Warship vs a 100-Foot Wave - USS Pittsburgh

In June of 1945, while serving as an escort and close-air support ship, USS Pittsburgh was caught by one of the most furious typhoons that have ever assembled in the Pacific. As several ships risked colliding with each other, the winds increased to up to 70 knots, and massive waves reached heights of 100 feet.
Displacing 13,600 tons, armed with devastating nine 8-inch caliber guns, twelve 5-inch Mark 12 guns, over 40 Bofors autocannons, and 20 Oerlikon automatic cannons, the Baltimore-class heavy cruiser proved extremely lethal when used in the Pacific Theater of World War 2.
However, Pittsburgh’s desperate clash was now against nature.
Suddenly, a maddened wave struck her bow and tore it apart. And as the bewildered sailors witnessed the event, they were sure they would all succumb to the mercy of the typhoon.
But the crew should’ve known better, as USS Pittsburgh surprised them all with her resilience and would not go down without putting up a monumental fight…

[@00kt86]

One of the most fun times I had in the Navy was when we went though a storm in the Indian Ocean. I was on a tin-can DDG 31 that in 1978-1979 was deployed to the Persian Gulf because of the Iranian hostage crisis (we rescued about 32 workers from the coast). But anyway, the ship would ride to the top on one wave only to dive down into the next one, submarining. Standing inside the bow, the ship would violently shudder as it struck the waves. As the ship would rise, you would feel like you weighed twice as much, but as it fell into the trough, you would be almost weightless, and you could jump as high as you dared. And that was fun for an 18 yr old kid.

[@oneshotme]

Sounds like fun times! I grew up on the water and have seen just about every counrty on this side of the pond and would have to have been able to see the other side

[@jasonwcoleman250]

The fantail moves around quite a bit as well. I jumped from the 1 deck fantail to the 01 level flight deck on accident once. This was on the 210' CG cutter Venturous where I got lucky the boat didn't rock and disappear out from under me.

[@nausetbaptistchurch2971]

@Mark Roster dd933 same time frame, same place

[@NotaVampyre111]

@Mark Roster I was on Uss Coral Seal (CV-43) on my first deployment. We went through a massive typhoon in the Sea of Japan in 77 I think. We lost a few planes and a few lunches but no one was hurt. In 86, I was on FF-1057, USS Rathburn and went through a typhoon. I sure missed being on a carrier that day.

[@00kt86]

@Mark Roster I remember the USS Waddell. Thank you for the reply, nice to hear from you and hope you're doing well. I was a sonarman, and my sleeping compartment was forward, so I quickly learned how to sleep with my arm wrapped around the pole the bunk was attached too so I wouldn't be thrown out of bed in the middle of the night 😀.

[@dacox1433]

As a maritime academy cadet I was on a 900ft container ship that transited through a typhoon on our way to Japan. Watching waves crest over my head from the main deck stern was a sight but the real show was internal. Inside pipe tunnels that ran most the length of ship I watched from aft the bow deflect up and down by at least 10 ft each way.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Going across the Irish sea in a ferry once, at it's worst allowable, the noise, boom pause, boom and so on. The lavatories were a mess, water being thrown out of the bowls, with the vomit. Friend and I were ok, perfect. We sat on the centerline in the bar boozing.

[@josephpacchetti5997]

WOW.

[@timhoran3887]

@@huwzebediahthomas9193 lol Ben there don that lol....

[@pjford1118]

I was on a cruise ship that hit a tropical depression that was strengthening, My wife got violently sea sick so we went down to the sick bay. That hallway ran most of the way down the ship, watching the ship flex was amazing.

[@dondelchulia3189]

Better them flexing like they’re designed to than to snap

[@fatotis6273]

My grandfather was aboard this ship when this happened. He was one the radio operators on board. He lost a close friend, and gave the skipper great praise. My grandfather died in 1996.

[@AsrielDreemurYT653]

I'm so sorry for your loss

[@Dr_Strangelove702]

RIP to a hero.

[@fatotis6273]

@@Dr_Strangelove702 Thank you, he was great influence on me, a good man and sailor.

[@fatotis6273]

@@AsrielDreemurYT653 Thank you

[@martenkrueger8647]

What was your GrandFathers Name? He deserves too be Remembered on every MEMORIAL DAY..By all of us.. my poppy is still here he is 99..he served in the South Pacific also!

[@rpbajb]

I live in Pittsburgh. There is a model of the USS Pittsburgh in Soldiers and Sailors Hall. It's amazing, probably 10 feet long and incredibly detailed. I've spent quite a bit of time studying and photographing it. You can learn a lot more about ship design from a model than you can from photographs.

[@JohnDoe-yq9ml]

You got any photos or videos posted anywhere I can take a look at?

[@rpbajb]

@@JohnDoe-yq9ml Sorry, no.

[@DANDYUFC]

awesosme man! are these avaibble anuywhere?

[@fastfreddy3103]

Yes, I've seen that model.

[@JohnDoe-yq9ml]

@@rpbajb dang. I would have loved to see them

[@johnvan6082]

You left out one more item. When the search plane sent out to locate the floating bow section spotted it, the pilot radioed back to base HAVE LOCATED SUBURB OF PITTSBURGH then gave it's location !

[@rpbajb]

Didn't they name it the McKeesport?

[@Mikey300]

@@rpbajb "USS McKeesport", indeed!

[@GamerPotatoGuy]

@@rpbajb nah they named it diîasmūïñįqœr

[@jorgevillavicencio427]

@@Mikey300 how very interesting! There's so much to learn still about this fascinating albeit bloody time in history. On another note, if you haven't already seen it, check out Bob Ballard's Finding Bismarck, I think that's the title. Anyway, it's a great documentary about the ship.

[@miafillene4396]

Okay. I want to buy those pilots a drink for that one. Horrible funny pun. I am sure they are gone now, but, damn if that ain't funny as hell.

[@Lee-70ish]

I can well relate to this . My Dad was Royal Navy and was in the far East having his landing craft transported on a large freighter to Malaya. During a storm an ocean wave void opened in front of the ship and the bows dived into it . The sea rush in pushing the ships down until both screws where 20 feet out of the sea spinning in mid. air Once the sea reached the base of wheel house the whole ship just hung bow down for what he said was best part of 30 seconds . Before slowly coming on to an even keel. The skipper had been in the navy for 40 years and said he had never seen anything like it. On deck that found a whole palm tree, and they were over a thousand mile from land.

[@judithleckrone2623]

My Dad was on the USS Pittsburgh when all of this happened. I have several pictures of the ship, one when it was commissioned, one while the USS Pittsburgh was backing in to tow the USS Franklin, while the Franklin was on fire, one of it docked beside a ship like it, in Guam, after the bow was torn off, and one of it after the repairs were made.

[@BMF6889]

I was a Marine company commander in the Pacific aboard the USS Tuscaloosa LST (Landing Ship Transport or better known as Slow Static Target). The LST was an amphibious landing ship designed to go right up to a beach, lower the bow ramp and offload Marines and equipment directly onto the beach. The LST was the smallest of the amphibious ships and it had a very shallow draft so it could get right up next to the beach. I happened to be the senior officer for Marines onboard the Tuscaloosa when we were caught in a Typhoon. It was very violent. We were doing 45-60 degree "snap rolls" from port to starboard and anything not tied down was being tossed around the compartment in a lethal way. When morning finally came, the 60 ton bow ramp of the bow of the ship was missing. The storm/seas had ripped it off. The Tuscaloosa was much smaller than the USS Pittsburgh, so perhaps the damage could have been worse. All I know is that night on the Tuscaloosa was very hairy wondering if it would capsize. Every Marine was literally strapped into their bunks by a safety belt to keep from being thrown out during the violent shifts in the ship from port to starboard. The Navy crew seemed concerned but not in a panic. I will never forget that night just as I will never forget several terrifying events while I was a Marine platoon commander in Vietnam 1968-69.

[@treadhead]

FLEET MARINE FORCE ( FMF ) DEVIL DOG LEATHERNECKS , THE NAVY'S INFANTRY , TO ALL WHO RAISED OUR RIGHT HAND & SWORE TO " SUPPORT & DEFEND " , PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE , THANK YOU ALL . " FREEDOM ISN'T FREE "

[@joed1901]

Thank you for sharing and for your service.

[@gargar8196]

Wow what a life

[@lgd1974]

God bless you sir!

[@jonderek4647]

Loved your story but the LST acronym was affectionally called Large Stationary Target, not Slow Static Target.

[@captainscarlett1]

Imagine how terrifying it would be in a wooden sail ship. They could, and did, simply disappear into an unfortunate wave.

[@DANDYUFC]

yea... ciao bella

[@fredericcolombier5380]

@@DANDYUFC Closer to you my god without the violins and the orchestra 😄

[@Crunkboy415]

A lot of wooden ships did in fact foundered under giant waves. In 1281 the entire Mongol fleet of 4000 ships were wiped out by a typhoon and saved Japan from invasion. they called this storm a "Divine Wind" or Kamikaze.

[@brendanlang3596]

@@Crunkboy415 Japan took tips 📝

[@sls12III]

@@brendanlang3596 made their own divine winds using planes.

[@chrisbennett812]

My father served on a Fletcher-class destroyer in this theater of the war. Several ships were lost during that infamous typhoon. Dad said the crew of his ship owed a debt of gratitude to its captain for literally saving their lives with his masterful seamanship during that storm. I also spoke with another person who had served on a light carrier. He (too) attested to the severity of that typhoon. I can’t even imagine the hardships they endured.

[@johnmehaffey9953]

I read the report of this typhoon and to say it’s interesting is a massive understatement, if it’s the same typhoon that I read, admiral bull Halsey was reprimanded for putting the fleet in danger as so many ships were lost as well as a lot o f sailors lives , war is severe but nature can be more severe, glad you’re dad made it safely through, my uncle bob was lost in the European theatre his ship was hit during the evacuation of Crete, two different navy’s but both fighting against tyranny

[@Sturminfantrist]

a typhoon? it was the "divine wind" Kamikaze !

[@JFK6781]

I have been through 2 hurricanes on the USS John F Kennedy CV-67. I saw waves break over the flight deck 75 ft tall

[@ColoradoStreaming]

@@Sturminfantrist There was actually another "Kamikaze" typhoon that happened after the surrender that would have tanked the US Invasion.

[@AcmeRacing]

My grandfather was on board the Pittsburgh, and his bunk was in the bow section that broke off. He was on duty at the time, but he lost all his stuff. He died in 1946 just before he would have gotten discharged. For years we had a painting of the damaged ship hanging in the hall. One of my cousins has it now.

[@vanguardactual1]

I had an uncle who was stationed on the USS Pittsburgh when it lost its bow in that Cyclone. He talked about it some, I think he was an electrician mate or something like that, but I was young & didn't have the interest in Military History like I do today. My cousins have all the information & stories recorded thankfully! Hugart Misskelley was his name & he passed away in 2015 I believe.

[@markkover8040]

My father's ship, U.S.S. Pakana ATF-108, assisted the Munsee in recovering and towing the bow back to port. It was a very unstable and awkward object to tow. It kept sheering off in odd directions. It kept the crews of both tugs on their toes.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

I served aboard the USS Hancock aircraft carrier during the Vietnam war. There were several times when we got caught up in the tail-end of a typhoon and would take green water over the bow! The vibrations that ran through the ship were amazing and actually very frightening but our Skipper, Captain Dickey knew that ship like the back of his hand and always got us through those storms safely. We never lost a man overboard or had any heavy damage that we had to put into port to repair. I have to say seeing that water come over the bow will get you to change your shorts real quick!

[@MrRedrooster53]

My great grandfather was a welder in Quincy, Massachusetts and worked on the USS Pittsburgh. He ended up being drafted into the Navy to serve as a boatswain mate on the very ship he helped build. For his efforts during the typhoon incident to help save the ship he received the Bonze Star.

[@cascadesouthernmodeltrains7547]

100 foot waves are fun. I was on the USS Stennis when we sailed through a cat 1 typhoon and we had waves breaking over our bow. The waterline is about 80 feet or so below the flight deck of a Nimitz Class carrier just for reference.

[@fakenews7266]

This is a badass story , the USS Pittsburgh's bow was sheared off and then recovered to become a whole ship again , wow , they don't build ships like they used to 😮

[@spartacus3608]

Don't make people like they used to either....now they build and disassemble people based on FEELINGS from brain washing media and entertainment! When men were men and women were women...now we live in the TWILIGHT ZONE

[@fakenews7266]

@@spartacus3608 Amen to that

[@isilder]

USS New Orleans is perhaps the extreme. Lost Bow AND the entire first turret section, as in , it was sheared off just in front of the second turret (the visible turrent), but returned to a friendly port for repairs.

[@gibson9516]

They don’t build men like they use to.

[@nukeruzzia3832]

No, they make them much better now, without defective plate welds that lead to the front falling off in a storm lmao en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pittsburgh_(CA-72)#Damaged_by_a_typhoon

[@OldHorse1000]

When I was a young lad, I sailed from Hawaii to Canada. We were 30 days at sea on a 37' wooden Ketch with 3 other crew. I can tell you what 60' seas look like from that vantage, weather helm at 12 knots with only a storm jib. The boat had come up from the Samoa's on a starboard tack, we took that sea on a port tack. Wooden boat was dried out on the starboard side and leaked like an SOB. We had no electronics, was Loran back then. We navigated with only a compass, sextant and log. Hit the Juan De Fuca Straits dead on.

[@HollywoodGraham]

I was on Helena and Saint Paul both Baltimore class Cruisers and been in some rough seas but nothing like that. Good strong ships but the ocean can be even stronger at times.

[@ronjones1077]

Cool name. I’ve got a Graham Hollywood auto and a 36 Cord. Also my Dad was on a destroyer escort in Okinawa during that storm.

[@HollywoodGraham]

@@ronjones1077 I have a G.H. that's where the name comes from. I envy you about the Cord.

[@haskellvanmarter8411]

I was on the St. Paul from 66 to July 68 . B Div. I worked in # 3 fire room. I recall a first class worked fwd., in one of fire rooms from the Helena I don’t remember his name. But the name Graham sure sounds familure . We’re you in B- Div?

[@HollywoodGraham]

@@haskellvanmarter8411 X-Div. I was a a Lithographer, '63-4.

[@isilder]

The extreme case is USS New Orleans, which returned to base after the Battle of Tassafaronga missing everything forward of its SECOND turrets and I mean everything forward of the acrosswise line at the visible part of the turret ( it was clearly inoperable due to missing or exposed below deck spaces .. ) Its like the entire ship's forward section was cut neatly through as close as possible to the external barbette of turret two... which means an entire turret is missing. So its like twice as much.. it lost not just the bow area bulkheads, it lost the first turrent bulkheads. USS Minneapolis also got damaged in the same battle, and returned to base missing its bow (with Turret 1 externally in place but disabled., turret 2 might have been functional. ) USS Pensacola was also survived after a long battle to control fires, whilst keeping it afloat. (If they put out the fires sooner, they would sink it... if they didn't put out the fires quickly, it could explode its ammunition stores.)

[@rickieoakes5267]

My dad served on the USS Vincennes which was a New Orleans class heavy Cruiser he said he watched a typhoon strip the flight deck back on an aircraft carrier so it looked like somebody had rolled open a sardine can but he could not remember which carrier it was

[@rickieoakes5267]

He told quite a story of the typhoon they had went through

[@timothycapps574]

My grandpa was on the Pittsburgh. he died in June 2020. He never really talked about it much when I was younger, but in the last 5 years or so of his life he told me several stories. He said during the storm he was at his battle station in the gun powder room below one of the turrets. He said they were locked in so if something exploded it wouldn't take out the rest of the ship so he spent the whole storm praying while surrounded by gunpowder.

[@skyden24195]

How/why USS Pittsburgh got the nickname "Longest Ship in the World" is pretty amazing and (respectfully/perspectivally) hilarious. Good video. Great story.

[@isilder]

Numerous warships, light cruiser or larger, returned to base missing their bows. USS New Orleans is perhaps the extreme. Lost Bow AND the first turret, but returned to a friendly port for repairs. Destroyers actually used ramming as a tactic so perhaps returning to base missing the weapon just means you used it in a fight.

[@skyden24195]

@@isilder it does make sense that warships are designed to be able to continue, to a relative degree, operating even with significant damage. I mean, if ocean liner companies are trying to make their ships as "unsinkable" as possible (especially after such maritime disasters as "Titanic,") why wouldn't military naval doctrine strive for any less, and of course more.

[@somedumbozzie1539]

Apollo 11 it the tallest rocket in the world there are parts of on the bottom of the Atlantic and on the Moon.

[@skyden24195]

@@somedumbozzie1539 😆👏👏👏 nice!

[@insertnamehere313]

In it's class....pay attention boy's.

[@rayperry7315]

Myself along with about 4,000 of my shipmates rode out hurricane Hugo while sailing through the Bermuda Triangle in 1989 on the final deployment of the aircraft carrier USS CORAL SEA. True Story folks.

[@kikupub71]

Not a sea story ! Welcome home!

[@kirkkirkland7244]

I went through 2 typhoons in the 80's on my ship and it was only a fast frigate! It through us around like we were nothing! I'm sure that it's the closest I've ever come to dying when it took a 60 degree roll. We thought that it wasn't coming back up and people were flying all over the bridge! I was helmsman and I put the rudder hard over to starboard and she slowly came back up! Scared the crap out of everyone and the captain had us going full flank speed after that into the waves. It's something to watch the bow go under the waves and the screw throwing water high in the air because the stern has come out of the ocean!!! Great times I wouldn't trade for anything!!!!

[@HadToChangeMyName_YoutubeSucks]

Those aren't 8 inch caliber guns. They're 8"/55 caliber guns, that means the barrel has an 8 inch diameter bore and is 55 times the length of the bore diameter, or 440 inches. Not a huge gaff, just thought I'd throw that out there as a corrective point of interest.

[@kurkruk70]

I can just imagine the pucker factor for the sailors of the Pittsburgh in that typhoon! It had to be bad enough to deal with the waves on a ship with all her parts, but then when she lost her bow, I bet there were a lot of men saying some good prayers to save her! Great video!

[@rickieoakes5267]

My father was on watch during that typhoon and said you could look out at the Horizon and watch the tin cans ak8 destroyers just drop out of sight and then you'd go into a trough and all you'd see is a wall of water around you and when you popped back up on top there the Destroyers would be again until they went down in another trough

[@warnerweber5834]

In its shakedown cruise, the Pittsburg had done the largest roll ever recorded in rough water. They were amazed the ship didn’t capsize.

[@charlesstewart9246]

Another informative film,that showed the things the brave people at sea went through and still came through with a smile and a determination to overcome all "inconveniences ". Thankyou once again 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 👍

[@fellspoint9364]

I don’t know if the current generation could handle it without posing for pictures but I could be wrong. I saw some good young sailors at Naval Station Norfolk a couple of years ago when I was working on a tugboat. Those men and women were on their game. All business.

[@LordMarcus]

Man, ships with a stupid amount of big guns look so damn cool. I know missile tech has changed naval warfare-or most warfare, what with big artillery shells being dumb as a pile of oddly-ballistic bricks when compared with a cruise missile, which can always know where it is by knowing where it isn't-but they still look cool.

[@athomicritics]

yeah , i really wish we still used battleships they look so cool , but hey advance in tech as you said , cant do much about it

[@josephpacchetti5997]

Agree.

[@HammerJammer81]

I miss the stupid amount of guns as well. Makes your ship going from a Warship to straight badass.

[@shabmaster7128]

There's still a place for big ass guns, but the RPMs need to be ramped up. Harder to intercept 100 shells than 2 missiles. On the other end of the scale you've got railguns emerging in China supposedly.

[@signolias100]

@@shabmaster7128 America is working on a rapid firing rail gun. i only know of that rail gun

[@Kysushanz]

In the early 1980's I was talking with a guy who was a sailor on one of the NZ ships [Loch or Bathurst class, can't recall now] but he was saying that they hit a huge wave East of NZ and the whole ship shuddered. deck plates were warped and when they got back to port, the ship was 300mm shorter! The power of the sea!

[@andywhite40]

Interesting video many thanks! I suspect that poor welding was a result of haste to get the ship into action but 100' waves are going to test any vessel regardless of whether it's been thrown together or not. No loss of life is mentioned which is something of a miracle...

[@timhoran3887]

Agree. I mean how many tons of water is in a 100 ft. Wave !!

[@CJrun]

Yes. And, to Tim, how long is the wave? Also how wide from trough to peak. Sometimes we motored up and down waves in the Bering that were well over 50 feet, the ship bent, but everything was okay. It really depends on the Set. The distance between the wave peaks. If that's a mile set, it's all good. If you have waves over 50 feet and the set is only a 100 feet, you're in trouble.

[@artbrann]

The Baltimore class had a history of playing in typhoons, and coming out damaged but saved Cobra(the Typhoon a year before) heavily damaged USS Baltimore, damaged USS Iowa, and sank 3 destroyers USS Baltimore was in both Typhoons Cobra and Viper(real name Connie) and was part of the group that stayed with USS Pittsburg

[@DANDYUFC]

sounds like it...

[@WTH1812]

Fun thing on the USN AFS was the "small stores" in hold 1 where the nuts, bolts, and metal washers were stored. As the ship crested a big wave and the bow fell into the trough, all the little metal parts would float to the top of their bins, levitate, then crash with a clatter as the bow bottomed out. Pause, Schzech, pause, Schzech, pause, Schzech, pause... for hours.

[@HeadinTheClouts]

Yes, I had that same experience sleeping in a compartment in the bow of a destroyer

[@josefschmeau4682]

😬😬😬

[@JHNielson4851]

Did all the parts stay in their bins?

[@georgew1751]

I discovered the same happens to a sailor. On a destroyer in the S Pacific we were going through rough seas when I started to run up a ladder connecting decks. I took one step up and the ship dropped out from under me. I was amazed to find myself standing on the upper deck after just one step.

[@WTH1812]

@@JHNielson4851 ... Pretty much, but the fluorescent light tubes in hold 3 didn't take the bouncing so well. Pick the box up and it went "Schzech szchech Schzech" too.

[@artnickel1664]

Been through a typhoon on USS Oriskany, took green water over the bow on flight deck. Had over 30 feet of port catwalk rolled up by water.

[@wanderingweh405]

My Grandpa was on this ship. I can't believe I can see this today. Thank you!!

[@mikemullay5622]

A story I heard from my mother many times over the years is when the new bow was fitted to the USS Pittsburgh in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington the calculations were only 1/4 inch off in an era using only slide rules and mathematics.

[@Charles-bo8iy]

I spent two years deployed to the Western Pacific aboard the USS Midway. During that time, we went through three typhoons, the worst being north of the Japanese Islands. The sea changed color, and the waves became mountainous. It was something to behold.

[@davidponseigo8811]

My uncle commanded the fleet at Iwo Jima from the USS Arkansas battleship. Admiral George McFadden O'Rear. He begged the higher ups to more firepower but never got it.

[@matta5498]

You know he got comments when he was a rear admiral. Like Rear Admiral Lower Half O7'Rear.

[@1pcfred]

More firepower wouldn't have mattered. The Japanese had to be dislodged with marines and the higher ups knew it. That volcanic sand just soaked hits up. What they finally did was roll drums of fuel into the caves and set them on fire.

[@georgew1751]

Things have changed so much since I was in. When we went to battle stations my protective gear was a Mae West and a helmet liner. We didn't even get the steel helmet-just the liner. No ear ear or eye protections just load the big guns and fire until we tell you to stop. That was early 60's on a Tin Can.

[@blurglide]

He talks about the storm and wave at 9:10

[@piethermanus8777]

Excellent narration, clear and not too fast..

[@scottschroeder4920]

I dig him a lot too. He narrates a bunch of channels and he actually seems to be slowing it down a little bit on this one. But yeah, he’s awesome 👍

[@geoben1810]

This is the reason for the order to batten down the hatches. You have a significantly better chance of saving the ship and crew should the ship be damaged by the enemy, an accident, or nature. And as was drilled into us beginning in boot camp, if you can save the ship, you save yourself and your shipmates. Oh, and never abandon ship until the order is given. If you abandon ship and Damage Control saves her you could be left in the water if no one saw you go in and just sails on. USN PO3 '73>'77 🇺🇸

[@BOOMER-rs5qn]

I remember trying to outrun a typhoon in the sea of Japan on the USS Blueridge in the early 80s. We made it to Sasebo but it was a scary ride with some huge waves!

[@retiredyeti5555]

While on the USS Ashtabula AO-51, we ran into a typhoon in the sea of Japan after leaving Tokyo Bay - in 63 or 64. Would have to look in ships cruise book - aging does that to you. Had green water coming up over the bridge - I was in CIC behind the bridge. Ship was commissioned the same month and year that I was born - Aug 1943. She creaked and groaned with every wave that hit the bow, and rolled several times to port and starboard. Each time we held our breath to see if she would right herself. Good thing we had just filled all our bunkers with oil and Avgas! Scary is definitely a descriptive word for an experience like that!

[@SolarHarvestSolutions]

USS Kansas City AOR-3 year 77-81 Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean got rough , lost load weekly when listing in waves…fun times then , too young then to know the real dangers until emergency dry dock and cargo deck revealed cracks … thanks to all who served 🇺🇸

[@TheCarlWeezer01]

My grandpa served on the Pittsburgh when it was recommissioned in 1951. Only thing I remember him telling me about it was that at one time they got trailed by a sub in prob ‘51 ‘52 and we’re in their battle stations for 3 days before it left.

[@colbeausabre8842]

In the Great War, the destroyer HMS Nubian (Tribal Class) had her bow blown off by a torpedo, but made it back to Britain. In port, was a sister, HMS Zulu, which had lost her stern to a fish. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Yes, the RN grafted the forward part of Zulu onto the after part of Nubian and christened the Frankenship, HMS Zubian. It paid off - she sank a U-boat before the end of the war.

[@jamesfloyd1864]

I sailed out of Sattahip, Thailand in the spring of 1974 headed for Subic Bay on the Council Grove, an extended T-2 oil tanker (800 ft.) built during WWII. We were shuttling av-gas for the Navy during the Vietnam War. On the second day out of Sattahip we ran into the side of a typhoon off the coast of Cambodia. That poor old T-2 was moaning and groaning, and the old-timers on board were really worried, but she weathered it with a lot of damage. During the storm we couldn't change the watch because of waves coming over the decks. The kitchen was shut down for two days, and the only way you could stay on your rack was to lie on your belly spreadeagle with your arms wrapped around the bed. When the ship rolled, you could run up a bulkhead almost to the overhead and back down again before it rolled the other way. It flattened the handrails and ripped the lifeboats loose. It tore the awning off the fantail. It was my first trip to sea, and what an introduction. I can close my eyes and still see those fifty foot waves coming one after another relentlessly.

[@tedblair8650]

My Uncle was the radio operator at this time,on the Pittsburg..this was awesome,ty.he has told that story to me growing up....

[@jharris0341]

My grandfather, Stanley "Buck" Harris, was a gunner's mate on the USS Pittsburgh during WWII. This incident was one of the few wartime experiences he related to his sons before he died.

[@johnvan6082]

Another item. After her decommissioning, the U.S. government offered to give the PITTSBURGH to the city of PGH.to use as a museum ship. This led to much excitement and fundraising to tow her up the Mississippi untill someone pointing out that there are a lot of bridges between New Orleans and Pittsburgh !!!

[@Mikey300]

If Pittsburgh could have been brought upriver to the Point (where the submarine Requin now rests), we would have needed to keep the training and elevation mechanisms for her main turrets in working order. Then we could point the turrets at Cincinnati, Cleveland, or Baltimore whenever the Steelers played the Bengals, Browns, or Ravens.

[@rpbajb]

There was a steamboat that used to visit Pittsburgh when I was a kid. She had stacks that hinged down flat to get under the bridges.

[@jessdigs]

The ship had (9) 8” 55 caliber guns, meaning the barrels were 55 bore diameters long or 440”. An 8 inch (one) caliber gun would only be 8” long

[@NashmanNash]

Don´t bother..Creator does not read comments and..well..often enough he shows that he can´t even read a wikipedia article properly,let alone a book

[@spikespa5208]

@@NashmanNash Not uncommon these days.

[@kingssuck06]

Dude thats what they were called. Everyone refers to battleship guns as 16 inch guns, are those 16” long too? Mr technical over here

[@jessdigs]

@@kingssuck06 no they were not called 8 inch caliber guns. For instance the Iowa class battleships had 16 inch 50 caliber guns. The North Carolina class had 16 inch 45 caliber guns. The New York class had 14 inch 45 caliber guns. The caliber is how many bore diameter in lengths they are.

[@longtabsigo]

09:00. Ships do not provide Close Air Support. The provide naval gunfire support to ground forces and Anti Aircraft Fire Support.

[@1pcfred]

The Pittsburgh could fly!

[@darylsmioth1904]

During the Korean war my father was a weatherman and they flew ahead of the ships to help steer them away from major storms. No weather satellites back then and everything had to be done by plane.

[@roypublic3269]

In 1992 I was on a Navy contracted Research vessel running from Kauai to Oahu to escape Hurricane Iniki when we got an SOS call for a sinking fishing vessel. We launched a 16 foot RIB in 30' seas in the middle of the night to search for survivors. Going up and down those monsters was one of the craziest things I ever did. Being an adrenaline junky, I laughed all night like Lt. Dan on that little "Shrimp" boat.

[@JHNielson4851]

Did you rescue any survivors?

[@roypublic3269]

@@JHNielson4851 No. One person died, the rest were picked up by the CG.

[@virt1one]

pretty impressive that the bow stayed afloat and available to be recovered. And looking at the front of the ship, there's a lot there up front. I can't understand how no one was in that part of the ship when it broke away? Or there were, but they were recovered alive, along with the bow?

[@oldsalt7534]

I was on the USS Robert H. McCard DD822 . We got ride out Hurricane Betsy in '65. Now that was the ride of a lifetime.

[@earnestbrown6524]

There is another WW2 ship that lost their bow. Had a new one put on then decades later the bow was found by divers. The divers had a hard time finding out what ship it was from because they were looking at ships that sank in the area. I think they ID the class then found a small article about the replaced bow.

[@RyGuyTheStrong]

Yeah, the Cruiser Honolulu had her bow blown off by a either a mine or a torpedo. Similar situation. Sailed back into port minus the bow.

[@isilder]

Numerous warships returned to base missing their bows. USS New Orleans is perhaps the extreme. Lost Bow AND the first turret, but returned to a friendly port for repairs.

[@chrislaub9452]

Wow I never would of thought they could keep floating after that. But all the ways they can block stuff off or flood or drain that makes sense

[@ToolofSociety]

@@chrislaub9452 Superior damage control and training.

[@Ivellios23]

Iirc Alaska lost both bow and Stern. She and HMS Javelin are testaments to US and UK damage control. Both were saved, towed in for repairs, and each with new bow and Stern went back out for more.

[@0mn0mable]

"the longest ship in the world" hah! Not only did the Greatest Generation save t he world from tyranny, they also had some top-tier comedy/zingers. Literally lol'd at the end when i heard the punchline.

[@dodoubleg2356]

Born, raised, & still livin' in Pittsburgh, it's a proud feeling to hear about a warship that embodied what it meant to call the STEEL CITY your home. 💪🖤💛😉✌️

[@user-up1us9jf1o]

Shaht aht to the USS Yinzer 🤣

[@user-cv8qe9ru8c]

I heard this ships fuel can be substituted with yueniling? Any truth to that?

[@tommygilliam8890]

I live in Tennessee, drive a truck, over the last 24 yrs I have met some great folks from Pittsburg. One of my favorite places to go.

[@Cha-y412]

My Uncle was a 17 year old gunners mate on the USS Astoria CL90 (Cleveland Class Cruiser light ) The Astoria was in that typoon and lost her Float planes and sustained other minor damage. My Uncle lost a front tooth during the storm when he was thrown face first into a bulkhead. Salute t0 the greatest generation.

[@robertweilmuenster1178]

My dad was on the USS Attu, CVE 102, they were in the same typhoon and followed the Pittsburgh back for repairs, as their flight deck had been raised 3 feet. He said he was so sick he didn't care if they sank or stayed afloat......

[@1pcfred]

My grandfather was on the island of Attu.

[@AirborneAnt]

In WW2, more US Navy ships were lost to the weather, than were lost to the enemy…

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Suppressed at the time, yes. Can't take chances with Mother Nature at her worst.

[@zorankomadina7540]

Yes officially , because of U Boats.

[@jameschenard7691]

Not to nitpick but that’s only true if you’re talking about the merchant marine and you take into account Zoran Komadina’s comment.

[@timber_wulf5775]

You’re not to bright on history huh?

[@AirborneAnt]

@@timber_wulf5775 the pacific typhoons lol…guess you missed that one there bright guy

[@robr2389]

Cool video. Thank You. I didn't know all that. I have been in some VERY violent weather at sea. That show, "Deadliest Catch" focuses on the Bering Sea. I have been there, also. But NOTHING I ever went through has beaten the North Atlantic storms. Winter of 1981, it was SO bad topside, we were rolling 10° to each side at a depth of 400'. It was BAD rough up top.

[@josephpacchetti5997]

That was one Hell of a Ride, Amazing Ship And Crew, Thanks Dark Seas, I'm subscribed to all of the Dark Channels and Watch them everyday, They are among the best on YT. 👍 🚢 🇺🇸

[@theephemeralglade1935]

I believe that the tug reported that they had, "found the missing suburb of Pittsburgh."

[@BillinHungary]

This is why US-built ships can outlast a 100ft wave. Not only are they well built, but they also have water-tight compartmentalization, which means that any flooding due to a hole in the hull, or in the case, missing a bow, can be contained so that it doesn't spread to the rest of the ship. In Contrast, the Soviet flagship Moskva sank quickly. Whether it was an internal explosion or a Ukrainian missile, the reason it sank so quickly is because their ships don't have the structural integrity and watertight integrity to survive such an event.

[@daveroberts7295]

The Russians probably left water tight doors and hatches open. The damage should have been confined to a couple of compartments, open hatches allow the whole ship to flood. Smoke staining along the whole of the main deck indicates they might just have not had enough damage control training.

[@Mr.XJ.96]

My Grand Farther was on the Baltimore Class Destroyer U.S.S Quincy Ca-71 or the Quincy II. as Machinists Mate 43-45. I remeber the story of him telling me about going through that Typhoon many times. He talked about the Pittsburgh getting her bow ripped off and how scary it was for him on his Ship going through that storm.

[@112chapters3]

Glad I’ve been here since early days, the growth of channels is amazing. Timmy jimmy or whoever u r. U deserve it. I’ll see you at the top.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@mauricedavis2160]

I was born in Pittsburgh, how could I not view this episode, thank you!!!🙏👍👻

[@garymcaleer6112]

Great post, D.S. Your research is always commendable.

[@roryvonbrutt7302]

Longest ship in the world‼️®™️ wow

[@terry_willis]

More amazing that the ship itself did not sink, is the fact that the 100' section of bow that broke off, not only floated but was able to be towed home and glued back on.

[@tonybero]

Nine minutes of setup made the wave and subsequent damage seem like an afterthought...this could have been a two minute video, dude.

[@magicsinglez]

A retired admiral was talking about something like this. On a Nimitz class carrier they were returning to Norfolk. Waves came up to the flight deck. Water came up to/onto the flight deck at the peak of the worst waves. They weren’t even in a hurricane. They were following a hurricane after first letting it pass.

[@trkayani4949]

In September 1988 I was onboard a 3000 ton ex US navy DD gearing class when wind speed was 60 knots on our way Jakarta to Sydney via Western Australian route. It was horrific experience of life. Though didn’t loss bow of the ship lol 😂. However wind direction fan was broken from highest point of the ship and came down to torpedo tube deck. 🇵🇰

[@bryankerns8482]

Should do an episode on New Orleans and Minneapolis in the battle of Tassafaronga where both ships lost their bows and still managed to survive and sail home for repairs

[@isilder]

USS New Orleans is perhaps the extreme. Lost Bow section AND the first turret section, but returned to a friendly port for repairs.

[@franktatom1837]

My father told me about this typhoon, he was on the USS Torrance, KA76, he said several smaller ships crested waves so high that the ships broke and sank in minutes. There was little reporting on it during the war because the typhoon was known to be approaching and could have been avoided. My father said the fleet admiral (Halsey, I believe), should have been court-martialed and imprisoned. Halsey was known for making incorrect decisions, such as buying the Japanese feint during the invasion of the Phillipines that left the rear of the invasion fleet exposed. Halsey and his staff (McCain included) were always saved by the bravery and commitment of the sailors and Marines that served under them - as were many generals and admirals throughout history.

[@huddunlap3999]

I remember when scientists claimed wave like this didn't exist.

[@biggtrux]

They learned. It's called science.

[@D-B-Cooper]

Trust the science. I remember when you could buy charts of mars with canals all over it, and named.

[@1pcfred]

@@D-B-Cooper now we have a rover in a dry river bed on Mars. At least we think it's a dried up river.

[@D-B-Cooper]

@@1pcfred hard to prove it is really on mars. I’m not saying it isn’t but you can’t trust anyone anymore.

[@1pcfred]

@@D-B-Cooper if it isn't it's a pretty vast conspiracy. Being as that's an ESA image the the rover is NASA. The origin of radio signals can be determined using triangulation too.

[@Dad-farted]

Is your narrator a human or a computer generated voice? You guys put out the most excellent content of all of the historical documentaries on the Internet! Thank you very much keep up the great work.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Rent a voice? Is it available in local computer shops? 😁😁

[@terminalpsychosis8022]

What an awesome story. Very apt nickname for this brutal survivor of a seagoing vessel. I enjoy all the vids on this channel, but this one really hit me. Good on all those brave men. Cannot imagine going through that.

[@scotth6814]

I'm amazed that the bow stayed afloat on it's own.

[@kcstafford2784]

by no I watch some of the others I watch all of yours thanks from a old Navy guy❤

[@michaelmcdonald3057]

I was a BT on the U.S.S. Cone DD866 in Viet Nam in the South China Sea . While trying to skirt a typhoon to meet up with an oiler we encountered seas of 75 to 100 feet. On cresting one of these monsters our stern came up completely exposing the twin screws (25 tons of bronze each) to the air. The sudden loss of pressure on the starboard prop caused it to separate from the shaft and fall to the bottom. We managed to steer around the storm with considerable difficulty and much reviewing of the possible existence of God.

[@bobbrown5529]

that was an awesome episode . Truly glad you are bringing these events that happened a life time ago . It shows just how hard life was , & it was not a holiday in the Bahama's

[@spraudoggy]

Great story! What a ride that must have been for those sailors.

[@timmotel5804]

Excellent. Thank You for this piece of history.

[@itsallspent]

I lived near Pittsburgh . It was a smokey city . They called money smoke. The polluted air injured my lungs. Grew up stoking a coal furnace. Most of the steel mills are gone.

[@Badger13x]

Ships under Halsey's command had a lot of bad luck with bad weather.

[@1pcfred]

Ships under Halsey's command had a lot of bad luck with leadership. His nickname wasn't Bull Halsey for nothing.

[@ultimatebucco3181]

An anchor from the Pittsburgh was located outside the old Allegheny Center Mall on Pittsburgh's North Side. Checked it out a lot when I was a kid. Not sure if still there. Really neat video!!!!

[@richspillman4191]

One of the best episodes done, very good.

[@jamesbarca7229]

It's just 5-inch and 8-inch guns. With naval guns, caliber refers to the length (length to bore ratio). A 5-inch 38 caliber gun is 190 inches long (5x38=190).

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

That German movie is a must watch for anyone that hasn't seen it - Das Boot. The one about one of their WW2 submarines. Those in the know who have been in such sharp ends said it was totally realistic. The scene where it is battling through weather on the surface for speed, ultra dramatic.

[@al1rednam]

Agreed. But beware, there are 3 versions of it. The original is a TV movie in 6 parts of ~1h each. Sadly I couldn't find a DVD of that. I'm 45 now but I remember the times in the 80ies (often around Xmas for whatever reason) I was glued to the TV 30 minutes in advance and full of suspense. Then there came a ~100min cinematic version. That one is just trash in my opinion. It's reduced to a cheap action movie. Last there is a director's cut of the cinematic version. That one is all right. Not as good as the 6h version but much easier to find

[@JEJAK5396]

@@al1rednam Weird how it’s hard to find anything good produced about the German involvement in WW2

[@al1rednam]

@@JEJAK5396 you're right. One part of the weirdness (and not the smallest one) is, that anyone who tries to show some realistic portrait of the german side of this time without overemphasizing the negative aspects risks to be called a N**i - at least in Germany. We as "the Germans" still proudly carry the shame of our ancestors where we would do well to finally come to terms with our past. In that regard even "Das Boot" is displaying a euphemism as it's crew (from the Ka'Leu aka captain lieutenant down to Wilhelm the ghost) don't just act out any order but are displayed having a conscience. Just look into the Ka'Leus eyes when he has to order "engines back" instead of saving survivors of a burning ship they just sank. According to written testimony I got more of the impression that at least persons in leading position were chosen for their loyalty or believe in the Reich. But nevertheless the atmosphere aboard U96 is definitely well and captivating displayed. I have visited the movie prop at Bavaria Studios in Munich and an actual WW2 Uboat at Kiel. I was disappointed by the clean look and feel of the original...

[@JEJAK5396]

@@al1rednam The perspective you and the rest of the world has been given about Germany in WW2 is inaccurate at best and a betrayal of truth at its worst. The fact that we have to pretend that only some Germans had a conscience and weren’t all bloodthirsty monsters is preposterous. The history books you grew up studying were and are not accurate.

[@naslan]

Just love your stuff. Given how difficult and contradictory naval specs can be, this is spot on research.

[@d33pNacho]

I wish you used the metric system so we would all understand the capabilities of this impressive ship

[@dullonion797]

Onboard USS Independence CV-62…and across Atlantic ended up in the west side of an eastern moving hurricane. It slowed and Indy became ‘stuck’….couldn’t turn out of winds or away from huge seas on the bow. Slowed to minimum steerage and rode it out. CO sat on bridge for about 30 hours….later said he wasn’t sure the ship would survive it. Ship lost all its deck level antennas and bow catwalks aft to island.

[@Shockwave-ob2tx]

Um, where's the rest? The video kinda just stops... What happened after the bow was recovered? Was she repaired and sent back out, or scrapped?

[@michaeloppenheimer2582]

There are through history just like with the Pittsburgh many stories of sacrifice bravery and sudden unexpected disaster in which human endeavor survives thrives and overcome they should be an inspiration to all of us !!!

[@mrpritchard3535]

good story about my home town. thanks

[@cad5238]

My vessel was hit by a typhoon in 1991.Typhoon Fred. We capsized and began sinking.I jumped in the water and hit the starboard side.It hurt my right leg and thigh. It was a nasty wound. When I surfaced i ditched my radio.but kept my knife. As she began going down,i was sucked down also.I really can't say how long i was under water.I know my ears popped a couple of times. It got dark. But then ,how long i don't know i reached the surface. The first words out of my mouth was god help me! Thats the truth. I saw the next monster wave coming close and it was the tallest wave i had ever seen. Frightening.It also sent me down.Up i came again! I said again god help me.The wind and 🌧️ rain were terrible hitting my exposed face. It felt like tooth picks hitting my cheeks.I turned my head and I guess the man upstairs heard my simple prayer. A life raft right in front of me inflatable type 25 man capacity.But it was capsized also.I reached out to toward the life line and grabbed it.Just as i did a hand from the raft grabbed mine and a voice said I got you mate!The next wave hit but I had a death grip on him and the lifeline.Another hand caught mine and threw me like flopping fish.in the bottom of the raft. The rest is another story.We were winched up 9 and a half hours later. By some brave R.A.F. helicopter crews out of hong Kong.Not all of us made it .I have never forgotten them .We also lost our sat divers.They were my friends.Thankyou.

[@NemoBlank]

That cruiser had low freeboard to keep its weight down due to that belt, which made it less seaworthy than most. It's a tribute to the uselessness of arms limitation treaties. Everyone breaks them.

[@prestonwilson9548]

9:05 he actually gets to the story