The US Navy's Worst Defeat, The Battle of Savo Island 1942 - Animated

[@TheOperationsRoom]

The first 100 people to go to www.blinkist.com/TheOperationsRoom are going to get unlimited access for 1 week to try it out. You'll also get 25% off if you want the full membership. The 7-day trial is completely free, and you can cancel at any time during that period.

[@liamgraham691]

Love the videos! Keep up the great content!

[@Tomasz30899]

Love your work! Keep em coming! Only one tip (if I may), I would animate the wakes of the ships more clearly. This makes their heading, speed, and previous route more clear, plus in real life, the wakes of ships are very large, visible from large distances, and for a very long duration. Please see this as positive feedback, I love your work!

[@bskiez]

Can you do a take when Cuban Mig 23s bombed Calque Dam in June 1988 in Southern Angola against SADF during that bush war? It's a war no dare talks about from the Cuban side.

[@kalasag9113]

Thank you for such a content-rich video. Do we know what where the ramifications of the combined Allied fleet's ineptness against the IJN? Was anyone disciplined for such a crushing defeat?

[@inthedarkwoods2022]

Alot of companies do free 7 day trials. This isn't anything special.

[@Turgon_]

Southern Group: "WHO GOES THERE.... Must've been the wind"

[@Excel-erate-]

**ally gets shot** "hmm guess it was just my imagination" **gets stabbed in back** "must be my mind playing tricks on me again"

[@DarkRyderWhisky]

La li lu li lo should really train more.

[@PersonalityMalfunction]

‘There’s something funny going on around here…’

[@TeejSSX16]

*holes being ripped through your ships* "Getting a little breezy now"

[@sir17pounder8]

"Never should have come here!"

[@MouLouv2]

Could you imagine how much differently this might have gone if just a SINGLE person had decided to communicate up the chain of command quicker/at all?

[@federicoboulware6161]

fr

[@mystikmind2005]

They still would have copped a paddlin simply because the Japanese night gunnery was far superior at that stage of the war... and this is something The allies remained unaware of at the time, regardless if they were aware of the attack. But certainly an organized defense could not have ended 'that' badly.

[@jcohasset23]

The communication issue was a problem that would crop up again and again in the Pacific Theater for the Allies.

[@mystikmind2005]

@@jcohasset23 Starting with Pearl harbor - In that case they found a man to blame, but the culprit is not the man, it is the mindset that permeates American forces,,, America was just not ready for war.

[@cumunist2120]

Or if mikawa continued and attacked the transports

[@CapricornEGO]

USN Captain: "Who turned on those lights?" >the ship is literally blown from under him USN Captain: "We are being attacked by the enemy? Can't be! Must be friendly fire."

[@DankNoodles420]

*Said with a thick Russian accent..*

[@treyhelms5282]

@@DankNoodles420 Naw, a Russian voice would say "Do you see torpedo boats?"

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

He had just woken up iirc, and did not know the circumstance in which the fighting began. (ie. maybe a friendly ship fired and illuminated them first etc.) and being just woken up, likely can't think too clearly with the sudden pressure on him. It takes about like 30 minutes to sober up after entering deep sleep.

[@CapricornEGO]

@@neurofiedyamato8763 Yes, that's why you have another officer on watch making the decisions. You usually trust them to do their job right and not override them the moment your ignorant ass gets on the bridge.

[@Stuie444]

The captain was off the bridge when things started and needed an update. Also, he was firing on a separate group of ships from the main battle group that was illuminating/attacking him. If you look at 13:22 again, you can clearly see US and Japanese ships intermingled to the northwest (where he was firing). Not a bad decision considering the circumstances.

[@pickleman40]

10:39 a minor footnote is that Cpt Bode committed suicide after learning his conduct in the battle was under a private investigation and hearing its findings. His failure to even inform his allies cost many lives and he knew it.

[@explosivepotatos]

Nothing says like a morning worth of strategies. Can’t wait for Battle of Mogadishu Part 2.

[@pedrolucan4006]

Same here, part 1 was great

[@phyothihakyaw7997]

Me too…Part 2 pls

[@JanVansteenlandt]

+1!! absolutely amazing

[@JerusalemYouthMinistry]

yes waiting for part 2

[@taylerhunter9904]

Agreed part 1 was amazing, keep it up

[@mindeloman]

I remember reading "Helmet For My Pillow" and how the Marines fighting on Guadalcanal were reved-up and cheering as they thought the US Navy was really giving it to the IJN. Little did they realize the USN was getting it's trash kicked and had to get the hell out of dodge for risk of total failure. I can only imagine what the US marines must've felt when they came into sunrise to see the entire fleet gone.

[@bdillon3747]

There's a scene in the tv series "The Pacific" based on that. Think the video is on YT

[@JohnDoe-wt9ek]

Those ships were carrying their logistical support to continue operations on Guadalcanal. To say the least, until the Navy could reorganize and come back with some serious strength, the Marines were on their own against an enemy that had the absolute initiative, holding only a sliver of land (including the airfield on the island) against a numerically superior Japanese force that had logistical support. Not to mention that the Marines on the Canal were working with weaponry and equipment that their fathers used in WW1. Springfield 1903's and 1918 Browning .30 Caliber water cooled machine guns. And were eating whatever they could steal or salvage from the Japanese. The Solomon Islands left a lot of lessons to be learned by the US Navy and USMC, and just how formidable the IJN and IJA really were...

[@mindeloman]

@@JohnDoe-wt9ek yeah, makes total logistical sense that Admiral Turner would evacuate "until another day" but that had to be a gut punch to Marine morale.

[@HyperK7]

Not to mention they went to recover the sailors still alive. I think a few pilots from Enterprise were onshore and saw it happen, but I’ll have to double check that.

[@themodernwarfarehistorian825]

@@JohnDoe-wt9ek Yeah

[@stefanmolnapor910]

I never realized how interesting navel and aerial battles are untill I found the Operations Room! It's like you are watching it all happen, but I am thousands of miles away, and decades away. Truely amazing, Thank you

[@zjotheglorious]

navel battles

[@TheEnergizer94]

@@zjotheglorious yes, a well known aspect of ww2. That's where navel piercings come from, early attempts at navel armor

[@stefanmolnapor910]

@@TheEnergizer94 😅😂😅😂😅👍

[@stefanmolnapor910]

@@rg20322 I'll check it out, thanks for the tip

[@naitnait00]

Highly recommend Montemayor too!

[@Arod9503]

I think Mikawa’s decision to leave Guadalcanal was a very justified decision based on the information that was provided to him at the time. Carrier aircraft would have definitely destroyed his fleet and with the Japanese army command boasting that they can remove the Americans from Guadalcanal he was confident that the navy should deal with the navy and the army with the army. Mikawa was reluctant to lose any ships after his orders were to not lose any.

[@JoviaI1]

Watch Montemayor's more complete video on the battle. The carriers were actually out of position and would not have been able to fight back. Had Mikawa gone for the transports, his fleet would have sailed away scot-free with possibly the greatest naval victory in history.

[@estroulap]

@@JoviaI1 Yes but Mikawa had no way of knowing that, he didn't have any idea where the carriers were. Working with the information he did have, it was a very reasonable decision.

[@JoviaI1]

@@estroulap I agree that it was reasonable but sometimes in war, taking a big risk can turn the war in your favor.

[@theralfinator]

@@JoviaI1 Taking a big risk can also make you lose in a hurry if it doesn't go your way. The Japanese couldn't afford to lose ships like the Americans could.

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

@@JoviaI1 Montemayor's video also pointed out Mikawa DID NOT KNOW that the US carriers had withdrawn. In fact the US carriers were there the day before. He took great lengths to stress that point. The Japanese could not afford to lose any ships. Any major warships they lose is permanently lost. The US superior industry could and did replace their losses and more.

[@chicagotypewriter2094]

Just goes to show you that technology isn’t everything. Training is just, if not, _more_ important. Don’t get too cocky.

[@opossumbandit4960]

training and communication are key.

[@CapricornEGO]

It wasn't training, it was denial caused by the peacetime mindset.

[@speedydraw]

Japanese had better night vision technology at that time ( as well as their training)

[@kameronjones7139]

Technology training and communication is actually what one this battle

[@JustParadis]

Intelligence are also important , remember battle of midway?

[@katesorenstam9427]

USS Chicago: Well, I'm out. Hope I'm not forgetting anything. USS Destroyers: Shit shit shit, where the hell is the cruiser. Did it get sunk?!

[@Rest_Orb]

Always a good day when Operation Room uploads.

[@denominagainatedableus13ye5]

Fabulous

[@1977Yakko]

The Battle of Midway is often called the "Turning Point" of the Pacific War but the nighttime engagements off Guadalcanal seems to indicate the Japanese had plenty of fight in them. Heck, in another night engagement, the only reason we didn't lose the battleship South Dakota is because the battleship Washington wasn't spotted and her gunnery was superb.

[@gimmethegepgun]

Midway was the strategic turning point of the war, due to the damage dealt to the Japanese air capabilities. They won plenty of tactical victories afterwards, but their most important assets were gutted and the US could simply outproduce them to make up for tactical losses.

[@astrobeno]

@@gimmethegepgun The myth of the Second World War is an opportunity to defeat Japan in it through the efforts of the military economy. Only the decoding of the enemy code and the advantage gained allowed us to apply an additional advantage from the developed military economy and thus defeat Japan.

[@madgavin7568]

And the reason the USS South Dakota was in danger was because the ships' chief engineer made a cock-up of her electrical repairs (in violation of safety procedures at the time), once an error happened the ship was rendered helpless leaving it in the words of US Admiral Lee; deaf, dumb, blind, and impotent. If that didn't happen the South Dakota may have been able to along with the Washington, inflict significant damage on the Japanese ships.

[@E-Brightvoid]

Admiral Lee was super competent. He was also an expert on the radars.

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

​@@astrobeno Code breaking was an important part of the war and saved many lives due to early warning but sheer weight of numbers would've seen Japan defeated sooner or later. They were never going to take the American or Australian mainlands and without taking those mainlands, neither nation would've been defeated.

[@michaelfisher7170]

Despite the victory against them at Midway, Savo Island demonstrated that the IJN wasn't out of the game nor was it a force to be ignored. Night fighting was drilled into them, and they were exemplary at Savo. Imagine if Mikawa had heavy battleships in his force, perhaps even a Yamato class. Sorry, I love the "what ifs" of history. One hell of a battle. Thanks for the video!

[@bsmartr806]

Me too. If he had afew more ships he probably would have been able to press on to the transports...or worse...what if the Americans had afew carriers there and he was able to sink them before they launched any planes...

[@nowthenzen]

4 battleships were deployed in the relatively narrow waters of the Slot. 2 of them were sunk and one was heavily damaged. It was not suitable waters for battleships.

[@mindeloman]

Just read a little in Admiral Mikawa. Seems like a good dude to me. He retired from the IJN after the battle of the Phillipine Sea and led a quiet life until he died at age 92 in 1981. Hey, that war was a long time ago. Regardless of sides, seems like he did his duty and wasn't a fucking war criminal like so many others.

[@pranavr4406]

That sounds like a great life; win a couple of overwhelming victories, come back a war hero, and live peacefully till the end.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

@@pranavr4406 Mikawa didn't come back home a hero. He was chastised, just like Tanaka, for "not winning hard enough". Both ended up the war on shore post due to falling out of favour with the Admiralty, which the Allies must have felt grateful about, for they were two of the most capable commanders the IJN had.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

@fuckyoutubepolicy staff Truer words have not been spoken.

[@houraisanproductions5879]

@fuckyoutubepolicy staff lol

[@firstconsul7286]

Yeah, it's way too easy to lump the "enemy" as war criminals who believed in an extreme form of a popular ideal at the time. There were good men and women on both sides.

[@Neal_Schier]

Excellent presentation technique of zooming out so that the viewer can get a feel of where everything is being played out. Far too many presenters get buried in a small map scale. Thank you for keeping the perfect balance in these videos.

[@ph89787]

The beginning of the Great South Pacific clusterfuck.

[@chicagotypewriter2094]

Good way to put it, none better really

[@CDSAfghan]

Sometimes it seems the USN and the IJN were competing in who can have the most incompetent commanders and still "win". The answer it turned out was, American naval yards could simply out build the poor decisions.

[@chicagotypewriter2094]

@@CDSAfghan Yeah, plus, Japanese iron ore was kinda shit too. And as well know, Liberty ships just showed America's industrial might

[@gluesniffingdude]

Savo Island may have been America's greatest naval defeat by tonnage, but the fact that this clusterfuck extended to Tassafaronga and Renell Island is just jaw-dropping.

[@blockmasterscott]

@@CDSAfghan It seemed that way to me too. It's amazing just how badly both sides in the Solomon Campaigns consistently made bone headed moves.

[@capt2be]

2:36..."Commander in Chief, US Fleet, Admiral Ernest J. Young." Should actually be "Ernest J. King." But as always, another great video.

[@Amann0407]

Admiral Ernest J King was CinC US Fleet and also Chief of Naval Operations as well. And the most even tempered man in the world. :)

[@renard6012]

If luck is when opportunity meets preparedness, what is bad luck? When incompetence meets unexpectedness? Because this was more than just bad luck.

[@TobyCatVA]

When incompetence meets apathy.

[@giantrotatingcarrot]

Crikey! The incompetence of the American leadership was remarkable. I hope that those commanders who lived through this we're relieved of command and put ashore with the Marines on Guadalcanal.

[@blakestone75]

What about the first recon plane to spot the fleet? "Under orders to tail any Japanese fleey they spot?" hangs around for a few minutes and leaves. and the the fleet being grossly misidentified as being just some gun boats... there was error aplenty going around here.

[@sevsquad]

They weren't they were responsible for several more embarrassments during the Guadalcanal campaign before being relieved.

[@ramal5708]

Even putting them ashore with the Marines would also put the Marines at risk, I would rather send those incompetent commanders stateside for desk job

[@DankNoodles420]

@@ramal5708 Amen Brother!

[@DoubleGoon]

"A formal United States Navy board of inquiry, known as the Hepburn Investigation, prepared a report of the battle. The board interviewed most of the major Allied officers involved over several months, beginning in December.[1]:122 The report recommended official censure for only one officer, Captain Howard D. Bode of the Chicago, for failing to broadcast a warning to the fleet of encroaching enemy ships. The report stopped short of recommending formal action against other Allied officers, including Admirals Fletcher, Turner, McCain, and Crutchley, and Captain Riefkohl. The careers of Turner, Crutchley, and McCain do not appear to have been affected by the defeat or the mistakes they made in contributing to it. Riefkohl never commanded ships again. Captain Bode, upon learning that the report was going to be especially critical of his actions, shot himself in his quarters at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, on April 19, 1943, and died the next day.[33][34] Crutchley was later gazetted with the Legion of Merit (Chief Commander).[35]" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Savo_Island#Allied

[@denderrant]

If Turner's mistake was planning for what the enemy would do instead of could do, then Mikawa made the correct choice to withdraw, based on the intelligence he had. Not knowing the American carriers had already left the area, he had to assume they were still a factor and thus could hunt his fleet down in the morning. If he'd had more up-to-date intelligence then of course he would have smashed the transports as well.

[@DiAddict]

Yeh but he had one job to do there. Destroy the supply line... Fighting the enemy naval fleet was a prerequisite to that goal. He defeated the guardians but no one actually came in to take out the target... Also reminds me of later in Guadalcanal when the IJN came to bombard the airfield and supplies only to have a fight with the defending navy, win, and then leave before they were counter attacked. There's definitely value in preserving your forces and loving to fight another day, but in the end someone has to finish a mission... I think they just severely underestimated the US industrial capacity...

[@denderrant]

@@DiAddict Well, the underestimation of U.S. industrial capability, or rather the overestimation of their ability to secure their empire before it really kicked in, is true - but a problem coming from a much higher pay grade than Mikawa's. Deciding to turn back was likely a very hard choice for Mikawa. Your points aren't wrong, but he had a lot of reasons to act as he did. In addition to planning according to what he believed the enemy could do, his chart room was destroyed during the battle, making it much harder for him to navigate. He also had general directives from higher up to avoid any unnecessary loss of naval assets - the recent disaster at Midway had really shaken the IGN and taught them a hard lesson in caution. Coupled with the Army's assurances that they would handle the Marines, and it must have felt like a lot of compelling reasons to withdraw instead of potentially causing Midway 2.0.

[@DiAddict]

@@denderrant Yeh I agree with you 100%. We're looking at it all in hindsight. Honestly he didn't even have confirmation that the supply ships were even there, as all the scout planes returned after sporting the naval assets.

[@whatisnew142]

@@DiAddict Hard to make those decision due to the fog of war. They had 1 hr of night left to hide in the dark. Else the risk planes was his fear.. Too many what ifs

[@henryc3654]

For anyone having major deja vu like me, you may have watched Montemayor's latest upload about a month ago that covers the same battle.

[@BIDENS_HOG]

Thank you. My brain was completely locked up and I was so sure I'd watched this already!

[@hdrazor101]

HAHAHAHAHHAA THANK YOU

[@gluesniffingdude]

There is also Drachinifel's video - he covers the entirety of the Guadalcanal campaign at sea.

[@BoyangSun]

yeah I was like...hmmm I'm pretty sure I watched this one already.

[@minethree58]

If watching videos like this has taught me anything, it's that the reconnaissance infrastructure and training is the most important part of a military

[@craftpaint1644]

That's what Nimitz said at the time. He was also sorry for having to send light cruisers and destroyers against Japanese battleships, but you do what you can do.

[@opossumbandit4960]

Love all the world war two content but would love to see some breakdowns of battles not as well known or from conflicts not as well known. Perhaps the Yugoslav wars, the Rhodesian Bush war, the Congo Crisis, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, or even some more modern conflicts like the recapturing of Mosul by the ISF and Peshmerga, or the recapturing of Marawi. Just some ideas. Really love your content.

[@AutismIsUnstoppable]

The 2016-2017 raqqa campaign would be interesting

[@Tekisasubakani]

I agree, but think the limiting factor is the possible lack of sources. That said, I hope he does consider what you've mentioned!

[@Connor-vj7vf]

I think also he needs to do topics that get higher traffic to subsidise production costs

[@theus663]

SAA campaign from Aleppo do DeirEzzor would be amazing.

[@Tekisasubakani]

@@Connor-vj7vf Excellent point!

[@flippinkamikaze8738]

I really love the succinctness of this presentation, and it highlights the value of relying on multiple sources for information. I saw Montemayor's breakdown of this battle, and it was equally enjoyable, but for different reasons; this video is very tightly focused on the battle itself; Montemayor's breakdown provides deeper context about the events leading up to the battle, as well as its consequences. Well done to both creators for shedding light on this battle!

[@kurttate9446]

Even though Mikawa didn’t continue on to sink the transports he did achieve his objective because the next day Fletcher ordered the fleet, including the Enterprise to leave the area. The Marines on the island were left with just the supplies that had already been landed. The next several weeks were touch and go for the Marines.

[@fistsmcnasty]

I really like this format. I’ve watched lots of documentaries on different battles, but it’s so much easier to appreciate the tactics used when you can see the actual movements.

[@Stonewall568]

My Grandfather was on the Vincennes when this went down. Hearing his stories were always terrifying.

[@jimcrossland557]

My father also was on Vincennes and survived.

[@braho4998]

My grandfather was as well!

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

80 years, today. Both TOR and Montemayor videos are a go to about this battle. Excellent quality. Cheers.

[@pushing2throttles]

The operations room is quickly becoming one of my favorite KZbin channels. Great content. Great job guys.

[@5tuartGuy]

Honestly your videos are amazing my friend, the amount of knowledge and detail in them and the way you present this makes them really engaging and enjoyable to watch

[@Robert-jz7hq]

To have been in that submarine, hearing that huge group of ships going overhead, it must have been incredible. Its just a pity such a great early scouting report went completely unnoticed.

[@petermcmanus5727]

My Grandfather was on HMAS Canberra, I remember as a kid asking him why he had blue dots up his arm. He would just come up with a joke about it. He never spoke about the war, never. In my mid 20s we sat down and he told me about the night at Savo Island . The left side of his body was ripped apart from shrapnel, he was floating in the ocean witnessing his fellow crew members drowning from fatigue. The Americans plucked the surviving Aussies from the sea the next morning. I still have and treasure his US Navy cap and belt with drink bottle pouch and medical kit pouch. In 4 days time I'm travelling to Canberra for the 80th commemorative service of the sinking of HMAS Canberra with my mum. Mum was 6 years old in 1942.

[@nitsu2947]

Astoria: Heh. I'm lucky to have sisters like you two in such a tough fight. Otherwise i wouldn't be able to keep myself from crying

[@chris.hartliss]

It makes me want to scream whenever I think of the lack of communication in this battle. It could have literally saved lives beyond the beginning of the conflict itself.

[@mpudlinskiemt]

I was literally checking the channel to see If I had missed an upload. Then BOOM!

[@NILsandMAN00]

Is your main turret still operational?

[@salmanmajeed6420]

@@NILsandMAN00 bruh

[@ronanbax6102]

Started watching you not too long ago. I really appreciate how much effort you put in to make this accurate and digestible for everyone! Thanks!

[@jasonx1174]

I'm actually mainly here to compare Operations Rooms work and Montemayors work on The Battle of Savo Island. O.R. is more straight to the point and does his best to accurately match the battles in detail on his maps while Montemayor goes more in depth with the many aspects surrounding this event that otherwise don't get much attention or is at times not discussed at all. Both do a good job at what they chosen for their style of videos but I do think Montemayor has a leg up since he went over how Vice Admiral Fletcher had his Aircraft Carriers withdraw the previous day before the battle and went more in depth about Mikawa's decision with that added info. Also there was a air raid heading to attack Turner and his transport fleet on the 9th but was redirected to attack the Jarvis, who was heading to Australia for repairs, because a Japanese search plane misidentified her as a Cruiser. The Jarvis would be sunk and be the 2nd (and last) major U.S. Warship sunk with all hands. The first being the U.S.S. Pillsbury.

[@Alex-ws9lr]

I'll never get tired of hearing of this battle. I recommend Montemayor's video on this battle as well!!

[@Revy8]

the allies dropped the ball hard. reports not going through or not being reported at all smh. "Sir, should we use this radio to inform our side of the situation?" "No, save the electricity and put the kettle on would you?"

[@-2u2]

This is by far the best military history recreation channel. Thank you.

[@Caliban_Cam]

Honestly the BEST channel on KZbin. The only videos i stop what im doing just to watch. You are a legend mate. Thank you lot so much for the effort you out in🤩🤩

[@jessi_pop]

Watching these videos of the war in the Pacific while reading Ian Toll's Pacific Trilogy is a real joy. Thank you.

[@myost99]

My neighbor at my previous house was on the USS Vincennes and spent around ten hours on a life raft after it was sunk. I only spoke to him a few times, I felt awkward as I had to almost shout to talk to him since his hearing was almost gone.

[@HPCAT88]

Your research for those video must be gigantic. Thank you for all this work. The result is phenomenal.

[@johnz8210]

Thanks for the video. My mother's uncle was on the Quincy. Before this battle he sent home many pictures from his time on that ship. I have a good collection of them. They're pretty good quality considering their age.

[@cyberdyne9480]

Appreciate the time and effort put in to these 👍

[@Vuk_Stajic]

Insane detail, thank you so much for your effort!

[@PCSheepy]

Posting on the opening credits because I’m that excited

[@SirDenzington89]

As some one who plays world of warships, I loved this one. You have one of the coolest channels on KZbin. Keep the history alive. I’m eagerly waiting for the next Black Hawk Down video

[@harmacist6623]

When the title said *'Worst Defeat'* I already have a low expectations, but holy sh*t

[@DERPprod]

Thank you for this account. So good to see it in your animated design! My grandfather was a Lieutenant-Commander on board the Vincennce. Thankfully survived so that I could listen to the first hand stories as a child.

[@donmcmaine9213]

Man your channel is really growing fast, and rightly so. Goodluck!

[@b1ackj3sus45]

I constantly keep going back to this channel just to see if the Part 2 of *The Battle of Mogadishu* video has uploaded yet, *MY HYPE TRAIN FOR THE VIDEO KEEPS ME SANE DAMNIT!!!!*

[@keyurjoshi458]

First Montemayor and now you. Great commentary from both!

[@conspiraciesarejustgreatst2059]

TOR, I look forward to your every upload. You are fantastic and deserve far more attention, as I mentioned in a previous video or two. You never cease to amaze me sir. Great work

[@larsporsena7115]

The Guadalcanal campaign was the real education for all those Naval Academy graduates.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

Studying Trafalgar only goes so far in the 20th century.

[@chicagotypewriter2094]

Top notch content with the most wonderful thumbnails! I’ll be anticipating the day when you have 1M+ subscribers

[@A407RAC]

More Operations Room! Christmas must have come early XD

[@Sir_C_]

While it sucks to see "your side" losing, there is definitely an appreciation to all those involved. Especially for those who "Figured it out"

[@richomanzano8318]

I love your works. This is a masterpiece

[@misterbaker9728]

Reading Storm over Leyte. I really appreciate this channel. It really makes sense of the action that reading just doesn’t cut it

[@Bootneck-RMC]

Another great piece of history from WWII, retold superbly. Thank you. 👍

[@marvelous5038]

Nice video it’s just something about ww2 battles that just stands out more than any other of battles in history

[@crazywarriorscatfan9061]

It's a good day when Operations Room uploads!

[@importantname]

good solid production, showing how often people get it wrong in war. But that does not mean you give up.

[@wolfu597]

Many doesn't know this, but the battle of Savo Island was only the first out of 5 major nighttime naval clashes, with the final decisive one in november. Both sides lost 24 warships during the Guadalcanal campaign. With the Japanese losing two of their battle ships, the Hiei and the Kirishima. On Guadalcanal 1000 Marines died before they were relieved in December. The US Navy lost 5000 men in the same time periode. In my opinion, the Navy hasn't received the recognition they truly deserve for their contribution to the Guadalcanal campaign.

[@gelatinoussire7772]

Tameichi Hara did a good job summing up the early war by calling it a series of blunders by both sides. This battle, and particularly your video on it, illustrates that very well.

[@r-saint]

Not all American torpedoes "missed". Most of them just failed to explode. They had famous defects, fixed only in 1944.

[@wizofoz0605]

That's right, some of them hit the Canberra..

[@Rusty_Gold85]

A lot of the Torpedo pilots lost their lives delivering dud torpedoes in attacks during the Battle of Midway . There is a video on them . American ineptness at its finest

[@Lewd-Tenant_Isan]

@@Rusty_Gold85 to be fair a lot of other Torpedeos at the time ended up being duds, it wasn't only the Americans that suffered from this.

[@alltat]

@@Lewd-Tenant_Isan The story of the US torpedo screw ups during WW2 are on a whole other level. They tried to save money by not actually testing them before mass producing and distributing them, which turned out about as well as you'd expect.

[@grant9939]

Why was the mark 14

[@Kinghans-fc1do]

I fucking love this channel, dont leave youtube, please

[@HealthySkepticism1775]

Neptune's Inferno is an excellent book on this subject and the other naval battles of Guadalcanal.

[@TheDidgerideuces]

Rip James Hornfischer

[@HealthySkepticism1775]

Fair winds and following seas.

[@slartybartfarst55]

Another excellent Video. Always excited when an Operations Room Video pops up! 😊

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

This is gonna be as lit as the Tokyo Express' bombardment

[@craftpaint1644]

The search lights, blinking gunfire, and machine gun tracers must have been an incredible sight to behold.

[@jiroyamada1139]

@@craftpaint1644 Unless you're on the receiving end. :O

[@XxBloggs]

Excellent effort. I’ve spent some time in that part of the Solomon’s. Nothing much has changed since the 1940’s. Great wreck diving.

[@longshot6566]

Great content! Please do the defence of Tobruk in WWII

[@simonk5571]

wow we get ANIMATED VIDEOS NOW!!! you are the BEST! (edit: commented before watching the video lol)

[@keno31186]

Battle of Mogadishu part 2 anytime soon??? Big fan of the channel.

[@Ravencos]

16:43 Easy to say that with retrospection. But he made the right decision. He knew Aircraft Carriers were in the area, and he was losing the night. Better to withdraw with victory than stay with defeat. Besides, he could always come back tomorrow... Another great vid!

[@chaosXP3RT]

It seems the US Navy had a habit of being attacked and thinking it was friendly fire, or committing friendly fire and thinking it's the enemy! Lmao

[@RagnarNomad]

Binge watching every of your videos!

[@dman3398]

After watching all the videos on guadalcanal, it's amazing to see how the U.S. largely won by consistently giving the Japanese targets to shoot other than the ground forces. Another naval defeat, yet another small strategic victory, and that ultimately added up. Along with the apparent, frequent incompetence in command, there were quite a lot of selfless sailors out there. Certainly the latter can be said of both sides.

[@jivan476]

Very interesting point

[@notUrRealDad]

My new favorite channel. Thanks for teaching me new things and helping me brush up on old knowledge!

[@kevinzuniga4910]

The US Navy didn’t have a good time at Guadalcanal at all. The Japanese really showed the US Navy they ruled at night time battles in August and November!

[@black10872]

The Marines had it far worse! The infantry ALWAYS get it worse!

[@craftpaint1644]

@@black10872 the Marines had no envy for the sailors and their officers that were washing onto the shore though - some bodies bitten by Sharks too.

[@black10872]

@@craftpaint1644 I'm pretty sure it's a horrible way to die getting eaten alive by sea creatures. However, sailors are on a ship with 3 hot meals a day, 2 showers a day, a clean well maintained ship, and a nice warm bunk every night. A sailors life is pretty damn good as long as the ship don't sink. But when you in Army or Marine infantry deployed to the front. You don't get such luxury! You get dirt on your clothes, mud on or inside your boots, shit on your draws because you just pooped and urine on yourself because you were scared as hell when the enemy fired shots at you, food rations that are not really good, you have no idea when you are going to get fresh new clothing, and you can possibly catch a sickness or disease that's alien to your immune system. And you have no idea when you are leaving the hellish place of the battlefield. The navy life is a hell of a lot better than Army or Marine life.

[@dongiovanni4331]

@@black10872 the Navy lost almost as many sailors in this battle alone as the ENTIRE Marine Corps did in the entire campaign. And the marines aren't fully ashore yet...

[@ramal5708]

November? Wtf USS Washington and South Dakota 16 inch needs your current coordinates, they want to shove their 16" shells up your butt

[@rustyshackleford9017]

been waitin for this one!

[@ares106]

Nice to watch this from the perspective of different youtubers.

[@Eikaiwaniki]

Marvelous job on the pronunciations on most of the Japanese ships, I was thoroughly impressed the only one being off is Kako, being Kah-ko instead of Kei-ko

[@tth-2507]

Everytime I have to listen to a Blinkist ad, I think about how many books I could have read by now if not for the 1000st ad.

[@JoshLin17]

USS Chicago: gets hit by 2 torpedoes and a shell on the main mast Her captain: must’ve been the wind…

[@jim2lane]

Funny how most of the US history books when I was young played up Midway and the Turkey Shoot and mentioned little about what happened in between in battles like this

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Add to the torpedoes were dud designed , all their early war aircraft were inferior , early war tanks were a joke , Navy firing systems behind in technology . Even the British showed them how to land a F4U Corsair on a Aircraft Carrier . Australians Squadrons at Milne Bay developed early war 41-42 tactics for the Zero . One Tomahawk Flight Squadron captain died proving an attack theory didnt work ,he was demanded to use

[@ryankohl3520]

This is my favorite channel on KZbin!!!! I check all the time for new releases.

[@preoximerianas]

It’s incredible the complete incompetence and lack of communication among both the Americans and Australians.

[@essanance]

This is my fav you tube channel currently

[@willarasmith4893]

Once again showing how important good communication and intelligence is.

[@nuadarstark]

How the hell do you not report the scattering of your whole group, several ships damaged and one ship heavily damaged. I know from the history and other Operations Room videos that the early US naval battles and tactics are just a massive crapshoot, but how the Southern Group did is just beyond belief.

[@alihasanabdullah7586]

They were actively being shot, which might have played a role. Though it is indeed a grave mistake

[@wallacejim3738]

88u

[@derpynerdy6294]

You simply cant report a full detail in darkness and confusion

[@bridgecross]

@@derpynerdy6294 True, but reporting any attack at all might have changed everything. This entire battle seemed to turn on lack of information; the higher command didn't believe the enemy was even in the area.

[@ruthegosgaming2717]

You my friend are a legend. Love the channel, very educational AND entertaining.

[@nicolebadham8511]

Glad you did a partly Australian battle. (I am Australian) pls do Miline Bay or Midway's older sister, Coral Sea

[@davidt3563]

It's so unreal to see how a few mistakes in communication can have such an impact. Amazing content!

[@Will_CH1]

Canberra was put out of action by two torpedo hits on her starboard side. Those torpedos were fired by USS Bagley. Bagley had initially fled west, but the Xo assumed command and took the ship back into battle. With Canberra so close to the Japanese line, he assumed she was enemy and fired a spread of torpedoes at her.

[@darren5971]

Skuttled by the Bagley . .She was mortally wounded hit 24 times in 2 minutes .by the japanese .

[@Will_CH1]

@@darren5971 The captain of the Bagley initially took her out of the battle. He was relieved by the 2IC who turned the ship around and re engaged. They reported torpedoing a Japanede cruiser, but it was Canberra that took 2 torpedpes to the starboard side. The Japanese were on the Port side of Canberra.

[@Will_CH1]

@@darren5971 After the action , Canberra could not steam, so Turner ordered her scuttled.

[@Will_CH1]

@@darren5971 She was about to open fire when she lost all power. The two torpedoes from Bagley tore into the starboard side of the boiler rooms. She was then struck by 24 X 8 inch shells. It was friendly fire that did the serious damage. She was scuttled the next day by US destroyers, taking approximately 250 5 inch shells at the water line and then a few more torpedoes because she refused to sink.

[@XXXTENTAClON227]

Why does every torpedo during friendly fire suddenly become 100% accurate?

[@RoboticDragon]

This is one of those great in hindsight things. He chose the correct course of action at the time given what he knew and with daylight hours away.

[@williamlydon2554]

*A heavy cruiser gave all her might As star shells lit up black night Her crew well drilled never would falter Even when enemy shells, tossed up water Blow after blow, and still she fought Until at last, she was caught In searing beams, that drew rapid fire Men fell to her decks as the toll grew higher. Torpedoes tore, her sides asunder Quickly, she began to go under Down she went with 370 men August 9th, was to be there end. And no more, was the Quincy*