QF 2-Pounder Mk.VIII "Pom Pom": the Royal Navy's WWII Standby

[@CanadianMacGyver]

Play World of Warships here: wo.ws/3SGK3R9 Thank you World of Warships for sponsoring this video. During registration use the code HSF2023 to get for free: 200 doubloons, 1 million credits, 7 Days of Premium Account time, HSF commander Misaki Akeno, and HSF commander Irizaki Mei. Applicable to new users only.

[@PaulLoveless-Cincinnati]

I know that funding is probably a huge issue but I would like to suggest that the length of the embedded promotion spot is VERY long. That said - you are quickly becoming my favorite channel next to Battleship NJ and Scott Manley.

[@misterhat5823]

No.

[@mattwilliams3456]

The multiple Pom Pom mounts really were the last great steampunk looking weapons in large scale use.

[@trooperdgb9722]

Exactly!

[@martinswiney2192]

If they were still available with ammo I bet you would see a Ukrainian technical with a double mount. 😂

[@mattwilliams3456]

@@martinswiney2192 it would certainly be the coolest antidrone system around.

[@justindunlap1235]

I would give anything to see one of the octuple mounts go full tilt for a 73 second burst.

[@fabiomuzzi7047]

And they have been used in Star Wars, if I remember correctly, as the turrets on the Millenium Falcon.

[@dogcarman]

“Your move, Ian” 😂😂 Fight, fight, fight, fight!

[@driftertank]

What's kind of funny is that I'm pretty certain that almost everyone watching this video knows exactly who he's talking to/about.

[@MMitchellMarmel]

LMAO!🤣🤣🤣

[@GutPyle]

I commented in another of your awesome videos, but it bears repeating. If you were one of my teachers in high school, I would have actually been interested in the subject and most likely pursued whatever subject you were teaching if not as a career, at least more seriously. You are to be commended for your personal style, expertise and ability to communicate concisely and without any sense of arrogance or condescension. Keep up the outstanding work you do, and I hope you are rewarded in such a way that motivates you to do so.

[@davemachoukas6175]

Would have understood more 😅

[@exsubmariner]

Naa you just fancy men with beards

[@JamesPhieffer]

And the pom-pom multi-cannon mount inspired many sci-fi weapons, including point defence systems in Babylon 5 (on the eponymous station) and Star Wars.

[@kevinm3586]

Still laughing at the Star Wars laser ones with recoil.

[@JamesPhieffer]

@@kevinm3586 the Babylon 5 ones do as well, although it doesn't look like recoil - more machine driven movement.

[@RIGman0497]

I love how you mentioned B5 before Star Wars. It's one of my favorite TV shows!

[@Inflorescensse]

Yes! Please do the video on ww1/2 fire control systems! The ones on the battleship North Carolina were my fav thing on the ship.

[@MFitz12]

This was really fantastic. Thanks. Great to see such a thorough treatment of an important but frequently overlooked weapon. Yes, please do a video on WW2 AA fire control. Fascinating topic.

[@grizwoldphantasia5005]

I would love to see one of the late war fire control tables opened up in operation. I suspect that's pretty unlikely.

[@MFitz12]

@@grizwoldphantasia5005 - I have some detail photos of the innards of the on-mount mechanical fire control computer for the Swedish Navy equivalent of the British Hazemeyer twin 40mm Bofors mount. The complexity of just that component (never mind the hydraulic stabilization and the range-only radar) gives one a good idea of why it was such a difficult thing to keep running at sea. And that was for a short-range system.

[@griz561]

@@grizwoldphantasia5005 a bunch of old training films are now public domain kzbin.info/www/bejne/najJZqB3oa5qi8k

[@DFX2KX]

huh, I've always wondered what the funnel-lookin' muzzle device on the bofors and pompom was about (both use one). Not blinding the gun crew really should have been obvious to me....

[@frostedbutts4340]

Yeah the Brits favored the simple conical flash hider, and used them on everything from LMGs to autocannons.

[@SonsOfLorgar]

It also increases the barrel recoil, which is essential for both pom-poms and Bofors AA guns as both the Pom-Pom and the Bofors is recoil operated. In the Pom-Pom, it ensures full travel of the mechanism and proper feeding, in the Bofors, it also increases the rate of fire and ensures a violent enough case ejection.

[@DFX2KX]

@@SonsOfLorgar HUH. didn't know that either. It makes sense to take any extra impulse you can get given the weight of both guns.

[@callsignapollo_]

​@DFX2KX 4 months late, i know, but for another good example of both the flash hiding and cycling assistance of the cone is in the AKS or "krink" variant of the AK-74. The shorter barrel meant less powder burn and gas pressure, making a bigger muzzle flash and reducing cyclic force, problems that are both solved conveniently by the conic muzzle.

[@chriswerb7482]

A big part of the problem in the use of the octuple pom poms against the Japanese torpedo bombers was as that the Prince of Wales lost electricity generation due to a torpedo hit early in the engagement. Her pom poms apparently did not have an effective backup manual form of train and elevation and are not thought to have killed any enemy aircraft. Those on Repulse, which had the problems you stated, plus fire control radars affected by tropical heat, claimed two. The other two losses may have fallen to the one ex Army manually laid Bofors, to the ships' secondary batteries and to various medium calibre and automatic weapons on the escorts. Wiki claims that no less than 28 attacking aircraft were damaged. I really enjoy your channel. Keep up the good work!

[@JohnFrumFromAmerica]

I like where this channel is going keep up the good work.

[@womble321]

You getting like the forgotten weapons of anything not just guns. Well done.

[@jackwood8307]

My dad brought back an incense set, two vases and an urn from his time in Vietnam. The vases were made from hammered 40 mm Borfors shells and the urn from melted down shells. It was a true turning swords into plowshares.

[@bradlevantis913]

These guns are exactly what come to mind when I think of naval warfare in WW2. On the museum ship HMCS Haida there was one of these and every kid wanted to pretend they were firing it

[@JCWren]

So ironic that we fight wars yet have treaties about what's considered a humane weapon.

[@tsoer111]

We have those for purely pragmatic reasons. There is going to be wars, and without rules we do shit like use chlorine or mustard gas.

[@avilhelm1697]

I belive the St. Petersburg agreement was mainly pushed by Imperial Russia because they were feeling they were falling behind in weapons technology. The humane reasons given were mainly there to disguise and/or convince other nations to sign it.

[@JCWren]

@@tsoer111 And that's as humane as being burnt to death, drowning, freezing, or being impaled on metal wreckage and taking 2 days to die?

[@cargo_vroom9729]

That's not ironic at all.

[@Wolfie123123]

The framing of the wide shot makes it look like Gilles is a little guy standing behind a regular size gun. I think it's because the shot composition is just like you're watching a Forgotten Weapons video or similar. Great video all the same :)

[@nobilismaximus]

Like LOTR forced perspective

[@markusstewart9298]

lol thanks, now I can’t un see it. Very astute observation on your part.

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

This presenter is small…that one is far away…

[@paulcampbell5202]

Another great video Gilles! Yes, please do an in depth look at WW II naval surface target fire control! For a Canadian perspective, might I suggest a visit to HMCS Haida (Hamilton, Ontario). Her Transmitting Station is in excellent shape and contains an Admiralty Fire Control Clock as an example of a typical WW II electo-mechanical analog computer. I'm not aware of any Canadian specimen of the larger Admiralty Fire Control Table, but the latter simply had a paper plotter built in, the "computer" was the same. Her Mark 3 director is in poor shape (all optics and rangefinder missing), but at least is still in place. She does also have a US Mark 63 system for her stern double 3 inch gun mounting and as a stand in (this was originally a Mark 63 as well) , a US Mark 51 system that controlled the forward two 4.5 inch mountings against aircraft. The Mark 63's were designed from the start to use radar inputs. Looking forward to seeing what you can come up with on this fascinating subject.

[@alexturnbackthearmy1907]

Also some optical stuff. Its horribly underrated.

[@20chocsaday]

I used a computer in an office one summer. Key in the numbers then pull the handle. I was just getting up to a decent speed when it broke ! Dumped it in a corner and found another one.

[@jonny-b4954]

That'd be a good video. Not many videos on naval fire control systems.

[@Echin0idea]

I totally didn't realise this was one of yours when I clicked on the video! Assumed it was Drachinifel or maybe Ryan from the New Jersey

[@joanfayoscastells9926]

Can’t wait for the fire director video. Great video as always

[@Kainae]

The Very Big Maxim

[@mootpointjones8488]

Near the former Nordenfelt factory, later purchased by Maxim-Vickers there used to be a pub (now apartments/flats). The pub was called The Nordenfelt but it was know to locals and factory workers as the Pom Pom. The factory and pub were in Erith, south east London.

[@alvarojm750]

Fantastic work as always!

[@Poverty-Tier]

**laughs in Bofors**

[@pcgodz1176]

In the name of Oto Melara, I compel you...

[@trygvenelson9740]

“What’s bofa?”

[@PaulLoveless-Cincinnati]

IM LAUGHING IN 40 MILLIMETERS

[@alexturnbackthearmy1907]

Meanwhile french and germans with single-shot, manually loaded 37mm`s all the way back from WW1:

[@Iknowtoomuchable]

Bofor deez nutz

[@hp9mm]

We have a complete unrestored 8 barrel ship pom pom at our museum

[@DexyD20]

I love how the British used a 2-pounder gun while the Americans used the 40 mm gun😅

[@highlandrab19]

The uk didnt start to use the metric system until the 1970’s The yanks didnt invent the imperial measurement system. Its called imperial as it was used by the British empire. The Americans use a version of it defined by mm and kilos as opposed to a self defined system

[@kristianhartlevjohansen3541]

Double irony - Chrysler “imperialized” the Bofors for US production 😂

[@20chocsaday]

​@@highlandrab19 The Whitworth system probably caused problems in the US shipyards.

[@robozstarrr8930]

and in English motorbike repair anywhere in North America!@@20chocsaday

[@micheal6898]

2 pounds is the shot weight. Why are you comparing shot weight to barrel diameter??????

[@Zbigniew_Nowak]

3:47 Very interesting, I didn't know that, I thought that this weapon had anti-aircraft or anti-tank applications, so I wouldn't expect it in the Boer War.

[@20chocsaday]

A single barreled one was fitted to the first armoured car in 1901, too late for the Empire in the Boer War.

[@lineinthesand663]

Delightful to see a review for a naval weapon made so far from the sea! All the best from an expat Canadian in Africa.

[@Desertedhail]

Expat? So you mean immigrant?

[@lineinthesand663]

@@Desertedhail A dictionary might help you, but probably not.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Good job!

[@sean5979]

I found your channel the other day, fascinating! Keep up the good work, buddy!!

[@grahamcifuentes4451]

I somehow doubt that Gilles will be reassured by being called buddy!

[@FriendChicken]

9:18 now that's a fully semi automatic if I ever heard one. 🤣

[@Grendelmk1]

"Your move, Ian."

[@martindice5424]

Also, isn’t a 2pdr roughly equivalent to 40mm ? 🤔

[@reactivearmour5126]

In his brief history of Force Z’s sinking Angus Konstam quotes a Japanese pilot at saying the British were firing tracer during the battle. Was the pilot mistaken?

[@bashkillszombies]

Do they have an SBR version? Asking for a friend.

[@ypaulbrown]

Your knowledge and presentation are amazing.......thank you so much from the US, down in Florida, Paul

[@reluctantheist5224]

Gets a thumbs up for never saying " The HMS Whatever " but for saying "HMS Whatever " or " The Whatever "

[@465maltbie]

Pretty neat, I have seen these but didnt know anything about them, especially that they were as old as you told us. Charles

[@davidmcintyre8145]

Obsolescent or not the fact that you could throw so many shells into the air with the octuple mount especially in the Pacific and literally disintegrate a kamikaze was an important factor. We also have to remember that the pom pom only narrowly lost to the Bofors when the US was looking for a better AA gun and that both were probably inferior to the planned French automatic 37 mm gun

[@jimmiller5600]

The Pom-Pom was great, but its range of 1,100 meters meant the attacker was going to hit you. Even the Oerliken 20mm could do that. The Bofors 40mm had a 7,000 meter range.

[@chriswerb7482]

No it did not. Not even close. It had significantly greater effective range than the Pom Pom, but not 6X as far.

[@jimmiller5600]

@@chriswerb7482 I'm just citing Wiki.

[@josephstabile9154]

Thx much for the video. Twas nice to see, as new technology was outpacing this system, it had its moment of glory when having to deal with the kamikaze scourge.

[@BenRelle]

Also used in defending the death star in a new hope. If you know, you know

[@Xsiondu]

I really appreciated this episode

[@davidcarr7436]

The fact that the HMCS Chippewa is a building in the city of Winnipeg, the capital city of the province of Manitoba on the Canadian prairies, is interesting of itself.

[@tkdazzler1-130]

This video is great! I love the information with the visuals. However your sponsor... is a bit less reputable...world of warships. It is a shame that you hitched this super awesome video with them. I hope you Patreon can earn you more.

[@User_Un_Friendly]

Interestingly enough, the first Maxims were designed for Black Powder. Obviously, they didn't work well (due to inevitable and unsolvable fouling) and Maxim quickly switched to Smokeless Powder as soon as he could. Now a question...did they make Proximity Shells for these guns during WW2? 🤔

[@andreww2098]

probably not, they were very reluctant to allow the use of proximity shells in areas they might get captured, and you can't guarantee a ship will sink somewhere that it can't be boarded or salvaged

[@I_Automate]

AFAIK, no, as the proximity fuzes were relatively large and quite expensive, so they wouldn't fit into a shell this size, and they wouldn't be worthwhile either. The proximity fuzes went into medium and heavy artillery shells. 3 inch and larger if I remember correctly

[@User_Un_Friendly]

@@I_Automate Given just how effective Proximity Fuzes were against the kamikazes, I would have thought that since British ships relied on them so much, it was an obvious application. But you guys are right, proximity fuzes were pretty big...🫡

[@John.0z]

I have only seen one cross-section drawing of a WW2 proximity shell. It was a US 5" shell, and the simple radar system, that triggers the proximity fuse, occupied most of the interior, plus a small busting charge. The 37mm, 2 pound shell would be too small to fit the proximity fuse technology of the time.

[@dorpth]

Nothing beats a good QF 2-Pounder Mk. VIII w/ cheese.

[@michaels.5878]

For those that don't know, "QF" stands for Quick Fire.

[@robertsolomielke5134]

Big thumbs up ! The 2pdr. is under loved, and Canadian content is also under reported.TY

[@michaeltroster9059]

Great ideas. Your wide range of subjects and your ability to comprehend the technical features of each system never ceases to amaze me. Good stuff..

[@andrewfidel2220]

Quantity has a quality all it's own, this goes double for wartime crash production schedules where ramping up production of older, well understood systems is often the superior choice over new, more technologically advanced replacements. It's why so many suboptimal systems stayed in mass production throughout the war, the time to switchover a factory and then work through the teething pains of a new process meant that you got hit twice, first by not having the new system on the battle field for many months, but more devastatingly you didn't have the production of the old units available either.

[@nathanokun8801]

Antiaircraft fire control was originally just a simple lead computation for aiming, but as aircraft got faster and more maneuverable, this no longer was good enough. What was created was "2nd-order" tracking where the target aircraft was internally simulated by the more advanced computer, allowing this simulation to be aimed at and updated much more quickly and accurately, allowing a smooth updated lead angle to be always available for aiming. This kind of system replaced the older "1st-order" method completely after WWII and was also used for all later missile defense systems.

[@alberthofmann420]

100. comment contains the "Umlaute": Ä, Ö, & Ü.

[@someone7648]

you got to like an underdog

[@PeterLindstrom-x4w]

I live a block away from this museum. I should really go sometime. So weird, when you see a channel you like filming right near you in a city few have heard of.

[@davidbuck5864]

Somewhat obsolete? You are being kind. The 2pr should have been replaced in the 1930s , but complacency meant the RN missed the boat on replacing these. To be fairvthough, I suspect that the danger posed by aircraft was almost universally underestimated.

[@n.a.4292]

The "Pom-Pom" in Italian service was called Vickers-Terni 40/39. It was installed on ships, and on AA defence trucks.

[@jp-um2fr]

As far as the Royal Navy is concerned, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' might translate to if it does the job, why change it. When battleships were scrapped due to age or severe damage, the guns were removed and often used on the next new battleship. If I remember correctly when fired at 'full thrutch' barrel life was around 100 rounds. Used in WW1 & WW2 and beyond, the Lee-Enfield 303 was manufactured 17,000,000 times in factories all over the place.

[@jp-um2fr]

Nearly forgot. It might be just 'a bit of flatulence' but I did see a video where it was stated the Pompom didn't like heavy rain. No doubt with that funnel pointing at the sky didn't help. Must have been the fastest water pistol on earth.

[@colinprice712]

IIRC - from other sources - the octuple mount could fire one side (4 barrels) then change sides to the other allowing the loaders to keep up

[@mwolkove]

It would be amazing if world of warships gave you ad copy that fits your channel better. Example: you can choose from x number of ships, here's the history of one of them and the tactical advantages it might offer you in combat.

[@anselmdanker9519]

Great presentation covering the pom pom 😊

[@Klaatu-ij9uz]

Superb episode!!

[@randydewees7338]

"Right, let's have a closer look at this particular gun" ... Ian walks up with a screwdriver.

[@TheHawkwindman]

guess what i want for xmas ?

[@justananonymousperson7011]

I wonder if you would ever do a colab with Ian McCollum from Forgotten Weapons regarding stuff like this?

[@mattwilliams3456]

He’s given a nod to Ian in several previous videos, so I’m sure he would if given the chance.

[@PaulP999]

Watch out Drac, he is after your berth!

[@Ccccccccccsssssssssss]

Thank you for another amazing video Gilles and company! I would love to watch a video on the history of naval fire control!!

[@JeanLucCaptain]

i love that it's LITERALLY just a SCALED UP Maxim. that is some BIG BRAIN Energy lol. have any of these somehow showed up in Ukraine??? i wouldn't be at all shocked at this point.

[@thurin84]

you risk much challanging gun jesus! one can but admire such bravery! elbonia would be proud! with all that brass, its kind of the ultimate steampunk gun lol.

[@tommeakin1732]

As far as looks go, I think few weapons beat the four and eight gun mounts. I just love them

[@VikingTeddy]

This was so fascinating, thank you.

[@Skeppo1]

What comes to finnish use of Vickers-aa-guns of this type. Finland actually never licence manufactured these guns. How ever they were made before the first world war for Russian government in cal. 37 mm by finnish company Ab H. Ahlberg & Co Oy. Finland captured some 4 40 mm Vickers-guns from russia during the war of independence. Later 1932 some 8 guns of 40 mm model were bought from Vickers to arm some finnish ships and during the Winter War some 4 same type guns were bought from Sweden. In finnish use these guns turned out to be total junk and were as fast as possible replaced by Bofors 40 60 B-guns. Vickers guns had poor ammunition and were found to be extemely unreliable - useless as anti-aircraft-weapons.

[@tomburnham5119]

In Erith, in North Kent, home of the Vickers factory, there was a pub called the Nordenfeldt Tavern, widely known as the "Pom-Pom".

[@5isalivegaming72]

I absolutely fuckin lost it with that cold open 😂🤣😂🤣 I love how everyone messes with Gun Jesus but God forbid you say something in ernest against his only begotten son.... Pun intended

[@geordiedog1749]

My friends uncle operated one on a trawler with the RNPS which escorted coasters down and up the north east coast of the uk. They had two of these and two Savage’ guns which were license built Lewis guns at the start. He told me that in late ‘43 they were escorting some tank transporters under instruction - big square shaped barges designed to get tanks on to the beach head. The tank crews had just received Sherman tanks and hadn’t liked the attached .50 cal. BMGs fitted on top of the turrets and had removed them. There was an actual big pile of them at the dock side with maintenance kits and calibration screws and ammo. They nicked four sets and welded them about the trawler. They had to learn how to operate them from the manuals in the boxes. A couple of months later the single Pom-poms were all removed and replace with Oerlikon 20mm cannon. They kept the BMGs though. Particularly good for sinking and blowing ups mines he said (I remember he said that most of the time when you shot at a mine it sank rather than blew up).

[@luckyguy600]

As always. Two thumbs up for the information & delivery.

[@high-velocitymammal5030]

Imagine a full octuple mount, with radar fire control, slinging proximity fused rounds.

[@GeigerCounterVirtualMuseum]

I learned a lot as usual.

[@zachareeeee]

dans macabre fits the new intro

[@jamesallen8418]

I'm not trying to be a hater. Don't show your face. Your voice doesn't work well as it is. Perhaps It is simply my opinion?

[@abialo2010]

will you make a video about the 1.1 inch american equivalent you mentioned

[@lucianene7741]

In all its brass and piano black splendor, this looks like an elegant weapon from a more civilized time. By the way, I think that funnel is not so much a flash hider as a recoil booster for a recoil-operated cannon.

[@KarldorisLambley]

i couldn't have operated these in ww2. the name 'pom pom' makes me cringe so hard. i loathe words with childish repetition, they make my mouth dry out and my head start to swim. yuck.

[@martindice5424]

The US didn’t use cordite? Really? Hmm 🤔

[@TrapperAaron]

U cant let a cotter pin and a couple nuts stop u from history. First of all thoes nuts should have been saftey wired together w a saftey twist between em. Secondly Ian at forgetten weapons would have opend the cover.

[@Shinzon23]

Calling out Gun Jesus, Gilles? Risky move!

[@simonh317]

I wonder if the gun serial number can be researched to find its history from the archives?

[@jimsvideos7201]

That long-exposure at the end is quite a sight.

[@DaveSCameron]

Superb upload and much appreciated Sir.

[@Farweasel]

Wow. New (?) Channel - great video

[@horehoundbasedcandy8736]

Those darn bug bears, better call the barbarian to deal with it.

[@ScottLovenberg]

I loved the opening call out to Forgotten Weapons!

[@Scott11078]

Wtf close to 9k comments AND I'M THE ONLY ONE TO HIT LIKE SO FAR!? I've long been annoyed being constantly told to make sure I like the video etc.. In my head my response was generally "No shit, you'd have to be so inept to not know/do that they wouldn't have been able to find KZbin in the first place." But here we are, I don't belive I heard him give the standard KZbinr message and apparently the average person really is that stupid/useless, unable to figure out how to operate the like button on thier own.

[@trooperdgb9722]

Ive SEEN an IOWA class BB fire a broadside.., Ive FIRED a 4.5" Mk 6 in local control... . but TBH I think I'd rather see an OCTUPLE Pom Pom in full cry!

[@ditzydoo4378]

Close in weapon. that's saying a lot. Though a fair system, they were incredibly heavy, difficult to top up and very short ranged. The 40mm Bofors replaced them in most cases as soon as they were available for installation.

[@xxnightdriverxx9576]

The Pom Poms were worse than the Bofors, but better than almost all other medium AA guns of the war. Also, what people tend to forget, is that the Pom Poms were available at the start of the war. The Bofors in the mass produced version we think about did not exist until late 1942. At that point, half of the war is over! It is better to have a good weapon though the entire war, than to have the best weapon for half the war. At a time where the Royal Navys losses to aircraft were the highest, the mass produced twin & quad mount Bofors did not exist yet. Also, the Royal Navy was putting far more emphasis on AA than other nations pre war, to put it into perspective the King George V class battleships and Illustrious class carriers were getting 6 octuple mounts, that is 48 barrels of 40mm guns in 1939, at a time the US was designing the Iowa class battleships to have only 16 28mm guns.

[@somethingelse4878]

Reading a German book on the eastern front and the Russians used exploding bullets in sniper rifles

[@lordsummerisle87]

InRange TV has a video on that topic.

[@alexturnbackthearmy1907]

Not quite exploding, more like hollow point ammo. Which is VERY illegal to use in war today, after geneva convention.

[@lordsummerisle87]

@@alexturnbackthearmy1907 InRange (Ian McCollum and Karl Kasada) experimented with using 7.92 Mauser and 7.62x54R rounds (IIRC) that were intended for anti-aircraft use. They definitely had an explosive component. Yes its use in an antipersonnel role was illegal, but the Eastern Front was not well known for its strict observance of the niceties of law.

[@alexturnbackthearmy1907]

@@lordsummerisle87 I meant the field ammo re-fit, but explosive ammo tended to "disappear" over time.

[@somethingelse4878]

@@alexturnbackthearmy1907 No not hoiiows He said they blew shoulders off and gaping holes in heads making them swell up and disappear. they were like tracers only exploded. the book is on yt now, but ive read it before, its very bloody. i think it was Josef “Sepp” Allerberger

[@colinbarron4]

The HMS Prince of Wales did have a single 40mm Bofors which was fitted during a stopover in South Africa. The Admiralty inquiry concluded that this gun contributed more to the two ships' air defence than the pom poms. I thought that only three Japanese planes were shot down during the attack.

[@farmerned6]

AFAIK POW & Repulse had very low stocks of AA ammo, maybe the new Bofors was the only thing fully provisioned for?

[@xxnightdriverxx9576]

I find that hard to believe, so I am gonna ask for a source on the claim that a single barrel of army Bofors (so fired by sight, no fire control director like the Pom Poms had) was supposed to be better than 6 octuple and one quad Pom Pom, so 52 barrels of Pom Pom. Yes the Bofors is obviously better than the Pom Pom, but the accounts I have read suggest that a quad Bofors mount was considered routhly equal to an octuple Pom Poms mount. Also, the British AA was generally very effective during the war, of course far less effective than US AA, but far better than anything else.

[@colinbarron4]

@@xxnightdriverxx9576 I am pleased to respond to your request. Have a look at the book 'Naval Anti- Aircraft Guns' and Gunnery' by Norman Friedman (2013) pages 196-197. Friedman explains that the Prince of Wales lost electrical power early in the battle due to a torpedo hit. This meant her pom - poms could not function and her only remaining defence was one 40mm Bofors and several 20mm Oerlikons. If her pom -poms had not been deactivated in this way she would probably have survived.

[@xxnightdriverxx9576]

@@colinbarron4 ah okay that is what you meant. In that case, I severly misunderstood you, I initially thought that you meant that a single barrel of Bofors was superior to working Pom Poms. That is a big error on my part. And I have to apologize for that. Thank you for providing a proper source, I know Friedman, his books are excellent. And I admit I kinda forgot about the electrical failure while writing my original comment, so thank you for reminding and correcting me.

[@colinbarron4]

Thanks for replying. I also understand that the Prince of Wales had problems with AA fire control during this battle because of humidity. Also at that point in the war the pom pom didn't have tracer shells which would have helped.

[@ianmoseley9910]

Have to wonder what would have happened to the supply pf Bofors guns if British plans to destroy the Swedish iron mines had not been foiled by the German invasion of Norway.

[@stephenpetermay1721]

The British were unlikely to destroy Swedish iron ore mines as they were dependent on Swedish High Quality Ball Bearings and developed a fleet of high speed vessels to continue the trade across the North Sea and through the Skagerrak. The was also an established air link. The British sought to disrupt the seaborne trade down the Norwegian Coast from the Norwegian port of Narvik as later the Soviets did to transport in the Baltic.

[@JohnWaldron-cm7ce]

Great video! Didn't know that Manitoba province had a naval museum-John in Texas( USN_Desert Storm/Shield)

[@MichaelJohnson-tw7dq]

“Your move Ian” ………lol, great!

[@michaelfrench3396]

You know I don't honestly remember how I found your channel. I think it might have been a clip on shorts. I don't ever rot shorts, but once in a while on my homepage will have something interesting and I'll watch that one video. I think it might have been about antique fire grenades. I've told all my buddies about your channel. It's not going to get you to a million subscribers but honestly I'm more than a little surprised to find out that you have less than 100,000. You do really good videos on a broad range of historical topics. So I feel like you just need one of the other bigger channels to highlight you once and you'd be set

[@charlesmoss8119]

The idea that an exploding bullet might be unusually cruel when the use of artillery, normal rounds and mines was still allowed has always baffled me. It’s all horribly cruel - and in some ways being killed quickly might have been the preferable option rather than a lingering wound from a gut shot?

[@andrepohle7485]

Hattest du schon ein Video zur Camera Obscura gemacht?