bridge at the Miraflores Locks. You could buy a Triumph 650 bike in a crate for $650. Not a bad tour. Panama City is completely changed it appears, but I have not been back. Culebra Cut has been very significantly dug out. The ships were moved through locks with four electric engines, two per side. They ran on rails and had a cog drive between the rails to prohibit slippage. It was those "Mules" as they were called that permit such close clearances between ship and lock. Much better than the tugs they use on the new locks AFAICS.

[@darkstorminc]

We need a Hot Shots/Down Periscope type movie for the battleships.

[@jth877]

It's called "Battleship " with Rhianna. It's a complete satire and hilarious.

[@burroaks7]

@@jth877 lmfao

[@thawk1435]

@@jth877 "Boom" 🙃 🙃

[@ghost307]

@@jth877 According to Cinemasins the ship "starts up faster than my Corolla".

[@darkstorminc]

@@jth877 doesn't count, neither does the "other" battleship movie.

[@davidduma7615]

I worked on the New York State Barge Canal (the successor to the Erie Canal) in the 1970's. Commercial pusher tugs (just one on the back) slipped square barges thru the locks with a foot clearance on either side all day long (36 locks from Albany to Buffalo) although of course those locks were 45' wide and 328 foot long. And those things had to fit under bridges too. And of course "Panamax" ocean going ships do it all day long too. But to do it with a ship's crew that is not used to doing it, in a ship that is a significant military target, must have made for some puckering moments. Great video. Carry on.

[@rkdne]

Iowa. Ticonderoga, and Deyo went through Suez in 87, to escort tankers through the Straights of Hormuz. They returned through Suez in 1988.

[@ELCADAROSA]

The Kidd (and others) went through the Suez in June '87 at the start of the escort ops. We left via the same route later that year.

[@vbscript2]

It's too bad the Iowas weren't still around during the Somalian piracy problems several years ago. After the first pirate skiff met an Iowa, the others would have been much more reluctant to go out to sea...

[@holgerlukas4432]

As an engine cadet and engineer I have gone through the Suez, C&D, Cape Cod, and Panama Canal. I spent three years going from New York to the west coast of South America which required two transits through the Panama which took 3 to 4 weeks, depending. So I have some experience as a Merchant Seaman. We had no such thing as a special sea detail In the engine room the only change was that the first would come down to take the throttles and at times we would have both generators on line. Ships propulsion power was barely used (except entering and exiting the canal and passing through Gatun Lake). We were pulled through the locks by the "mules". Two to a side. Ships propulsion was only used to to get us started. I do not remember if anything special was done by the deck department. The Canal Authority put several line handling gangs on bard. The ship's crew did not normally handle the lines. This was 50 or so years ago. I believe that with the wider canal, tugboats rather than mules are used. Going through through the other canals was similar. We had no extra crew members to spare for a "special sea detail" we stood normal watches.

[@ightwoman]

I transited the Suez Canal southbound from 02Jun67-04Jun67. I will never forget sitting at anchor in the Great Bitter Lake (to allow the Northbound convoy to pass through) watching Mig 19s and Mig 21s taking off and landing at an Egyptian Air Force Base right at the north end of the Great Bitter Lake. After we passed Port Tawfiq and starting southbound through the Gulf of Suez, we heard about the start of the Six Day Way. Little did I know that in less than 24 hours, all of those Egyptian Migs I was watching, and the runways they were using would be blasted to bits by the IAF. And the ships behind us were really unlucky, there were a number of ships that were trapped in the Canal and were not released until the Canal reopened in 1975. They gained the moniker of the "yellow fleet" from the layers of desert sand that covered them all over that long 8 year layover

[@klsc8510]

Being from Michigan, I am more familiar with the Soo Locks and the Welland Canal. Today, an Iowa Class Battleship could go through the Poe Lock at the Soo. The problem is there is no way these ships would fit in the many locks of the Welland Canal that bypasses Niagara Falls. Before the Welland Canal was enlarged in the late 1950s, ship size was limited to less than 300 feet. During that time if you wanted to get a bigger ship through, you cut it in half. This was done many times to get cargo and passenger ships built in the UK into the Great Lakes. An example is the Canadian passenger ship Keewatin now a museum in Canada. I toured this ship when she was a museum in Douglas, Michigan. Even with today's Welland Canal, to get an Iowa through the canal, you would have to literally cut the ship in fourths. In half both length wise and laterally and then have it still somehow float! I imagine if you talked with any Big J vets and say you were going to do that, they would have you committed to the nearest insane asylum yet today! Thanks!

[@otm646]

Draft is also a major concern. The whole system is built around the 26 ft maximum draft through Lake St Clair.

[@AlongtheRiverLife]

Great movies of the Panama Canal crossing.

[@mbtoth8238]

Years ago a friend noted he was aboard a battleship that just barely fit through the locks of the Panama Canal during WWII (may have been Korean War). He noted they had added many additional guns and gun tubs. One apparently extended past the edge of the lock chamber when the ship got a bit askew. He noted as the ship dropped in that lock, the gun tub just folded up against the wall like a folding knife.

[@kennethwise7108]

I was Stationed at Rodman for 5 years, it's GORGEOUS down there

[@jaybee9269]

USS New Jersey looks very pretty transiting the Panama Canal! (Assuming that was during the Vietnam conflict?) The Panama Canal was and is a wondrous achievement.

[@michaelmitchell6629]

Very very good filming glad this video out. It would been cool go thru panama canal

[@thebestofj.fraley]

Information is a little off on Battleships passing through the Suez canal. During Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Both BB63 USS Missouri, and BB64 USS Wisconsin both transgressed the Suez Canal and were both in the Persian Gulf. I wasn't Navy, but I was in on some of the Bombardments in Iraq and requested fire from both Ships.

[@joeottsoulbikes415]

In 1990 I was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. The rush to get so many troops to Saudi Arabia fast created a mess so our unit split and if I remember right left on the USS Manitowoc, USS LaMoure, USS Iwo Jima as well as LAV-25s being put on the MV Strong Texan and those crews flying over on MAC all going through the Suez Canal. I reported from MOS school for duty the day they were deploying. Literally an hour before they left. A Staff Sargent said "Good your in charge while we are gone. Here are the office keys." So I was left in North Carolina as the only admin support to run rear Headquarters for a Lieutenant, 25 injured Marines and 10 with other issues. I heard some amazing stories when everyone returned.

[@kennethwise7108]

I was standing watch in Starboard steering space during an "UNREP" when OUR ship lost steering control from the bridge. They had to shift control over to me and I was "that guy" who lived through the scenario of... "when you least expect something to go wrong it will".

[@bobbychoate7476]

Man great video as usual, I liked the pictures and videos

[@edmondmcdowell9690]

Did the Panama Canal in 1968 ( USS Northampton CC1), I had the deck 'til relieved, Canal Pilot had the conn. Cool experince.

[@kendallturnage9058]

Please drive this duo to Wilmington, NC to the USS North Carolina. I would love to be listening to that walking discussion.

[@gpraceman]

I was on the USS Cleveland (LPD-7) when we transited the Panama Canal in 1992. It was memorable, as we got stuck in the first canal lock. They got us unstuck and towed us back to Rodman, where they had to cut off several protrusions from the sides of the ship. I guess no one looked at the revised drawings of the ship, as over time things were added that increased her beam. The Chief Engineer was fired and I, as the MPA, had to take over his job for the rest of that deployment. As far as I know, we were the first ship to get stuck in that canal. Fortunately, the transit back through the canal was smooth. They since widened the canal, so that would not be an issue today.

[@WMAcadet]

I have officially gone completely through the canal twice. In 1961 as a Cub Scout from Atlantic to Pacific (southbound) on the seaplane tender USS Currituck, then again northbound in 1970 on the SS Austral Patriot with my college roommate who came down to the CZ with me to visit over Christmas. We returned home to the Pacific side on the train (Panama Railroad) after the ship docked in Cristobal. I also learned to water ski in Gatun Lake and grew up in the Canal Zone on the Pacific side. I loved it there! I still miss it after leaving 49 years ago. The sun rises on the Pacific side of the Canal and sets on the Atlantic side. Don't believe it? Look at a map of Panama... You'll see!

[@ScottsChristmasChannel]

I went thru the Panama canal in 1986 on the Iowa as part of a Central America cruise ( CentAm. ) Unfortunately we only made it as far as Honduras up the West Coast, no transiting to Pearl much less a Westpac. I also transited the Suez canal in 1990 on USS Scott part of the Eisenhower battle group for Desert Shield. How many noticed this video is of the New Jersey is during the Vietnam war not during the 1980s?

[@wolfkremen]

it would be a lot more interesting to discuss the equipment required for the battleship transiting. General info and historical overview is available on wikipedia.

[@quikdrw]

I did go through the Suez Canal on the USS Butte. We went from the Med to the IO and back. That is the shortest way to do it.

[@nyrmetros]

We need an epic Drach style opening theme.

[@redram5150]

Drach is quite good

[@glenkelley6048]

You need a narrator who is not as boring as library paste!

[@unclerojelio6320]

An opening like Drach’s is good the first time. After that, not so much. I’d much rather just jump into the topic.

[@nohemoglibin8677]

The US Navy transits the Suez frequently. I've been through numerous times.

[@jaysonlima9271]

Never any of the major world trade canals but I do the Cape Cod Canal about 6x a year and did the Chesapeake and Delaware a dew times all on tug/tows or coastal bulkers

[@majorlee76251]

i go train and ship watching on the cape cod canal.

[@jaysonlima9271]

@@majorlee76251 well then keep an eye out for the Christian Reinauer, also if you saw the William Bowe, Humboldt Bay, Prince of the Seas, or Everest Bay. You've might have seen me go by.

[@garbo8962]

Was working at the Courier Post newspaper in Cherry Hill NJ when the BB62 went thru the panama canal for the last time. They allowed a reporter on board for a few days traveling thru the canal. Reporter wrote a nice book on it. A year later the paper still had 1 or 2 pallets of these unsold books. Same people made up tons of PVC pipe sealed with a newspaper for first day of the 21st century. Yep that did not sell many of these over priced white elephants ( $20 ).

[@camickelson]

Thank you!! That was Great!

[@urza4282]

While I'm working on an ATB (articulated tug/barge unit), it's 600' long from stem to stem of the tug, we draw 27' when loaded, and feels like a ship in narrow channels. Went through the panama canal three times in 2016.

[@adamdubin1276]

My Brother was aboard two DDG's that transited the Suez, once as Strike Officer and again as Navigator. Main reason he never had a line crossing ceremony.

[@Sundancer268]

Yes, Both the Panama in 1969 on board the USS Durham LKA-114 and the Suez in 80 both ways on the USS Briscoe DD-977.

[@mitchellhawkes22]

Fascinating video topic with some vintage Panama Canal footage. I've run aground once or twice. But not in container ship. In a ski boat. No fun.

[@donniemontoya9300]

I was transiting the panama canal in a destroyer recently as part of a deployment. We actually collided with the side of the canal at one point which resulted in the destruction of a bunch of lifeboats. They were the ones held in barrels hung on the side of the ship, this was on the aft missile deck. The lifeboat containers ended up crushed and the brackets were damaged and had to be replaced.

[@chfscoot]

My grandfather commanded The Hornet through the Suez. I went through the old locks on the Panama Canal.

[@lorettagreenleaf5908]

On the NJ transit of the Panama in 1968 - there were a thousand or more spectators on the lawn adjacent to the locks. I assumed it was only because it was a newly commissioned ship. Two years later, transiting the Canal on the newly commissioned USS St. Louis (LKA-116), there was not a spectator in sight. Representative of the the impression the NJ made throughout the world. Wayne Greenleaf, Fourth Division Officer, USS NJ, Vietnam

[@derekgolden2996]

I was a Marine and did a MEU aboard the USS San Antonio and passed through the Suez Canal.

[@chuck8835]

In the 90s, I watched the New Jersey going up the Columbia River on its way to Portland's Rose Festival. A sight for sure. In this video it is nice to see the Naval personnel wearing squared away headgear rather than what you see in a Hollywood movie.

[@JoshuaTootell]

I was on the USCGC Munro when we circumnavigated the globe in 2005, passing through both the Suez Canal then the Panama Canal.

[@redtomcat1725]

I am a lucky fellow. As a civilian I did a family cruise on the "Thomas Gates and the Vicksburg. A real exciting learning experience.

[@davedavis775]

At some point my wife's father and her family lived in Panama during his many years in the Army. They have quite a few pictures from there. My wife was born after their time in Panama. He served fighting in WWII Island hoping the Pacific.