WW2 Rocket Ships - Beach Landing Battering Rams

The story of Allied rocket landing ships, that decisively changed amphibious operations in the Pacific by battering Japanese beach defences to pieces. They also served in Korea and Vietnam.
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

[@hereLiesThisTroper]

1990: Discovery Channel 2000: National Geographic 2010: History Channel 2020: Mark Felton Productions

[@Axterix13]

Today, I was looking at a documentary on Grant as a possible gift for my parents. Then I saw it had the History Channel logo on it, and so I passed. They've done so much harm to their reputation. Thankfully, we have channels like this, the History Guy, and Drachinifel.

[@peterkapunkt6783]

I don't know anything about US channels, but most of the stuff on our TV about things like this gets inflated to ridiculous lengths with some stupid bs that no one one wants to see or know. they would have turned this into a 45 minutes documentary.

[@snsm6730]

This is really sadly true...consider the information content and to the point narrative of even on of Marks short videos... I now ignore anything with the History Channel logo on it because I will be certain to be disappointed...

[@THIS---GUY]

@@Axterix13 I wish someone with the honesty of Dr. Felton would cover the history of the pyramids. History channels obvious bias means it excludes a lot of valuable information if it doesn't coincide with the version of history they WANT to tell

[@rogersheddy6414]

History Channel... Sasquatch, Ancient Aliens, and freaky assed reality shows.

[@keithberger8998]

"Cheap to produce. Easy to use and it doesn't require massive crews." SOLD

[@madmarvshighwaywarrior2870]

It's a poem in itself

[@ChrisCoombes]

I’d never heard of that reloading rocket turret before or seen some of that other footage - thanks Mark!

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

I wonder if it could werf nebels also.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

@Kevin Dales Isn't war great for technical innovation? 😅

[@PeteCourtier]

You could imagine that rocket turret in Star Wars firing missiles at x-wings😂

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

@@PeteCourtier Don't give Mark any ideas for the title of his next video.

[@azureprophet]

@@PeteCourtier Absolutely. Star Wars is basically WWII in space (fighting-wise) so it checks out.

[@NathanChisholm041]

Those twin 5 in rocket launchers are mad! Never seen them before.

[@readhistory2023]

Once they got the idea of a MLRS in their head they never looked back.

[@tanall5959]

@@readhistory2023 They seem more like a predecessor of the Mark 13 'One Armed Bandit' missile launcher. Amazing considering this was WW2 technology!

[@stephenle-surf9893]

Simple, cheap and cost effective. Just like myself. No wonder they got rid of them. 🤔

[@mpetersen6]

Fitted with proximity fuses these would have been able to put out a much larger volume of fire to engage incoming attack aircraft. They could have been amongst the first SAMs

[@ArenBerberian]

Looks so modern for WW2!

[@justasingledoor5178]

4 Thousand more till one million! We’ll hit it soon Mark!

[@mrdfac]

It just goes to show quality matters.

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

I send Mr. Feltons videos to 1,122 (and counting) contacts . Let's get him to 1,000,000 before Christmas .

[@hammerlundtuber5067]

Noice

[@lukemborg7341]

Stay on target

[@dave8323]

Fully deserved

[@bokke6]

Let's take a minute here...Mark Felton has proved there is hope left for humanity..1 million subscribers is proof that people are interested in our past when told by a clever,straight-talking man..no frills,no window dressing,just good old fashioned history. Well done Mark.

[@nathanadams6648]

KZbin: Useful history, DEMONETIZED!

[@aarayskirata3420]

History Channel: shows ancient aliens Me: Isn't this the history channel, not the conspiracy theory channel? I'm just gonna watch Mark Felton Production instead....

[@AtheAetheling]

@Haeuptling Aberja you're really reaching here. Mark Felton reports history fairly, and his videos never needlessly extol the virtues of the nazis. Straight facts always, and for the most part the comments are sensible. One or two idiots for sure, but nowhere near as many as a lot of history channels. Not saying nazi fetishism doesnt exist. The 'Wehraboo' is indeed alive and well on KZbin. But given Mark's videos have absolutely no bias there are few of them here. They're all busy reading Max Hastings books I suppose. Theres a guy who is guilty of increasing the Nazi myth of invincibility. But he is not a historian, he is a journalist. It's important to recognise which is which. Mark Felton is a proper historian.

[@StevenKeery]

@Haeuptling Aberja : Or it could just be that WW2 is within living memory. That many would have Fathers and Grandfathers who served in the military and who returned home with visible wounds and stories to tell their families of what they had seen. We honour those veterans and rightly so, for their service and the sacrifices that they made. In comparison combatants of the American Civil War or the Napoleonic wars, are a little more remote from us. Yet, we have people who want to tear down statues of participants from those eras. The advent of the camera and war photographers, have served to bring the war closer to civilians back home. It could be argued, that it was war photographers, embedded in the forces, that had such an effect on public opinion, that it influenced the outcome of the Vietnam War. Margaret Thatcher, for example, prevented the photographer Don McCullen travelling with the British forces to the Falklands because she worried his work might undermine public opinion back home. The atrocities committed during WW2 brought home to the general public, as never before, the full horror of war and what depravity the human mind was capable of. We could see the photos of the gas ovens and pictures of the starving inmates that mere words could not convey. It is these factors, that have created the interest in this period. To delve into people's minds, as to why Hitler had such support. To reconcile why a failed artist arrived at a final solution and implemented the means to try and bring it about. To understand the courage and ingenuity it took to defeat him and the resulting aftermath of the war. All of these impinge on our lives today, as few other wars in history did.

[@davidtooker4135]

@@AtheAetheling j

[@therealbettyswollocks]

I hear Mark’s intro music, I upvote.

[@chrispycreme9545]

what’s it called it’s the vibe

[@bramveneman]

Same

[@jackryan5268]

I found a redditor

[@chrispycreme9545]

@@jackryan5268 how

[@chrispycreme9545]

upvoting is not exclusive to reddit

[@moistmike4150]

Since I was a kid I've seen films briefly showing a few frames of these ships, usually sandwiched between multiple cuts of much larger ships shooting their big guns at enemy-held shoreline. No one has ever explained what these rocket ships' roles were, nor how they worked. Thank you so much Mark for what you do!!!

[@PennsyPappas]

Russians: We fire Katushya Rockets from our trucks. Rocket Ships: That's Cute.

[@phill2065]

They did actually have river patrol boats with a single Katushya rack installed onto them, but it’s nothing compared to the rocket ships

[@PennsyPappas]

@@phill2065It doesn't surprise me that the Russians would've done that. I'm sure they were put too some how use. I always liked the katushya trucks because alot if not all of them were made by studebaker. In fact fun fact the Russians thought studebaker meant truck in america since that's all we have them. We found that out from our Ukraine neighbor. Fun fact for the day in case you didn't know already.

[@martinmiller1087]

The NVA frequently used Chinese 107mm and Russian 122mm Katyusha rockets against us in Vietnam in 68-69 when I was there. They targeted large basecamps, much smaller firebases (FB), fire support bases (FSB), and night defensive perimeters (NDP). ... Of course, the rockets were relatively inaccurate, but powerful barrage weapons. From my perspective as a combat infantry NCO in III Corps, the enemy did not have the capability to deploy them in enough numbers to tip the firepower balance in the theater into their favor. To Army infantrymen in III Corps at that time, the communist 82mm mortar was their most effective indirect fire weapon. The units I served in took lots of casualties from the mortars and zero casualties from their large rockets. ... Down at the infantry level, the RPG with B-40 antiarmor shaped charge warhead rockets was by far their most effective rocket weapon. We took lots of casualties from RPGs. When targeted by them at night, we called them Fat Tracers. ... I'm very happy to have survived that epochal time in my life.

[@PennsyPappas]

@@martinmiller1087 Huh i wondered if they had rockets or not. Usually you might here about their anti aircraft defenses or something but never rockets. Thank you for sharing that with us as i learned something new today and more importantly thank you for your service to our country. Shame you had to go over there, but at least you made it home alive. Thanks again.

[@martinmiller1087]

@@PennsyPappas ... I genuinely appreciate that Matthew. Thank you ... BTW: you can thank Lyndon Baines Johnson for my service - he drafted me! ... LOL

[@ermy94]

It always amazes me the speed of innovation when wars are involved. These things were actually implemented in few months.

[@glenchapman3899]

I thing you will find people were developing these launchers while the rockets were in development, and they would have seen the shortfalls of the first generation weapons while still on the drawing board.

[@444mopar]

Hard to comprehend how many moving parts there were in what was a relatively short time. They took concept to implementation in months, feels like now we take decades.

[@rickv9180]

@@444mopar Phone development: *hold my charger*

[@elykeom1]

It saved a lot of men’s lives that’s why

[@jamessotherden5909]

These ships fascinate me big time , And yet its very rarely they get mentioned in military history. Thank you.

[@will5107]

I hadn't really noticed these before in WWII footage. I'll look more closely from now on.

[@jacobdewey2053]

@@will5107 If you watch Walter Kronkite's series on the war, I believe they're featured in a few of the pacific ones.

[@will5107]

@@jacobdewey2053 Found some episodes on YT. Am looking now. Thanks for the tip.

[@silvanski]

Now that's what I call a blast from the past.

[@AtheistOrphan]

Literally.

[@dr69_420]

I can see Mark being the David Attenborough of History and I love it

[@Vorpal_Wit]

How long till the channels are renamed Sir Mark Felton Productions, and War Stories with Sir Mark Felton?

[@stevemcdonald44]

'Here we can see the rocket ship in it's natural environment, once it finds it's prey it strikes immediately so that it's prey is completely immobilized......'

[@jargon2532]

Let's get Mark to 1 million!!!! fun fact, these were used a lot during the Vietnam war edit: Congrats on 1 million subscribers!!!!

[@deceiver123m]

War of empire - should be taught in all schools

[@ColinH1973]

Excellent presentation and use of contemporary footage of another little-known item. Great work as usual, Mark. Thank you.

[@whiteonggoy7009]

Soon

[@dunfrost3796]

subscribed once and now I am recommending his channel to my friends, 1M subcribers here we go!

[@alexanderh.9721]

Yeah let's get Mark the golden YT award 😀

[@TheProGamerSloth]

According to my dad, my grandad used to have to load those British rocket launching ships during his time in the Navy. He said they were such a pain as you spent hours and hours loading them only for them all to be fired within a few minutes. He served on many different landings like Salerno and sword beach but he was on a train to Scotland when the war ended and never stepped foot on a boat or abroad since, claiming that whenever he went abroad they were trying to shoot at him!

[@edwardloomis887]

I have no doubt the assault waves appreciated your grandfather's hard work. When it comes to supporting fires, the equation is "P equals plenty."

[@yesyesyesyes1600]

When I was young nobody could tell me, why supposedly only the russians used rocket launchers on trucks. Thanks to Marc Felton and That history guy I know now better. Thanks Mr Felton - you answered the questions of my younger self! :)

[@bobs1150]

I've been waiting for someone to cover these ships! My father served on LSM(R)-194, and was on board when it was sunk by Kamikaze off Okinawa.

[@brianfergus839]

I have been waiting too. My dad was on LCI(g) 79. Also was at Okinawa on the “radar picket line”, which is where most LCI casualties were incurred, as a result of kamikaze planes, boats, and swimmers.

[@bobs1150]

@@brianfergus839 My dad's ship was on Picket Station #1 when sunk. These ships didn't have much defense against air attack.

[@tonyp4092]

My Grandpa served aboard LSM(R)-527. He told me they were an ammo re-supply ship and when the war ended they were in Guam and there was no booze. I guess the crew was quite pissed about this.

[@bobs1150]

@@tonyp4092 😆 They weren't taking care of priorities.

[@Slim_Ch4rles]

Holy s***t man that mustve been terrifying! My grandfather served in the marines as an artillery observer, I wonder what he thought when he saw these things in action preparing to land on Okinawa. Trying to picture what our forefather experienced during those times is unfathomable yet it's so fascinating to get some insight. My family and I never heard him speak a word about the war. I guess that says more than anything he could've ever told me what he'd been through 😥

[@paulcredmond]

Incredible. I've read and listened to so many books on WW2 and every video Mark puts up suprises me with something I had absolutely never heard of. Brilliant work as usual.

[@mrtrailesafety]

And absent the usual triumphalist Greatest Generation gas and stupid music soundtracks.

[@adamtennant4936]

Same here. I'd never heard of those auto-loading rocket turrets. Those are seriously cool!

[@manisteerocks7092]

I agree.

[@jmeszi4159]

I can’t even imagine how intense a bombardment like that was on the receiving end of those rocket strikes.

[@peterblood50]

I'm not a WW2-ophile, I prefer Royal Navy history from the 18th and 19th century, so I'd never seen the American dual rocket firing system. It is very impressive, especially as it was so incredibly effective. Thanks for a very educational video presentation. Well worth my time investment. 👍👍👍

[@dalemarks3657]

Watching Mark Felton videos is equal to attending University lectures. The fine details revealed are amazing and help to understand details about combat strategies.

[@juki6377]

i'm not sure which subject you followed at uni but there wasnt much focus on rocket launchers, more about socia-political aspects that lead to certain events, as much as i like history, i love marks channel (and the diversity of his subjects)

[@dalemarks3657]

@@juki6377 My point obviously went over your head. Mark's videos is equal to a high level of instruction. Even better than a University of which I never attended nor did I ever need to.

[@at6686]

I’ve seen those ship based rocket launchers in the past. They looked so devastating that they didn’t look “fair”.

[@flywithmeify]

Glad to see this episode. My father in WW2 installed the ship based rocket launchers while in the Navy at Pearl Harbor.

[@lyleslaton3086]

My grandfather was stationed on one of these ships. In fact, the image of the 2 ships firing in tandem was his ship. His ship number was 77. Started off as an LCI Landing Craft Infantry, it carried enough rockets for 3 salvos before it had to reload. Crew 35 Officers and men. Was one of 24 ships sent to Pearl Harbor for conversion.

[@brianfergus839]

My father (Lt jg Charles L. Fergus) served on LCI(g) 79, which was fitted with rocket launchers following the Aleutian campaign. He was CO of the vessel for the remainder of the war, and fought in the invasions of kuajalein, Saipan, Tinian, peleliu, and Okinawa. While a typical amazing MF production, Mark failed to mention a couple of interesting features and facts concerning the LCIs. For one thing, they had flat bottoms, so that after discharging their rockets, they would run themselves up on the beach in order to allow the Marines (around 100) they also transported to wade to shore. The ship would then have to wait for high tide to get out of the shallows. Apparently there was a high degree of scorn directed from the Marines toward the sailors who delivered them, as they viewed their naval counterparts’ combat role as “cushy”. The flat bottoms made for very uncomfortable travel in rough seas, but on at least one occasion, a torpedo passed under the vessel without contacting the hull since the draft was so shallow. Following the initial invasion of Okinawa, the LCIs were used as patrol boats (in addition to the rockets they were also fitted with 2 40mm and 4 20mm guns) around the island. It was here that most of the casualties were incurred, primarily as a result not only of kamikaze planes, but also kamikaze boats and swimmers. Great stuff - keep up the good work Mark!

[@sellsjeeps]

"Hey Johnny how many rocket launchers can we fit on the deck of this ship!?" Johnny: "Yes"

[@edwardloomis887]

Same answer as "How many Soldiers can get on a deuce-and-half truck?" "All of them."

[@YungGandalf]

Was the dual rocket launcher designed to look like a face? It has a nose and everything

[@Skidfreaks_southeast]

I thought so 😂😂

[@nathanadams6648]

its thomas the tank engine.

[@howardchambers9679]

@@nathanadams6648 Thomas when he's cross

[@RCAvhstape]

@@nathanadams6648 Thomas the Death Engine

[@Betterifitsfree]

The face of death to some.

[@Chauncy63]

My grandfather was a merchant marine in WWI. When WWII broke out he wanted to get back in the navy. They said he was too old. To which he said "Send me to boot camp. If I fail boot camp THEN I am too old." He made it in and was stationed on one of these Rocket LSM ships you showed in this clip. 'cept his was in the Pacific.

[@Whiskey.666]

It is facinating and overlooked aspects of ww2 like this that will get you to the big 7 figures!

[@dc1397]

Seems like Godzilla is just around the corner with these rocket ships sounding off.

[@jesus2621]

Bridezilla

[@johnrust592]

Holy crap, I was thinking the same thing.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

More likely the trauma of the rockets sounds inspired the Japanese creators.

[@thomasb1889]

Even on film the sound chills you and I can't imagine being in the target zone.

[@dc1397]

@@thomasb1889 it does give you chills. It's not a boom sound like a cannon. It has that hiss sound.

[@NyronGT]

At first i thought those twin rocket launchers were binoculars akin to those near tourist attractions/landmarks. Such a wicked design and i love it.

[@Fluff467]

Mark Felton...you are my favorite military historian.I I am a Vietnam Vet 1968-1970.I participated in the 1969 nuclear attack on HANOI and the 120 mm atomic cannon barrage on Laos

[@themangix357]

Gotta say, despite the shortcomings of those welded rocket launchers, they look much cooler when launching simultaneously than the automated ones.

[@PanzerBuyer]

They were valuable moral boosters to troops hitting the beaches.

[@highjumpstudios2384]

I want one

[@RCAvhstape]

Sort of. The automated ones look much more sinister and robotic. I like them.

[@peterruiz6117]

I don't know, an orchestra of double launchers all firing twice, reloading in unison is amazing....But ,yeah... Those welded tube ships look and sound awsum. I bet the enemy loved to watch any rocket ship perform....Just before diving into a cave.

[@mpetersen6]

@@RCAvhstape I wonder how they would have worked out as anti air rockets when fitted with proximity fuses

[@luketoney3933]

Mark has taught me so much about history. So many people want to forget the history of our ancestors,but we must not forget our past or we will repeat it. Mark I thank you for teaching all of us about the forgotten history. Let’s get mark to 1 million subscribers!

[@judycarlsen7707]

Richard here. I served as Communication Officer on the USS Clarion River (LSMR 409), putting it back in commission at Hunters Point in mid-1965 and serving in Vietnam until transfer 1/67. During rocket and 5 in/38 shore bombardment mission, I served as OOD. Rockets were effective for LZ prep, call for fire out to 10,000 yards and close in H&I fire. We carried about 4000 rockets of 3 types: 2500, 5000 & 10,000 yard. We also carried about 1000 rounds of 5 in/38 ammo with an effective range of near 10 miles.

[@Mermully]

I dont know why but its incredibly satisfying watching massive rocket barrages.

[@garymckee8857]

If anyone is deserving of one million subscribers it's you Mark. Thanks and have a great weekend.

[@tmclaug90]

The more I learn about history, the more I freaking love it lol.

[@cindyyager4505]

My father commanded LSMR 605 at war's end. He was on his way to support the invasion of Japan. I had NO idea that these ships were reconfigured and am assuming that his was as well. Thank you for enlightening me. Great work.

[@Macintoshiba]

Americans: "So we take a Katyusha and we make everything 1000% bigger."

[@David-yo5ws]

Definitely a morale booster for the Landing Party. And it would certainly keep the enemies heads down for the duration. Great video!

[@davidmeyer6908]

"When the world trembled at the shound of our rockets..." -Capt. Marko Ramius, "The Hunt for Red October"

[@741al6]

Misshile drillsh.

[@galenw2339]

Man one bomb hits the deck of those ships and an entire grid square gets vaporized!! Love the videos!!

[@Canofasahi]

One of rocketships problems was the heating of the deck when the unleashed their rockets on the targets. The solution was pretty simple, hose the deck with seawater. These turrets are new for me, and boy do they look sophisticated! Yes they do.

[@brianfergus839]

My dad (LCI 79 1942-1945) said the deck metal would get red hot

[@dougerrohmer]

@@brianfergus839 I'll bet your dad was a dab hand at painting scorched metal. Thanks for sharing the memory.

[@stxrynn]

I never dug deep enough to understand why the Okinawa landing was unopposed. Now I know. That dual turret is amazing. Thanks for filling in this hole in my understanding of WW2. As I remember, my uncle was at Okinawa. He and 10 others survived out of the original platoon. Out of the eleven, he alone finished the campaign without a wound.

[@rd4660]

Mark continues to educate me on stuff I never knew.

[@MrMrliamo]

Please please please please never change the intro music, it just sounds so intense as the video just explodes with such information, excitement, history and a very well educated man to tell the story!

[@GigaTrope]

Mark: This was a highly effective weapon. Rocket Launcher: TOOT TOOT

[@osamabinladen824]

Rocket ships. Wonderful. Mark, you're almost 1 million now! Congratulations in advance! 🙂

[@mortache]

How is heaven, Osama?

[@pk-sc8iz]

Seal team six reading this: 👁 👄 👁

[@jimc.goodfellas226]

Growth has been rapid...people are savvy. Even Osama is a fan

[@taylor5065]

I don’t think we should be giving him ideas

[@microwave9529]

Thank you osama, very cool

[@Jamison1888]

About to close my eyes for sleep, nope need to know all about the rocket turrets and other vessels.

[@dolfort]

so now the youtube Gold Play Button is on its way to Mark Felton, flying like a rocket. Congratulations!

[@glamdring0007]

I think there's a presumption among many people out there that WW2 was primarily a gun war until the Japanese were nuked (excluding Nazi V rocket attacks on London of course)...soldiers, tanks, bomber squadrons, battleships and carriers make up most imagery of the war...it's the first time I've ever seen these semi automated rocket launcher turrets. Excellent video !

[@HamburgerMolester]

I can't find any other videos about the Mk 102 rocket launcher. I love how he always finds footage of things I've never seen and probably won't ever find anywhere else. Great content.👍

[@angeledduirbonesu1989]

"Now, that's a lot of damage!"

[@wienerstomp]

Now*

[@seonewport363]

Dr Felton strikes again with another marvelous detailed story !

[@pizzahut99]

There’s something about seeing Mark just staring at me at the beginning of the video is just amazing

[@thomas_jay]

The key word here is 'cheap' whereas nowadays weapon systems are so expensive that you can afford only a few or go bancrupt.

[@Thissa96]

Thats because the way we conduct war has radically changed. There are no extensive defensive works or large troop movementd where you need a stellar amount of indiscriminate firepower. The wars we figth now need pinpoint accurate weapons that are able to take out foes that are in populated areas.

[@thomas_jay]

@@Thissa96 No, there will be two types of military wars. One is the kind you just described. The other will be conventional when you will need firepower to overwhelm or supress large formations of troops. And then, of course, there still is the unconventional war that is led in the shadows.

[@Thissa96]

@@thomas_jay i dont think a large conventional war between nations which includes one great power is possible anymore. That will be fought through proxy or would get nuclear uncomfortably quick.

[@thomas_jay]

@@Thissa96 The conventional war variant is quite possible in different regions, i.e US-China, Russia-EU /NATO, Saudi Arabia-Iran, Pakistan-India, US /S. Korea- N.Korea / China, (even China-Russia is possible as Russia occupies terrority whhich was formerly chinese). All it takes is one wrong step with the wrong politicians

[@austinm.9832]

@@thomas_jay China and North Korea as allies isn't feasible anymore, it would just be everybody invading north korea as quickly as possible.

[@hoffmiermp]

Nothing like watching another amazing Mark Felton production while drinking my morning coffee. 🙂

[@frankhernandez6883]

my dad served on one of these during the war. Ship #81, Pacific. Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

[@therakotomangas3594]

Mark is the best history teller , I watch 2 or 3 clips before I sleep every night

[@CA999]

Nice find. At a glimpse from 2020, the amount of automation and systems integration looks impressive. Dr Felton could you make a similar video about the B-29 Bomber from a similar view point as it too was more formally identified as a integrated weapons system rather than as a Bomber please?

[@napster7825]

That was the most informative thing I've ever seen, heard or read about rocket ships. It's as though no one before could have been bothered to cover them, but you did. Thank you.

[@johnrogers9481]

I know.! I've seen them in films for six decades but there was never any focus on what they were all.about.

[@DIEGhostfish]

I love these rocket boats, they're so niche compared to gun vessels. And there are so many different configurations of rails and such.

[@counciousstream]

Mark Felton Productions in my opinion provides some of the best military related content available on KZbin. The formula is the same, the catchy music, photo of Dr. Felton, and a deep dive into a well focused topic. The focused deep dive is just one of the things that sets Mark Felton Productions apart from other content providers. The delivery by Felton himself of a well researched and well written script bring a high level of credibility to the videos. Anybody can put something on youtube, nobody does it as well as Felton Productions.

[@zamincagar7344]

here we are folks, on another episodes, that we never know before if its because Mark

[@kevincerna777]

THE LEGEND HIMSELF MARK FELTON

[@stevenbode285]

you are bringing non sensationalist, real history to A MILLION!! congratulations

[@kenp7814]

1) Mark Felton 2) The History Guy 3) Dark Docs All I need

[@houtama6370]

I'm a simple man, I see Mark Felton videos, I click.

[@shounak000]

And I thought Diwali was long past. Good job Mr Felton.

[@htos1av]

ALL I want for Christmas is a Mark Felton military history channel... OH, WAIT!!! :)

[@elkabong6429]

I went from knowing nothing about these rocket landing craft to, well, knowing what Mark has bestowed upon us in this fascinating video. Thanks!

[@bradpaiz4038]

Everyone who subscribed before 1 million is part of the Old Guard

[@nono-yi8qs]

Cool :) i feel important now.

[@marmer4541]

It is such a great honor 😊

[@admiralfishchipsman573]

I guess I'm the Old Guard now

[@JC-js3er]

Excellent!!!!! I feel so powerful!!!

[@rtk3543]

I wonder who was the first to subscribe ?

[@antoniof9756]

1st time I've heard of these ships. Awesome work.

[@rubbybobinson3543]

Years ago I was buying a small truck and the salesman had a picture of one of the US rocket ships on his wall. He had served on it. I acknowledged it as being a “cool photo” and he said “I bet you don’t know what that is.” I had been fascinated by amphibious landings since I was a kid so knew a little bit; however, I said I didn’t because I wasn’t up on all the specific rocket variants landing ships the US developed. “....but maybe a landing ship rocket?” I asked (just replacing tank with rocket). He was was shocked someone of my age even came close to knowing what is was. Great episode Mark.

[@model-man7802]

Dad saw these in the Pacific and said each it was pretty awesome to watch.

[@moospalladin5518]

Was just about to go to sleep seeing it's 3:30am here in Western Canada but I guess I have time for new video !

[@jimc.goodfellas226]

There's always time

[@dang6684]

What town ?

[@michaelkennedy3372]

Hard work pays off . Congratulations sir on your forthcoming milestone.

[@roscoewhite3793]

I'd seen and read about the support landing craft with their welded rocket rails, but this video is the first I'd seen of the Mark 102 rocket launcher and the 501-class LSM(R) - and the Mark 102 is not only futuristic by WW2 standards, but it even manages to look as though it would belong on contemporary battlefields.

[@FuzzyMarineVet]

As a Marine veteran, I can attest to the efficacy of these vessels in suppression of enemy fortifications. Many of my predecessors lived out the wars because the enemy was afraid to poke their heads up to shoot at them.

[@MasterMalrubius]

Another less known but very interesting bit of war weaponry. Enjoyed it immensely.

[@lomax343]

What you don't mention is that the Rocket Ships deployed on D-Day failed almost completely. The idea was that, as well as destroying German positions, that they would provide lots of shell-holes for the infantry to shelter in. In the event almost every rocket landed short. Lessons were learned, of course, leading to Rocket ships being much more effective in the Pacific in 1945.

[@henridelagardere264]

Shelling for shelter

[@jaspreetmattu4446]

This guy deserves a reward for being one of the best youtubers

[@gordoncavis1374]

Mark, thank you SO much for your work. *THIS* is my principal reason for using KZbin.

[@sticksnstones5407]

I love this channel I learn something new every episode.

[@QUADFLY]

Happy Saturday! Yessss!

[@terrystephens1102]

You have to admire the very quick and effective bombardment weapons they developed - the impact on beach-heads must have been incredible.👌👌👌👏👏👏👏👏

[@cooldadbro7999]

Mr. Felton, I want to thank you for you fabulous work on your research and narration of historical events. My father and I have been longtime fans. we are both veterans and apricate your attention to detail on the history of events . Thank you sir, my sons and I watch your channel to accurate explanation on events. Bravo!

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

You are very welcome

[@frankzhang1246]

Never get tired of the intro music, very epic sounding!

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

Another totally fascinating documentary with incredible footage . Imagine calculating the trigonometry from rocket to shore with fixed launchers on a moving ship . Distance to shore - Range of rocket and angle of launch . Imagine being in an aircraft anywhere near this barrage . The communications would have to be spot on . Thank You once again Mr. Felton for another phenomenal history lesson . If you ever take requests - A history of trench knives , daggers , self made close quarter fighting weapons ... and particularly a trench knife named the French Nail . All the best .

[@georgevilla4373]

The pinnacle of this rocket ship was the USS Carronade (IFS-1). I served on her 1968-1969; it was an overwhelming fire support ship in Viet Nam. Not meant for ship to ship combat. She could sail up rivers and canals in very shallow water. Check her out on the internet. Great footage there. George Villa, HM2 USN (ret. dis.)

[@Samuelgamerlambo]

Let's get mark to one million

[@rlauder7210]

And there was me hoping these were actually Rocket POWERED ships. Never mind.

[@andrewgraham6006]

Well the Japanese hoped that as well

[@paintnamer6403]

@@andrewgraham6006Later they defended earth with Space Battleship Yamato.

[@davidossinger8183]

Me too! Still a pretty satisfying story though.

[@at6686]

Good one

[@loddude5706]

Saturn five strapped to a carrier eh? - nice bow wave & who needs catapults?!

[@fiasco348]

Imagine sitting on all those rockets, with the chance of them being detonated by one plane strike or gun hit. I'd be firing them off as fast as I could just to empty the ship.

[@AccessDenied20078]

It’d definitely be a butt pucker moment when the radar picket ships start pinging contacts. “Please don’t hit us. Please don’t hit us. Please don’t hit us.”

[@roberttrout3588]

Very cool👍 Dad was aboard the LSMR 409 in Korea 1951, Battle of Wonson harbor, look it up. Captain James Stewart took the ship in to within 50 yards of shore to take out “Kalimack Charlie” a rail mounted gun hidden in tunnel. Many decorations that day. These were amazing ships, thanks for posting 🇺🇸👍

[@pauloyassuhidefujioka6458]

Thanks Dr. Felton for another extraordinary production. I wanted to know more about these ships since the 1970s when I came across an article, on an old 1950s Popular Mechanics magazine, regarding the USS Carronade LSM(Rocket). I wondered how the rocket launchers worked and their effect on beach landings. Now, in 2020 I finally have the answer thanks to you!! Another great work, I have been enjoying all Mark Felton videos, I learn a lot from them.

[@karlmuller4067]

This is amazing.I was only watching a DDay video recently and wondered how those rocket ships functioned.Low and behold up pops a Mark Felton video on the exact subject.Class video yet again.

[@stoneyll]

One has to wonder about the accuracy of theses rockets on a rolling and pitching deck of a ship.

[@lomax343]

All WW2 rockets were highly inaccurate - whether fired form a stable or an unstable platform. That's why they were always deployed in large numbers. They relied on the law of averages to saturate an area.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

It doesn't really matter. You were only safe if you were a long way from the target or in a very deep hole, and even then, your nerves might be shattered as you waited for a random rocket to join you or bury you alive.

[@andrewmorton9327]

I’ve read that the rockets fired at Omaha beach all fell short.

[@Vorpal_Wit]

Quantity compensates for accuracy error.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

@keith moore indeed it does, but as explained in the video, the aim was to prevent the enemy from resisting at a crucial moment. The sheer volume of ordnance that these rocket ships could lay down, combined with the fact that the enemy couldn't be entirely sure where the next rocket would land made them more effective in this role than naval gunfire.

[@venussingh2787]

Congratulations Mark on 1 million subscribers. Thank you for your endeavors. 👍

[@M1945]

Nice work Mark. I have an interesting late war clip of Germans testing a Nebelwerfer battery mounted on a ship that could have fit in nicely