The Last Stand of IJN Takao - Guns vs Godzilla (April 1st)

Today we take a look at the last stand of the IJN's cruiser force, this time against a giant radioactive lizard!
Sources:
Godzilla Minus One
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
Want to support the channel? - / drachinifel
Want to talk about ships? / discord
'Legionnaire' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@billynomates920]

have you seen the new film yet?

[@TheEDFLegacy]

RoastedOpinions asks: If Takao had managed to repair her fire directors before engaging Godzilla, would the standoff distance make a significant difference to the outcome?

[@keegantripp1245]

Do USS Walker DD-163 and her exploits in the Destroyermen Series of books.

[@danielgreen3723]

Where were the carriers? AirPower defeated King Kong so should have been the obvious choice.

[@Backroad_Junkie]

How many foia's did you have to submit to get all this information? 😁

[@ph89787]

And through all this, Yukikaze survives.

[@paulsteaven]

Ah yes, Yukikaze and her plot armor...

[@SudrianTales]

As soon as I saw her, I knew everyone would live

[@connormclernon26]

@@SudrianTalesand everyone else would die

[@SonOfAB_tch2ndClass]

*WAH HA HAH* NOT EVEN A GOD CAN SINK YUKIKAZE-SAMA NANODAH!

[@firstcynic92]

Because of the skill of Captain Taylor and the valiant crew.

[@gerald5344]

The crew of HMS Thunder Child, perched among the immortals, were no doubt watching and cheering on the valiant Takao in its last fight.

[@marvindebot3264]

You beat me to it, sir.

[@warhawk4494]

They then welcomed them to join them in eternity and bask in the immortals jubilation and praise for a jolly good fight.

[@pedrolopez8057]

the crew of the Takao will know no shame in the halls of their fathers.

[@PTillA-kf7rq]

SATNDING FIRM BETWEEN THEM THERE LAY THUNDERCHILD.

[@airplanemaster1]

Takao, after earning a Detonation medal: "Phew... is it over...?" Thunderchild: "You did good kid, did real good."

[@alanansara2190]

How can you tell you’re a naval history nerd? When you’re watching Godzilla -1 and thinking, “Wow, they did a really good job on the IJN ship models!”

[@brianhampson4326]

That was me, I was so excited to see her so accurately re created

[@stay_at_home_astronaut]

Same for the fishing boats

[@MrKatzinski]

Godzilla is cool ... japanese ww2 ships are cool ... both together are even cooler ... you are just too narrow minded to see that ... poor idiot ...

[@winddings351]

Pretty sure the production team also created a replica of the Japanese experimental interceptor. I believe it is currently displayed at a museum in Tokyo.

[@atibadrayton8246]

​@@winddings351 yeah the J7W Shinden. I got way too hyped when it showed up

[@Thirdbase9]

Godzilla: Minus One was almost documentary material. Perhaps the most accurate historical movie ever made.

[@Somewhat-Evil]

Most accurate "historical science-fiction" movie, but aside from that dropped-word-typo I agree whole heartedly. 😁

[@Thirdbase9]

@@Somewhat-Evil Drachinifel is an historiographer, he wouldn't make stuff up. Therefore it's the most accurate historical movie. 😁

[@nursestoyland]

Takao was decommissioned in 1946, but I can forgive the film director for that

[@Plengwing]

What a crazy incident. Someone should make a movie out of this!

[@TheEDFLegacy]

I know! We should name it after the creature!

[@ZaHandle]

Add “minus one” to honor the Takao

[@chijohnaok]

I believe that there have been numerous *documentaries* made regarding this creature. Unlike most documentaries, many of these were box office successes.

[@paulthewall4764]

I already read the book…

[@eyerollthereforeiam1709]

It could be a pretty good movie. To be serious, it was a very good movie! Vastly better than the trash Hollywood has been outputting, and apparently about 1/10th the budget.

[@2859Harry]

Drach being able to maintain a calm voice, almost as if he was perfectly aligned as a robot during this is perfect. I'd spent about half my time trying to record something like this giggling

[@richardthomas5362]

It is his deadpan delivery, the standard pacing, and battle descriptions unchanged from serious battles, that make this really good.

[@alexandermonro6768]

So how many re-takes after a corpsing, Drach? :) Excellent presentation!

[@bachmannmanuel1562]

same here. 😂 drack really killed the 1. April joke here😂

[@michaelstanet7453]

I was impressed how much the film looked into what Imperial Japanese Navy vessels were left after the war and would be available. They could have easily just made up a ship or use the Yamato or Musashi and ignore that they were lost in the war. The Yamato of course was sunk in the suicidal Operational Ten-Go on April 7th 1945. It therefore was unable to fight Godzilla in 1947, but it is slated to be turned into a space battleship in the year 2199 in response to the Gamilas Crisis.

[@lastswordfighter]

Yamato was sunk by Godzilla's cousin Reigo.

[@carlcramer9269]

Yamato was preserved to be re-furbished as a spaceship much later.

[@VirgoShelter]

Kind of sad it wasn't Nagato as she was used in Operation Crossroads and would been a neat reference

[@adventuresinmodelrailroading]

​@@lastswordfighter That was a B- movie and a half.

[@NebLleb]

Sarabaa chikyuu yo Tabidatsu fune wa Uchuu Senkan YAAAMAAAATOOOOOOO~

[@NutjobGTO]

My grandfather was stationed overseas, after the war. .he'd tell us endless stories of fighting across the islands. But if anyone ever mentioned that damned lizard? All he could do is cry quietly for a while, then go take a nap for the rest of the day.

[@Pyrus425]

This scene was the height of cinema for me. Need more navy vs giant monster movies

[@Braindamagedpotato]

Des Moines and Salem vs Big bad evil sea monsters

[@KyriosMirage]

Check out Reigo King of the Sea Monsters. Yamato's task force fights a kaiju.

[@crazypetec-130fe7]

Has Drach done the movie Battleship yet?

[@clmk28]

I loved every second of it!

[@mogaman28]

I cheered like a brat when Takao appeared on screen!!!

[@aztec0112]

A moment of silence for the brave turret crews who slewed the guns and near slew the beast himself. Thanks Drach, for shedding light on this under sung moment in history.

[@BleedingUranium]

It's something I really appreciated about the film; the battle is presented as an essentially known outcome, especially with that wonderful music, but they don't make the human side feel weak. Takao's guns pack a punch, and the ship manages to knock Godzilla back and underwater not once but twice, and in a visual/sound/physics sense the guns look and feel impressive, knocking the creature around and such. Ditto for the mechanics' rifles in the opening; they could have easily made them feel like weak peashooters, but no, they did the opposite and gave them blinding muzzle flash and really sharp, aggressive gunshots. Instead of the humans feeling weak, it feels like they really did do their best, and Godzilla was simply more powerful. It's a crucial difference.

[@bairdrew]

Mighty were the dead, and meet was their ending!

[@SPR-Ninja]

"Though previously our enemies, the crew of Takao showed dedication to their duty in the utmost. Should death in combat come, I pray I face it with the same courage and dedication as the crew of Takao." - Adm Chester Nimitz

[@bagoquarks]

Parts. It's all about the spare parts! How is it that Godzilla had adequate logistical support while IJN Takao shriveled on the vine? Tactics. It's also about the tactics! Circling the creature with loudspeakers blaring, "King Kong says you're a sissy!" gives away the advantage of surprise.

[@RoughNek72]

😆 🤣 😂

[@paulsteaven]

Takao might have missed the Battle of Leyte Gulf, but she did a glorious fight against a God.

[@jarigustafsson7620]

Why be a cruiser when you can be a God.

[@GaryJones69420]

What is a Cruiser to a God. And what is a God to a non-believerrrr

[@russkatherealoriginal6904]

You can be the Des moines.

[@sumotony]

As an Azur Lane Player, our cruisers protect us from the Gods! (timeline loops of shipgirls who have fallen to mindbreak)

[@1968Greybill]

Well done, sir. My 15yr son loved it! He loves Godzilla. We both enjoyed it together.

[@crazypetec-130fe7]

"Why does God need a cruiser?"

[@MarcusAgrippa390]

Godzilla was asked during an interview shortly after the incident why he had attacked and he responded by stating; "I thought it was a torpedo boat"

[@Based_Lord_Humongous]

It was then that we realized Godzilla was not infact a radioactive mutant lizard, but actually the Kamchatka!

[@PTillA-kf7rq]

The Crew of the Kamchatka responds," TORPEDO BOATS FIRE!" and the whole Russian navy proceeds to fire EVERY gun they got towards Godzilla, and manage to hit a passing fishing boat, While Godzilla was fine, having every shot miss him leaving him to wonder "Should I get mad at them for trying to shoot at me or because destroying Japanese fishing boats is my job"? After several minutes of internal debate Godzilla promptly left the area feeling embarrassed for the Russian navy, which later on was completely sunk by a Japanese minesweeper.

[@cerealata9035]

Goddamn it, Kamchatka!

[@RoughNek72]

😆 🤣 😂

[@howardmaryon]

Gold, pure gold

[@huskergator9479]

“And then Godzilla was sold for scrap.”

[@andrewfanner2245]

Drach being a widely respected and followed naval commentator this is of course fully factual. Any parts you can not accept as fact are therefore your own problem and I suggest you lay off the Scruttocks Old Dirigible for a bit.

[@TheEDFLegacy]

The Imperial Inquisition has a similar opinion on his coverage of the Emperor Class Battleship. By the Emperor's will.

[@charlespfaff6585]

My favorite brand to color with green food dye and keep in an after shave bottle in my locker.

[@bartsanders1553]

We really need to talk about the sheer neglect of not installing Turboencabulators to modernize warships of this era.

[@russellmz]

it's like when the Intel Report did a video f-14s vs mig-28s : a danger zone in the Indian Ocean a couple years ago

[@knutdergroe9757]

That hidden bottle of single malt, Does not count; Right ?

[@cartmann94]

“Go ahead and Destroy the financial district, Godzilla! Make the people happy.”

[@nickthompson9697]

Based Godzilla.

[@The_Lone_Aesir]

Tbh I loved that ginza got fragged its my least liked part of tokyo.

[@DIEGhostfish]

People apparently reallt cheered when the Tokyo metropolitan building got destroyed in thr Heisei or Millenium era films

[@jamessimms415]

Ever notice how many times, Tokyo underwent Urban Renewal?

[@elbolainas4174]

​@@jamessimms415I knew they were hiding something! What's next is getting more info on the state of EVA's development

[@rickmartin7596]

7:27 "...and very angry." This line delivery by itself deserves a like.

[@carebear8762]

The turrets slewing around, even in Godzilla's grasp with the ship at an impossible angle. I had to explain to my nephew why I teared up in the theater. Just how goddamn noble and courageous it was.

[@marklupus]

The valiant crew of the Takao shall live forever in the annals of naval history.

[@LukeBunyip]

We owe a debt of gratitude to Drach for his commemoration of this event.

[@samp9539]

Disgraceful! Not a word about the Kamchatka's role in this engagement.

[@snake57]

History will remember the name Takao.

[@WTFisTingispingis]

Brave men, all of 'em. They were willing to take on a monster more or less unarmed. And they _won._

[@RolfHartmann]

They performed small miracles in getting their ship in order and underway despite the previous damage. Its too bad they could not have been fully operational for their final battle.

[@jaydeister9305]

"it was murder out there!" "lives hung in the balance!" "someone stole my coffee!"

[@paulbriggs3072]

There's a sale at Penney's!

[@WalterReimer]

@@paulbriggs3072 LMAO

[@mrwdpkr5851]

Sir ! The press is here ! " Get my hairdresser , QUICK ! "

[@The_Laughing_Cavalier]

If only the Kamchatka were alive, she would have sighted multiple torpedo boats and driven Godzilla mad.

[@thisoldgoat3927]

Not to mention the copious amounts of binoculars thrown overboard.

[@823gth2]

I’m Japanese. I believe one of the advantages of Godzilla minus one is creating the mixture of the truth and fiction exquisitely like magic. According to Takashi Yamazaki, he set the story in 1947, because he wanted to use Takao in the movie. In fact, she was scuttled in 1946. He believes that they forgive him for the one year difference. He loves Imperial military things and you can see them in his past movies. His art members fly around Japan to find or get military documents to create accurate ones. It was so accurate and well made, and the memorial hall in Fukuoka ,which real Shinden were developed, bought it after they created life-sized Shinden and used it in the movie.

[@CStone-xn4oy]

"Godzilla was very angry." I think that is Godzilla's default emotion. Rage, power, and destruction incarnate. Thanks for making this April 1st video based in part on Godzilla Minus One.

[@dave_h_8742]

Good point as i thought it was the 2nd

[@jonathanlong6987]

Nay! Truly angered unto wrath that seeks the destruction of one’s assailants. This borne out the 1st hand documentation of this incident.

[@danielhornung21]

every day when he wakes up, Godzilla chooses Violence

[@fabianzimmermann5495]

The Japanese really should have seen the result of this fight coming, considering that one of the re-activated destroyers was the Yukikaze. Still, hats off to the brave sailors aboard the Takao, facing an enemy nobody fully understood and fighting to the bitter end.

[@jamison4091]

as someone who seen this battle first hand, it was incredible. Second only to the great naval battle off Hawaii when the Missouri heroically battled against an alien warship.

[@ELCADAROSA]

No ... as a USN retiree, I'd rate Battleship the worst military-themed movie ... ever. I'd put a Godzilla vs. IJN battle over that garbage-rated movie any day.

[@schaferhundschmidt1798]

Or the Nimitz off Hawaii on the morning of 7 Dec 1941........

[@issacfoster1113]

​Old guys ruin things as Always​@@ELCADAROSA

[@Shadooe]

At least CPO Ryback prevented the stealing of Mo's nuclear Tomahawks, as featured in the documentary "Under Siege."

[@jamison4091]

@@Shadooe this is true. His recapturing of the ship ensured that it wasn’t destroyed. By doing that he unknowingly aided in the defense of Earth. A true hero.

[@christianfarwig6701]

Thanks for honoring the valiant last stand of Takao, sacrificing their ship to protect all of humanity. A tale long due to be told

[@g3d2dgaming91]

One of the most important engagements to have ever happened, the death of the imperial Japanese Navy to Godzilla

[@icetea1455]

yamato would have been more than a match for godzilla if ts still around.

[@steveweinberg462]

@@icetea1455 But if Yamato had survived for this fight it would not be available in 2199 for its decisive role.

[@icetea1455]

​@@steveweinberg462yes it would be beyond repair but it did its purpose and the radioactive lizard either dies or suffers a coma for decades with 18inch shells holes.

[@charlieb308]

Godzilla minus one is a must watch movie

[@cwulfe1]

So is Godzilla Minus 1 Minus Color.

[@charlieb308]

@@cwulfe1 yes, brand new movie, a remake of first Godzilla. Its amazing

[@stefanlaskowski6660]

Best film I watched last year.

[@mahbriggs]

Too bad it is going to be a while before it is released on DVD or for streaming! 😢 I'm glad I saw it when I did! It's easily the best movie I watched last year!

[@BleedingUranium]

Easily one of my all-time favourite films, and I'd never seen a Godzilla film before. It's a wonderfully human story about rebuilding after a horrible war, has cool, well-modelled, and historically appropriate military vehicles, and also has a giant lizard to fight.

[@captwrecked]

Honestly, THIS was WAY more entertaining than trying to watch Godzilla and Kong have a boxing match on a Nimitz Class Flight deck.

[@user-sh8cl3it2m]

Godzilla -1 was a much better movies than the big budget "Monarch" monster movies.

[@KyriosMirage]

In a Call of Cthulhu game I ran several years ago, Takao had secretly been handed over to a NGO, and was used to monitor R'lyeh. She got to participate in the final fight, and even survived.

[@davidbrennan660]

I do hope they used Shoggoth Material as a power source…..( It will get out and destroy your civilisation).

[@KyriosMirage]

@@davidbrennan660 I wish I'd thought of that! IIRC, they converted her to nuclear in the 60s. And an Aegis system in the 80s...

[@fearthehoneybadger]

Now, why didn't the Navy shell King Kong when he was well within range and, instead, buzz him with puny, stop-motion biplanes?

[@MsZeeZed]

That was (probably) at Howard Hughes’ intervention.

[@merafirewing6591]

Because King Kong is in a city full of people.

[@cartmann94]

They certainly used ballistic missiles when that Impostor Godzilla appeared in 1998. Smh.

[@Rammstein0963.]

Alternate Godzilla, my friend.

[@gokbay3057]

I imagine USN did not feel like shelling Manhattan.

[@thehandoftheking3314]

I think Drach's April Fool's videos are an annual highlight now.

[@maskoh6393]

I'm always impressed how many intriguing stories about naval history there still are to be told in the time period this channel covers. Though I had never heard of this particular engagement, it seems like a must for students of naval history to read up about.

[@bugwar5545]

I for one, would love to see the footage of the battles between the Nautilus and the austro-hungarian navy at the turn of the century.

[@alanr5601]

During the brief respite after the IJN Takao, the Japanese were able to raise the hulk of the IJN Yamato converting her into the Space Battleship Yamato, which helps to protect the nation. Do not underestimate the industriousness of any nation under threat from a radioactive reptile! Brave and courageous reporting, Drach, on this greatly overlooked chapter at the end of the Pacific War!!😂

[@xeroheklaz3882]

As a Commander Shikikan from a certain timeline, It sadden me the fate of takao in minus one.

[@americankid7782]

I forgot that today is April Fools Day and forgot to read the full Title. Imagine my confusion when I was suddenly hearing about Godzilla running around post WW2

[@TheEDFLegacy]

It's hard to tell too because he's so good at deadpan. 😅

[@sergiojuanmembiela6223]

You should have realized immediately. Godzilla never attacked a ship until it was brainwashed by the KGB during the 80s.

[@brandonschwertley2723]

Hey you, you're finally awake......You're not making any sense. Pandemic? Ukraine War? Dude it's 1947 and Godzilla just blew up Tokyo. He's headed toward San Francisco now!

[@nastygollum]

For a few moments of the video I was awaiting for a ship nicknamed Godzilla or something.... Then remembered the date. Well done.

[@jamessimms415]

@@brandonschwertley2723. San Francisco already was attacked by a giant octopus in ‘It Came From Beneath The Sea’

[@vanguard9067]

The Chieftain really should offer up a part two of ground forces engaged in this surprisingly little remembered incident.

[@TheRandCrews]

Type 4 Chi-To tanks first combat engagement

[@Cadadadry]

He will. There's actually a project to fit The Chieftain into a long lance going to be fired from a torpedo launcher set up onto a wharf...

[@StevenPalmer-cs5ix]

Fortunately this just falls into the time period covered by this channel. Well played Drach and much appreciated.

[@rembrandt972ify]

Godzilla is never around when you really need him. -Dugout Dougie, 1942

[@jeffreyskoritowski4114]

The only thing bigger than Godzilla was MacArthur's ego. Imo, his hubris was way more destructive than the monster could be.

[@finoxb944]

I know this is April Fools, but kudos to the way you filled in the blanks for the movie on this one Drach, really fun to watch.

[@warroompainstate2661]

This video has now moved into the top 5 videos Drach has ever made. BTW…Godzilla minus 1 is a great movie.

[@MikeDavis-vu3jr]

Having watched the Godzilla documentary decades ago, this cleared up my burning question on how the TAKAO came to be part of the initial contact with Godzilla.....Thank You Drachinifel for a most enjoyable April 1 segment

[@davea4245]

Oh no, they say he's gotta go! Go go Godzilla.

[@marklupus]

Oh, no. There goes Tokyo, go, go, Godzilla!

[@paintnamer6403]

With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound he pulls the spitting high tension wires down.

[@Zapranoth-lf8nt]

Helpless people on subway trains scream, bug-eyed, as he looks in on them

[@dmdrosselmeyer]

History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men!

[@bentley4446]

He picks up a bus and he throws it back down As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town

[@Gunmahoro]

I called my relatives in Japan to warn them that Gojiro is on his way, Thanks for that news update.

[@papajohnloki]

This MUST be included in the blu ray/dvd release in the suplementary material. Brilliant- you have exceled yourself once again and kudos to good people who have commented today. Bravo!

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Saw this documentary and it was amazing! Even won an Oscar too

[@pawelszczurek863]

The best and most reliable presentation I've ever heard. Well done Sir.:)

[@LukeBunyip]

This is the product of exhaustive research

[@spikespa5208]

But the tongue is now permanently embedded in cheek.

[@nk_3332]

Thank you for explaining USN and RN involvement in this crisis. I know Japanese opinion at the time was that neither did anything to help, but it always bothered me that Takao's condition would have precluded her even being seaworthy, let alone battleworthy. US cash, the diligence of UK dockworkers and IJN bravery, an inspiring tale.

[@EricDaMAJ]

Props to the Japanese for the most original and smart plan to kill Godzilla ever devised.

[@BleedingUranium]

I enjoyed how "science-y" it was. Enveloping it in freon gas to prevent buoyancy, crushing it with increasing water pressure, and should that fail killing it though decompression by bringing it back up rapidly. And it respects the audience's intelligence by both explaining it clearly but also not dumbing it down.

[@Tech_Renegade]

It was such a treat to see the Takao, even if it wasn't exactly a fine showing for her. The whole class is probably the best looking cruiser design of the era.

[@mcnudde]

A very balanced, well-researched report on a lesser-known historical event.

[@RoastedOpinions]

If Takao had managed to repair her fire directors before engaging Godzilla, would the standoff distance make a significant difference to the outcome?

[@EstellammaSS]

Nah, G will just go underwater and there won’t be much the Takao can do

[@andrewsuryali8540]

The atomic breath would just come out sooner.

[@Godzilla00X]

Not likely but it would give the ship perhaps more time to escape. Godzilla would regenerate any wounds inflicted and the range of his atomic breath is likely farther than any navy weapon.

[@froobas]

The question you should be asking is, what if they'd found some reloads for Takao's torpedo launchers, and how the big G would've fared against a spread of Long Lances ...

[@jacobcave1587]

@@froobas I doubt the torpedoes could kill him considering he survived a naval mine exploding in his mouth They probably could have hurt him but probably not kill him

[@vrod665]

My six year old grandson / Godzilla expert loved the video - however I was informed that this fits into the narrative but isn’t an event that was recorded. And Godzilla would have been of a different type or generation in the ‘40s. Not my words - just conveying a message. Personally I loved it.

[@brandonschwertley2723]

I take it he didn't get to see Godzilla Minus One yet then.

[@Godzilla00X]

This event takes place in Godzilla Minus One. In this film, Godzilla appears almost immediately after WW2 in 1946. Traditionally, Godzilla appears in 1954 in most other movies. My grandparents always took me to rent classic Godzilla movies as a kid, your comment gave me a big smile

[@vrod665]

@@Godzilla00X most excellent. I am constantly getting a Godzilla education … and I like it.

[@BleedingUranium]

Awesome! It's a phenomenal film, and such a great choice for today, thanks for putting this together! One small potential "correction", if one looks closely in the bow-on shot, the forward starboard torpedo launcher can be seen swung out, so it seems the crew did at least try to make use of them. And I've posted it in a previous Drydock where the film came up, but here's a list of all the ships and other military vehicles featured in Minus One: * Takao, Takao-class heavy cruiser * Yukikaze, Kagerou-class destroyer * Hibiki, Akatsuki-class destroyer * Yuukaze, Minekaze-class destroyer * Keyaki, Matsu-class destroyer * Ikuno, Ukuru-class frigate * Katashima, Sokuten-class minelayer * several unnamed No.13-class subchasers * unnamed No.101-class landing ship * USS Redfish, Balao-class submarine (depicted using the real damage report from USS Tang) * USS Lancaster (described as a destroyer, but in reality was a cargo ship) * unnamed Liberty-class cargo ship * A6M5a Reisen fighter * J7W1 Shinden interceptor * several Chi-To medium tanks

[@rhedosaurus2251]

At least she put up a fight against Godzilla. North Carolina simply got sliced in half by his plates in Godzilla vs. Kong.

[@Augment_Failure]

Where was Carolina? I thought that was just an Arleigh-Burke with a pair of triple 16s tacked onto the bow.

[@rhedosaurus2251]

@@Augment_Failure The battleship Godzilla cut in two was the North Carolina. Official mechandise says so.

[@Godzilla00X]

Don't forget the aircraft carrier the two turned into a super smash bros stage

[@JGregory32]

Poor Takao, racing home to get the spares and supplies she needs to fight, only to find Godzilla menacing the two minesweepers. It must have crossed the Captains mind for a moment to just keep on course, abandon the mine sweepers and hunt Godzilla when Takao was fully repaired. But this Captain was tired of watching people die, and ordered a change of course.

[@robertharris7027]

Amazing. And totally understandable that this incident was kept as a secret up to now.

[@rickyfrax5602]

Looking frwd to "last charge of the yukikaze" vid, and how her curse was this time to everyone's benefit

[@greycatturtle7132]

😂😂😂

[@jacobcave1587]

What curse

[@TheRandCrews]

@@jacobcave1587Yukikaze had been in countless major naval engagements with it surviving with little to no damage compared to other Japanese destroyers

[@rickyfrax5602]

@@TheRandCrews and all the major capital ships she escorted had a tendency to have a sudden loss of buoyancy

[@jacobcave1587]

⁠@@rickyfrax5602loss of buoyancy . . . . . You mean sunk

[@vipertwenty249]

So that's what dug out the Marianas Trench. I had wondered.

[@istillusezune82]

THE WORLD WONDERS!

[@Colt45hatchback]

Thats the godzilla nest 😂

[@kelvinc]

This is all the important naval history that always gets glossed over in the movies!

[@martystrasinger3801]

Because all such are very USA-centric. If the US didn’t fight in a war then it didn’t happen. Just like WW2 started on Dec 7 1941.

[@michaelk19thcfan10]

Thank you Drach. Hopefully a future April 1 video will feature an analysis of the Edwardian Royal Navy fighting Martian Tripods from the 2019 BBC adaptation of “War of the Worlds”.

[@frednone]

He's already done a couple Thunderchild vids.

[@johnlowe37]

Hearing the whole setup (in particular all of the systems that weren't working and why) delivered in such a matter-of-fact manner immediately brought to mind Star Trek and the never-ending game of figuring out why the transporter/warp drive/phasers/sensors/deflectors/photon torpedoes/etc. couldn't be used THIS week. I'm surprised you didn't do this as a Five Minute Guide. A bunch more wholly accurate history before veering into fiction.

[@a_funyun]

This movie rekindled my interest in warships and has caused me to be on a several month long watching/listening spree to your videos, Drach, as well as dumping about 500 hours into world of warships since january I had forgotten why i suddenly got into this until this video, perfectly wrapping the cycle around. Neat!

[@phaasch]

Brilliant! Loved the deadpan delivery all through this. Our granddaughter, now 23, was known as Godzilla in her toddler stage, due to her uncanny ability to demolish her brothers model railway layout without apparently even noticing, or to the howls of fury which followed these assaults.

[@leecrt967]

Perfect! I just spit up my morning coffee. Too bad "Lucky Shigure" didn't survive the war as her "end" in the grips of Godzilla would have been poetic, all that she'd been through. The K7W Kyushu Shindens at the end shows a master's touch. Bravo!

[@Evil.Totoro]

Thank you so much for this video, you are a friend to Godzilla fans forever now.

[@aaronrowell6943]

The biggest crime of Godzilla minus 1 is that we never got to see how the USN would fare against the big G

[@russkatherealoriginal6904]

A blood fight, for sure, but not something Godzilla will survive from.

[@paulsteaven]

Imagine if they got a big budget as big as Holywood movies', 1945 US Navy might not be farfetched.

[@fabianzimmermann5495]

To be fair, we did get to see that in Godzilla vs Kong.

[@cartmann94]

They have a huge stock of “oxygen destroyers” to deploy for sure.

[@Braindamagedpotato]

​@fabianzimmermann5495 It was a meh scene at best. you could see the shells curve and that was just cursed

[@prosnax631]

Man I love how accurate the info is in the movie, Probably one of the best Godzilla movie out there.

[@DIREWOLFx75]

Damn, that narration, so serious, so honest. Tooo much! Archeologists stumbling on this 10 thousand years from now... *lol* They would have a tough job determining if it's reality or fiction.

[@Dragonsf9]

A friend of mine is going to be happy an episode like this came out lol

[@timothydonlan9112]

For some reason, this makes e think we need a movie..."Raise the Kamchatka!"

[@LWGanucheau]

Glad someone’s bringing attention to this little-known part of naval history.

[@noneed4me2n7]

I missed this historical event in school. Glad it’s finally get some recognition.

[@05TE]

I like this trend of youtube-historians covering fictional events on april 1:st.

[@shadowtrooper262]

Imagine finally getting repaired and finally able to return back to their homeland from Singapore only to get broken apart by a giant lizard.

[@davidmaman3925]

Takao Commander: "We can't engage the Monster at range" Looking down, Admiral Lee: "I would have been able to put a round through its eye."

[@Dav385]

Absolutely brilliant! If this doesn't get included as an extra feature on some special edition it will be a crime.

[@Sam_Leviathanexe]

7:54 can’t believe the bridge crew were to die 1st, pretty sure the ship had a hull breach aswell while Godzilla obliterated the bridge

[@MrBerg4ever]

This is how you start off April. I love that you used your same narration voice as if it's just another video lol. Love your channel Drachinifel, and thank you for keeping the history of so many unknown ships and heroes alive!

[@gavinrewell9703]

Thank you for making time to entertain us in a way only you could.

[@shaniamonde7341]

Always love your historical content Drach! Remarkably similar contest between the IJN Takao and the charge of HMS Thunderchild.

[@death13820]

Please do Space Battleship Yamato next year

[@johngeverett]

Your research and accuracy are legendary, and on full display!

[@user-qg1if3rg4k]

Great Job Drach!!! Shades of "War of the Worlds".......beautiful!

[@michaelokey902]

I love the pure business presentation

[@schwadevivre4158]

But were there any large moths in the area or did the mothballed ships deter it?

[@CTNZ2000]

I love these insights into history we where never taught in school

[@johnforsyth7987]

Thank you for helping make April 1st an amusing day. Well Done!

[@geoffhunter7704]

Nice one,Drachie!!!!

[@ald1144]

Happy April 1st, everybody!

[@mpersad]

A terrific, tongue in cheek, spoof! Top work, Drach!

[@billscarnage]

Man, I love videos like this. Turning Godzilla into a historical documentary like this.

[@genericpersonx333]

Irony is when you know the IJN was in fact reactivated as part of the USA's cold war strategy to deter Soviet aggression, but for diplomatic reasons, it was called the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. As the JMSDF serves the State of Japan whose Head of State remains the Emperor, albeit via a different constitutional arrangement than before, it can be considered the new Japanese Imperial Navy.

[@A7XFan800]

Honestly that plot point becomes weird with Hibiki being deployed, though history could be different. Hibiki became war prize for Soviet Union. So either history changed on when she's taken, or the Soviets were like "Here, have your ship back to deal with Godzilla".

[@genericpersonx333]

​@@A7XFan800 To be fair, Godzilla movies never were big on backstory and plot to start with, so I am not going to fault the latest one for continuing to be weak on story in favor of giant monsters making mayhem. :)

[@BleedingUranium]

@@A7XFan800 A quick wikipedia check (English and especially Japanese) says that she wasn't given to the Soviets until after the end of the film, thus also well after test Baker and following Godzilla attacks which prompted reactivating Takao. Specifically, test Baker was July '46, and Hibiki continued to be a repatriation ship until at least October '46. English wikipedia says she was given to the Soviets in April '47, however JP wiki says July '47 and after a lottery to decide who got what; reading between the lines it seems likely the April '47 date is when the lottery took place, with the actual transfer happening in July '47. Test Baker is of course the same date within the film (July '46), while the protagonists find the wrecked Liberty ship and are rescued by Takao in March '47. We know that in the time between these dates Godzilla was attacking USN ships and this is what prompted reactivating Takao and everything else. So not only was Hibiki in reality given to the Soviets after the film's finale is set, but due to most of a year of different events leading up to it, the splitting of war trophies would have been called off well before it actually happened.

[@ScipioAfricanusI]

fantastic. Thank you very much.

[@timmorris8932]

Thank you for this timely video. It is good that we remember the history of these events given the recent Kaiju activity that occurred over the weekend. 😊

[@seabob337]

Thank you for this! Utterly spectacular movie and seeing it brought up on one of my channels was great.

[@Ulquiorra4163]

Honestly one of the two best April Fool's videos I've seen today, Ian over at Forgotten Weapons tying with you cause the joke is becoming real camo. I was delightfully surprised when I saw this movie and noted all real ships and aircraft, even making bemused chuckles when Yukikaze was involved. When my two friends asked what was so funny, all I said was (and this was our first time seeing it as a whole): "Spoiler but Yukikaze WILL survive this." And I was proven right, saving my laughter for the credits rolling before explaining to the Yukikake's history of luck which had them laughing as well. As a history buff and a Godzilla fan, this movie was amazing and I readily rank it as my favorite Godzilla movie ever, check it out.