The Brilliant Submarine Tactic That Crippled Japan

July 31, 1945. In the murky depths of Singapore harbor, the British midget submarine XE-3 carefully nestles beneath the hull of the Japanese heavy cruiser Takao. Leading Seaman James Magennis enters the cramped vessel’s wet-and-dry chamber, ready to plant six limpet mines on Takao’s hull.
Magennis takes a deep breath and pushes the hatch. With Takao's massive hull looming just inches above, the hatch won’t open fully. With desperate ingenuity, Magennis deflates his aqualung's air sack, hoping to squeeze through the half-open hatch.
Magennis contorts his body, finally slipping through the narrow opening. Takao's hull is a forest of barnacles and marine growth, making it impossible to attach the limpet mines.
Magennis has no choice but to scrape at the cruiser's bottom until his hands are red and raw. Finally, he can secure the first mine. But with five more to go with the risk of detection growing with each passing second…

[@mrsillywalk]

Tommy "Dinger" Bell was a WW2 Royal Navy diver who never should be forgotten. I worked with him in the 70s and was privy to his stories. He was one who worked on the X craft, and they all deserve a medal.

[@Mustapha1963]

Excellent video. I do not think I had ever heard of this exploit before.

[@domgould5113]

Amaizing how those subs had room for the balls these guys had.

[@toughluv873]

Yes but was he brave enough to use preferred pronouns. 😂. Amazing what people consider courage nowadays.

[@bestbehave]

That was the ballast

[@chipcurry]

As always, riveting, storytelling! Chilling.

[@McPh1741]

The British sinking the Takao as a target ship is a cover story. She was actually destroyed by Godzilla.

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

King kong.

[@christopherbova8109]

I knew it 😮

[@wadeyearsago]

Godzilla man. I just don't trust him.

[@daverobinson6110]

He picks up a bus and he throws it back down?

[@christopherbova8109]

@ go,go, Godzilla

[@deenasmusicbox]

So very well done!!! I was glued to my screen anxiously watching this nail biter!!

[@ToIsleOfView]

This is an incredible story of bravery in the jaws of death. Thank you. I love your channel. This was the bravest act I can imagine. That little sub is like a death trap underwater. Thank you for bringing this heroic mission to light. The medals are well deserved, and you included them as you should. I usually comment on political bravery, but this wartime bravery is so exceptional that I must share it. Keep it up.

[@treyweaver5396]

Great vid! I think I read about this decades ago as it sparks an old memory. Bravo!

[@MaximilianMuster]

I really enjoy watching your short naval history stories. Great work, nice voice. ❤

[@GuyPipili]

That was crazy! Imagine all the noise that scraping produced! You would've thought that the Japanese would have heard something!

[@michellehavre6821]

Not possible the steel is so thick and nobody is at the bottom level of the ship. accomoodation is above

[@DrCarlBooze]

The engine noise is very loud and nobody is close enough to the bottom of the ship to hear anything.

[@douglachman7330]

Story worthy of respect for these and all other special services mission personnel in war.

[@dand1485]

One of the wild things to me, is to realize that in the midst of these men risking their lives to pull off a daring attack,... the war was effectively already Over... The atomic bomb had already been tested on the 16th and Hiroshima would occur within a week.

[@seanlander9321]

No one knew if Japan would surrender. Australia for instance had invaded Borneo to ensure that Japan was cut off from oil. Until Hirohito gave in, the end of the war was hypothetical and also couldn’t be compared with Germany which had been cornered, as the Japanese forces were still stationed over a significant portion of the globe.

[@bradleamon4466]

​@@seanlander9321and just think many years later when Hirohito died out PM got on TV and cried about it what an insult to our men

[@seanlander9321]

@ Hirohito was a racist psychopath who the Americans should have agreed with the Australians to put him on trial.

[@Charles-k9g5y]

@@seanlander9321-- the bomb on top of the fear of a Russian invasion finally ended the war.

[@seanlander9321]

@ The Soviets had no hope of invading Japan because they didn’t have the navy to get them there. Besides Hirohito didn’t mention the Soviets in his surrender because they were irrelevant, particularly throughout Asia and The Pacific.

[@zykify]

This should be a movie!

[@ortizguard2816]

Who else held their breath during the video?😮

[@Hiddensecret9]

American submarines were responsible for sinking approximately 56% of Japan's merchant marine losses during the war. This aggressive campaign led to the destruction of over 1,000 Japanese merchant ships, severely limiting Japan's ability to import vital materials and sustain its war effort.

[@dginia]

And also inadvertently led to the death of many U.S. POW’s being transported to Japan.

[@jeffreycarman2185]

An amazing tale told brilliantly

[@allenhamilton6688]

Excellent video. Thanx!

[@lynderherberts2828]

Very interesting. This is the first WWII submarine battle against the Japanese I've ever seen.

[@lilydiring4295]

Yeah most of it was sinking merchant vessels full of food and or ammunition. Which is really not as glamorous. Unrestricted submarine warfare is incredibly effective, and arguably a war crime. Not as fun to tell a story about.

[@lynderherberts2828]

@@lilydiring4295 Hi. Thank you for this information. Have a great week. God bless you.

[@eagleeye761]

Love this history every time I listen....

[@JohnClay-x7x]

What a great British war story. Thanks for sharing.

[@fredparkinson1289]

The part that puzzles me is how navy men forgot that barnacles grow on the bottom of a ship!

[@me282uk]

If you wanted your ship to be as fast as possible, you'd try and keep the hull clean with divers or drydocking. The growth on the target ship was much worse than you'd have expected.

[@chrissnape9537]

Glad to hear two Victoria crosses were awarded to live men. I never knew this story😊

[@charlesloeffler333]

Any clue how they followed their path back out the harbor. Underwater nav, even with 1990’s technology was very difficult, much less back then

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

They knew where the tea was. I make it home for a cuppa no matter where I am.

[@Dirk80241]

The only criticism I have for the British Navy is that they should have exercised more creativity when naming their midget submarines. This would do more justice to the brave crews!

[@mccorpsecorpse]

Wrong USS Darter, guys. You're looking for SS-277, not SS-576 which was built in the 50s.

[@julieputney4317]

Very riveting episode

[@spencerlucas3065]

That is a crazy story!

[@ob1257]

Very cool story! Nice video!

[@TomMcClish]

Interesting story, but "crippled Japan"? At Singapore? In August 1945? Yeah, this tactic brought Japan to its knees.

[@fredericksaxton3991]

A bit of a hod-podge of film footage, but a good tale well told.

[@jhonbee5434]

correct, made up from bits taken from at least 3 other movies.

[@williamtolon6464]

Good video.

[@rickden8362]

A truly brave and courageous undertaking. But I don't understand if the cruiser was actually put out of action or just settled to the bottom and still remained a working AA platform.

[@scottjamison801]

Excellent presentation

[@robinbrowne5419]

An example of real life being more dramatic than fiction.

[@RollinRoadblock]

Ironic that the German tactics against Britain were replicated by the u.s on Japan.

[@Coinbro]

Great story thanks!

[@TokyoLamia]

Had this use of these two stationed craft at Singapore influenced the failed stationary use of the beached Yamato at Okinawa?

[@casparcoaster1936]

I spent a year teaching ESL at a language school in Tokyo in 1989... one wknd, with a beautiful girl, she & I climbed Mt. Takao... it was fun. Cool little minature buddhist shrines along the trail

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Shades of Norway.

[@pauloakwood9208]

Great history, but somewhat frustrated that the images and the narrative don't match. The video just seems random.

[@DerickBorlace]

Why is the diver shown as wearing a Standard Diving suit? They could only be used with an air supply from the surface.

[@fukkitful]

Because the average viewer would never know they used a rebreather... So why bother trying to be historical accurate when it more about the story being told? Not the dramatization shown. If you really care about the video being accurate then Drachinifel's channel would suit you better.

[@southernsmoke8391]

I’m impressed by the Takao’s surviving the US sub torpedoes.

[@foundthetruth2003]

Very very brave men, I couldn’t do it.

[@philipinchina]

Outstanding.

[@user-rs8zg8ey2b]

Awesome!

[@kurtwillig4230]

😢X craft boats were powered by diesel engines from London buses.

[@adrianperry8352]

Quite a few German and French submariners are in this clip

[@benjurqunov]

Were they homosexuals ? Some looked like illegal mexicans !

[@terry_willis]

Those were just cameo appearances. 😄

[@ZodiacSam]

Why all the whispering? 👂

[@balladeerbuzz3688]

Overall, well done, but WHY was there a modern sub briefly mixed in the graphics??? The typical poorly done graphics, disrespect the brave men involved.

[@jiyushugi1085]

Those interested in a Japanese version of these subs should read, 'Kaiten Special Attack Group, A Story of Stolen Youth', the autobiography of Yutaka Yokota.

[@BCHonea]

I think you saying crap for the first time is hilarious ❤

[@navypowertv]

*I read an opinion that the British sinking the Takao as a target ship is just a cover story. In reality, the ship was destroyed by Godzilla. What do you think?*

[@AmlanDas-r7f]

Godzilla minus one

[@navypowertv]

@@AmlanDas-r7f oh, maybe!

[@carpecanem611]

Godzilla Minus One is the movie title. There is only one Godzilla. (At least for me there is.)

[@mikeholland1031]

Godzilla didn't show up till after WW2. Created by the nukes fallout.

[@terry_willis]

@@mikeholland1031 It's ironic: The Japanese start WWII Pac. Theater and destroy most of SE Asia murdering and torturing millions. Then the Japanese create the cartoonish monster Godzilla. Talk about a flip: From real life diabolical MONSTERS to childish MONSTERS.

[@neohhorkee454]

Takao was repurposed and rearmed to fight Godzilla Minus One

[@jeebusk]

what is the port container, I know port is left... I didn't understand what container?

[@Gregknows-uj8gg]

In the beginning of video they mentioned two containers holding explosives. One on each side of craft that could be released from craft.

[@cdk1016]

Arent ww2 era aqua lungs fatal if they get water in them? I read about some kind oc primitive rebreathers that make poisonous gas if they get water inside of them which seems crazy but i suppose when used properly its better than drowning...

[@jacobjames1171]

You gotta call it a British, little person, submarine. 😅

[@csjrogerson2377]

It is not "The British Royal Navy", it's just "The Royal Navy." Lack of forethought on not taking a scrapper. The diving equipment used by LS Magennis was a pendulum closed circuit O2 set which left zero to very few bubbles. The video shows a diver using open circuit air and even a Standard hardhat surface supplied system, both creating "We're forever blowing bubbles" scenario. There might also have been clips of German U-boat engine rooms in there too.

[@stuartmcpherson1921]

At the end one guy gave an incorrct salute. He did army or air force with the palm forward. Naval salute has palm down.

[@csjrogerson2377]

@@stuartmcpherson1921 True, but he wasn't a Royal Naval Sailor. Not all Navies of the world salute in the same manner. PS The RN salute is not "palm down", its palm facing aft. I did it for 22 years.

[@pauljenkins6877]

He probably said “British Royal Navy” because many non-British people (i.e., Americans) would not know what country the Royal Navy belonged to.

[@csjrogerson2377]

@@pauljenkins6877 If we dumb things down to the level of Americans, we'll all be braindead in weeks. If they don't know, they can look it up.

[@brianw612]

In reality, it didn't factor into the wars end much if any at all. Japan was already finished.

[@Joe-sg9ll]

this is all dramatic to the point I'm not following the facts. which is why I clicked

[@thomaslinton5765]

Torpedoes that largely didn't work for nearly two years?

[@slugface322]

That is correct.

[@fukkitful]

The Mark 14 torpedo was never tested in a live fire against real targets. To make matters worse the Bureau of Ordnance denied there was any flaws despite many complaints.

[@JSFGuy]

Thanks for no notice again.

[@thgiresimorp9004]

title is clickbait

[@slugface322]

you took the bait and got So hooked ya commented 🤪

[@thgiresimorp9004]

@@slugface322 yup, one born every minute,,, I got married too!

[@arsenalroo]

Yeah. Do a little more research. SSN 576 shown is the Darter built in 1954. Unsubscribed.

[@doctordank]

I mean, good video on an interesting story, but I'd hardly say the crippling of Takao "crippled Japan." Hyperbole much?

[@jadalizmercedes7579]

really britain, one week before total surrender?

[@TennesseeHomesteadUSA]

Not true. Try reading "Silent Victory" for how the US strategic use of submarines crippled Japan. The US choked off the Luzon Bottleneck. Nice try for an amateur though...

[@me282uk]

Typical Yank 🙄...

[@July41776DedicatedtoTheProposi]

The picture for the SS-Darter 576 is the one (2:36) built in 1954, and did not serve in WWII. Also some pictures were from Nazi U-boats in the North Atlantic (captain with a beard).

[@terry_willis]

It's called theatrical license.

[@terrybarton8388]

Is it just me or are other people getting fed up of this channels clickbait photoshopped thumbnail pictures? …

[@terry_willis]

Me 2. I'm fed up and I ain't gonna take it anymore.

[@clanpsi]

Brilliant? Japan rarely escorted their ships. The US sinking them was pretty much like spearing koi in a koi pond. It wasn't brilliant at all.

[@nickh.6461]

first

[@JSFGuy]

First grade pick me? What are you here for?

[@nickh.6461]

@ yo momma

[@JSFGuy]

@@nickh.6461 Nice non-answer. What are you 12?

[@briancooper2112]

Your wife like Jewish dick​@nickh.6461

[@briancooper2112]

Who cares

[@db-zc9xv]

The picture at 2:35 is of the wrong Darter. You experts and know-it-alls.... don't. However: I like your use of the outmoded and seldom used rank/rating "artificer".

[@kenmatthews4937]

I hate that you keep using movie footage in these videos

[@iandibley8032]

There would be no actual original film footage of the raid, what are directors/ editors supposed to use?

[@terry_willis]

I would like to see one of his videos using clips from Rodan and Godzilla movies. Just for comic relief. I would laugh my arse off. I say this because those movies were so silly and cartoonish no one (movie viewers) would ever believe it was real.

[@fukkitful]

​@@iandibley8032 Exactly!! I've seen a couple comments bitching because the video doesn't match the story being told... I don't understand how they are intelligent enough to know what kind of scuba device was used, but cant realize the video is just a dramatization.

[@stevefontaine1335]

I Know You All Love Fighter Jets Help This Channel? Jet Fury🙏