The Channel Dash / Operation Cerberus - How to win through refuge in audacity

[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@mayer492]

If US carriers didn't left pearl harbor and was able to be destroyed by IJN, do you think japan will have a bigger chance of winning the war in the pacific?

[@michaelbriggs5503]

The state of the Fleet Air Arm in the 1930s. Had the fleet arm been equipped with or be in the process of re-equipping with more modern aircraft akin to the RAF (read; low wing monoplane, high speed, aluminium skin, single seat) rather than the assortment of obsolete models it had, would it have had a greater impact during the early battles in the Atlantic and Mediterranean? And how did the FAA's inventory end up in the sorry state it was, given the RN was acquiring considerably more contemporary aircraft carriers?

[@csours]

Did the naval aviation experiences of the Germans and British inform either the US or Japanese operations in the pacific? Could the US have licensed or used better torpedos early in the war, perhaps from the British?

[@filthyweaboo2694]

What do you think about aviation battleships? A brilliant idea, or waste of money?

[@harrisonrawlinson4602]

Q&A If Barnes Wallace had developed the bouncing bomb earlier, would there be any chance the allies could’ve launched these bombs at the dry dock gates at Brest and St Nazaire in order to put them out of action to get rid of the repair facilities?

[@IMarcaI]

The be clear, the two squads of Beuforts and Hudsons weren't circling the airfield out of confusion for ½ an hour. It was merely a gesture of proper British politeness. "You first sir." "No after you." "I insist you go first." "No sir definitely you must lead." Etc... until they started running out of fuel.

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

Oh man 😆

[@jimmiller5600]

Imagine if they'd been Canadians?

[@artbrann]

they would have added "no you land first" as well, till they started falling out of the sky

[@hajoos.8360]

The pilots obviously lived not at London's eastside.

[@jb76489]

Canadians would’ve bombed some seals/First Nation villages lmao

[@HaydenLau.]

Roll for initiative British: uhh, -2

[@TheThingInMySink]

The dice Gods have spoken! The end is nigh!

[@Zaprozhan]

Okay, initiative order set. Roll for perception. British: .... 3 Hmmm... roll for coordination British: If the die explodes, that's bad, right?

[@Vespuchian]

@@Zaprozhan I suppose we should all be thankful they weren't confronted with a gazebo.

[@aluminumfence]

"The God's may throw their dice. Their Minds as cold as Ice.", Yes I did just reference an ABBA song in a naval history video.

[@rutabagasteu]

They mistakenly used a d20. Should have rolled a d6.

[@RasputinGrigori1]

Hitler can't have been that mad because he correctly analyzed that the German method of war, which up until then had been so successful against the european nations, was not as effective against the British (as demonstrated by the outcome of the Battle of Britain). Thus when he faced the British during Operation Cereberus, he decided to change tack and cunningly chose a method which was obviously based on Pythonesque logic and very likely to succeed because NOBODY EXPECTS THE GERMAN EXPEDITION! (Ba-doom-tish) *Sound of wind blowing as tumbleweed rolls across the view* I'll get me coat.

[@blackvic5157]

I think you nailed it here. The Channel Dash was another incarnation of Blitzkrieg, suiting the Germans, whereas the Battle of Britain was a battle of attrition, suiting the Brits, who have demonstrated time and again their willingness to go toe-to-toe and slug it out for as long as it took. On the other hand, Hitler may well have suspected an Allied counter-invasion plan for Norway, mistakenly granting the Allies the same measure of audacity as he himself possessed. When he invaded Norway, everything that could go wrong did - his navy got clobbered, crucial land forces were cut off in the north, and his supply chain was reduced to the point that would fail a Boy Scout Jamboree. Then he won anyway.

[@benjaminmiddaugh2729]

@@blackvic5157 A common failing of almost all humans is that we assume that other people think about things the way we would. That we are terrible at disabusing ourselves of this notion explains a lot about how we tend to decide that those who disagree with us are idiots, since they have come to conclusions that are obviously nonsense from our perspective. Unfortunately there's rarely the civility, will, and appropriate platform for a productive dialogue. But that's in the political arena. In war this means that even careful commanders/political leaders can make the mistake of crediting the enemy with thinking the way they do, which can lead to planning for things that the enemy would never even consider, sometimes for the same reason their enemy thinks that they would do it.

[@massimomax3215]

Outsmarted the brits, in other words. WW2 was a huge lesson for the brits convinced they where unbeatable, starting from the invasion of france where the expedition forces did close to zero to stop german advance ending up loosing all equipment at dunquerke and risking a disaster, at sea sending Hood (that was not only aged, but never seen a real fight before. it was impressive on paper and as a myth when circumnavigating the world presenting itself as the strongest ship on the globe) to intercept a modern design battleship/bbattlecruiser formation, realizing in Afrika that Shermans where not as good as they where supposed to be against same sized tanks and the story goes on for many other areas of the military. The battle of britain was lost without US equipment and pilots as was th e whole war for the brits.

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

@Robert O'Baggio - HAR! Good thing I wasn't slurping my ramen when I read "NOBODY EXPECTS THE GERMAN EXPEDITION!", or I'd be clearing noodles from my windpipe now. Your observation that Der Fuehrer dabbled in Pythonesque logic is spot on. The fact that it worked in the case of the Channel Dash was nonetheless (as Drach points out) strategic boneheadedness. At that point in the war, Germany would have fared better committing their limited resources to providing Admiral Dönitz with the U-boats he wanted. The Third Reich's reputation for invincibility was built on the flimsy foundation of early successes against nations with no stomach for war, who were in any case unprepared for the blitzkrieg. France or Britain could easily have shut Germany down when Hitler marched mostly unarmed troops into the Rhineland, but neither could bear to leave their comfort zone. The Wehrmacht high command was convinced the Rhineland move was suicidal, and were incredulous when Hitler got away with it. After that, they abdicated their strategic sense to Hitler, to their (and Germany's) ultimate detriment. To be sure, the Wehrmacht had great discipline, superior equipment, and brilliant tactical leadership among the general staff, but even when they didn't suck at strategy, they were overruled by Hitler. Der Fuehrer excelled when he was bullying outclassed Czechs and Poles; hence the apparent invincibility of Germany in 1940. But he was seriously deficient in reality-check genes, living out his Wagnerian fantasies aided and abetted by astrological idiocies. From a certain perspective, he ultimately proved to be the Allies' biggest ally.

[@milkapeismilky5464]

Quite right. Boney did the same thing and I never quite thought about it in this way. Napoleon's combined arms tactics, especially his famous use of massive attack columns was so devastating against all other European armies at places like Marengo, Borodino and Austerlitz. But then old trousers ran into the thin red line and got their asses handed to them.

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

"Hey a new friend" (EXPLOSIONS)

[@Deserthacker]

I wonder how many friends that cute little ball had had beforehand...

[@spookyshadowhawk6776]

@@Deserthacker Several Friends, but this was the first one she Banged!

[@Comnlink]

god the mines were one of my favourite parts

[@weldonwin]

The mines are adorable

[@nukclear2741]

@Titanic 86 So about that iceberg.

[@davidkueny2444]

"An operation made up purely of rolling natural 1's and 20's." I see you, too, are a man of culture.

[@Holuunderbeere]

Can't like, but nice.

[@NacnudPinky]

The fuhrer managed to temporarily circumvent his -3 wisdom by using it

[@yeetdragon1629]

@Duncan Lakin-Hall dude, but he had 13 on charisma man

[@glennricafrente58]

19:55 "There's so many down there we can't possibly miss them all." Narrator: They proceeded to miss them all.

[@Infernal460]

Pilot: Ok lads new plan. We saw nothing.

[@harrisonrawlinson4602]

Willing to call British bombing a ‘near war crime’ to slander the French cooking. I applaud you sir

[@shep9231]

LOL. Amen

[@hajoos.8360]

Of course, 3 times more Frenchies were killed in allied fire than from German shooting.

[@hajoos.8360]

@Marry Christmas Secession and Separation is no problem. The Chanal Islands in neighborhood, the Bretons should act and not talk.

[@hajoos.8360]

@uncletigger it was war .... what you would have done, if the British and French imperial & colonial fascists enforced the entire planet to attack you?

[@jameshamilton4327]

I have to point out that the only poor meal I have ever had in a French resteraunt was in one owned by a English man

[@danschneider9921]

Absolutely genius, Britsh sarcasm and humor explaining naval history. I particularly enjoyed the mines. Even as a full blood German, I found this funny and yet efficient.

[@WallyHays]

"Funny and yet efficient" might be the most stereotypical German phrase ever crafted.

[@j.chiari4222]

But Germans have such a sense of humor, it's difficult to believe you laughed

[@RayyMusik]

lnfo History Please do *not* underestimate the German sense of humour! I mean this dead seriously! ;) Really, I was laughing/grinning all the time.

[@weldonwin]

@@WallyHays German humor is no laughing matter

[@hajoos.8360]

I am German and i do not want to miss Drachifinel's comments on this vid combined with the german accent in english spoken comments. Reminds me to the fine yorkshire pronouncing of Sean Bean. Humor is emerging by an overblown reality. So it is difficult to laugh about lies. Test it, can you laugh about the german evil empire? No? You see.

[@Northweasterner]

NOT THE BAKERY!

[@Deevo037]

Makes up for the time the Germans hit the Bakery on the Warspite at Jutland.

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

Great no cake :(

[@Deevo037]

@@USSAnimeNCC- Well, in the video on the Warspite he said there was a signalman knocked out by a high speed loaf of bread and woke up thinking the Germans were firing bread loaves at them.

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

@@Deevo037 XD

[@conroypaw]

(sigh) The Germans do love their bread.

[@falloutghoul1]

I wonder if Maximilian von Spee would've either been proud, confused, or face-palming at seeing this incarnation of Scharnhorst and Gneisenau actually making it back home.

[@benlaskowski357]

He likely would have shaken his head with a disbelieving smile.

[@christianoutlaw]

Or hurling binoculars over the side ... oops wrong officer :D

[@benlaskowski357]

@@christianoutlaw And wrong navy😋

[@jiyuhong5853]

@@christianoutlaw Russian Imperial navy

[@connormclernon26]

@@benlaskowski357”do you see torpedo boats?”

[@csours]

A moment of silence for the sauerkraut.

[@MisterW0lfe]

F

[@lupus67remus7]

@@MisterW0lfe XD

[@oliversmith9200]

There were some sour Krauts, but, in this case the Brits were left with nothing but fish and chips.

[@steve1978ger]

Those devious Brits!

[@hajoos.8360]

With Sauerkraut Captain Cook saved his crews on his exaggerated journeys.

[@hanswurst2189]

saying the words "a insane, broken clock is right twice a day" as you show a picture of Smug Hitler... priceless. Subscribed.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

I think that describes him pretty well.

[@FS2K4Pilot]

That was actually a freeze frame from the same “Downfall” scene that all these Hitler meme videos use.

[@kimmoj2570]

@@FS2K4Pilot Where in here Downfall scenes? By the way, Luftwaffe should had dropped million or 2 leaflets of that smug faced mugshot of Hitler after operation, without comments. Yes, mines, withdrawall, Gneisenau...

[@bskorupk]

" The British on the other hand, had not been idle. Mad, and Suicidal sailing up the Channel may be... But, the British were not exactly strangers to making the Mad and Suicidal Work... And so they were prepared for such an attempt. " Anyone else thinking of Operation Crusader? :)

[@bskorupk]

@Harry Lagom I agree, that's a good place to think of it, however the British Military's characteristics are longstanding, and Operation Crusader happens to be one that ticks all of the boxes of when things go so wrong that they go right, on account of both sides making assumptions of the other side's character, capabilities, and intentions, until they get fed up with all of the mutual failures, and go against their own better judgement, just in time for that better judgement to become practicable! :)

[@spookyshadowhawk6776]

I was thinking of the epic journey of the Cambeltown. Definitely Mad and Suicidal.

[@seawolf4846]

@@spookyshadowhawk6776 Oh yeah, undoubtedly! Operation Chariot

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

The British Commandos truly were a wild bunch

[@ToastytheG]

"Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake"

[@Captain_Tumbleweed]

Everytime I hear the word 'mine', those bloody seagulls from Finding Nemo come to mind ;) Mine, mine, mine

[@Ensign_Nemo]

Bah, humbug, Daffy Duck makes those seagulls look like Johnny-Come-Latelys. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3vOd3mertKLpa8

[@limeychefboy]

Me too:)

[@moss8448]

or Daffy Duck....mine mine mine

[@pyroromancer]

i always thought it was "m8" because Australian seagulls

[@user-mp3eq6ir5b]

Then the Post-Mine Inferno "Bloop!" & the other Seagull looks over & says "Nice" then flies off.

[@samuel5916]

Ah the Scharnhorst class, most successful minesweepers in naval history.

[@MartinWillett]

I loved the mines. Sometimes a video is worth playing even if you're not that interested in the content - if the creator cares and it sounds good. These videos are entertaining as well as informative. Don't try any harder to be entertaining, don't dumb down, but keep on a similar level of historical accuracy and a little leaven of humour. And your voices are your greatest asset. David Attenborough wouldn't be a national treasure if he sounded like Ken Livingstone.

[@3vimages471]

You`re the sage of KZbin.

[@murksdoc]

@@3vimages471 The background voices are the best. The Scharnhorst commander says (in deep Bavarian accent):"I thought we have mine sweepers. What are they doing all day, these heavy drinking white sausage exudate popsicle suckers!". BTW: The Suetterlin inscription of Silex`photo says: "Silex. Vice admiral. Commander of the line ships"

[@NacnudPinky]

They are like the mine tortoise. “Hello” *boom*

[@scottbrown1839]

Oh yeah! I loved the mines.

[@willrogers3793]

I’m getting this ludicrous mental image of, after every unsuccessful attempt to sink her, some RAF pilot leaning out the cockpit while shaking his fist and screaming “I’LL GET YOU NEXT TIME, GNEISENAU!!” in a Doctor Claw voice. Either that, or “ANOTHER TIME, HIGHLANDER!!”

[@WannabeWRX]

As long as we get Mad Cat meowing after that, it's good.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

I read that in a Skeletor voice.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

"Curse you, Wet Baron!" as Snoopy flies away in his Sopwith Camel doghouse.

[@rogerhwerner6997]

This 'battle' surely represents the classic clusterfuck. Amazing performance and hysterically amusing presentation! Ultimately, the only viable way for the British to have prevented a 1942 channel dash would have involved the Royal Navy. It is Astonishing no one was able to figure this out.

[@watcherzero5256]

I think they did, they planned to set out as soon as they got wind. They couldn't remain at the ready in the channel as the ships would be at the total mercy of the Luftwaffe in 1942, they had to be further away in safe anchorages.

[@rogerhwerner6997]

@@watcherzero5256 that was indeed the justification, probably valid. However, in 1940 Britain and the US labored under the notion that heavy bombers could be effective against moving ships, while subsequent history proves that they were not. The Luftwaffe had a spotty history attacking ships at sea, so there actual threat may have been overstated. Attacking ships is highly specialized. Which is why the US, UK, and Japan developed naval aviation. The Germans did attack the RN in Norway with some success and of course the RAF sank the battleship Tirpitz with heavy bombers but it was at anchor.

[@watcherzero5256]

They did score hits however and the RAF activities in Norway proved that you could at a minimum disable ships with heavy bombers even in anchorages heavily protected by terrain, torpedo nets and AA emplacements. The main reason it was more risky in the Channel however was the short flight time meaning longer over the target and ability to relaunch for a second or even third strike throughout the day as well as perfect intelligence (shore observer can see the ships, whereas in the open seas valuable time would be lost hunting) finally in the narrow confines of a straight ships would have less room for manoeuvre and escape (and was demonstrated during numerous battles in straits in the Pacific).

[@hajoos.8360]

Drachinfinel's en passant-analysis is correct. The strategic mistake of the German high command was not to use the ships for the purpose they were built for. Better to sink in battle than by a bomber raid.

[@Athrun82]

@@hajoos.8360 That sounds a lot like the Imperial German Navy of World War 1: "We have this big an wonderful fleet. Why don't we use it?" "But they could be lost in battle!" "Uhmm"

[@grahvis]

The radio officer on one of the MTBs went up on deck to tell the commander the radio was kaput. All hell had broken out and the commander told him to just get a gun. He said he just picked up a rifle and pointed it at the Scharnhorst.

[@hmsrenown7801]

Plot twist: They get close enough to where the rifle is actually effective, and a stray rifle bullet hits a torpedo, and that torpedo exploding causing a chain reaction that explodes on one of the battle crusiers.

[@jordansayas3957]

RIP those brave sea mines who wanted to make friends.

[@drcovell]

Give those “Lady Mines” a medal-WWII version of female “Suicide bombers”! When the Japanese invaded the Korean Peninsula in the *Imjin War* Korea’s elites were hopeless ditherers. One of Korea’s most famous heroines is “Non Gae,” a “Low class” entertainer who was commanded to dance for a Japanese general. As she danced more and more seductively, she lured the general towards the balcony. Then she opened her arms to him, embraced him, and then threw him and herself to their deaths below. The female is *always* the deadlier of the species, as demonstrated by *Lady Mine* and *Non Gae* above. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@MarcStjames-rq1dm]

The Scharnhorst proves that no matter how 'lucky' a ship of war is, and She was a very fortunate ship indeed, that luck does run out and that should not take anything away from the Scharnhorst's very Able Crew and recognizing the courage they displayed on the Scharnhorst. Also, with Her Atlantic bow She was beautiful...for a warship. Perhaps my favourite.

[@testtestesen9702]

Agree

[@koivis87]

30:10 that is the cutest mine i've ever heard

[@sciencetube4574]

"Do you see those Swordfish? I don't want to." lol best quote

[@jedimasterdraco6950]

"Ja, because a Spitfire can sink me, obviously."

[@nokokusovai4415]

"It's nice and sunny up here. Round and round in circles we go, God... I hope I dont get dizzy." I seriously lost it at these bits, amazing work.

[@TheNinjaDC]

"Flack batteries. Do you see those Swordfish? I don't want to!" 🤣

[@jamessquires7662]

Flak*

[@HMSConqueror]

that was said by admiral lutjens, right? Oh wait. Bismarck got sunk by the Royal Navy.

[@hajoos.8360]

@@HMSConqueror Lütjens was a british human mine.

[@youraveragescotsman7119]

The Germans see the Swordfish: *Get that thing the hell away from me. I don't wanna get Bismarck'd.*

[@VRichardsn]

Time stamp for the curious: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3-oYXahiNiZgMU

[@austin2407]

i lost it at Hitler's 11th dimensional thinking hahaha

[@hajoos.8360]

Oh, Hitler could not believe that someone is stupid and able to do the same existential mistake a second time.

[@neilwilson5785]

I'm sure it's a mistake, but that logo looks a bit alt-right..

[@hajoos.8360]

@@neilwilson5785 to achieve this we need a picture of Obama.

[@anthonychojvang]

@@neilwilson5785 it's the emblem of the second ss panzer division. So you're right...

[@mikecimerian6913]

Number of dimensions required to imagine a bridge to another continuum. Two four dimensions continuum required three more dimensions to account for the tunnel. Besides Germans invented Fanta soft drinks. They must have gotten this from some place.

[@Green-hd9cb]

I like the fact that HMS Walpole was attackt by britisch bommers rescued and defended by german fighters. Wenn everbody realized their mistakes and left.

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

XD

[@rudolfschrenk9411]

There is a story (unconfirmed) that when asked why his AA did not open fire on the german fighters the captain replied. >It would not have been polite, considering they just saved us and there could have been more british bombers coming.

[@mwnciboo]

Errr...errr....errr...Lets all just walk away like nothing happened.

[@stephen5857]

Can I get a time stamp for that

[@Ioan_Iorgu]

Where can I read more about this funny story?

[@leeboy26]

'The British were watching Brest like hawks'. Well, that's the Navy for you...

[@morganrobinson8042]

Not what you usually hear about the Navy, if you know what I mean.

[@raymondhertz1476]

During the Civil War a Confederate unit had taken a Union town. As the Confederates were marching in, one of the spectators, a young woman, was wearing a blouse made from an American flag. A Confederate officer said to her, "Take care madam. My men are accustomed to assaulting breastworks when the enemy's colors are upon them."

[@invadegreece9281]

@@raymondhertz1476 lol

[@hawkticus_history_corner]

I can just hear the Scharnhorst's crew now. '"Ah, finally safe and away from those damn bombe-" "*Britishness intensifies* "OH COME ON!!"

[@brockpaine]

Randomly started watching this while I ate lunch at work, and had to squash my nearly constant laughter. Enjoyable enough that I subscribed! Keep up the good work. ☺

[@antonymitchell3385]

I love the mine!

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

Their the best part they had me dying

[@pffear]

My God, it sounded like a short of the Keystone Cops in Hudson's Bay...... But both sides had such operations.... Let's us know how the term "SNAFU" came about....😄 "Situation--Normal All--Fucked--Up".... (Fouled--Up) when in mixed company.....😄 The running joke in Land Navigation Class was about the major victory our side had that was due to a 2nd Lt. who guided his unit in a surprise attack at the enemy's rear, wiping out a far larger force saving the entire battle from defeat...... The enemy's intel was so good, they knew our entire battle plan..... The who at where with what and when, to the last detail..... But for the one shave tailed 2nd Lt. who got himself and his unit so lost that they appeared in the one place the enemy knew they couldn't be and captured their High Command by accident...... Hence the old saying, "The most dangerous thing in the ARMY is a 2nd Lt. With a map and a Compass." 😄

[@CiaranMaxwell]

I heard a story from a retired corporal once. The company had landed less than 500 feet from their destination, but the lieutenant (yes, it was a 2LT) couldn't read a map and had them march a mile and a half the wrong way. After thinking, "Our pilots aren't _this_ incompetent," he demanded of the LT, "Let me see that map." Cpl: _studies map for a few seconds_ "You're an asshole, Sir. We'd landed half a block away!" 2LT: _takes back the map_ "I'm reporting you for insubordination, _Corporal."_ Cpl: "Go right ahead, Lieutenant Asshole, Sir. The captain likes me."

[@Napalmratte]

One of the big LOLs in WW II history ^^ Everything that should not work worked and planning on german side payd off? What is this?

[@jakobrinsdorf7791]

Dein schnelles Bayerisch bei 33:56 , einfach göttlich ^^

[@virusguy5611]

Madness. It’s madness. Madness and a lot of stupidity on the British side

[@Napalmratte]

@HiWetcam that is not the point - obviously. Don't you think the situation was hilarious?

[@admiralscheer5325]

@HiWetcam with all due respect, its a you laugh or you cry situation. And considering the complete insanity that was the plan, and the constant issues the British had. Its just one of those times when nothing went as it should.

[@lupus67remus7]

@HiWetcam it's the sort of situation that can easily become comical, yes! (If you're not too stuck up in your life, that is!) Besides, comedy is a coping mechanism that stems from tragic situations, so I really don't see why one can't laugh at these wartime screwups!!! I'm pretty sure the pilots that died during the raids on the battleships would also (in true British manner) have a chortle, sitting on their cloud up above, and marveling at how everything that could have gone wrong, did! If you can't appreciate that kind of humor then buzz off and spread your salt elsewhere... You're clearly in the wrong place!!!

[@spookyshadowhawk6776]

This Version of the Channel Dash was a dash Spicer than any I've heard! No one thought the German Navy would be Mad enough to go up the Channel in daylight! Knowing Hitler, they should have expected this. Extremely Hilarious!

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

In hindsight the crazy and unrealistic decisions of bad judgement should be expected with that guy. The kind of person that can win in Civilization when he is 3 technological steps and 2 orders of magnitude of population and troops ahead of the rest but instantly makes all the wrong decisions despite having the best advisors in the world once he hits even the smallest resistance.

[@GeneralKenobiSIYE]

"It's really quiet out here. Where did everybody go?" *sound of wind blowing* Hahahaha! My favorite line.

[@DisSabot]

33:58 Accurate representation of the Brest repair and Gneisenau's crew during the ship's stay at France

[@christophpoll784]

At "Die saufen doch Öttinger!" i was bursting out. Napalmrattes Bavarian accent and cursing combined with that situation and the case that "Öttinger" is not a good beer at all... pure gold!

[@TheTrainChasingPoet1999]

"Over here, you half-blinded fool in a Messerschmitt! Now they're getting away! Goering would give any idiot the keys to an airplane these days." I'm done. I'm done. That's it, I'm done. I almost choked on my own spit as I was laughing. Good game, Drachinifel.

[@davidvonkettering204]

NOW IT IS OFFICIAL: Drachinifel, You are a HOOT. Happy New Year Love, David

[@Stormcrow180]

"Flak batteries do you see zose swordfish? I don't want to!"

[@janvandestraat]

I didn't know about this daring operation for a long time... Until 10 years ago. Then we got Admiral Ciliax's grandson, Fregattenkapitän (OF-4 | Commander) Christoph Otto Ciliax (now Kapitan zur See | OF-5 | Captain), as squadron commander. Due to my work on the staff and a temporary assignment in the commander's antechamber, I then found out about this operation in personal conversations. Thank you for your many great videos!

[@raphaelmendez8072]

"It's so cold and lonely down here...Oooh, a thing! HELLO THERE!!!

[@Aviationlord7742]

My new favourite KZbin Channel, keep up the excellent work

[@Captain_Tumbleweed]

Kinda curious what your old favorite KZbin Channel was ;)

[@HaydenLau.]

The sea mines are very cute

[@drewthompson7457]

the mines looked cold though.

[@Shojikitsune1]

@@drewthompson7457 They just needed a friend to hug!

[@thepizzapalsroleplay2815]

Very cute, until they scatter themselves across you ship

[@sllevy]

The most hilarious documentary I've ever seen. "I'm a lonely mine. Oh, Hello...."

[@gusbailey68]

Gracious, I do love your dry British wit. "...near war crime..." of blowing up the bakery.

[@vindobonaification]

Hard to decide what's more entertaining: your Channel Dash video or The Voyage of the Russian 2nd Pacific Squadron. Love your work.

[@the4seasons4ever]

They are among my two favorites good call.

[@jeffreystroman2811]

The comments make it clear, an adorable girls voice can make anything lovable. Seems a half-hour of mines talking to themselves is an acceptable spin-off episode.

[@lars7935]

"Relaxing WW2 heavy explosive ASMR"?

[@jeffreystroman2811]

Lars well there's that, I'd settle for the good ole relaxing small gunfire sound punctuated occasionally with a mid sized explosion so you know everyone is ok. I was a hayride driver last fall and a city slickers wife seemed concerned about the gunfire coming over the pasture from the field and steam. I said, "not to worry ma'am, that's just the sound of freedom letting us know everythings fine"

[@jamesbugbee6812]

Anyone get a feeling of comfortable appropriateness that the mines are female?

[@swift9417]

34:02 "Die saufen doch Oettinger" xD What an amazing vid Drachinifel ^^

[@seawolf4846]

What does that mean?

[@user-ol5lw3md3h]

@@seawolf4846 Oettinget is a beer that is said to be not that good. Therefore this means "They drink bad beer. (Well, that doesnt sound that nice) Drinking Oettinger is about as bad as drinking a small glass of warm beer mixed with carbonated water :-D

[@FS2K4Pilot]

I’d love to see a full translation of that whole German transmission.

[@ДжонПартлов]

I just found your channel last night and have been binge watching ever since. You seem very knowledgeable about the topic at hand and have a brilliant way of narrating which I find highly amusing. You sold me with the voyage of the Russian imperial second fleet. You now have another new subscriber at hand. Thank you for the wonderfully presented content!

[@darkhorse13golfgaming]

Why do I hear Benny Hill music.....?

[@Otokichi786]

It's Monty Python time on this otherwise "just the facts, ma'm" channel. Please turn up the volume! (Ask "Techmoan" for pointers, if necessary, on creating "excessive character" voices.;) And now back to the "Dieter Deutschland makes Tommy Atkins The Foole" Show. (This broadcast is brought to you by Der Furore cereal, full of leftovers, mystery snack bits, and Brazil nuts. Cover the mess with Jolt! cola.)

[@bskorupk]

@Harry Lagom Que the flock of Spitfires: "yeeeeesssss yeeeeesssss yeeeeesssss yeeeeesssss yeeeeesssss yeeeeesssss yeeeeesssss yeeeeesssss" (Italian plane explodes) Reference: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJvLZHSjramNjNk

[@kieranh2005]

Sometimes the truth is funnier than fiction...

[@rahbaralhaq]

Damm, poor Gneisenau can't catch a break.

[@gregorybrewer6776]

I love this video to the level where every now and then I have to come back to it. Your sense of humor, narration and scripts are hard to beat! Well done mate :)

[@winfehler]

I’ve kept managed to keep my cool during the first two mine explosions, but the Scharnhorst’s reaction nearly killed me 😂 I think I’ll be sticking around - I like it here.

[@internetstrangerstrangerofweb]

I’ve learned so much naval history from this channel that I could instantly tell that this was a minesweeper and a Scharnhorst class just by spending a second staring at the thumbnail

[@stevenogborn5892]

By far your most humorous video I've seen. You crack at both sides of the conflict, and praise the heroes. Good stuff my man. Good stuff.

[@hotboygoody]

Replay value 10/10... I love the sarcasm and humor. I wish you could redo all your battle breakdowns/operations in such a format. Bravo sir 👏

[@T.S.Birkby]

How to win through British incompetence

[@Deevo037]

More a case of mutual incompetence.

[@jimmiller5600]

Rule of Strategy --- "never under-estimate your opponent's ability to make a mistake"

[@muttleyjones2]

I didn't notice you there doing any fighting. Maybe you should be grateful that someone else was.

[@hajoos.8360]

@@Deevo037 of course not. The whole war happened due to British stubborn incompetence.

[@zacharyzier314]

“Hey a new friend!” - Sea Mine (1942)

[@ELCADAROSA]

Trying to balance my checkbook on an otherwise boring Sunday evening ... Stumble upon Drach's "Channel Dash" episode ... Laughing to near tears at times so its hard to concentrate and push the correct buttons! Well done, sir! Well done!! :D

[@stephenmichalski2643]

As I like many..... love this story.......I saved watching it til today......expecting the usual prim and proper narration which makes......in my opinion......each and every one of your video's of the series classics......the interspersion of humorous voice and picture reenactment made this absolutely hysterical.....by the end I was laughing soooo hard.... with tears streaming from my eyes.....it just fit this incredibly ridiculous story so perfectly......I never thought you could do your video's any better.....then this......it was priceless!!!

[@sarjim4381]

Geex. It's 0400 here, I'm just getting ready to turn off the computer, and then this shows up. So much for sleep right now...

[@XXStoogieXX]

Same here. Soon as I see a new video by Drachinifel I know I need to go to bed.

[@bearsamoyed]

Also same. My sleep is already terrible another 40 mins couldn't hurt! Could it?

[@sarjim4381]

@@bearsamoyed Nah, we'll all sleep a long time when we're taking our inevitable dirt nap. Might as well learn about naval history now. :-)

[@DanielWW2]

This operation truly was Great Britain it's "you can't drive tanks threw the Ardennes". :P

[@muttleyjones2]

lucky arent you, to be living in freedom really?

[@leojablonski2309]

One of the best videos yet...absolutely loved the underwater mine conversation.

[@barrylucas505]

Forced to consist on french cooking, oh! the humanity! Love the channel, great format

[@hasmatiks]

Found many good channels in 2018, and I gotta say yours is probably the best out of em all! So happy new years and all that, heres to many more videos!

[@somecallmetim42]

That was really excellent, very interesting and highly entertaining too. Great channel, keep it up.

[@davidburton2229]

Good work Drach. Nice to vary things up and try out new ideas for delivering us our Warship-fix

[@pekkamakela2566]

I must perform my national duty and write: Suomi mainittu, torilla tavataan.

[@warrenrudkin5277]

It is amazing you were able to find recordings of all the radio traffic from both the British and the Germans. Well done

[@theokamis5865]

Room 40, Drach found hidden away, as the Royal Navy used that during WWII to communicate with their mines...but how did he get those recordings out of Whitehall without having his head put on the business end of a 3 metre pike?

[@WildBillCox13]

8:16 stunning photo of Brest with the two Scharnhorsts, Eugen; and a couple Halifaxes overhead.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

That is the very first time EVER on the internet that a sentence beginning "stunning photo of Brest" has ever ended with "with the two Scharnhorsts, Eugen; and a couple Halifaxes overhead".

[@21stcenturyjedi]

Very well done, sir! I applaud all the effort put into this video. I appreciate the attention to detail and the humorous conversations sprinkled throughout. My favorite part though? The typewriter sound as the dates and times are scrawled across the top. There's something about that combination that draws the viewer into the minute-by-minute drama of operations such as this one. I sincerely hope you keep this seemingly simple device in your future videos.

[@Drachinifel]

Definitely keeping it for all future battle reports where time stamp data is available.

[@RemoteViewr1]

The very best use of sarcasm and Hitler photos, EVER!!!! Couldnt stop laugjing, sorry you couldnt see me, howls of laughter!!! What a dufus. Oh hod, so funny.

[@testtestesen9702]

Nothing new under the sun 🌞

[@glennhydock6513]

Well done Sir, the peppering of sarcasm was perfect!

[@phoenix55755]

I love the presentation format. This was a great video The voice acting, and the pics along with them were priceless. You must do more specials like this. I can see why the normal videos can't be done this way. Thank you sir, I love your channel. I have learned a lot.

[@mirage3rd]

Even familiar with many of such operations, the videos are a pleasure to watch, filled with gems in context and details. Thank you

[@adamdubin1276]

There are times where I almost feel sorry for the German Officers who had to deal with Hitler's moments of... inspiration.

[@Straswa]

Great worl Drach! Loved the extra voices, especially the mines haha.

[@Tuning3434]

5/10 Not enough Squire drinking Tea and sporting a Webley sidearm....Yeeheesss

[@carriertaiyo2694]

The comedy made this worth watching one hundred times. Keep up the good work! :D

[@awesomeaustin531]

9:23 love that description.

[@mbryson2899]

BRAVO! A compelling and amusing retelling of the tale.

[@siestatime4638]

It's amazing how similar that scenic photo of Norway looks to Interlaken, Switzerland.

[@FlameDarkfire]

“I’m sure he was thrilled.” Your wit is sharper than a monomolecular blade.

[@matthewrobinson4323]

I know I say this frequently, but this is your best one yet that I've watched. I particularly loved the mines and the still from Hogan's Heroes. Wow...I thought WE screwed up at Pearl Harbor, but...🙄

[@stephenkayser3147]

As usual you are informative and initiative and instructive. Keep up the great work please.

[@mayer492]

Its so fun listening to you, people might find it boring but i find very very fun and educational (especially that i love history) Also i love you (no homo), take care of yourself i still want those historical narrations of yours. (lastly you voice is smooth af)

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

😒 just don't go, "thril up your leg" on us....

[@hotboygoody]

29:34 This took me out 🤣🤣🤣 Great Audio/Visual combo Drach.

[@danielgregg2530]

They should have named this, "Operation Clusterf---"

[@whiskeytangosierra6]

Had to watch this one yet again. The special effects provide a lot of entertainment.

[@Phrv199217]

"Die saufen doch Oettinger diese gottverdammten Weißwurschtwassersteckerleislutscher! ZEFIX!" That is quite a long german cussword, I love it.

[@peterkoch3777]

Noch nie gehört, aber muß ich mir merken! ZEFIX!😭 Never heard this one yet, i must remember it for later use!🤔 Mein längstes: Himmiherrgottsackzementnocheinmal!😱

[@KrillLiberator]

Excellent video as usual: You had me at Officer Crabtree. One of the Kriegsmarine's greatest missions, without a doubt. Incidentally, not only was Esmonde's one-way Swordfish mission a VC winning action, so was the torpedo attack on Gneisenau at Brest by the Beaufort crew. It seemed that, if you attacked the twins, you stood a good chance of; A) Dying, and; B) Winning the Victoria Cross... posthumously.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

How can a major strategic retreat be described as a 'great mission?'

[@rgrumman]

Fantastic! Thank you for this history class. Your videos about the ships are really good, and then you came up with this one. Best explanation of Cerberus i´ve ever seen... Congrats!! Funny as well... I´d like to ask you for guides regarding the Konigsberg/Nurnberg classes, if possible.

[@TheNemocharlie]

What I believe this story demonstrates best is the insanity of war. Well done, mate.

[@100dampf]

27:16 I was expecting to hear the german guns hitting the german fleet instead of the enemy. That would have been the cherry on the whole operation

[@the4seasons4ever]

Drac, when you said this was a lot of work you were not kidding thank you very much from Clearwater Florida!

[@laurynassedvydis320]

Please do some stuff about the naval mines. They are very cute

[@Hardcase_Kara]

Another fine upload can't wait for the next one.