Revenants of Pearl Harbor - Nevada, California and West Virginia's return to the front lines

Today we take a brief look at the modernisation of the three battleships sunk and salvaged at Pearl Harbor and what they went on to do once returned to service.
Pearl Harbor Salvage series:
Part 1 - • The Salvage of Pearl H...
Part 2 - • The Salvage of Pearl H...
Part 3 - • The Salvage of Pearl H...
Sources:
www.amazon.co.uk/U-S-Battlesh...
www.history.navy.mil/research...
www.amazon.co.uk/Avenging-Pea...
Footage from US National Archives video codes:
428-NPC-7714/11161/7715/3647/3646/8391//7301/11163/4308/4312/4313/47365
Naval History books, use code 'DRACH' for 25% off - www.usni.org/press/books?f%5B...
Free naval photos and channel posters - www.drachinifel.co.uk
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'Legionnaire' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@ph89787]

Q&A. Considering how old they were and the construction of new Fast Battleships. Was there any proposal to have the Battleships caught in the Pearl Harbor attack scrapped rather than repaired?

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

I've seen the photos of the model of Duke of Kent (the unbuilt "largest man of war ever") and the photos of HMS Howe (1860) the largest man of war actually ever built (though never getting to sail as such unlike her sister HMS Victoria) and Duke of Kent comes off as being nowhere near as long as Howe, is this perception correct?

[@prussianhill]

You stated in the past several times that you would want to preserve HMS Warspite and USS Enterprise, if you were given the chance to alter their fates. If your ability to preserve a historically scrapped ship was limited only to the vessels that either survived or were salvaged from Pearl Harbor, which ship would you preserve, and why?

[@delurkor]

Could we have an episode on explosive flash, what is it, when was it determined as a problem, and the various counter measures. Thank you.

[@jonathanwhite5132]

Since Warspite was in Puget Sound on December 7th, is there any Record of them going General Quarters when word of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached the West Coast?

[@nathanthanatos3743]

"Released back into the wild in 1942" I love seeing megafauna returned to their natural ranges.

[@wierdalien1]

And like all Megafauna unfortunately humans wiped them out

[@Kevin_Kennelly]

Released....6:29 "with a rather jauntily raked extension to her funnel".

[@miamijules2149]

@@wierdalien1You don’t really believe that, do you? Lol you know there is no evidence that we wiped anything out…. it’s just a theory to explain the rather rapid decline and then extinction of several large species but this proclivity for blaming humans is really…. ummm…. interesting. The thought that a rather limited number of humans could wipe out EVERY SINGLE breeding population of anything is…. again…. interesting.

[@SewingandSnakes]

@@wierdalien1 Although it has to be said that I do love snakes, I will begrudgingly admit that the planet can do without the Titanoboa.

[@T3hderk87]

Ahem.... "Mechafauna"

[@ManiusCuriusDenatus]

This has to be the ultimate flex, industrially, towards the Axis. Not only is the US churning out warship after major warship, hundreds of escorts, tens of thousands of aircraft and ice cream barges of all things. We refloat older battleships that have been bombed and sunk at Pearl, refit them in record time, and have them lob shells at the Axis around the planet as an HE middle finger. Amazing.

[@tyree9055]

I'd love to see photo comparisons of US, UK, French, German, Italian, and Japanese manufacturing plants and lines, just to see and understand the differences between the countries. I know that part of it was Detroit's automotive experience. I'd also like to see the mathematical differences, too (which most historians have draped all over the place).

[@chaosacsend9653]

​@@tyree9055just look at willow run were the US built it's bombers that's pretty much US industry in a nutshell

[@Taskarnin]

@@tyree9055just to put it in perspective we built so many shipyards the US shipyard industry still to this day has too much capacity and is the reason so many are falling apart.

[@drakeconsumerofsoulsandche4303]

You refit old ships because you can't afford to build new ones I refit old ships because I have spare shipyards We are not the same

[@garycort7997]

And all done with the Manhattan Project being fully resourced.

[@lezardvaleth2304]

"The Three Revenants" is a BADASS nickname for Nevada, California, and West Virginia, and I will henceforth refer to them by this moniker from now on.

[@shep9231]

Indeed. As will I.

[@user-ib9xk5td4b]

What is a “bofor”?

[@desmo750f1]

@@user-ib9xk5td4b Firing arrows or playing stringed instruments, or an erroneous singular form of Bofors.

[@5peciesunkn0wn]

Same!

[@unclestone8406]

The detail of Nevada taking up three of Arizona's salvaged guns and taking them to Iwo Jima isn't one I can recall hearing anywhere else, and it's no small piece of poetic justice. Never forget the Battleship Row 🇺🇲🫡

[@mattnw42]

I believe Pennslyvannia got some of AZ's guns as well

[@Raw_Dawgs6409]

Like a heart transplant, Arizona's guns kept beating long after she herself had passed away.

[@mikeschlup6886]

​@@Raw_Dawgs6409the Arizona lives on. She still to this day bleeds her life blood in remembrance of her lost.

[@ophanielran8906]

They swapped sisters. Arizona's guns went to Nevada and shore batteries while Pennsylvania got Oklahoma's.@@mattnw42

[@llllib]

@@mikeschlup6886 And she still has some of the guns too.

[@azuriteknight2484]

Man I love being an American and hearing that official navy documents said to simply "fill in available space with 20mm oerlikon guns". Truly our signature design feature.

[@Nelsonwmj]

All thanks to Vice Admiral Lee, the best big gun naval officer ever to have served in the US Navy.

[@trevorday7923]

Make Firepower Great Again 🇺🇸😎👍🏻

[@Fifthmiracle]

It might as well say "fill in available space with FREEDOM".

[@mikehenthorn1778]

Add an American of anti air guns.

[@harryjohnson9215]

Guns, guns and more guns sounds very American to me Guns is just life over there isn't it? Meanwhile we have proper fights Using a Knife in a fights is rare (mostly because if you bring a knife you will probably lose and get stabbed with your own knife and consided dishonest and proof that you think you will lose without a weapon.)

[@facubeitches1144]

Considering Enterprise's "Enterprise vs. Japan" sign, I always thought Nevada should have been issued a "You should have killed me when you had the chance" sign.

[@shep9231]

"You cannot kill me. I will rise again, stronger then ever."

[@CiaranMaxwell]

"You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."

[@MLaak86]

Big E seemed like she'd have done the job herself... never mind when she got all her little sisters to back her up.

[@festusthecat]

The revenge of these battleships, at the world's last battleship vs battleship engagement is something that, even in a fictional story, is absolutely and completely poetic

[@sassyfrass4295]

don't you know that every single man on those ships were ready to Win! its gives one chills thinking about how much directed energy and effort was exacted in that battle. God Bless those Brave men.

[@festusthecat]

@@sassyfrass4295 Rule #1 in a war or battle is pretty much, don't get to the point where you really piss off Americans or back them into a corner... ie. This battle and the following day near Samar

[@5peciesunkn0wn]

@@festusthecat just don't fuck with America's boats.

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

As an American, I would like to thank a Briton for remembering a date often ignored in the contemporary US. Bravo Zulu, Drach!

[@tonyennis1787]

Mentioning Pearl Harbor is no longer politically correct.

[@dorn0531]

Love of history unites us.

[@robertmcsorley4001]

Here, here...🥃🥃

[@bitjockey6265]

The conduct of an honorable man.

[@jackthorton10]

Aye!

[@BHuang92]

IJN: I thought we sunk you?! Nevada, California, West Virginia: *Our deaths are greatly exaggerated!*

[@davidtryon6157]

"You did, we got better"

[@jlvfr]

"T'was just a flesh wound""

[@Ulani101]

"You did, but we're better now." Boom!

[@heirofaniu]

"You did, now we're angry."

[@Sherwoody]

Battleships were designed to take hits and keep on fighting. These ones came back from the dead and kept on fighting.

[@Fluffinator129]

I actually met a gunner from U.S.S. California in a Pizza Inn, and talked with him about his time on the ship. He was on one of the aft 5" mounts, but one time, when he was standing watch in the crow's nest, the general quarters alarm was sounded. After several minutes his replacement came up, and he ran down the entire superstructure, then aft to his turret. He told me that as soon as he got to his turret, a kamikaze hit the crow's nest, killing everyone up there. If it had hit 5 minutes earlier it would have been him.

[@kellybreen5526]

My uncle finished his shift as a stoker on S.S. Point Pleasant Park and returned to his quarters. A few minutes later a torpedo hit the aft end of the ship killing him. Cruel fate I guess.

[@BishopStars]

Two guys, a gun, and a Pizza Inn

[@laffybmonkey]

What the heck pizza inn? Is that what it's called in America

[@BishopStars]

@@laffybmonkey American pizza has so many calories that one bite sends us deep into a food coma. Every pizza business must be delivery only or a qualified pizza inn.

[@CiaranMaxwell]

@@BishopStars With employees who can be trusted to take us to our rooms and put us to bed without rifling through our stuff.

[@AnimeSunglasses]

21:55 "an elegant compromise" now that's real praise from an engineer...

[@gregwallace5629]

The Battle of Surigao Straight shows these old and slow ships were still incredibly dangerous opponents.

[@tonyennis1787]

Don't let them get close. But were they old? They had modern fire control systems and modern ammo. The iron and carbon that made the guns was 5 billion years old already. What's 30 more?

[@dorn0531]

Also the fact that the Revenge class battleships scared off much more modern German ships. USS Iowa was still useful in the Gulf War. Old doesn’t mean useless.

[@philb5593]

The standards reputation for being slow and outdated and outclassed is undeserved. 10 or 12 14 inch guns or 8 16 inch guns is some serious fire power. They can throw a ton of fire power down range and a decently protected too.

[@ryanhodin5014]

​@@philb5593the standards were alarmingly capable ships, save for their lack of speed, after the refit. I mean, you can imagine a world where the Kriegsmarine retains a surface fleet to sortie in an attempt to stop the Normandy landings - And then we get Nevada vs Scharnhorst or Gniesenau, and if they aren't allowed to run I think I'd prefer to be in Nevada for that fight - Probably even if the latter got their 15 inch conversions. They won't stand up to the likes of Bismarck or Littorio, much less Yamato, in a 1v1 engagement that tends not to happen in history, but standards still brought a significant amount of gun defended by a respectable amount of armor to a fight - as long as it didn't need to get there quickly, the ships were perfectly capable. Still - If I have to choose between West Virginia and a North Carolina, SoDak, or Iowa-class, there's really no contest.

[@Cailus3542]

@@ryanhodin5014 The Standards, Revenge-class and Lorraine were very much second-line battleships, to be sure, but they were still battleships. As much as anything else, they acted as 20 knot mobile deterrents. Even a fast battleship would be wary of taking one on. 340mm, 356mm and 381mm guns can wreck anyone's day, even a monster like Yamato.

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

The IJN really sunk these ships only for them to activate their second phase

[@michaelbeale559]

West Virginia and California had to get their revenge at the Surigao Strait.

[@F-Man]

IJN: “Ha! We sunk your battleships!” USN Battleships: “lol, this isn’t even my final form.”

[@ph89787]

@@F-Man Early 1943 IJN: Finally, we have destroyed the entire US Aircraft Carrier force Enterprise and Saratoga: That's odd. We're still here. IJN: How are you still alive. Enterprise: Pure vengeance Saratoga: Your Torpedoes were more of a blessing than a curse. IJN: No matter, we defeated you once. We can do it again. Enterprise: But before you do. Saratoga: We bought some new friends (Essex and Independence-Class carriers show up) IJN: Uh Oh Saratoga: Oh, that's not the worst part. Do you remember my sister Lexington? Enterprise: And my sisters Yorktown and Hornet. Along with my half-sister Wasp? IJN: Yeah, why?..... Oh no.

[@mrz80]

@@F-Man USN: Bankai!

[@RCAvhstape]

If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine, Darth Hirohito.

[@lexington476]

You hit this one out of the park again Drac, another 5 out of 5. Drac has been batting 1000 for years 🙂. Totally throwing us baseball references into this to confuse Drac 😎.

[@Mikey300]

Drach “hits for six” with all his videos-regardless of how sticky the wicket might be. (A cricket reference, for some of my fellow Yanks)

[@lexington476]

@@Mikey300 😀

[@andrewgranger3370]

​@@Mikey300 I was just going to say that. This video gives him a hattrick for Pearl Harbor.

[@ph89787]

When the USN began spamming Monster reborn cards for their fleet.

[@Robert53area]

That card has been banned since 2005. But nothing has been said about American will power. So rare it is only played in the most dire of circumstances. It's status effects all machine type monsters are rebuilt and immediately put on the field next turn with increased 3000 attack damage. you most use 2000 life points for a single turn, but it reduces all of your opponents attacks by 75 percent damage.

[@HMSFord]

Back around 1981 when I was a teenager I was helping a man (his name was Emanny) cut some trees down on his property; it turned out he was a member of the #2 turret crew on the West Virginia post-Pearl Harbor. Some of the things I remember about our conversation was his negative opinion of the California during Surigao Strait (he called it the Screw-up Ship), the mountains of empty cigarette packs the yard workers left in the ships magazines, and his positive opinion of the ship's captain. (The captain appeared at the top of a ladder that Emanny was climbing while carrying a sack of flour. The captain saw him, backed up and told him to "Come on up son, come on up.")

[@bigsarge2085]

Would definitely appreciate a run-down of the service of the other Pearl Harbor surviving battleships.

[@w.osterberg9385]

Yes please 🙏

[@gbosman5874]

Agreed!!

[@timsimms65707]

I have always thought it a great pity that not one American Standard Battleship was preserved at Pearl Harbor. Imagine Pennsylvania standing guard over her sister, I know it was rare back then but they have 8 museum battleships you would think one of them would have been a Pearl Harbor survivor.

[@christianvalentin5344]

Where the were decommissioned and put in reserve probably played a part. Maryland and West Virginia went into reserve in WA, and California in Norfolk. If California had been mothballed in WA and Maryland in VA there’s a decent chance that at least one might’ve gotten saved.

[@KyriosMirage]

I don't know if it was you, but someone suggested having Pennsy guarding her sister on one of Battleship New Jersey's videos a couple years ago, and it's still one of the most beautiful things I can imagine.

[@christianvalentin5344]

@@KyriosMirage wasn’t me but yeah that would have been nice. Pennsylvania I’ve read wasn’t fully repaired after being torpedoed late in the war and was still leaking a bit on her way to Bikini. So maybe not the best choice for a museum. West Virginia would’ve been a good alternative. Missouri being there now is a perfect bookend though.

[@steveschulte8696]

The USS Arizona Memorial is a fitting tribute to the men who fought and died on December 7, 1941. From a generation earlier, than the Standard Battleship, is the USS Texas in the vicinity of Houston, and now getting hull repairs in dry dock. It seems everyone wants a Big ship to display, and we do not get to look at the majority of ship types that brought us victory in 1945, or since.

[@TheJd195555]

To me it should have been the USS NEVADA as she was the only one whot tried to get out of Pearl Harbor. The men who saw that ship move cheered her on and boosted moral to keep fighting on during the attack. Read Walter Lord's book DAY OF INFAMY. he write the book in a way like you were there with the action.

[@KyriosMirage]

"If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." Great video Drach! Would love to see one of these for the other three.

[@Raw_Dawgs6409]

The Pearl Harbor Saga continues! Now I have a 4th video to listen to on repeat at work. I probably rewatch the Salvage saga at least once or twice a month. Take this as my advocacy for Part V: The Trials and Tribulations of the USS Tennessee, Maryland, & Pennsylvania

[@TheJd195555]

Great idea for part 5

[@AuthenticNicholasMeyer]

I really really hope that's Part V.

[@NVRAMboi]

I've often wondered if any record exists of awareness/reactions by IJN officers and/or pilots upon realizing these were indeed BB's "neutralized/eliminated" at Pearl Harbor in 1941 - now facing them in battle (in the Phillipines and elsewhere)? Thank you Drach. Informative and excellent as always.

[@scottgiles7546]

I would assume that after several islands got "Oldendorfed" by them word would have gotten out...

[@George_M_]

I suspect they learned of their return by international press release. Given how terrible everyone in the war was at target recognition (see mistaking Taffy 3 for Halsey's fleet carriers) , I extremely doubt anyone particularly recognized them.

[@brandonchild422]

Takeshi Maeda had delivered the killing blow to West Virginia on December 7th just to fight her again in May of 1945 off the coast of Okinawa, saying, "Then there was something ahead, it looked like a battleship. And it looked just like the West Virginia! I thought that’s really strange! The West Virginia took seven hits.”

[@TheLouHam]

They probably didn’t care one way or another. The Japanese reported sinking the Enterprise 20+ times with no explanation how that can be.

[@leandersearle5094]

@@TheLouHam Blame the pre-flight sake.

[@sealiesoftware]

Of Drach's three pronunciations of "Nevada" at 1:56, #2 is closest to what the residents of that state say; #1 is less common and is considered incorrect by some people; and #3 is generally not used for the state, it's instead used for two cities named Nevada in Iowa and Missouri.

[@JM-jv7ps]

#1 is definitely most common with people from outside the state. Though I am east of the Mississippi

[@sealiesoftware]

@@JM-jv7ps I wonder if #1 / #2 has an east / west split.

[@Archie2c]

I was taught Na Va Da

[@markhamstra1083]

@@sealiesoftwareIt’s more of a typical Spanish pronunciation vs. what the state’s residents actually say issue. And fwiw, many in California will use the Spanish pronunciation when speaking of the mountain range (the Sierra Nevada) even if they respect how Nevadans pronounce their state - although, to be fair, more commonly the mountains will just be called the Sierras or even the Sierra Mountains, regardless of proper Spanish.

[@20chocsaday]

Only the people living anyplace know how to call it.

[@neilyoung4554]

I visited Azeville this summer, A shell from Nevada is still there, it was a dud. It entered through the opening for the gun, killed the crew via the pressure wave and smashed through the several inch thick reinforced concrete interior wall.

[@kemarisite]

I was just reading a three part series about Nevada gunfire support for Operation Overlord and it includes pictures of these casemates and their damage, including the dud round. From when it was dug up in the 90s.

[@Warmaker01]

Putting in a BB "sunk" at Pearl Harbor for Japan's surrender at Tokyo Bay is one helluva flex.

[@Isteak80]

The refit of these 3 ships were surprisingly aesthetically pleasing for the most part, even though I know that was not a consideration at all.

[@zeedub8560]

In my opinion, the Tennessee and Colorado classes were the best-looking battleships ever made, in all of their configurations. I particularly like their flat, pointy clipper bows.

[@hmsverdun]

There was an increase in the number of Bofors andOerlikons this of course was subject to change usually upwards. Its every US sailors and Battleships right to have a whole battery off AA to shoot at the enemy after all. Oh and my new Drachism of the week is-the Fortress was kept under fire until a couple of men knocked on the door to introduce them to their new Lord and Saviour-the White Flag.

[@colormedubious4747]

USS Nevada - a ship too damned stubborn to sink and stay sunk! She took a torpedo hit. She managed to get underway only to become a bomb magnet and refused to sink in the channel. She got a little help and grounded herself out of everyone else's way. She fought in BOTH theatres of action against ALL the Axis powers. She took fire from shore batteries and sneered in disdain. She took a kamikaze in the face and walked it off. She was smacked hard by TWO nukes (TWO! NUKES!!) and rejected the very idea of "not remaining afloat." This ship is EVERY bit as legendary as the Big E. It's too bad she was too radioactive to be preserved as a museum ship. Fair winds and following seas to all of the magnificent bastards who served aboard her.

[@GearGuardianGaming]

Not to mention that she was painted orange as the designated target of the first😊

[@simperous4308]

If she had been anywhere other than a shallow harbour in a main naval base, it’s have been all over after 1 torpedo… survived 2 Nikes? So what? So did Nagato and Prince Eugen…

[@colormedubious4747]

@@simperous4308 Great. What IS your point, precisely?

[@sassyfrass4295]

think about all the effort the crew laid down to get her underway - R E S P E C T S! they knew the situation, saw what was happening to them and around them, remainded focused and moved forward. true American Spirit!

[@baconpwn]

"You sank me? Rude. Now, get out of my way. I have a few shores to eradicate." - Nevada. Cheers, Nevada. Enjoy your final rest. Even though we know you're picking fights in whatever passes for Naval Valhalla

[@toddwebb7521]

You already know that 1943 Nevada vs Tirpitz is going to be someone's ship vs ship question.

[@DirtNastyCivilian]

Nevada all day. She took 2 atomic bombs, and a multi day bombardment from cruisers, battleships, bombs and torpedoes before finally succumbing to a charge placed ideally on her hull. She even sits on the bottom right side up. Nevada was truly a beast of a war wagon.

[@PitchBlackYeti]

Tirpitz would seem to have all the advantages here except radar. So it all boils down to if Nevada manages to ambush Tirpitz in bad visibility conditions and inflict crippling damage before Tirpitz can retaliate or withdraw...

[@DirtNastyCivilian]

I should note: Nevada took all that damage without a crew running any damage control.

[@Mattoropael]

@@DirtNastyCivilian But as a target ship she would also lack the usual detonation/fire-happy elements like fuel and ammunition.

[@kevinbrown4073]

Always considered the Battle of Surago Straights as a Pearl Harbor US battleship revenge tour

[@marckyle5895]

Pictures six Danny Trejos, five with scars, advancing on the kids who jumped them, spiked bats in their hands..

[@LWGanucheau]

“Nuh-vay-duh” is one I have never heard before, and I pray I never do again. Thanks for the excellent vid!

[@Lusa_Iceheart]

Yeah that one was a new one for me too. "Nuh-vod-duh" is the one we hear the most and is what non-Nevadans (incorrectly) say, much to the annoyance of all my fellow Nevadans. Never heard the "vay-duh" one before.

[@slytlygufy]

Well, there is Nuh-vay-duh County, Arkansas.

[@Xino6804]

Apparently California just wanted a hug from Tennessee, not once but twice. Also a yes for a video on the damaged ships. If the Arizona guns story is true, then nearly every Battleship that was at Pearl got some round time with the Japanese.

[@ph89787]

God what has Azur Lane done to me.

[@Plaprad]

@@ph89787 I've probably seen the picture you're imagining on Pixiv.

[@Kevin_Kennelly]

30:57 "Admiral Kurita had already had enough, and left". Samar, in eight words. 40:41 "Plus, "filling in any remaining space with twin 20 mmm Oerlikons." And no, I'm not even joking, that's exactly what it says on the order papers."

[@milferdjones2573]

Well don't know if they realized or not the crews of those ships would fit remaining space with AA guns even if they are no orders to do so. If they did they just were covering the crews asses and making them acquiring the weapons easier and not like thief like it was sometimes. US Army the same drove the Germans nuts that instead of stated weapons assigned to units from documents they managed to acquire the US units could often be counted on to have their entire assigned weapons, a rarity in most armies, but US would often have more, extra Heavy Machine Guns on units that should not have them and the like and one US Infantry Company had a unauthorised platon of Tanks.

[@danielbackley9301]

@@milferdjones2573 Not to mention their very own GERMAN FIRE TRUCK. Looking at you 83rd division U.S.ARMY.

[@baconpwn]

"Wait, they get to fill out their space with AA guns? Unfair." - Enterprise, probably

[@marckyle5895]

@@milferdjones2573 37mm cannon salvaged from P-39 AirCobras would often be found mounted on the foredeck of many a PT Boat around Guadacanal. Americans have never said 'that's too much firepower'.

[@aj_jk1337]

Had the honor of visiting the USS Arizona memorial, the most striking thing of all- it still leaks oil to this day in the harbor. There is an ominous oil slick on top of the water, which due to the amount of oil/grease inside of her, may never cease.

[@jeebusk]

Maybe they pump it there through an underwater tube for old time's sake 😅 Or it's actually some other industrial operation, which has a good excuse!

[@prollins6443]

​@jeebusk no, it is the oil left in the vessel when she sank. It is slowly leaking out wherever it can. I believe they call the oil droplets "the Tears of the Arizona" and the slight oil slick is very noticeable when you visit.

[@jeebusk]

everybody knows oil is heavier than water... @@prollins6443 If only I was leet like AJ

[@williestyle35]

​@@prollins6443 the leaking fluids are called the "tears of the Arizona" because it contains more than various oil and lubricant from the ship... ⚓

[@prollins6443]

@@williestyle35 thank you. I knew it was something like that, but I guess I didn't have all the information

[@robertcamilleri4344]

Thanks for this video, Drac. Love your work. My great uncle served on Nevada, and was killed in the kamikaze strike off of Okinawa. It is nice to see his ship remembered in such an entertaining and accessible way.

[@oldbearbrian]

I love that you calculated roughly how many times more the battleship weighs than one of the Japanese tanks it was targeting. 🙂

[@hairy-one]

Fun-ish fact: Nevada had just lit a 2nd boiler in preparation for switching the power load from one to the other. (ships kept one lit to provide things like electricity while moored) Having 2 boilers going gave her enough power to get underway. (from "Day of Infamy" by Walter Lord)

[@Eric_Hutton.1980]

Wisconsin wasn't the only American battleship to have a quick temper it seems when it comes to enemy artillery positions.

[@milferdjones2573]

And very short "why did we shoot at it moments before the battleship returned fire and removed the artillery position and everything around it.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Apparently their captains were heard to shout "Mind my paint! It's only got one coat!"

[@wethepeoplearepidoff1776]

"temper temper"

[@GrumpyGrobbyGamer]

I would love to hear about the wartime exploits of the three less damage battleships from Pearl Harbor. Thank you for making this video so entertaining, informative, and interesting.

[@stevemolina8801]

After I watched the series on the salvage of those sunk at Pearl Harbor I just had to get the book "Resurrection" by Daniel Madsen. This just tied everything together. Thank you. Go Navy!

[@justinbruck9602]

Nevada may not have been able to sink Tirpitz, but it would have lured Tirpitz into thinking it could sink Nevada, and using all it's ammunition to attempt the feat. By which time backup would have arrived, probably in the form of some other very angry Standards maxing out their boilers to get there. Tirpitz would be sent to the bottom, and Nevada would have been happily taken under tow, where it would be returned to Norfolk, to be born a third time as the Lord of Death.

[@Cailus3542]

In practice, the mere presence of a battleship, even an old one, would have deterred Tirpitz. The Germans avoided capital ship actions at all cost. At Denmark Strait, Bismarck only engaged because Hood was too fast to evade, while at North Cape, Duke of York damaged Scharnhorst's boilers as the latter was fleeing. The Germans knew that even if they won such a battle, the damage incurred would almost certainly mean that the mission had failed. A single 360mm shell can wreck anyone's day, and older battleships like Nevada could shoot a lot of them.

[@elzarcho]

Drach - thank you. My grandfather was a chief boatswain's mate on the Nevada at Pearl Harbor, and I miss him a lot today. I appreciate the rarely-seen footage and the deep insight into the ship's recovery. I imagine one of those faces looking down while she was tugged into Bremerton was my granddad's. Thanks for keeping the memory alive and helping me honor him today. You do great work in general, but I personally appreciate all the great videos about the Pearl Harbor battleships.

[@--Dani]

You were right the first time with Nevada, live here and how I hear it 90% of time. 👍

[@Sshooter444]

the a like in "mad" is correct

[@Lusa_Iceheart]

@@Sshooter444 Yup, the first "a" is a short-a sound like in "mad", not an long-a "o" sound. It annoys the crap out of Nevadans when other Americans can't pronounce it correctly. We don't call Arkansas "R-Kansas", now do we? Least the rest of the country can do is learn how to pronounce every state name (and hopefully also find them all on the map, but that's definitely asking too much).

[@ninjafroggie1]

I love the way the Tennessee class ships look post-refit

[@charleslarrivee2908]

OK I've NEVER heard that third pronunciation of Nevada before 🤣Also that account of the Allies missionary work at 11:02 had me in stitches.

[@khaelamensha3624]

Lunch finished, nice clear weather and a Drach videos following the salvage operations of Pearl Harbour! And some people said heaven does not exists, 😁

[@kevinalkire]

"...would make the invasion (of Iwo Jima) something of a grinding struggle." Understatement of the century.

[@questionmark05]

Warship Wednesdays with War thunder naval has become a tradition for me. Love these videos, thanks Drach.

[@Archie2c]

World of Warships Legends on Xbox one while Drach teaches me College Level Information.

[@khaelamensha3624]

The description of Dragoon operation is just a complete drachism 😂 Once again I am amazed by the sheer volume of documents displayed on these videos. As for the question, of course, a video on the unsinked ships would be a blessing (unsinked is quite a qualification for a ship 😂)

[@dunethewanderer8944]

To help address the pronunciation of Nevada, "ne-VAH-da" (middle syllable pronounced like in "law") is the proper Spanish pronunciation, but the State is usually referred to as "ne-VA-da" (middle syllable pronounced like in "axe") because the state was mostly empty until Las Vegas was founded by a bunch of people from New England, and due to their influence on the state the commonly accepted pronunciation drifted. Not really naval history per se, but I hope it helps.

[@Sshooter444]

the Spanish (at least Mexican) pronunciation is closer to the "a" like apple,, not the a in "law". Northern Nevadans where I live always pronounced it like apple. Easterners pronounce it like "law"

[@andrewwelham8633]

Great video, and based on how much I enjoyed it - I would definitely watch a video on the return of the other three BBs.

[@rkarnes6304]

Thanks! I’m just amazed at how wonderful your presentations are. It’s better even than the original presentations of “Victory at Sea”. All that’s missing is an orchestral score like Richard Rodgers composed for that series! ❤

[@wolftamer5463]

Would absolutely love to see a video on the damaged battleships of Pearl Harbor.

[@richardmcgowan1651]

To think Japan actually thought it could drive America to the point it would make a deal with it. When it could not only bring these ships back to fighting condition. But improve them at the same time.

[@TheJd195555]

Those repaired and updated old battleships were all given a new lease life. The were all simply beautiful battleships. Once they were back in the fight, there was simply no stopping then. They all served us well tight up to the end. WELL DONE

[@solquint2390]

The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. -USS West Virginia, probably

[@GearGuardianGaming]

Sounds more fitting for nevada, but fits for WV too

[@nicksignore8301]

My grandfather served on the USS Helena when it was attacked at Pearl Harbor. After that, he spent the remainder of the war on the USS California. He was on the Helena when the Cal sank and he was on the Cal when the Helena sank. Kind of crazy. Also, my mom is named Helena because of it. In his logbooks there are messages from friends and they say things like, "I'm so sorry to hear about the Helena."

[@MerrimanDevonshire]

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild them. We have the technology..."

[@novacat3032]

and after that many USN capital ships thought sunk by the japanese they wondered how the japanese came up with: "Godzila will come back no matter how often he is driven out of tokoyo bay" and yes... everybody here will want to watch a video on the other three survivors at some time

[@alexmoskowitz811]

Wow, Nevada was one tough cookie. I think “couldn’t hit the broad side of a battleship with a nuke” might have to be an expression i start using.

[@simonwilliams4514]

Nevada will always have my heart, but West Virginia was the most visually pleasing and graceful of the rebuilds. California, bless her, always looked so lardy from any angle other than side on.

[@mitchelloates9406]

If I remember correctly, at least one of the main battery turrets from the Arizona, was turned into a coastal defense battery, mounted up in the hills above Pearl Harbor - and strangely enough, I believe the book in which that was mentioned, along with a picture of said turret in it's new life, was a book dedicated to the history of US coastal defense fortifications.

[@milferdjones2573]

I have seen bad I think it US Navy report saying the coastal defense was a waste on both sides. But they failed to consider what would happen if the coast artillery was not there. If no coast artillery after the plane attack on Pearl the Battleships and Cruisers with the Japanese Carriers move in to finish the job maybe even land troops. Japan gets tempted to more robust attacks at start of war ports on East Coast maybe even a raid on the canal. On the Japanese side end war US sails BB into Tokyo Harbor and the rest of their ports and before that one reason the US skipped over the major Japanese Bases in Island hopping is those bases to well guarded by the coast batteries the Japanese put on them.

[@mitchm4992]

Most times when I'm awake early enough to catch a Wednesday video right after it goes up, I make a jokey comment referencing the Second Pacific Squadron. Not gonna go for that this time.

[@thomastheisman1751]

You know you want to throw your binoculars...

[@kemarisite]

30:21 "fortunately erroneous", correction: USS Albert W. Grant, a Fletcher-class destroyer, suffered 22 hits during the action, many from 6" guns which were not common in the Japanese force (Yamashiro had 7 on each side, Fuso was already gone, while the US light cruiser line had 54), resulting in 38 dead and 104 wounded.

[@rpick7546]

'would make the invasion [ of Iwo Jima ] something of a grinding struggle.' Holy Hell! If that's not the premier example of British understatement of all time...

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Well, we do call the war a "little unpleasentness with [INSERT ENEMY NATIONALITY HERE]".

[@01ZombieMoses10]

1:56 There is something positively menacing about this column of battleships coming head on with their heavy AA batteries pointed towards the sky like the rising oars of a longship from viking age; "This ship bears the finest of your enemies. Flee or fight, confront me it does not."

[@Lucius1958]

My dad was an officer on the WV (after her refit, of course), and was there in Tokyo Bay when the surrender was signed. I have been told that the kamikaze attack mentioned left him about third in command aboard the ship.

[@mikeynth7919]

Iowa: "How do we put this thing down?" Nevada: *laughs in kaiju*

[@jamesa702]

Thanks much for illuminating the usually dim history of those old battle wagons as they were restored and deployed again after Pearl. Your work is very enjoyable and thorough with humor that fits perfectly into the picture so amazingly created.

[@toddwebb7521]

Last time I was this early Nevada was the only All or Nothing armor scheme battleship

[@peterbrazier7107]

Yes, Yes, Yes, I want to see a video about the other three ships.

[@steelhammer96]

the refitted versions have a really wh40k look on them, there's only a chapel missing

[@MarkJoseph81]

Drach, I LOOOOOOVVVVVE HOW MUCH CONTENT YOU CRANK OUT!!!!!!!! Thank you, and God Bless you and your family! Keep it up, good sir!

[@colegurtis4012]

I attended West Virginia University and remember fondly the December 7 memorial service held yearly at the USS West Virginia’s mast on campus.

[@frankbodenschatz173]

Thanks as always Drach for the excellent presentation of our fine ships. Before I was born to even get aboard the West Virginia is my favorite of the class and I loved the layout of the guns on her as refitted. You always do these proud ships with a sense of honor and a bit of humor as well. Thanks! Hope to see you aboard or around HMS Belfast next year.

[@AdurianJ]

Bockscar that had dropped the Nagasaki bomb was critically low on fuel and mafe an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. She was saved by having a thrust reversers fitted to the propellers which was not standard B29 equipment

[@brentwegher2014]

Not Iwo, Sweeney landed Bockscar at Yontan airfield Okinawa

[@emokellen]

Go USS California! Born and raised in Los Angeles here. I went to Sacramento and saw the original bell of the USS California. It is currently on display on the grounds of the state capitol, one of the best monuments on the large property along with the memorials for Californians killed in Korea and Vietnam. It has a sign describing her WW2 service. A very cool artifact.

[@dennisfalzon8946]

Drachi, your narrative style, not to mention the wealth of information is simply priceless! I thoroughly enjoy every second of your documentaries!

[@gregflotron7995]

Your title, "..return to the front lines" is SPOT ON! The post-war narrative of "secondary roles" has been torn apart in the last decade or so with more and more historians arguing their contributions. Yes, the carrier was a supreme weapon, but the OBBs were essential to the battlefleet and all operations.

[@spikespa5208]

But don't try selling that to some folks who feel the roles played by BBs could have been filled by other types, using less $$ and manpower. (I'm not one of those.)

[@keefymckeefface8330]

@@spikespa5208 pray tell - what of these people, i can't think of any , would one have anybody in particular in mind...?

[@spikespa5208]

Wouldn't presume to name names.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Except for once again wrongly referring to The Battle *_OFF_* Samar as The Battle of Samar - this was well done and very interesting. You don't hear that much about these ships after 12/7/41. .

[@TheLouHam]

Hopefully you can sleep well at night and this doesn’t ruin your holiday plans. :(

[@scottfabel7492]

It's wonderful that you were able to find some old film footage on the ships that I've never seen before. Thank you for the remembrance of these beautiful ships.

[@Cubcariboo]

IMHO, the California rebuild turned out so beautiful and badass. Top 3, of the most successful modernizations I know of.

[@Blacksheep1968]

Good stuff. Love the individual ship history segments.

[@ramal5708]

The fact that the US only lost battleships in Pearl and after that zero BBs were sunk by enemy actions.

[@Cailus3542]

Besides one engagement at Guadacanal and one or two submarine attacks, no US battleships were ever at serious risk. The IJN pretty much ignored them, even when US and British battleships were bombarding Japan itself.

[@ramal5708]

@@Cailus3542 well they were misidentified as cruisers, just like when they misidentified Washington and South Dakota, the fast battleships I meant

[@kenneth9874]

​@@Cailus3542rather they couldn't do anything about them in spite of trying

[@bkirke]

25:53 I love that bow-on silhouette. Chonker beam with double-wide torpedo blisters, tapering sharply to a narrow superstructure. You can see the inspiration for Star Destroyers in Star Wars.

[@jamesjustus6568]

Great picture at 41:22 of the tug Carol Foss assisting the West Virginia. My first job starting out in the marine towing industry was as an Ordinary Seaman on her sister the Shannon Foss. The Carol was still in service, but was sold off not too much later, as was the Shannon. Sadly, single screw tugs in an age of twin screws, tractor and z-drives were antiquated. Can’t tell what the other tug is. Looks like it could be a Miki-Miki class surplus judging from the wheelhouse, davits and RDF loop.

[@g24thinf]

It was not probable that the West Virginia hit Yamishiro with her first salvo but a fact. At 23,000 yards this might be the longest hit at night in history. Her radar had a firing solution at 43,000 yards! Her captain held off to verify it was a Japanese ship then risk hitting a American. The 'Wee Vee' could have sunk the Yamishiro without any help from her companions.

[@sassyfrass4295]

Don't you know just the level of enthusiasm on the Wee Vee could have powered that ship and rightly so! Surely if any they had cause.

[@tholmes2169]

Would love to hear more about the Maryland in particular.

[@nickbruno-og2zn]

You definitely honor our veterans with your contributions on preserving our history thank you

[@prnjrr1783]

I don’t know how long you’ve been using this intro music but I think it suits the intro footage much better!

[@kurotsuki7427]

"How many times have we sunk that thing!?"

[@AnimeSunglasses]

Enterprise: "Ah, I believe this is where I come in..."

[@ph89787]

@@AnimeSunglasses Enterprise: Heheheheh. Oh wait you’re serious, let me laugh even harder. AHAHAHAHAHAH!

[@kurotsuki7427]

@@AnimeSunglasses that ship the real MVP for sure

[@AnimeSunglasses]

@@kurotsuki7427 yeah, not preserving her was an act of EXTREME vapidity...

[@binthere400]

Did I hear you correctly saying that the Lingayen Gulf landings were conducted by US Marines?! Those were actually the Army troops of Gen Kreuger's Sixth US Army. History has pretty much glossed over the fact that Marine divisions constituted only a quarter of US divisions fighting in the Pacific (18 Army - not counting the original Philippine Division - and six Marine divisions). Other than just re-starting another round of Army-Marine infighting, it was another excellent video. Many thanks.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@binthere400 - The island-hopping campaign of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps up through the South and Central Pacific was so well known in the 'States that it somewhat obscured the fact that of the two services, the U.S. Army made more amphibious landings in the Pacific Theater than did the USMC. This was not only because the army was the larger of the two services, but because there were so many separate landings in SWPOA - led of course by General Douglas MacArthur. Sort of a lost part of the Pacific War.

[@binthere400]

@@GeorgiaBoy1961 Indeed! When the war started for the US, there were actually more amphib qualified Army divisions than Marine divisions. There were two amphibious corps. The Amphibious Corps of the Pacific Fleet consisted of the 3rd Div (Army) and the 2d Div (Marine). The Amphibious Corps of the Atlantic consisted of the 1st Div (Army) and the 1st Div (Marine). In addition, the 9th Div (Army had been amphibious qualified, but not assigned to either corps. So the Army had plenty of amphibious experience. Although those three Army divisions ended up as the core infantry force for the TORCH landings, not surprisingly, other Army divisions were soon amphibious qualified for the Pacific. MacArthur's Seventh Amphibius Force conducted 38 amphibious landings. Only one included Marines, and several consisted of Australian units - the rest were Army. In addition to these there were the numerous landing in the Solomons and Central Pacific that included Army units.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@@binthere400 - Thanks for the info. You obviously have made a study of it to a greater extent that I have, so bravo zulu! Isn't that what soldiers these days say for a job well-done? Despite the well-known inter-service rivalry between the Army and the Navy-USMC, the two generally worked well together on joint operations during the war, not withstanding a few hiccups and bumps in the road here-and-there. In a roundabout manner, the fact that the division of the PTO into two somewhat incongruent halves split between the army and the navy-USMC worked as well as it did is a tribute to the leaders and men of that era. "Jointness" as it is understood today hadn't yet come into being, at least not formally, and wouldn't even get addressed at all until the Key West Agreement. The concept didn't really get fleshed out until decades later in the wake of the failure of Operation Eagle Claw, the abortive hostage rescue in the desert in 1980. A buddy of mine years ago who was ex-army special forces said it best: "We (meaning the guys in uniform) can give sh*t to one another, but if anyone else goes after us, we've got each other's backs!" Pretty much sums it up. But returning to your point, who says soldiers can't get their feet wet coming ashore from a landing craft? ; )

[@binthere400]

@@GeorgiaBoy1961 As an Army guy I was assigned to an Army detachment that provided Army folks to the staffs of various Navy units in the San Diego area. I worked at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado. At the time, Army guys made up 40% of the staff operations instructor department for the amphib warfare school. So, yeah, the cross fertilization continued. And as a company commander I took my company through the amphib school on the other coast, at Little Creek. I quite often had to point out that nowhere on an amphib ship did it say, "For exclusive use of USMC". Speaking of BZ, my memory is that originated as a Navy code for well done. So that ties back into the theme quite nicely.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@@binthere400- Re: "Speaking of BZ, my memory is that originated as a Navy code for well done. So that ties back into the theme quite nicely." OK, thanks for settling that. The dividing lines between the branches are pretty arbitrary, right. I guess you see that going back years, too. In Vietnam, the Navy and Army cooperated in operations in the Mekong Delta, the famous "Brown Water Navy" with their riverine patrol craft, and U.S. Army infantry detailed to the area, many aboard those same vessels. Back eighty or more years ago, the argument went that the Marine Corps was "The First to Fight," the expeditionary and amphibious warfare component of our armed forces. First responders, if you will. But once the Army got the Rangers, plus the Airborne and 1st Special Services Regiment during WW2, that distinction was blurred to an extent. The Marines were so worried about Army Airborne that they even formed their own parachute battalion. And they formed the Marine Raiders, which were an answer to the Army Rangers. And you can throw in Marine Recon, too. Then the Navy itself, using the nucleus of WW2 UDTs and combat divers, formed the SEALS, martime commandos for a lack of a better term. So by the 1960s, the Navy was also infringing on what the USMC saw as its turf. U.S. Army Special Forces were institutionalized during the 1950s and 1960s, with their unique missions and skill sets. And when "Chargin' Charlie" Beckwith came along, and did a tour with the British SAS in Malaya, he went on to found SOF-Delta, "Delta Force," or whatever it is they are calling themselves these days. The poor guys over at the USAF felt left out when JSOC was formed, so they go in on the act, too. Did I leave anyone out? Space Force? Well, they'd be the logical place for those super-dooper special "Space Shuttle Door Gunners" we're always hearing about, right? LOL. I do have to say that I have a certain sentimental soft spot for the Navy & USMC, though, and it has nothing to do with the above. My late father was a navy man during WW2. But I have a ton of respect for the Army and the other branches, too. Well, when they're not eating crayon soup and doing other stupid stuff, that is!

[@jonathanlong6987]

I rewatched. I love being old. It was like the 1st time! Thanks AGAIN!

[@peteranninos2506]

Maybe its just me but the music and sound of this opening sees much better.

[@greenseaships]

Reminds me of an old Far Side cartoon about the elephant stalking the man in the dark. "If you're going to kill an elephant, you'd better be prepared to finish the job."

[@MARGATEorcMAULER]

Would love to hear about the 3 damaged battleships ❤

[@Alcochaser]

9:12 up to your arse in brass. You know its been a damn good day when your battlewagon needs shovel crews to clear the deck of empty brass shells!

[@DeliveryDemon]

My great granddad was on the California at Pearl Harbor. Was the ship's Fire Control Chief. Served in the Navy from '38-'57. Thank you for your service, Granddad Feser. I regret never having met you.

[@ronbork684]

My Uncles Eddie and George were also in fire-control. Uncle George was serving in fire'control on the Battleship U.S.S. Colorado, which he told me would have been at Pearl Harbor on Dec.7., but due to an officer wanting to stay at Pearl for a golf (?) tournament, took that ship's turn for maintenance, states side. Uncle Eddie and his wife were awakened by the attack. As he ran to his duty station on PT 28, his pregnant wife stood outside watching the planes flying over head. She slowly obeyed the orders of an officer to get back inside, when a piece of shrapnel hit where she had been a moment before. She picked it up with a cloth and kept it as a souvenir. PT 28 was on a cradle on a dock about to be put on an oiler bound for the Philippines. With empty fuel tanks , they had to cut the hydraulic lines and manully swing the machine guns. Eddie, serving as a Chief, was crushed under the fire control computer in the main battery plotting room of the Destroyer U.S.S. Dehaven when the third bomb hit the forward magazine. He and the others in fire control never got permission to open fire on the incoming Val Dive Bombers. The officer who was beside Uncle Eddie bumped into Uncle George on the hospital ship US.S. Tryon. Uncle George said that was the first time he cried out there. The second time was while serving on the Destroyer US.S. Helm, which was screening the carrier U.S.S. Franklin. He previously splashed three Torpedo Planes coming in low between the ships. When alone dive bomber came in, he trianed guns on her if she continued straight, and guns trained on her if she dove. Sadly his repeated requests to open fire were not granted until she was dropping her bombs on The Franklin. Perhaps our family member's paths had crossed at some point. As a little boy. I remember a photo of the fire control class Uncle Eddie graduated from, hanging on a wall at my Grandmother's house. It will be interested to find out when the sea gives up those dead in it, and all those in the Memorial Tombs are resurrected. John 5:28,29 Revelation 20:23-15

[@DeliveryDemon]

@@ronbork684 I thank them for their service. And maybe they did. I never knew him, sadly. He died before I was born in '06. He was also in Korea on a destroyer. But wow... thats... something else. He was everywhere except for Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.

[@HMSConqueror]

This is very interesting, Drach. Maybe repeating the series for HMS Warspite, HMS Rodney, HMS KGV?

[@chriskortan1530]

So many new to me and interesting details that don't seem to make it into the usual literature! The most novel to me was the LVT ramps. I've never read of these before and they rival the endless stories of Hobart's funnies.

[@jfan4reva]

I've never heard of them either. I suspect they were a brainstorm of local officers, cobbled together by Navy welders, and then abandoned after successful use.

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

A couple of my Treasured possessions are a couple IJN Sake cups my Grandfather acquired whilst in Japan in 1st week after surrender, though he never cated much for the Japanese. December 7th was a Holy Day when I was growing up. Did not see this posting on the 6th, but Thank You for posting. I had a Uncle at Hickam on Dec. 7, 1941, and heard about the sneak attack, and the Death & Destruction. Not too many postings on 2 days ago. I always heard, growing up "Remember Pearl Harbor".