Guadalcanal Campaign - 1st Savo Island (IJN 1 : 0 USN)

Today we look at the first major battle of the Guadalcanal Campaign, the 1st Battle of Savo Island)
Sources:
www.amazon.co.uk/Neptunes-Inferno-U-S-Navy-Guadalcanal/dp/B004KSEYHI
www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Guadalcanal-Described-Survivors-Official/dp/0786458976
www.ibiblio.org...
www.amazon.co.uk/Shame-Savo-Anatomy-Naval-Disaster/dp/1863736506
Maps Graphics - Wargaming (World of Warships)
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[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@dejangabrovsek6534]

Many battleships prior to WNT had quarterdeck lower than the main deck (for example HMS Hood, QE, R classes) but many battleships after WNT had flush deck (Nelsons, KGV, Iowa). Is there any reason for this way of design?

[@usslexingtoncva-1639]

How Good Was USS Enterprise’s Helmsman. Since From What I Saw From Battle 360, She Was Able To Evade Torpedoes Like It Was Going Out Of Fashion.

[@Primarch359]

If the Carriers were present would they have been any danger?(I assume not) How many escorts left with them? and could those escorts have made a significant contribution?

[@Eric_Hutton.1980]

Would you do a video about the loss of the Royal Oak, if you haven't already? I love the Revenge class battleships, and this great battleship and 835 of her crew deserve to be remembered. If you have done a video about her loss them I apologize. A magnificent ship that should be and needs to be remembered.

[@MarcStjames-rq1dm]

Thoughts on the Tom Hanks movie, 'Greyhound'? From a Forester novel, 'the Good Shepherd". (I thought "Sink the Bismarck" was better).

[@Halinspark]

Ship Command: Your job is to keep an eye out and tell us if the enemy shows up. Watch: The enemy showed up Command: You're wrong and also an idiot. Watch: We are literally on fire. Command: It must be the wind.

[@scotty1108]

Don't you just love humans? I have been reading history my entire adult life, and it seems our own stupidity is a universal constant.

[@MasouShizuka]

I too, elect to go to sleep while my house is on fire.

[@sw96]

@@scotty1108 I think it was Einstein who said “Only two things are infinite, the Universe and human stupidity... and I’m not certain about the Universe.”

[@KiwiKaosAgent]

Sounds just like the senior management of the company I work for, All fucking idiots with their own agenda and anything you tell them they ignore.

[@ulfpe]

Supreme incompetence

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Long term series you say? *This is where the fun begins*

[@joshthomas-moore2656]

Long term series huzzah boys!

[@MrSleepy677]

Christmas came early

[@johnbuchman4854]

I am available for play testing! (Just in case, doesn't hurt to get the word out...)

[@OutlawedOutlander]

It turns out I have already watched your video and have subbed.

[@chadgessele7452]

While I hope Our man Drach never slacks off on the guides and such, this is the kind of thing that really fires my boilers. Yes sir, may I have another?

[@MrThekingofrock97]

Anyone here going through this series again? Drach at his best

[@longlakeshore]

As one historian wrote: "Admiral King decided to set up a toll booth on Guadalcanal."

[@Johnnycdrums]

He was a God.

[@seavee2000]

@@Johnnycdrums He thought he was God

[@sawyerawr5783]

@Raging S doesnt make him any less of a self-righteous, arrogant asshole. even his own daughter said he only had one mood, "angry."

[@Johnnycdrums]

He overuled the taking of Rubaul, another good decision.

[@zeedub8560]

@@sawyerawr5783 The quote from her that I've read is "My father was the most even-tempered man in the Navy, because he was always in a rage."

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

"We lost four cruisers, Turner took everyone left and headed for open sea. We're it for now. A zero crashed into her (the Elliott's) midship, they couldn't control the fires so they scuttled her. She went down with half the battalions ammo, most of our grub and medical supplies, and all of our ass wipe." - Lt. Corrigan, The Pacific Part one.

[@kurumi394]

My parents made me learn English like any other native would since I was born, even though I'm from a non English speaking nation and they both don't speak English. 20 years later I get to enjoy every single moment of Drach along with his subtle humor sprinkled in. I really owe them big time

[@visassess8607]

What country are you from? Japan?

[@Ratdaddy752]

This channel really is a treat

[@wordsshackles441]

You swallow trees mate

[@randomrandomnesss2188]

You had great parents

[@lessthanimpressive1323]

Your English is perfect too!

[@kpdubbs7117]

2:42 Map: South of Florida Island, shows the location of the sinking of the BOW of the USS Minneapolis. This is my favorite detail so far.

[@michaeljones9861]

KPDubbs71 good spotting

[@sse_weston4138]

Adding to that, to the south end of the map the spot for the USS Serpens disaster

[@Ralph-yn3gr]

Officer: "Show me on the map where your ship is." Sailor (pointing): "That's them, sir." Officer: "There are two marks here. Did you make a mistake the first time?" Sailor: "No, sir. That's where the front of our ship is. The rest of her is over here."

[@stephenpickering8063]

I noticed a couple of oddities here, such as the Canberra being labelled DD! However if the rest is accurate you see why it got called Ironbottom Sound.

[@sse_weston4138]

@@stephenpickering8063 Actually the single D label for the Royal Australian Navy doesn't signify destroyer, although I myself am not familiar enough with the designations of the Commonwealth to give an accurate description

[@jimmywrangles]

Poor HMAS Canberra. The crew got a lot of flak when they returned home, all of it undeserved. RIP my fellow countrymen, you did good.

[@MrSGL21]

they did their duty and did it well. we named one of our crusiers after the Canberra and we just laid down the keel of a new Uss Canberra.

[@captainobvious9233]

@@MrSGL21 And my Grandfather served on the U.S.S Canberra in WW2. My Father in law also server on her during the Vietnam War. Sadly my Grandfather passed before he met my Father in Law :(

[@gronk2577]

I’m the queen of England, Served on the U.S.S Hood

[@MrBITS101]

I read somewhere that a significant number of Canberra survivors were later appointed to it's replacement ship, the Shropshire and repeatedly mentioned that they had some scores to settle with the Japanese. Shropshire later participated in the Leyte Gulf battles and I believe the crew and ship performed well and gained some degree of revenge.

[@cmikles1]

That sucks. There’s not a whole lot you can do when you are the target of the opening shots and take a couple dozen hits. And they put themselves between the forces they were protecting and the attackers.

[@belekjenkins2308]

When you put on a Drach vid in hopes that his soothing voice will help lull you to sleep, only find the subject matter so interesting you stay awake another 43 minutes...

[@jonathanhill4892]

You ought to know by now that it is not just a five minute vid:) But who's complaining. There are more important things than sleep!

[@Anaris10]

I didn't want to go to sleep..but I did...

[@norahc.]

Glad I'm not the only one with this problem.

[@seasirocco3063]

Never realized how close Kirishima and Hiei’s wrecks were. Sisters to the end, I suppose.

[@shaunsalter450]

I admire the confidence of the Quartermaster who overrode the arrogance of the Lieutenant. Warrant Officers have Saved Bacon throughout history. So easy to get arrogance confused with confidence, especially in the USN of 1942. Remarkable that even after the logistical truimph of Pearl Harbour (even if it was strategically insane in the long term) USN contempt for the Japenese wasn't at least tempered by wary acceptance of their abilities. Usually nothing educates like disaster, in that case the USN couldn't get past the insult and shake off their complacency. Excellent relating of the event as usual, I look forward to the next chapters.

[@sawyerawr5783]

NCOs make the world go round. never forget that.

[@Zerox_Prime]

Yes and no as to Japan's wartime prowess. Repeatedly, they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, i.e. Bombing old obsolete battleships in a shallow harbor, leaving fuel and subs untouched; at Savo Isle leaving transports untouched despite overwhelming tactical victory; Midway where it was against war game rules to position USN carriers where they actually would be, etc.

[@rogerwilco2]

I think that the US complacency is in this case significantly rooted in racism, but it is a trait of the US in general, from the war of 1812 up to the invasion of Iraq. The US wins wars because of its sheer size, geographical advantages, and resources. But it's citizens confuse this with tactical and strategic brilliance.

[@haggis525]

@@rogerwilco2 All those advantages and the Vietnamese kicked their butt. Will to win and dogged perseverance is a tremendous thing to have and the Vietnamese had that above all.

[@gayprepperz6862]

@@haggis525 The Vietnam war was doomed from the beginning because it not an all out war, but a stupid "policing action" with an ever burgeoning list of "rules of engagement.". As for the rest of your comment (RogerWilco), exactly what sorry country is it that you represent? The US was rolling Japan back across the Pacific using only 10% of it's resources, the remaining 90% being dedicated towards defeating Germany. Yes, Americans had a low opinion of the Japanese, but the Japanese (and Germans) were no less "racist", and underestimated the spirit and ingenuity of the Americans. Your knowledge and opinion of the US seems to be based on "feelings" and racism as well. If the US is so bad, why do all of the European and pacific nations all want treaties with the US for protection. We are being chained to small, incompetent, and incapable corpses that have nothing to contribute towards their own defense. We should shake all of those mangy rats (Europe included) from our necks and see to our own defense, and not be hindered with incompetent and weak, so-called "allies."

[@christopherbrodhagen8646]

When I was young in the Navy at Pearl Harbor we would volunteer (or voluntold ) to help the old timers on Pearl Harbor Day. One guy in a wheelchair was a 40mm reloader, told some funny and crazy stories.

[@lamwen03]

And probably mostly true.

[@christopherbrodhagen8646]

@@lamwen03 Most were drinking and guys chasing women.

[@totalwar1793]

@@christopherbrodhagen8646 Yup, those are mostly true

[@OntarioRimrunner]

Interesting fact: Crutchley had commanded HMS Warspite at Narvik.

[@bigblue6917]

I'm sure he could have done with Warspite that night

[@RCAvhstape]

He also had a most epic naval beard.

[@sawyerawr5783]

@@bigblue6917 could you imagine Warspite steaming out of the blackness, 15in guns blazing on Mikawa?

[@jasonmccaslin821]

I don't really understand why he was even there. Really. Drach kind of let him off the hook I feel like. Bode messed up. No doubt. But Crutchley shouldn't have had those two forces split so far apart where they couldn't support each other. He should have known the effective range on the radar on Destroyers Blue and Ralph Talbot. Why was a RN Admiral commanding a force of R.A.N. and U.S.N. vessels without a single R.N. ship being involved?

[@steffenb.jrgensen2014]

@@jasonmccaslin821 Crutchley split up the two forces because he thought they were too unfamiliar with cooperating and a bigger united force thus would end up in mess. I think that was a valid point.

[@rackstraw]

Ironically, the S-Boats had the best chance against surface targets in 1942, as they were still using WWI-era Mark 10 torpedoes. While these also tended to run deep, they lacked the problematic magnetic and contact exploders of the Mark 14, and could actually be counted upon to function in the event of a hit.

[@Drachinifel]

Probably why S-48 managed to bag one of them on the way back :)

[@rackstraw]

@@Drachinifel Spoilers!

[@MrTScolaro]

@@Drachinifel Three hits out of four fired and all of them exploded.

[@johnbuchman4854]

@@rackstraw Ah! Spoiler alert on a battle 78 years in the past... Speaks volumes about what passes (and has passed) for history education!

[@WWTwoGuy]

@@johnbuchman4854 It was probably a joke.

[@johnwhite7219]

The Marines on Guadalcanal called this battle of the 5 Sitting Ducks.

[@RCAvhstape]

There's a scene in the miniseries "The Pacific" where Marines on a hill on Guadalcanal are watching the battle at night and assuming that the burning ships in the distance are enemy, not realizing at first that the US Navy is getting its ass handed to it. In the book "Guadalcanal Diary" the Marines describe all the wounded and dead bodies of sailors washing up on shore later.

[@aaronjohn6586]

1 of the best books written on the naval battles off Guadalcanal was James Hornfischer's "Neptune's inferno."

[@85gamingwot55]

Aaron John I had a birthday recently and I’m trying to get that book

[@johnreilly6630]

Last I was at the National WW2 Museum in New Orleans, it was down betwen "Neptune's Inferno" and "Shattered Sword", and Hornfischer won that one

[@ovk-ih1zp]

@@johnreilly6630 Still spend the money on Shattered Sword. It's an excellent breakdown of Midway with, at the time of writing, plenty of primary sources from the IJN side as well as the USN perspective. But both book can not be more highly recommended. I've read both multiple times.

[@gandydancer637]

@@johnreilly6630 Drach was sponsored by Audible recently, and he mentioned "Neptune's Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal" in his ad, so I dropped a credit on it. I'd gotten through 1st Savo just before this video popped up. I think I can detect some of his sourcing in it. Can't say I'm that impressed with the book. A bit too top-"leader"-centric. And you don't get the maps from Audible. (There's some good stuff on KZbin, though, to give some binocular vision as well as animations, or at least this one that I ran across. kzbin.info/www/bejne/joiodnuFgMiHpKM ) Audible has Shattered Sword, too, but Midway is less interesting to me. A bit too oft told, I'd be more interested in something more obscure.

[@scottl9660]

Richard Frank had a trilogy of books from the perspective of the land battles the surface battles and the carrier battles. The surface edition focuses mostly on the nov 13-15 battles but it touched on the others to a more limited degree. It’s another resource and my personal first introduction to the subject.

[@jannegrey593]

Drach in the middle of the night Glorious

[@DaveSCameron]

Pervert!! Aren`t you aware he`s a married man?

[@JediKnight19852002]

Drach to start the day. Glorious

[@airfigo1]

Drach at end of the day Also Glorious

[@Kevin_Kennelly]

Drach at night (not found on KZbin).

[@ronnelson7828]

Drach when talking about HMS Glorious........ anybody...

[@Lich_V.]

@@ronnelson7828 Double the Gloriousness

[@Thunderstruck170]

Drach to end the day. Glorious.

[@falloutghoul1]

Drach to start the day. Even better.

[@American22people]

Drach for Lunch Time. Maybe better?

[@hmskinggeorgev7089]

Drach all day best

[@scottgiles7546]

Why yes. Drach has done HMS Glorious. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYeVZqRsZbibrJo (That is what you meant?) (whimsy)

[@williamlydon2554]

The Battle of Savo Island was so disastrous for the U.S Navy, that the surviving sailors were returned to the United States, and confined to base to hide the seriousness of the losses suffered. It was only in October of '42 with the campaign shifting in Allied favor, that the War Department allowed the truth of the defeat to be published. That same month, the Mayor of Quincy MA, Thomas S. Burgin wrote to the Secretary of the Navy asking to have the then under construction USS St Paul at the local Bethlehem Fore River shipyard, renamed the USS Quincy to honor the city's slain namesake. "The loss of the United States cruiser Quincy,is keenly felt by the citizens of this city for which the ship was named. Maintaining the traditions of the United States Navy, our ship went down fighting during the fierce attack on the Solomon Island. She had made a distinctive record for herself since being built here at the Fore River Shipyard. Acting in behalf of our 80,000 citizens, I earnestly suggest that you authorize one of the new heavy cruisers being built at the Fore River plant in Quincy to be named Quincy as a tribute to the officers and men of the Navy who were lost on the Quincy..." USS Quincy ( CA-71) was a Baltimore-class Heavy Cruiser , that served during both Overlord and Dragoon, ferried FDR to the Yalta conference, was the sight of a historic agreement between the U.S and Saudi Arabia, screen fast carriers in both the Pacific theater, and five years later was dusted off to do the same in Korea. CA-71 had a hell of a lot to live up to, but her officers and crew would have made both the former Quincy, and her crew alive and dead, proud.

[@chrisbullock3504]

The early war naval battles are sooo interesting. it really showed that the Japanese were not pushovers who were in over their heads like many believe from late war actions.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Their problem, however competent their Navy was - was that as a nation - they were in over their head. Mikawa didn't engage the transports - which was what he should have done - because he knew that if he lost any of his ships - they could not be replaced. The Americans made mistakes and lost ships - but they were more than able to replace them. .

[@augustosolari7721]

@@BobSmith-dk8nw Also, take into account that His orders were to take out the defenses, not take care of the transports. Also, the army had boasted how they would anihilate the army, so why not Leave it up to them?

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

@@augustosolari7721 If the Japanese had truly understood Mahan - he would have taken out the transports - but they didn't. If you look at the RN - whose resources weren't all that great either - THEY - with centuries of Naval Tradition - understood how to use a Navy. When they went after Bismarck - they went all out. They lost the Hood - but - they made a good hit on stopping the Germans from Commerce Raiding with their surface fleet as the Cargo Ships -were what it's all about. But - the thing with the RN was - all their Captains knew - that if they took on the enemy and hurt them - even if they lost their ship - Britain would build another one. The Japanese could never say that. Do you have a source for the exact wording (translated to English) of his orders? And - how would he know what the Army thought? Had the Army thought anything at the point at which he received his orders? The Japanese Army and Navy weren't known for talking to each other that much. Another factor in all this is the Japanese dogma (from the Battle of Tsushima) of The Decisive Battle where in their fleet would take on the US Fleet in this one big battle that would decide the war. That big battle had actually already come - at Midway but they continued to pursue that strategy and preserved The Combined Fleet at Truk - when committing it to the Solomon's could have made the difference. 1942 was the year the Japanese stood the best chance (and not a good one) of winning the war and the time to go all out with all their forces to defeat the Americans. However they persisted in this strategy of preserving their ships and lost. .

[@augustosolari7721]

@@BobSmith-dk8nw please, i encourage you to watch montemayor video on the battle here in KZbin. Have a great day.

[@mryhdy6266]

@@BobSmith-dk8nw I agree with your chance that 1942 was the year the Japanese had a chance to inflict major damage on the USN. I know hindsight is 20/20, but the only chance they had was to concentrate their forces for mutual support, the exact opposite of what the did. Obviously the US would gain the upper hand eventually, but would they have stayed the course if victories didnt appear until mid 1943?

[@DanielWW2]

23:57 The one time USN torpedoes decided to actually worked...

[@derekrohan9619]

Work

[@JeffLMB]

"Mission failed! We'll get them next time!" -USN.... probably

[@24YOA]

USA did get them next time!

[@jasonmccaslin821]

Yes. But unfortunately the guy who led the next victory gets blasted by friendly fire in the 3rd Allied victory.

[@John.0z]

Drach, have you read "The Shame of Savo"? It is an interesting book explicitly on this battle. Although primarily a detailed analysis of the sinking of HMAS Canberra, of necessity it covers the whole battle. I met a former crewman of Canberra, and his recollections, although limited to his experience, are not too different to the book's documentation of events. To say that Bode was not liked by the Canberra's crew following that battle would be a vast understatement. That turn she made to port was seen as outright cowardice. After the battle, by using fire hoses from the two US Destroyers, in his opinion the crew were bringing the fires on board under control. Until the Chicago turned up with guns blazing. His description was of the foremost destroyer alongside "doing 30 knots standing still" as the crew chopped through the ropes and hoses linking her to the Canberra. By the time those destroyers were back alongside, the fires had blazed back up, and the ship was in a much worse position. I got the impression that the episode with the Chicago, combined with the demand to sink their ship, had a very bad effect on the spirit of the Canberra's crew. His last experience at Savo was being placed on board one of the US transports for return to Australia. The Canberra's crew entered the recently vacated bunk area to find the bunks littered with "all sorts of drugs" that they had never seen. This did little to improve their already poor opinion of US servicemen of the time; but the use of Benzedrine by several military forces in WW2 is now more widely understood. He did not tell me if any of the Australian sailors sampled those drugs. Later the Chicago was sitting in Sydney Harbour when the Japanese launched a midget submarine attack, with her as the prime target. Bode won no friends there either. Regardless of the wisdom of his action, steaming out at the first sign of trouble had all the harbour defenders asking "Where is the Chicago?" the next morning.

[@Questknight12]

Why was Bode not relieved for cause?

[@John.0z]

@@Questknight12 Ask the USN of WW2. But I would guess they were short of commanders for all the new ships that were commissioning.

[@7thsealord888]

On Chicago's conduct during the Japanese submarine attack on Sydney Harbour, worth noting that she did fire her main guns - and scored a hit on Fort Denison, a fortified island in the middle of the harbour. The spot where the shell hit is still pointed out to tour groups - in 150 years of service, it has been the only time that fort was fired on by ANYONE.

[@babylon218]

@@Questknight12 Relieved? The more I read about this man, I'm surprised Admiral King didn't teleport next to him through shear blood-curdling rage and *shoot him*! A ship is only as good as its crew, but even a spectacular crew can't make up for an incompetent commander.

[@7thsealord888]

'To Sydney By Stealth', a probably out-of-print book covering the Japanese submarine attack on Sydney Harbour, plus both the lead-up and aftermath. A read. Drach, This is another possible topic to add to your extremely long list. Or possibly about the Japanese mini-subs in general - the ones used at Sydney were an updated version of what was used at Pearl Harbour, and the type was used elsewhere as well.

[@trex2092]

I had three uncles on board the USS Quincy, one made home.

[@johnashley-smith4987]

I've been waiting for this one !Gonna be a good day!

[@WandererRTF]

For Finns 'Savo' is a funny name as one of the inland regions of Finland - mostly lake-land consisting of (thousands of) lakes and islands - is also known as 'Savo' (in English term 'Savonia' is used and in Swedish 'Savolax').

[@hazchemel]

interesting, thanks for saying :) i grew up on the coast of north east australia; the sun rises from the coral sea.

[@David-il9xw]

Overconfidence of the USN, as a problem, was also shared by the RAF squadrons who later fought against the Japanese. They, too, believed their aircraft and tactics, having been honed in Europe against the Luftwaffe, were vastly superior. They suffered a similar end.

[@francoistombe]

Japanese navy also had its victory disease. Re-adjusted at Midway.

[@michalsoukup1021]

Arguably their tactics were superior, but their planes most definitely were not, and they had no early warning at far east.

[@jasonirwin4631]

@@michalsoukup1021 the RAF pilots did have a tactics problem. Many of the RAF veterans of European theater tried to turn fight zeros. You can turn fight a ME-109 or a FW-190 but as US pilots learned early in the war turn fighting a zero was a bad idea and that boom and zoom tactics are better or trying to use tricks like the thatch weave. US pilots tried to warn RAF pilots but were blown off.

[@jasonirwin4631]

@@michalsoukup1021 the RAF pilots did have a tactics problem. Many of the RAF veterans of European theater tried to turn fight zeros. You can turn fight a ME-109 or a FW-190 but as US pilots learned early in the war turn fighting a zero was a bad idea and that boom and zoom tactics are better or trying to use tricks like the thatch weave. US pilots tried to warn RAF pilots but were blown off.

[@jasonirwin4631]

@@michalsoukup1021 the RAF pilots did have a tactics problem. Many of the RAF veterans of European theater tried to turn fight zeros. You can turn fight a ME-109 or a FW-190 but as US pilots learned early in the war turn fighting a zero was a bad idea and that boom and zoom tactics are better or trying to use tricks like the thatch weave. US pilots tried to warn RAF pilots but were blown off.

[@MichaelGarcia-ic6tz]

Drach, you're the best! Excellent breakdown of the Battle of Savo Island (I). Looking forward to the next installments. A great book that covers the Guadalcanal navel engagements is " Neptune's Inferno" by James D. Hornfischer, as you've noted.

[@samb3706]

A most excellent, accurate, and concise analysis of one of the most devastating naval battles of WW II. Not a pretty picture, but an indicator of many lessons learned. Thanks much, Drachinifel!

[@Idahoguy10157]

Back in 1984 in college I had a professor who was a Marine on the crew of the USS Wasp. In the Atlantic and Pacific

[@rcgunner7086]

My barber growing up was a crewman on one of the little destroyer transports (WWI era four piper) in this fleet. He saw the battle and everyone was sure that the cruisers stomped the Japanese. He said that the next morning with the fleet high-tailing it out was a stunner to him and his crewmates. His ship spent the next few months supporting actions in the Solomons. Quite a ride he had!

[@Maddog3060]

I remember reading about this when I read Robert Ballard's book he wrote after poking around in Ironbottom sound. A damn, terrible shame.

[@neniAAinen]

This was, however, where the modern US navy was actually forged.

[@MikeJones-qn1gz]

@@neniAAinen well said you don’t get to being one of the best navies in the world without making all the big mistakes, the British Royal Navy is a great example

[@johnbantle7004]

The allies paid in blood for not being better prepared. These lessons were learned the hard way. Read “Neptune’s Inferno” to have your hair stand up on end before leaving you sad for the good men lost. Good job Drach.

[@jmrico1979]

Thoroughly enjoyable. I like this format. Just hard facts, and good narration. No comic voice over impersonations and no sound of the "typewriter from hell". Just one man's opinion. As always, thank you for your content.

[@michelangelobuonarroti4958]

Coming from Montemayor, so I have high expectations... He didn't disappoint. Quite the opposite in fact

[@seanmac1793]

Welcome to the cult

[@michelangelobuonarroti4958]

@@seanmac1793 I've been following him for a while now just to clarify. I think it's about a year by now. But you see Montemayor did an Animated Battle map for Savo Island and narrated the battle too that's what I ment.

[@seanmac1793]

@@michelangelobuonarroti4958 ahhhh okay

[@oneofspades]

Montemayor's Midway was one of the best.

[@michelangelobuonarroti4958]

@@oneofspades oh hell yeah. If not _the_ best. Have you seen parts 2 and 3 yet?

[@1Izaak]

More like this, please. I get that they take a long time to read, research, write and record, but they really are wounders.

[@Memphismastermind]

Who'd they wound?

[@Daniel.Anugerah]

like MacArthur, Drach has returned

[@dougerrohmer]

Except that Drach's return is a good thing...

[@Superuser009]

Hopefully with drier feet.

[@vespelian5769]

I really enjoy this material and as I've just this minute read an article on the Japanese submarine campaign at Guadalcanal, this one couldn't be better timed. Excellent content as ever.

[@schlirf]

Constantly amazed about how few Americans know about Guadalcanal or Savo island battles nowadays. Its scary.

[@lars7935]

Knowing about battles isn't really all that important. Knowing why war happened, the politics of it and the broad strokes of the war (and knowledge of ALL significant war crimes, not just the ones of the loosing side) is much more important.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

I disagree with that. Any American with any interest in history is going to know about Guadalcanal

[@lars7935]

@@petersouthernboy6327 I'm just saying that learning this in school is much less important than learning the reasons for war and it's politics.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Lars - my comment was directed at the OP. But “teaching” politics is in itself usually a very biased political exercise.

[@jlvfr]

Blame the History Channel. The few times they show this area is presenting the heroic marines standing, or heroic Henderson Field, or the 2 BBs blowing up a single BC...

[@kakwa]

That feeling when, you hope and comment a couple of time for a video subject, and Drachinifel delivers just a few weeks after

[@alanrogers7090]

Thank you for doing this series. I had an uncle who was badly wounded at Guadalcanal. He was sent back to the United States after the local doctors got him stabilized. When he was released from the hospital, it was 1944. His wounds included a missing ear, an arm that was taken off just below the elbow, four broken, (shattered), ribs, a broken leg, (also shattered), and a deep gash in the side of his head with the missing ear. Oh, and he was also badly burned, but mostly second degree, with only a few patches of third degree. As many who fought, he smoked like a chimney. He died in 1982 of lung cancer. It wasn't pretty. Both of my uncles and my dad were in the Army, but, unlike the famous Sullivan brothers, were each stationed in different theaters. My dad was in Europe. One uncle was in the Pacific, and the other was stationed at San Francisco. He never saw active fighting. My dad drove a reconnaissance tank, a M5A1 Stuart, (the one with TWO Cadillac engines and automatic transmission). He didn't like to tell of his service, except once. While we were at a reunion of his war buddies, the story came out about the time their tank had its track blown off by a German tank. The crew bailed out taking their machine guns and the cannon breech with them to prevent the Germans from using their own weapons against them. By the time the enemy tank reached his tank, they had run back towards the friendly lines and had dropped the breech, though they kept the machine guns until they reached their base and reported in. That is the only story that I know except that when they reached Dachau concentration camp, he was used as an interpreter, as, being Jewish, he spoke Yiddish.

[@jstetzer01]

I can only imagine what he went through. I've been to Dachau several times. A few with family visiting. I'm a retired Army 1SG now. Spent 7 1/2 years of 23 in Germany. God Bless you and your family for what they fought for. Mine too, Army and Navy. Some Uncle's I never met. Other's I did. But, I'll remember all.

[@bluemarlin8138]

Ooh, a Guadalcanal series? Sign me up! Can’t wait to see how you take captain Gatch over the coals! (deservedly)

[@bluemarlin8115]

@TheSlot1942 From what I can gather, that feud was mostly a result of captain Gatch taking credit for USS Washington's handiwork after the battle. (Apparently he frequently inflated his performance in after-action reports.) Gatch was said to be a brave man and well-liked by his crew, but I can't fathom how someone that incompetent and inexperienced was given command of the Navy's newest battleship. His decision to come right of the burning destroyers instead of following Washington to the left deserved a court martial all by itself!

[@InchonDM]

@@bluemarlin8115 The impression that I got was that Gatch didn't have much of a choice in the matter thanks to South Dakota's extremely untimely total power failure.

[@bkjeong4302]

@@bluemarlin8115 This wasn’t the first time SoDak stole credit or overclaimed. Her AA performance at Santa Cruz was a lie as well.

[@stefanfichtenhuegel5370]

Anyone remember Microprose TaskForce1942. It Was the starting battle of the campaign. I've rehearsed this battle in the sim dozen of times from allied and japanese side. And yes pushing for the Transports with the cruisers was a garant for winning the campaign for Japan. S! To Drac for adding his spice to the tale, making it so entertaining.

[@teebar8476]

I am thoroughly enjoying this playlist. Please continue and consider assembling more.

[@thomaskositzki9424]

YES the Guadalcanal Campaing by Drachinifel! The most intense and interesting Naval Campaign (IMHO) narrated by the best YT naval historiographer around (fact)!

[@alviecrumpton5216]

OMG your videos are so good!! You need your own show on the History Channel...oh wait, if you do that, within about a week you'll be hunting aliens and chasing ghosts..scratch that. You have earned a new Patreon subscriber. Well done!!!

[@bullettube9863]

I read a book on Salvo Island back in 1966, my father who had been serving in the Atlantic at the time said it was the worse defeat the Navy had ever suffered. No one on his ship could imagine how the Japanese could have attacked without being detected and then escaped without serious damage being doing to them. But their captain told them "never underestimate your enemy, if it's possible, it probably will be done". This philosophy helped my father's ship, a DE, survive submarine attacks in the Atlantic, and later sub and air attacks in the Med. They also barely survived a kamikaze attack in 1945 off Okinawa. Underestimating the enemy is one of the main reasons so many battles have been lost down through history!

[@mastermariner7813]

Outstanding video. Total ineptness of the US Navy surface fleet in the early war. Thankfully they turned it around quickly. Looking forward to the series. Well done, Sir!

[@williamlydon2554]

A heavy cruiser gave all her might As star shells lit up black night Her crew well drilled never would falter Even when enemy shells, tossed up water Blow after blow, and still she fought Until at last, she was caught In searing beams, that drew rapid fire Men fell to her decks as the toll grew higher. Torpedoes tore, her sides asunder Quickly, she began to go under Down she went with 370 men August 9th, was to be there end. And no more, was the Quincy.

[@reaperking2121]

Wake up. Go to subscriptions. Sees Drach has posted another one of his excellent mini documentary. Thank you drach now I can have the perfect start to the day. Cup of coffee in one hand, WoWs open up in a tab and drachs silky smooth voice, and good humor narrating a great battle on other. Lets do this.

[@christophermancini7380]

The Solomons naval campaign always reminded me of the Royal Navy's fight in the Mediterranean, especially during the Battle for Crete. Although the Italian Navy turned out to be nowhere near of the threat of the IJN, the German Lüftwaffe (particularly Fliegerkorps X) with some help from the Italians, managed to make the Eastern Mediterranean a living hell for RN surface units, with cruisers being lost at an alarming rate, as had been the case for the US Navy in the Solomons. It's fortunate that the US Navy wasn't facing Stukas and JU-88s in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons or at Santa Cruz, as no way could Enterprise or Saratoga have survived multiple hits from 1,000 kg bombs without armored flight decks. I'm very much looking forward to this series, as for over a year and a half, the surface and air engagements in the Solomons were unequalled in their ferocity before the learned skill and material might of the US Navy turned the tide.

[@Attlanttizz]

Drach when you start sipping your first tea in the afternoon... Glorious!

[@alexkalish8288]

Best summary of the battle I have ever experienced. I've heard stories from men who saw the battle from shore. Great job -

[@jasondouglas6755]

The US invasion of Flordia inorder to stop all the beach parties

[@gerryroncolato8895]

Drach, well done. Graphics were excellent and your narrative very solid. If you haven't already read it, I would recommend to you John Lundstrom's book on Fletcher ("Black Shoe Carrier Admiral"). It's a great corrective for the anti-Fletcher narrative built up during and after the war. Superbly researched and written. Whole new light on logistics and decisions surrounding the invasion and subsequent force dispositions. It may influence your thinking a bit. Thanks, and again, well done. Gerry

[@wellsbengston4132]

I second that recommendation.

[@Howlrunner82]

And if you were really unlucky that night you would see the ghost of an old russian ship and hear "Do you see torpedo boats?" calls before it vanishes into the darkness again 👻

[@GrumpyGrobbyGamer]

Fantastic video! Well delivered with some witty one liners thrown in for historical accuracy! Perception check indeed!!!

[@ReclinedPhysicist]

You would think the investigation would also recommend installing captains that trusted radar.

[@davidlewis9068]

This is going to be very good, showing the greatest Japanese tactics (Night Fighting) and bringing in USN Radar upgrades to compensate for the Japanese strengths As always you really hit it out of the park Drachinifel.

[@Eboreg2]

17:15 - To be fair, Radar Warning Receivers were being developed at the time and the Japanese did manage to field one on the Jintsu at the Battle of Kolombangara but I personally believe that that is something you don't act on without any sort of evidence.

[@RodneyGraves]

A point, to be sure. Early surface search radars had huge problems with returns from both the seas and especially land clutter, with heavy forest/jungle posing particular challenges. We have retained the lesson though and now test such systems far more rigorously and in more real life conditions.

[@arsarma1808]

Ironically, a response on such a system might've deterred the cautious Mikawa, given that it would signify a large, alert, and radar-baring ship.

[@lamwen03]

@@arsarma1808 "Yes, we're here. Yes, we're watching you".

[@Johnnycdrums]

Rodney Graves ; Tuning makes a huge difference.

[@holderofthemantle117]

Finally caught up on all videos (dances in a crowded room) to be perfectly honest this is gonna be a great series of videos

[@PappyGunn]

Absolutely the most detailed description of the battle and aftemath

[@williamleadbetter9686]

My grandfather was in Guadalcanal the main battle was over by then but the Japanese were still actively bombing it. He saw lots of the dogfights with they Japanese Aircraft & our Aircraft. He spoke much of his time in the Pacific. Battle of Munda Point , Bougainville and the liberation of the Philippines. He was in the 37th I. D.

[@owenstockwood5040]

10:46 They may have done some good, as those were Mk10 torpedoes, which were at least somewhat more reliable than the Mk14 used by the fleet boats.

[@workingguy6666]

Damned fine episode. What I like about your channel is that, perhaps consciously or unconsciously / unplanned, you seemed to take a really good amount of time (years) before introducing many of us to the major battles. What this did was to bring us in while we learned more and more of the intricacies of fighting ships. For example, The Battle of Jutland... I heard references to it many a time throughout watching prior videos, but never thought to look into it. Then, BAM!, there it was about two months ago. What a build up! I didn't even realize I was being set-up for being so enthralled with an episode, but by that time it was obvious that it was a major and historically significant engagement. And now here we are at Guadalcanal.

[@garfieldfarkle]

Well done, Drach. I wish you had a couple more charts. Still, the overall presentation is superb and I look forward to the rest of your work in this series. Thanks again....

[@frenstcht]

It seems like naval battles are lost rather than won.

[@seanmoran6510]

That applies to most battles

[@kpdubbs7117]

Gotta watch this after I get home from work, but this is going to be good. Can't wait to see this whole series.

[@reynaldoveneracion650]

The battle of Savo Island displays Allies poor training and battle readiness, even though they have the advantage of Radar.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

The radar was very early technology, was poorly understood, and had limited capability in such close proximity to land masses. But you’re right about readiness. Nonetheless, the Yanks stayed on the island, killed 24,000 Japanese, the Japanese withdrew in early 1943, and the Americans completed the conquest of the Solomons.

[@MrTScolaro]

@@petersouthernboy6327 San Juan had the more modern SG radar that was able to discern ships even in close proximity to land.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Tony Scolaro - it took USN Admiral Willis Lee, who was a radar expert, aboard USS Washington during the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on the night of November 14-15, 1942, to properly demonstrate the use of radar during a night engagement. He approached undetected using SG radar and sank the Battleship Kirishima with her 16 inch main batteries, getting between 9 to 14 hits both below and above the waterline. From that point forward, the USN relied upon radar for night surface engagements.

[@MrTScolaro]

@@petersouthernboy6327 Admittedly Admiral Lee really showed how its done (although Tassafaronga less than 2 weeks later would indicate that those lessons were not fully learned). Kirishima probably had more than 14 hits, probably closer to 20. However, SG was employed several times before that, successfully but less so than Admiral Lee. Notably Cape Esperance, where Helena and Boise both began firing under SG direction. Also, a couple of days earlier than Lee, Helena and others (notably Fletcher) had SG contact before visual confirmation and were ready with firing solutions. In both cases, the SG ships jumped the gun so to speak and fired before orders. Indeed also in both instances, the Commanding Officer (Scott and Callaghan, respectively) were not on the SG equipped ships and without the complete picture ordered cease fire in the middle of battle. At Savo, San Juan had SG and although doctrine was not quite as advanced, had she been closer, she would have had an excellent operational picture and could have engaged with her 5" and torpedoes likely surprising the Japanese. Hobart also had modern radar and could also have contributed with 6" guns and British 1942 torpedoes.

[@babylon218]

I think the RAN might object to being lumped in with the USN as 'poorly trained and not battle-ready'. As noted in the video, HMAS Canberra went from standby to action stations almost instantly once the Japanese force was identified, and got focused down by several heavy cruisers at point blank range with no meaningful fire support from the following USS Chicago for her trouble. It's fair enough to criticise the USN's failings at Guadalcanal (though remember the USN hadn't fought a major surface action for 40 years at that point and had been starved of funds for the last 20), but at least give the other allied forces at Savo Island the credit they deserve.

[@GM-fh5jp]

Nice one Drach...a worthy subject for a series and probably the most interesting warfare location of the Pacific War. The air battles over the Solomons and then up the Slot were epic. Looking forward to your assessments and commentary as this famous campaign unfolds.

[@adamalton2436]

Drachinafel, your stuff should be required listening in US schools. Maybe children would pay attention to history and learn from it if they weren't getting the same dry retelling of the American Revolution every few years.

[@JTA1961]

Yet now... it's not what you learn... it's what you earn that is "important"

[@Nakpanduri100]

This series makes an EXCELLENT companion to Hornfischer's "Neptune's Inferno", which I am currently re-reading. (It is so dense with information that picking it all up the first time is impossible.) It's an extraneous detail albeit a funny one, that when Helena was about to fire upon San Francisco, none of the San Francisco officers could remember the response to Helena's blinkered challenge H-I-S H-I-S. The enlisted signalman holding the blinker gun DID know the code but thought that if he signaled the correct response J-A-P J-A-P that they'd be hit immediately. Staring down the Helena's fifteen 6" guns, he frantically transmitted C-3-8, a truncated version of their hull number. Helena understood and mercifully stood down from certainly sinking the already heavily damaged San Francisco. The maps and historical pictures of the ships in the action add immensely to this story. Thank you for the fine work. Brad

[@bskorupk]

36:53 - 37:16 "Hit it with aan oaar Bert!.. That Were a Good Onne!"

[@Boatswain_Tam]

Excellent vid and looking forward to more. I also watched your panel discussion on WoWs channel with Jingles on this battle. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@kemarisite]

Note also that while the Hobart would have been useful, since it had AP rounds and 6" guns, the San Juan was an Atlanta class cruiser, and that design was never shown to be a good choice in a surface action against heavy cruisers. There was no AP round for the 5"/38, and while there was a "special common" projectile with some ability to penetrate armor, especially at close range, it's not clear that it had been introduced by mid-1942 or that San Juan carried any.

[@MrTScolaro]

Although San Juan had the most advanced radar of any of the ships in the area.

[@agesflow6815]

Thank you, Drachinifel.

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

"Worked like a searchlight and thus any use would give away their position." He was way ahead of the game lol

[@John-ru5ud]

The S class submarines were built in the 1920's, post WW I. And they had Mark 10 torpedoes, which didn't have the problems of the Mark 14.

[@jonathan_60503]

I believe the Mk10 shared the Mk14's tendency to run deep; and to occasionally make a circular run. Still it had less problems as it didn't share the Ml14's well know magnetic and impact exploder problems.

[@danielolson2857]

This is awesome as usual Drac! Keep it up and keep them coming please!

[@fboyg91]

Drach: Captain Bode shot himself Me: Oh no! Anyways...

[@oneofspades]

Think his "son" was my boss. Horrible working with that type - can't find him when you need him but back seat driving when you don't.

[@fboyg91]

oneofspades I knew a million officers like him. Salute them to their face and curse their existence when they’re gone. They’d sit inside a cushy office all tour while you dodged IEDs and sat outside in 130° heat and would have to nerve to harass you about having your sleeves rolled up. The USN is better off without him.

[@spirz4557]

And nothing of value was lost.

[@constitution_8939]

You are a Master Narrator and this was spectacularly done. Thank you, it had me on the edge of my seat even though I already knew of it all and the Great Loss suffered by the U.S. Navy. The Best outcome was that the transports remained unscathed saving thousand's of lives nonetheless.

[@loetzcollector466]

3:13 They should have never sailed into a place called " Iron Bottom Sound" in the first place!

[@tomaseidtner8116]

they named it Iron Bottom Sound after all the battles and the wracks there, i dont know how it was named befor that

[@bezahltersystemtroll5055]

@@tomaseidtner8116 pretty sure that was the joke :p

[@Hiraeth-zq8ze]

Drach to start off the morning, Glorious.

[@GrumpyGrobbyGamer]

Wonderful video full of important information. Thanks Drach, I look forward to the rest of this topic

[@thomaszinser8714]

Drach after lunch. Splendid.

[@roderickhamilton9891]

Yet another video series that I had no idea I needed in my life until you announced it drach! I've not found any other blow-by-blow of naval events in the Pacific outside of midway on KZbin, and although I've read about the guadalcanal campaign, and seen a lot about the land battles, this is so very necessary!

[@alt7488]

keep searching ..i found a few on the battle of the coral sea

[@heikkiremes5661]

Great start! What a massive typhoon of fecal matter the start of the campaign was. I was grinning like an idiot while listening. Can't wait for more!

[@eternalflamesolarflare3522]

good video... and your foreboding and foreshadowing is definitely effective. i already know the results and cant wait for the next video.

[@johnathonnunley3014]

Please do more videos on ijn and usn battles. I’ve watched all your videos. Your the best navy historian you tuber! Keep it up!

[@Geoduck.]

I'm starting to watch your outstanding series on the Guadalcanal for the second time. But now all at once in order. I've almost finished the fantastic book Neptunes Inferno US Navy Guadalcanal as per your recommendation. Of the many books I've read on history it's got to be one of the best.

[@jbeck66]

For a while now I have loved and many times laughed out loud at, "The Five Minute Guide to Warships (More or Less)" I know I once saw a five minute video from Drachinifel...or maybe it was a dream? Drachinifel, as always, did a great job on yet another video. I thought I had a pretty strong handle on naval history, especially for WWiI US and Great Britain. Then Mr. Drachinifel came along and ate my lunch so many times I just hand it over to him now. I find most clips to be stunningly great and looking forward to the next one! Again, really appreciate the effort and the information that goes into these!

[@MarcStjames-rq1dm]

Thoughts on the Tom Hanks movie, 'Greyhound'? From a Forester novel, 'the Good Shepherd". (I thought "Sink the Bismarck" was better)

[@Anglomachian]

Just finished the Guadalcanal campaign in The Rising Sun. Always interesting to see your perspective on things.

[@andrewsmith2404]

The best description of this battle ever, thank you.

[@jayde1708]

The American Navy thought so highly of the actions the HMAS Canberra that they renamed one of their own cruisers under construction after her. When I first saw USS Canberra mentioned in the war I thought it was a typical error. After all wasn't it "just America" in the Pacific. The USS Canberra is the only US ship named after a ship or city of another country. In 1995 (?) the ship's bell from the USS Canberra was presented to the Australian War Memorial, (located in Canberra) This is very unusual as the USA doesn't like other countries possessing US military artifacts. The US Navy is building another USS Canberra atm which I am surprised by considering Australia already has HMAS Canberra at sea. It is possible that in a few years time, an exercise somewhere in the Pacific could include two ships of the same name.

[@vassilizaitzev1]

Thanks for the video Drach. Savo Island...the battle that slapped the USN in the face after their decisive victory at Midway.

[@deathbyzergling]

I like seeing the back-and-forth of this. Works well.

[@spudskie3907]

Read the excellent Black Shoe Carrier Admiral by Lundstrom. This book is a history of Fletcher's actions from Wake to the Eastern Solomons. It discusses extensively Fletcher's decisions at Guadalcanal. There was a Marine aviator that was with Fletcher's staff and AGREED with the decision to withdraw the carriers.

[@brucetucker4847]

The brutal fact is that Marines were replaceable, while the carriers, at least in 1942, were not.

[@wellsbengston4132]

I second that recommendation.