Pinned post for Q&A :)

@ahuels67

Жыл бұрын

Did being on this ship make you feel more manly? Did you instantly start growing more chest hair and a thicker beard?

@Aelxi

Жыл бұрын

Do you think La Galissonniere class is a bit under-armed for their rather long hull?

@charlesklass4209

Жыл бұрын

any plans to visit some destroyers museum-ized in the US? DD 946 Edson, etc?

@firefox5926

Жыл бұрын

8:14 is it the rust?

@markarellano6899

Жыл бұрын

Hey, Drach, I absolutely love your channel. I discovered your videos just before you transitioned from using computer narration to recording the V/O yourself. You've always produced quality content, but you've really developed a great unique voice & style (also switching to human narration was the probably the single best decision you made.) Now, I'm sorry but this isn't a question but I was really hoping to get this noticed: Have you ever listened to The Dreadnoughts? They've recorded many chanties and other naval themed content as well. If nothing else to "Lifeboat Man" "Pique La Baleina". Thank you for all the quality content and your time

When the Brits are impressed by your heavy cruiser you know you built a good heavy cruiser.

About 20 years ago when I was in boy scouts we did a weekend trip where we stayed aboard the Salem, the museum staff gave us damage control and first aid training that they were able to make fun and we got to play hide and seek on the cruiser, framed as a training exercise to find a missing and injured sailor. Easily one of my best childhood memories.

@baalzeebub4230

Жыл бұрын

That’s a cool story. I served on a carrier and I’m still a bit jealous.

@carmencrincoli

Жыл бұрын

I got to do the same thing aboard the Massachusetts itself, back in like '88 or '89. Honestly one of the highlights of my entire childhood. Just getting to live on a battleship for a weekend. I really wanted it to be the New Jersey. (My troop was in NJ) but she was still active duty at the time. 😂

@cliff8669

Жыл бұрын

Far longer than 20 years ago, mid 70's ... I got to do a dependents day cruise on the USS Oriskany. My Dad was in Fox Div onboard her. Laying flat on my back as we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, I would have sworn that we were going to hit the underside of the bridge. That was a fun day.

@KorbinX

Жыл бұрын

Did the same for the Yorktown ^-^

@deep_fried_hedonism5366

Жыл бұрын

Went as a cub scout! We were there for a whole weekend near Halloween was pretty spooky. My dad still has the hat and wears it all the time. Make sure to go see the Massachusetts in Fall River, just don't leave the R/V unattended too long lol.

Now imagine seeing such a ship in action. Early in my career aboard USS Chicago, I had the pleasure of seeing Salem's sister Newport News as well as the older Saint Paul on the "gun line" off Vietnam. Night-time fire missions were particularly spectacular.

@williselee698

Жыл бұрын

I know you weren't talking about CA-29, but shameless plug for Neptune's Inferno by Hornfischer. Getting the minute by minute account of these massive heavy cruisers in action is like "Shattered Sword" but for people who prefer their shoes to have a little black polish on them I suppose .

@alanmcclenaghan7548

Жыл бұрын

The Baltimores like the Des Moines were beautiful ships. Shame about the Chicago's Albany-class rebuild. Ugly looking superstructure!

@matthewbailey3802

Жыл бұрын

wow

@AdamosDad

Жыл бұрын

If you were in Vietnam in 68' and 69, I would have been on USS Newport News (CA-148) at that time. In any case thank you for your service brother.

@daesmith3274

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the share great sea man from a young soldier.

"Do not put hands in hoist" is like "Do not place head in Guillotine". How much smarter are the designers of this system compared to the expected operators ? So, if you meet an older fellow with an anchor tattoo on his forearm but no hand……. Don’t ask. I’m glad that everyone here in the US treated you very well. I’m sure that your videos will increase visitation making it easier to maintain our ships. I'm sure that everyone interested in naval history, WWII, etc. watches all of your videos. God bless the Queen. Long live the King.

On the topic of Museum ship hospitality in the US, I volunteered on the USS Midway for around 8 or 9 months before leaving for college. Despite being in the safety team and not being the main people guests will talk to, we were still trained to be as polite as possible and to know information about the ship. The reason why I believe most of these museum crews are so kind in the US is because most of us are volunteers who want to be here and want to share our love of these ships. It creates an real appreciation for our guests.

Ah yes, the ship capable of flinging over a ton of shell downrange *every six seconds*

@aerialcat1

Жыл бұрын

Her sister Newport News was still active in Vietnam providing what can only be described as; “a withering shitstorm of fire”.

@alexs1954

Жыл бұрын

That’s over five tons of ‘fuck off’ a minute, for those of us wondering.

@bigships

Жыл бұрын

HMS tiger (C20): those are amateur numbers

@colbeausabre8842

Жыл бұрын

@@bigships Tiger's guns didn't work, Salem's did

@AlteryxGaming

Жыл бұрын

@@alexs1954 closer to 10 tons/minute. 2 Des Moines class could put 1.5 times more weight downrange/minute than 1 Iowa with he shells

2:16 “Hello Friend” gotta love Mrs Drac! 🤣🤣🤣

@Aelxi

Жыл бұрын

*"a surprise to be sure but a welcome one"*

@mindwarp42

Жыл бұрын

Mrs. Mine is always happy to make new friends and hug them.

Like so many of our old war ships, she needs some love. Thank you for bringing our attention to her. USS Texas is sitting wonderfully in dry dock, getting some well earned rest and refit.

@timclaus8313

Жыл бұрын

Only because the state stepped in with a big chunk of change. Ships take a lot of money to maintain, even in a museum state.

@alexsis1778

Жыл бұрын

@@timclaus8313Which is why she won't be going back to her old berthing. She was getting enough visitors to cover the day to day operating expenses but never made enough to cover maintenance or get anywhere close to the cost to take her out of the water.

@Robert53area

Жыл бұрын

@@alexsis1778 I heard they want to move her to Galveston or near the Lexington.to increase tourism to both ships.

@3idraven714

Жыл бұрын

The videos I saw she's siting next to a jack-up rig, and 2 drilling rigs. I don't think they are allowing visitors onboard (except maybe VIPs), as she's in full refit (or refit for return to the original berth at San Jacinto Monument). Her hull was so deteriated, she was actual resting on the bottom. I hear the main goal is to get her hull more stable, and a coat of paint, clean-up, to be more "presentable" to the public. Funded by the Taxpayers of Texas.

@belliott538

Жыл бұрын

It would make more sense to locate Texas in Galveston for Ticket Sales. Park her right next to Elisssa.

In regards to going to museum ships I remember going to see USS Texas before she went to dry dock. So very happy she’s getting the work done she deserves.

@lookabomba32

Жыл бұрын

A lady like that deserves every bit of it

I served on the Newport News during her last Vietnam deployment. She was the most powerful and best looking ship in the world at that time - yeah the bird farmers might disagree with me, but the News and her sisters were built to rule the seas. I worked down in the engine room and didn't get to see the sun very often but I'll brag on the fact that our high mileage ship was fast and surprisingly reliable. The Des Moines class cruisers were of course a much later and heavier design, but the time traveler in me says that a couple of these gunships would have owned the waters around Guadalcanal. At night or in poor visibility I'd go against the Yamato with two Des Moines cruisers.

@Engine33Truck

Жыл бұрын

I wish all 3 Des Moines would’ve been preserved.

@AdamosDad

Жыл бұрын

@@Engine33Truck I was a 2nd class ET on the NN in 1968-70 and was on the second Vietnam cruise, just a little ahead of you. Some of our shipmates join working parties on Salem, I haven't got to go because of work and now health, but it sure would be nice to get back with some of the "slut dogs".

@gregorywright4918

Жыл бұрын

The main deck museum has a display commemorating her sister ships Des Moines and Newport News. Worth a visit.

@AdamosDad

Жыл бұрын

@@gregorywright4918 You can also buy items from the USS Newport News ship store that help with funding the museum.

@michaelinhouston9086

Жыл бұрын

Speaking of high mileage, I heard that Columbus got 1,700 miles to the galleon..........

So, me and wifey driving back from Boston to NYC, desided we got time to check out USS Salem in Quincy, MA, back on 09/11/22. I also touched those 16" shells at the entrance but the yellow paint was fresh, still, and the lady at the entrance had a good laugh. Upon entering the ship I saw 4 ppl following an elder volunteer, I promptly forgot his name but he is present in a couple of pictures I took, so I will remember him forever, because this dude took our group anywhere we wanted, and when the museum closed we stayed for another couple of hours with him. We went to last armored pilot house, the bridge, upper decks, engine room, aft hangar, #2 main battery turret... I mean, we werr there with him for over 5 hours, and the reason we left was immence hunger and a thought of another 4-5 hours drive back home in a nasty rain in the evening. This guy is close to 70yo, former navy man, who is in charge of electric and mech parts of the ship and he HAD STORIES I wish I was recording, but I took pictures instead. Even my wife, who will not watch a movie about war or read a book pertaining to history, was hanging on his every word, climbing multitudes of steep stairs and stepping in inevitable machine oil puddles in areas marked "NO ADMITTANCE", cause we stuck our noses everywhere. The guy begged us to talk up the ship on social media, which kinda sucks, because I dont have FB, Twatter or IG. I dumped some pics on my WOWS clans Discord channel, but not many ppl will see. Point is, if anyone is interested in US history, engineering, etc, needs to visit places like these, because they are slowly getting whittled away by time and especially the people who still work on this ship will eventually dissapear. I saw some young volunteers but I doubt their knowledge and willingness to spend hours on such personalized tour. Guy refused any tips, so I dropped some money into the donation box before exiting. Oh, and if anyone is going to Battleship Cove, USS Massachusetts is under repair. JPKennedy and Lionfish were accessible, as well as USS Cassin Young back in Boston. Note, that USS Constitution is under "active duty", so the cops with metal detectors will stop you from going through if you got a pocket knife in your jeans pocket... ahem. Had to leave it with wife and go alone and let her have a turn. USS Constitution has very low ceiling on lower deck and I slammed my forehead a few times, so be warned. Plan your trip fast ppl, the winter is not too far off and Im not sure how accesible those ships are in the winter!

When my older brother was stationed in Hawaii, we all went to see the USS Missouri. Seeing that beast from the pier was awe inspiring. Seeing a ship like that from the waterline truly does impart the grandness of scale one won’t get standing on the deck. One has to look almost straight up to see it all. We then did a deck walk. One, it definitely took a few minutes to walk from bow to stern. And two, I remember touching turret one and feeling how solid it felt. So much steel. Steel, everywhere. Haha 😂

@legessi

Жыл бұрын

Those battleships are just so....sturdy. I remember walking around Norfolk and then touring the Wisconsin. The ground outside on the pavement didn't feel as sturdy as walking on the Wisconsin. I've been on Wisky, Iowa and Mo, and all three ladies were wonderful to tour. It was like walking into a time capsule.

@geece1

Жыл бұрын

@@legessi one more to go and you will have the whole set.

@legessi

Жыл бұрын

@@geece1 I'd love to, but I'm not seeing any time of me heading up the coast to see New Jersey. I need a friend who lives near there to visit.

@RCAvhstape

Жыл бұрын

I've been aboard the Jerz. I remember standing in front of the turret looking at that ridiculously thick armor on the face, and then looking at the armored conning tower, again armored like crazy. And I remembered thinking that they needed all that armor in order to stand a chance against other ships much like her. She looked like she could take a small nuke and just walk it off, yet there were things out there to be feared, like Yamato's guns, and modern antiship missiles. Hence the 20mm CWIS Phalanx armament and the Tomahawk missile launchers and, I think, Sea Sparrow missile launchers, and a flotilla of guided missile destroyers to keep her company.

@beefgoat80

Жыл бұрын

@@legessi you can tell those armored behemoths were designed to get in your face and give you a good slap from the feel those many, many tons of steel. At least, that's how they feel to the touch. 😂

that section in the gunpit made me realize how impressive it is that these guns were all-angle autoloading. The entire loading mechanism had to swing downward along with the gun into the pit Also I've been on the Salem numerous times, and this is the first time I've ever seen the gunpits and magazines. Those areas are normally blocked off from the general public

@thomasbaughman9941

Жыл бұрын

That was truly a marvel of engineering. The only such system in the world,

@Deilwynna

Жыл бұрын

@@thomasbaughman9941 not at all unique, there are other autoloading guns that works in all angles but the ones on des moines class cruisers is the only one at this large size, the others are 155mm (6.1 inch) or smaller guns. like the archer spg/howitzer from volvo/bae systems has a 152mm (6 inch) gun that autoloads at any angle

@Billy-I-Am-Not

Жыл бұрын

@@Deilwynna Yea but this was in the 1940s. The Archer is from the 90's. In the Des Moines' day, the only weapons systems like the 8"/55RF Mk 16 were the 6" autoloading guns on the Worcester and Tiger class cruisers. All-angle loading itself was very rare

@colbeausabre8842

Жыл бұрын

@@Billy-I-Am-Not The big difference s that the 8 inch gun system worked, the US and British 6 inch systems didn't US Mk 16 "These guns did not prove reliable in service, possibly because of the high rate of fire and need for any-elevation loading. Another contributing cause was that they used a dual projectile hoist system - one for AP and one for HC/AA shells - which proved to be a source of jamming."

@Billy-I-Am-Not

Жыл бұрын

@@colbeausabre8842 the guns on the HMS Tiger worked fine, by most accounts

Love this heavy cruiser to bits. Have visited her recently with a friend and meet the staff who are indeed awesome and very nice. Hope more people can visit Salem, you can’t find a ship like this anywhere else anymore.

As a Marine, I wish we still had fire support like this. Those 8inch autoloaders are probably why this is my favorite class of cruiser by far. Also, I think I've mentioned it on your Des Moines-class 5-minute guide, but I seriously think a Des Moines could wreck early WW1-era superdreadnoughts in a 1:1 (due to the advantages of speed and radar fire control).

@overtoast1105

Жыл бұрын

RIP AGS

@korbendallas5318

Жыл бұрын

Of course. There are lots of examples where radar was decisive between WWII-era ships. (North Cape, Surigao Strait, Cape Matapan, Rheinübung)

@devilslawyer1646

Жыл бұрын

would an 8" shell penetrate the belt, deck, or turret armor on a WWI battleship at a range where the battleships secondary armament was ineffective?

@mahbriggs

Жыл бұрын

It would depend on who hit first and how often. But yes, my bet would on the late model 8 in. cruisers! I think the Salem could probably have a pretty fair chance against most inter-war Battleships! Not the latest, but the 1920s and early '30s. Not the latest or most modernized but as built. The radar, fire control, and rapid fire, would be difficult to defeat. Sustained 8 inch hits could disable and render most Battleships unfit for combat, provided they didn't sink their opponent first.

@dougerrohmer

Жыл бұрын

@@devilslawyer1646 The Japanese battleship Hiei tangled with US cruisers, both light and heavy and I think USS Helena which had fifteen automated 6 inch guns absolutely shredded the superstructure and bridge, and the daylight found Hiei steaming in a circle at 5 knots and Henderson Field's aircraft took her out.

Hope you're feeling better Drach!

A main reason why the US Navy switched to the 3"L50 Automatic Cannon is that, unlike the 40mm shells, its shells could be fitted with VT (proxy) fuses for improved AA protection.

Ah yes, a tour of the Admiral Graf Spee. Thank you, Drach and hope you feel better

@Aelxi

Жыл бұрын

Salem cosplaying Spee (・o・)

@Big_E_Soul_Fragment

Жыл бұрын

@@Aelxi and Sheffield as Ajax, Jamaica as Exeter and Achilles as....Achilles

@christophermancini7380

Жыл бұрын

@@Big_E_Soul_Fragment And also HMS Cumberland playing herself!

@marckyle5895

Жыл бұрын

This is when I'd support using CGI for external views of the ship. I'd see those three turrets and go 'nope' and watch something else. It's like using the turboprop BeechcraftTexan II for a Zero in a movie simply because it has a single prop.

As far as ship size prospective goes I think USS Wisconsin is one of the best, absolutely took my breath away when I rounded the corner onto the road directly towards her. Then going up a 6 story parking garage to take pics at radar height was awesome.

@timclaus8313

Жыл бұрын

That is one good thing with the Wisconsin moored at Nauticus, the bow on view is awesome. Plus you have to go up a couple of floors in the museum to reach the brow to the weather deck.

@rdfox76

Жыл бұрын

Yup. Everyone who's ever seen her agrees that Wisky has the most *dramatic* presentation as regards your first impression. You park in a random urban area, start walking through the city, come around the corner, and *boom*, battleship, twelve o'clock, 200 yards, heading straight for you! Even when you know it's coming, it's a shock to the system.

@westcoaststacker569

Жыл бұрын

The Iowa almost seems dwarfed by all the cruise and cargo ships nearby. Still a magnificent ship.

@timclaus8313

Жыл бұрын

@@westcoaststacker569 Well, is doesn't look like. a floating hotel, what is does look like is one bad ass ship.

@westcoaststacker569

Жыл бұрын

@@timclaus8313 I took my father, he served on the USS Los Angeles and USS Rochester, he is very proud of his time served. All that is left of the Heavy Cruisers he served on seem to be the mast he had to once climb in front of the museum there. Yes they are bad ass ships!

Heck, a ship in the USN doesn't need to be in mothballs to be cannibalized for spares! It routinely happens to ships that are just in the shipyard for overhaul/repair or modernization. I've been on both sides of it (having parts from my boat cannibalized and going to other boats in the yard to take their parts.)

@mikedd969

Жыл бұрын

So true. I remember well, Easter Weekend, 1992 (I think) I was the leading comm ET on USS Peterson DD-969, we were finishing up a 14-month ROH at Ingalls in Pascagoula. I had weekend duty. The USS John Hancock DD-981 had a bad class Alpha fire in her radio transmitter room, (The RM's had been stowing burn bags in the transmitter room. Still can't believe that the EMO or the Lead comm ET allowed that, I know I wouldn't have) and they caught fire, never did find out exactly how. Smoke and heat damage was extensive. Hancock was scheduled for deployment in just over a month. My guys and I had just spent the neter part of 6 months overhauling and grooming of all our HF transmitters, they were like brand new. I was ordered to load them all into a rental truck and drive them from Pascagoula to Jacksonville and deliver them to the Hancock. We brought back their fire damaged junk, and had to do a hasty, abbreviated rehab job on them with very little time to get it done. Went from having a like-new HF suite to trying to remedy someone else's problems. (again) We eventually got them up to snuff, but it was a long, frustrating and exhausting process. Truth be told, I'm still a little hacked off about it 30 years later. LOL

@jonathanwhite5132

4 ай бұрын

ITs just as bad on the seawolf subs

Quite a beautiful ship, my grandfather served on the Canberra in 43'

USS Salem was in the role of Graf Spee in british movie "The Battle of the River Plate".

@robertslugg8361

Жыл бұрын

Just downloaded and watched it. Didn't even bother to cover up "139."

@JohnWilliamNowak

Жыл бұрын

@@robertslugg8361 The US Navy insisted on that. Also, all the crewmen wore their US uniforms. My personal take is they didn't want pictures of their ship covered in swastikas showing up in Pravda.

@josephkool8411

Жыл бұрын

@@JohnWilliamNowak Makes sense

@marckyle5895

Жыл бұрын

@@JohnWilliamNowak 'Russia Today has joined the chat' (sees USN uniforms) 'Russia Today has left the chat'

The finest gun system ever used on a warship in my opinion.

I'm so glad you were treated well by the museum crew. I'm sure they, like most of us, appreciate the interest in Naval history and museum ships you generate with your channel.

What truly boggles the mind is that that ship was blueprinted without the use of computers. And then to build her with all that internal complexity.

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

Slide rules and manual calculations were the computers of the day. The Salem has many analog fire control computers on board, but those were likely designed using slide rules!

@dukenukem5768

Жыл бұрын

I worked in ship design before computers. The internals was designed with the help if a number of 1/8 scale models with perspex decks and bulkheads, and push-together plastic pipework.

@cliff8669

Жыл бұрын

@@dukenukem5768 I built many a model ship as a kid. I would have loved to get one that size to work on.

I hope you saw our small museum aboard USS Salem, our crew (USS Newport News) have working parties aboard Salem USS Newport News (CA-148) The last all gun Heavy Cruiser. My time aboard 1968-69-70 Call sign THUNDER flag hoist; November - India - Quebec - Quebec Then onboard the USS Springfield (CLG-7) 71-72 Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Delta - Mike "Fair Winds and Following Seas" Brothers Very good video that brings back memories.

I want to take my kids to go see this soooo badly. Hope it will help to explain my recent obsession with Naval Ships and this channel!

@micfail2

Жыл бұрын

Sometimes they hold events specifically for kids, when I was in boy scouts we spent a weekend aboard the Salem, when we weren't touring the museum staff gave us first aid and damage control training that they were able to make extremely fun, including one evening when we had to "find a missing and wounded sailor." Hide and seek on a cruiser is the best hide and seek lol

@ahuels67

Жыл бұрын

@@micfail2 Wish they would offer this experience to the big kids or kids at heart lols

@fullmetalpoitato5190

Жыл бұрын

The Constitution and Cassin Young around just a few miles away in the Boston Bay area, and about a 45 minute drive to the south is Battleship Cove which features the Massachusetts along with several other smaller ships. I highly recommend making the trip, you won't regret it!

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

It wasn't limited to just kids, but groups with their own insurance was a requirement. We have hosted some families in the past. Hopefully the Overnight Program will return someday soon.

Looking at the mechanisms of the gun turrets made me think of all the old technologies of the twentieth century that have essentially been lost. Even when we have complete examples left we don't have an understanding of how they were used let alone how they were manufactured. Vacuum tubes for example. We know the theory of their design and a historically minded artisan might be able to produce one but the actual methods and machinery of how they were mass produced have been lost. Designs for individual pieces of equipment might still exist buried in an patent archive somewhere but finding them and relating them in context to each other would be like finding the lost Ark.

@TheShrike616

Жыл бұрын

As a guitar player I'll have to strongly disagree when it comes to vacuum tubes. A lot of newly designed guitar amps still use tubes. The problem is that their manufacturing is no longer profitable in the West so they are no longer manufactured here . But still, hundreds of boutique guitar amp builders still understand vacuum tube technologies veeeeeery well.

@aaronbasham6554

Жыл бұрын

And people say the mechanicus is unrealistic when we have lost the technology to make laserdiscs

@silverjohn6037

Жыл бұрын

@@TheShrike616 My main concern in this context is that the processes for mass manufacturing of older technologies isn't being preserved. Not just the items themselves but the machinery that was used in the process. To use an analogy it would like knowing you use a hammer and an anvil to make shovel or an axe but, if you don't know what a hammer or and anvil even is, there isn't much point;).

The "claw-type device" is called a parbuckle, and is also present in larger caliber shell handling rooms on various USN ships.

Hi I stand to be corrected but here goes! A British war film, Battle of the River Plate, made in 1956, need a ship to represent the German Battleship Graf Spee, the ship they used was the USS Salem! God Bless all the armed forces of the free world for keeping us all safe.

Salem, along with Massachusetts and Forrestal have a special place in my heart as the ships that my great-uncle used to take me to see as a kid (in Forrestal's case, we didn't visit her so much as drive past her on the way to his doctor's appointments at NAVSTA Newport. At least, while she was still there)

The USS Iowa is moored next to the Port of Los Angeles cruise terminal. In addition to the quay being rather high out of the water, it is dwarfed by the cruise ships and container vessels docked next to it.

Visited the Salem in 2010 and my dad served as a ship board Marine officer in the 1955 range, when she was part of the Mediterranean fleet. Back then, the final port of call before heading home was Havana. Scattered some of my dad's ashes over the side when no one was looking.

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

I have a feeling that you might not be the only one to do that. I know nothing, I see nothing! :)

Drach, I think it's worth mentioning that the industrial area where the USS Salem is located was once the Fore River Shipyard. Both Lexingtons were built there as well as USS Wasp, Bunker Hill, Philippine Sea, and Hancock. Both the Des Moines and Salem, along with Long Beach, Portland, Quincy and Vincennes. The list is very long and worth googling. Sadly, shipbuilding ceased in 1986.

35:07 I am thoroughly disappointed we didn't a Toy Story "The CLaaaawwwww" moment. All jokes aside, great video, the autoloader mechanism looks insanely complex, but I gather it was pretty reliable. I hope she gets a bit more footfall, she looks a little tired and like Texas, she's basically unique. Every museum ship is precious as every ship has a story to tell, but when a ship is the representative of her type or generation, then she becomes even more important to preserve. As a Brit, I lament Vanguard and Warspite going to the scrap yard, and even more modern ships like the Tiger class and Invincible class all just vanish into little more than cutlery and imagines in history books.

@TheFreaker86

Жыл бұрын

I‘m glad you Brits managed to save HMS Belfast. I walked past her multiple times while visiting London, but my interest in historical navy ships was not there yet. Missed opportunity 😕 Too bad the Yanks decided to nuke Prinz Eugen after the war. That would be an even more special museum ship.

@Wolfeson28

Жыл бұрын

Every 8-inch shell ever chosen was so excited to go on to a better place. 😁

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

Salem is the only surviving heavy cruiser in the world.

Drach, I made a short video about Salem about a month here on KZread, luckily it got lots of traction! Hope your video brings more attention to Salem and prompts support for her restoration!

When she first came to Quincy she was docked closer to the bridge with easy access off the nearby rotary. Unfortunately the bridge had to be torn down and replaced requiring her to be moved to the more out of the way location she is in now. Hopefully one day she can move back to her previous berth.

@christiantroy3034

Жыл бұрын

I had the opportunity to speak to someone about that an I believe Quincy has plans to make her a centerpiece for a waterfront

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

Actually the ship was in that same berth all throughout the bridge construction project. The MBTA sold the land to Cashman Marine, who is using it for industrial marine purposes. Cashman provided the infrastructure for the current berth, which was, and is, better than the alternative of disposal of the ship!

@jimd312

Жыл бұрын

I was mainly referring to when she first arrived in Quincy she had a berth right next to the bridge with easy access off the rotary. She also had some other WW2 memorabilia on display next to the ship and lots of parking. This was all before the bridge had issues and if memory serves there were issues with the berth as well (could be mistaken on that). Ultimately requiring her to move a few berths down. That being said anywhere she can dock and still be able to be visited is better than the breakers.

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

@@jimd312 The state originally wanted the ship moved to build the temporary bridge, and eventually the new bridge, but balked at the cost to move it, so the museum lost a lot of the display space where Gulf/Iraq War vehicles and weapons were displayed. Eventually the MWRA transferred the land to the MBTA, who eventually determined the pier needed work and didn't renew the Salem's lease. The MBTA sold the land/pier to Cashman Marine who built the existing mooring for the Salem. Other locations were explored, but there simply isn't an available location anywhere in New England. This is all first hand knowledge.

Wonderful program , it’s just like being back on board. They sailed so well, stable with responsive handling and projected power. And the guns, just awesome. They were fast and commodious , the time of my life. All three sat like Queens in Phila, even the missing rifle from number two turret on NN not diminishing their grace and beauty.

@gregorywright4918

Жыл бұрын

I wish someone had taken a picture of that lineup back then.

Thank you for visiting and reviewing the Salem. I love this ship. We would sleep over on her and Mammy as kids during field trips or scouts. They turn the Sea Witch into a haunted house for Halloween and it’s terrifying. It needs a little TLC so every $5-10 donation counts! I wish the state put as much care into her as Constitution but I get it. The ship is huge, it’s over 700ft long so I can’t imagine maintaining it. Our weather is obv famously bad half the year so she sits in snow, heat, salt, wind, sun, you name it. Still looks beautiful though and is a real statement to US power projection in the early Cold War years.

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

The Constitution is an active US Navy vessel and is fully funded by the Navy, not a dime from Massachusetts. 99% of all museums in Massachusetts get no state funding as they are private non-profit institutions. There is some state grant money available, but not not even remotely close to the needs of many dozens of organizations that could use help.

Will Mrs. Drach be narrating new episodes on mine warfare? I would listen to that.

My Dad served on the Salem during his final summer at the USNA in 1956. We live locally, and have visited many times, along with the Constitution, and the battleship USS Massachusetts, and other ships, in Fall River. I consider myself very lucky to be on these wonderful museum ships with a naval veteran who KNOWS what he’s takin about! Thanks for visiting Massachusetts and we hope you enjoyed your stay!

I visited USS Salem 3 days before I moved from Quincy Ma. I decided after living there for a few years I could not leave without seeing that ship, so I had to rush through in an afternoon, while my wife packed. I have no regrets. :D

Awesome look inside the ship. Much too short. I could spend days crawling all over that ship. Thank you for sharing.

Never seen a full mechanism, gun loading and traverse system on the Salem before, although I've visited the Salem like 4 times already

@christiantroy3034

Жыл бұрын

Only special Naval Historians and crew get to se that

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately, the gun pit, handling rooms, and magazines are only accessible via vertical ladders, which means the general public will never get to visit them in person. Benefits to being a volunteer! :)

Salem was the perfect choice for portraying the Graf Spee in my opinion. Such a powerful ship. I assume she could have taken down all 3 British cruisers without much trouble.

@Aelxi

Жыл бұрын

Salem's Spee cosplay

@ach3909

Жыл бұрын

Having half a decades worth of improved fire control, radar and especially those automatic gun mounts. She could probably take on twice as many cruisers as Graf Spee did and still come out on top

@deaks25

Жыл бұрын

That is a fun question. The actual participants; Exeter, Ajax and Achilles probably would stand no chance; Salem's rate of fire would probably overwhelm them in fairly short order before they could dial in the range and begin to deal attractional damage. Fiji and 2 Leander's may be a different prospect; the 12 guns of a Crown Colony class are the same as the Town's and were designed to give similar fire-power to a peer heavy cruiser, so the two Leander's and a Fiji possibly could throw enough 6in fire to certainly make a fight of it. I would expect all of the participants of the actual battle, ie Exeter, Ajax, Achilles AND Graf Spee would be able to take down a Des Moines class, although I would expect Salem could take one or two with her. It is very much opinion; I've not looked at shell weights/shells per min/bursting charge weights to verify though. Speed would also be a factor; if Salem could dictate the engagement range she will have a huge advantage against any combination of battle/film particpants.

@michaelkovacic2608

Жыл бұрын

@@deaks25 Well, I do believe that 6inch gunfire isn't enough to take down a very large heavy cruiser like Salem. Graf Spee took lots of 6inch hits and while they did damage, it certainly wasn't catastrophic damage. Salem had much heavier armor protection than Graf Spee, and the British cruisers would have no immunity from her heavy 8inch AP. To beat a Salem, I assume you would need 3 County class cruisers, or 2 pocket battleships. I think the effectiveness of her rate of fire coupled with her very advanced and accurate fire control cannot be overstated. Regarding the Graf Spee + British cruisers vs Salem, I do think it depends heavily on whether or not Salem is able to knock out Graf Spee quickly. If she fails to do this, then she will probably be overwhelmed.

@billiardsandsnookervideosn8319

Жыл бұрын

The Movie is right, the British Cruisers won that fight as a direct result of their aggression, in true Naval traditions they moved into closer range to fight Graf Spee inside her gun range, Damn the torpedoes "Full speed ahead".

So glad you visited USS Salem. I'll have to see it next time I visit relatives nearby.

I understand you want to encourage people to visit Salem and other museum ships, but some of us will never get to see Salem in real life or any other museum ships, so thanks for your videos, because it’s the only way some of us will get to see much of these ships.

Hooray! More America trip videos!

Awesome video! I was onboard that day, I was the kid with the "Illustrated Design History of U.S Cruisers". As one of the volunteers, it was a pleasure meeting you.

Awesome to see. They recently moved Battleship Texas, which was moored 10 minutes away from me. ( I live where Urban cowboy was filmed) across the street from the old Gilleys bar.

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed your journey to the U.S. and our naval history.

I was there for the chat, Drach. It was a great time and very informative! I'm the guy who gave you the Lego Royal Navy Sailor ;)

I wish you could have seen the USS Lexington, she's enormous...

I love your commentary! Thank you for highlighting this wonderful ship!

I like to start my day with a "whilst" from Drach! As an English major, I appreciate the uncommon word choice. Cheers!

Love your work with Tino Struckmann and Appearances elsewhere! Would love to see you make a trip to Japan to see the Yamato Muesum or Mikasa.

The opening observation regarding the external view is interesting. I had the pleasure of going aboard the USS Iowa on her visit to Pompey Dockyard in the late 80's. I worked in the yard at the time and had a walk around the public didn't get with a middle aged leading seaman re-activated due to the near uniqueness of the Iowa in the US fleet at that time. She was berthed on Pitch House Jetty (from memory) and was a truly menacing sight on a misty pre-dawn morning. The gun house was an inverse Tardis. Massive on the outside, much smaller on the inside. The armoured conning tower gave a similar feeling but more so. I wonder how many other 56 year Olds there are out there that can say they have been on board an active commissioned battleship? The size of Iowa compared to HMS Tiger (or Blake - the memory fades!) Also in Pompey about that time was staggering. Anyway, thanks Drach. Another great video.

@Jpdt19

10 ай бұрын

Fascinating sir. Thanks for sharing. I assume tiger or Blake were both just sitting in docks in reserve at that time?

Welcome to the United States. Im glad you found our museums hospitable.

I can not thank you enough, sir. I am delighted that you got to experience some great hospitality and thank you so much for 'the good stuff' aka exactly what I was looking for!

Ah. good to see that Ms. Drach got to meet one of her relatives. XD I remember how I got some looks from some of the fans during the Haida meetup, after making a remark about another sea mine there. XD I have to assume they weren't familiar with that rather famous episode. :D

Great video! I agree with others that the USS Salem is one of my favorite museum ships I have seen. The ship is technologically impressive, but (at least when I went on a weekend) there were so many guides that everyone was basically getting private tours. It really makes all the difference to hear the history / stories that goes with the ship. Definitely worth the visit.

@gregorywright4918

Жыл бұрын

Weekends are much better. I was there on a weekday last year and there was only a person taking tickets and a person on the weather deck. Slow day.

Turret Local computer Mk 3? That's what it was on BB-64. I was the Turret 2 Mk 3 operator before I made FC2.

I live right up the street from the Salem. Super excited you finally did a video on it!

That whole area, Fore River, was once a booming ship building complex and has a history of it's own. As a young boy, I can remember seeing large amounts of old smaller ships from WWII with flat tops built on top. Not sure what the name or class of those ships were but there was quite a few of them all ganged up.

@Kellen6795

Жыл бұрын

Escort Carriers!!

@David-wy9jl

Жыл бұрын

@@Kellen6795 Thanks, you are correct. Looked up some photos and that's what I remember seeing.

@gregorywright4918

Жыл бұрын

The Salem has a museum on the main deck with exhibits, models, pictures and dioramas about the Fore River Shipyard and Boston Navy Yard. The Long Beach was built there, as well as the Lexington (CV-2) and many others, big and small. Worth spending an extra hour - and air conditioned!

Just donated $10 to her. That old girl definitely needs some TLC. I was glad to see Constitution and Cassin Young last week during a visit for a wedding. Your video on the Constitution was very helpful in recognizing things. It's weird to think that after we retired the Iowa's, the largest naval gun for shore bombardment we now have is substantially outgunned by a Fletcher.

@gregorywright4918

Жыл бұрын

The Zumwalts have 2x 6" guns, but the Navy blew the development of ammo for them and they are looking to remove them now. Sad.

Fascinating video, thank you very much for this in depth look!

Awww... it's nice to see family that's been separated by such long distances.

Ow, did you just say that Mrs. Drach lays in wait quietly then explodes when you least expect it?😂

@CowMaster9001

Жыл бұрын

Or is he saying she is lorge and round?

@mindwarp42

Жыл бұрын

(points to Drach's video on the Channel Dash)

The old lady still looks awesome.

Thank you, and thanks to the crew.

Navigation is perfect, that beautiful sunrise and the silhouette of the ship. Brings back some memories as a Merchant seaman drinking my coffee of course.

Des Moines and Alaskas have to be my absolute favourite WW2 cruisers...they just look so picturesque! They're the only class of US cruisers who have turrets that are "proportional" to their hulls, imo

@battlefieldthree5394

Жыл бұрын

Careful now British consider Alaska class were battlecruisers in their eyes

@timclaus8313

Жыл бұрын

@@battlefieldthree5394 And if you consider the definition of a battlecruiser as a cruiser killer that will never sail in a line of battle, the Alaska and Guam may have qualified. Certainly fit the definition of a super cruiser at least.

Well done

"This warning sign, despite being from thr Bureau of Ordnance was actually quite helpful." BURORD was possibly the greatest asset to the IJN during the war.

Constitution being only a few miles away, the Navy's last wooden frigate (and the oldest commissioned ship in the world) overshadows both the Cassin Downes (moored across the pier from Constitution) and the Salem (moored in Quincy). Any attention the Salem can get is a good thing, so thank you very much for giving the fine old lady of the South Shore some love!

That wasn’t Mrs Drach’s relative, it was one of mine…

If you like puns, just wait till you sea mine! Glad you had fun, visiting but Salem isn't doing so hot herself. Unlike USS Texas, she's not scheduled for drydock time, no money. I've donated several times to help the museum but if we all pitch in she can stay around a lot longer. 🙂

Glad you came over to the U.S. for your tours of WW-2 Museum ships. I've followed you for a few years now and have always enjoyed your presentations on warships. Thanks!

Industrial Dockyard = Bethlehem Steel Fore River Shipyard. Birthplace of many many hero ships...

The Gun Pit reminds me of the bascule chambers in the piers of Tower bridge in London, not a good idea to be there when several tonnes of machinery lower to occupy the space. I'm unsurprised by the Welcome you were given, the Americans can be extraordinarily hospitable folks.

@RCAvhstape

Жыл бұрын

Also, it's a safe bet that anyone who works on these ships knows who Drach is by now.

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

I never heard of him until his visit, despite being involved with museum ships since 1994!

I see this Ship from my House , its like less than half a mile from it (I tried pushing it with my Kayak, Its really BIG) Its a shame that is in what was the Bethlehem Steel - Fore River Shipyard, it has been so gutted its difficult to find a trace of it, other than the enormous size of the place you wouldnt know what was there, . such a disgrace America no longer has these Yards, some famous Ships came our of here, the Quincy , Astoria, they sailed pass ed my House and didn't come back. I hope you make it to the Battleship Massachusetts , its like 40 miles South of this.

@bebo4807

Жыл бұрын

You can push it with a rowboat but not with a kayak. It has to do with the inverse of hydrodynamic fluid mechanical rotational force. Think of a reverse thread on a jar lid but counter exculpatory.

My father served aboard the Salem on its first deployment. He told me it was a 27 port of call in the Mediterranean and then to the Pacific Ocean. Hope to walk the deck of the Salem someday!!!

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

The Salem served in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Only sister ship Newport News transitioned to the Pacific, to bombard North Vietnam

@Drachinifel i am glad you had a good experience on the USS Salem.

There's a video on operation of the 8" & 3" automatic guns: usssalemca139, rapid fire guns video. (Separated into words: USS Salem CA 139)

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

It is on the Salem's KZread channel!

@timengineman2nd714

Жыл бұрын

@@lmo1960 Yeah, but I figured to get the word out....

I'm so glad that you got to see the Salem Drachinifel! I took my son to the Boston area last summer to see the Salem, Constitution, Cassin Young, Massachusetts, Lionfish, Joseph P Kennedy and last but not least the Hiddensee! The Salem really is a beautiful ship, but she's in rough shape these days. I hope your exposure helps to get her some funding so she can stay beautiful.

@gregorywright4918

Жыл бұрын

Two more I would suggest: the USS Nautilus in Groton, CT (just returning from drydocking), and the USS Alabacore in Portsmouth, NH. The history of the post-war submarine revolution. Still within a days drive.

awesome vid - love all that turret info, amazing.

One of my most favorite naval vessels ever. I really hope I can get out to Massachusetts some time to see her

I had the pleasure of seeing the St. Paul whilst my ship was transiting South China Sea after offloading Marines and their equipment at Danang.

@davidatovar

Жыл бұрын

My dad was on the fighting saint during the Korean war.

My fav ship maybe ever, It takes real effort to not just keep going out in this in wows so I can make actual progress on tech tree. Trust america to look at 9x 203mm guns and say.. "yes but what if auto-loader?" [shed tear of happiness]. If it was scaled up to Montana would likely have been classed as a WMD. Shame to see it so distraught though, hope she can get a bit more protection soon.

@rdfox76

Жыл бұрын

While BuOrd was developing the autoloading eight-incher before the start of the war, the Solomons really gave it the impetus to be completed, because CAs just didn't have the rate of fire to fight effectively at night, while CLs didn't have the weight of fire to take out enemy cruisers swiftly; the autoloaders were able to push the rate of fire from the eight-inchers up to that of the six-inchers on the CLs. Ironically, the Yamato class had a very similar autoloader system, simply because it was felt that the shells and powder charges were too big for effective manual handling. The postwar Naval Technical Mission to Japan determined that they were effective, but the weight penalty (50% more than the weight of a US-style battleship turret of the same caliber) cancelled out the weight reductions that the crew reduction could achieve...

Thanks for getting close to my fathers ship as it was the USS SAINT PAUL CA-73 "THE FIGHTING SAINT" class of 1954, both of which are no longer with us, RIP. ⚓

Nice! Early in August my wife and I were able to take a trip to the USS Yorktown. She said my expression was priceless as we pulled up. We've decided to plan future vacations around other museum ships. Was definitely one of the coolest things I've done in my life. Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures!

I visited the Salem about a month and a half ago when I was visiting Massachusetts. She is a great ship to be able to see in person but she is in desparate need of some TLC, she is veeery rusty. I do however recommend a visit nontheless.

@gregorywright4918

Жыл бұрын

I think that is why Drach spent so much film time on turret 82 - it is in the best condition...

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

Mount 82 was restored and is maintained by former USS Newport News crewmen and their families, as a tribute and memorial to the 20 crewmen they lost off Vietnam

I wish she would get moved to lake Michigan. The fresh water and local love of the sea would be the best thing to happen to this great ship

@crazyguy32100

Жыл бұрын

I think you are really on to something. She is JUST small enough to clear the Welland Canal (about 8" per side, 12' off the bow and stern and 5' of draft) going through the locks. The tragic case is the East coast has so many museum ships and only so many people wanting to see so many things, in Massachusetts alone they have the battleship, Constitution, 2 destroyers and how many others, plus Salem. Drive for a couple hours and see even more big impresive ships. Move her to Chicago and you have a whole new tourist base with limited competition and drydock facilities on the lakes large enough for 20 year services on a ship that size. Maybe take a short detour and stop by Little Rock on the way past Buffalo, last of the heavy cruisers meeting the last of the US light cruisers. Now we only need a spot to berth and $20million for the tow.

@loganjay7819

Жыл бұрын

@@crazyguy32100 The maintenance costs would be considerably reduced aswell. It would cost a pretty penny to get her ready for the trip, but it's possible. From what I've seen she's not in anywhere as bad shape as uss texas and they were able to move her

@christiantroy3034

Жыл бұрын

She would need a bit of yard time, you wont get her , keep dreaming

It was a pleasure meeting you on Salem Drach! And Constitution, And Massachusetts lol. The drive from new York was worth it. I enjoyed the ships very much and you only made it better.

Love the 'Do not paint over this sign' warning in red at the bottom of the Safety Precautions notice in the charge handling area. Looks like the proclivity of painting everything is a naval tradition over many countries and time spans. As the saying goes 'If it moves salute it, if it is not moving paint it'.

Blows my mind the Brits only managed to save the Belfast. I get the financial crisis but Jesus chucking the Warspite to the breakers two years later seems a bit rushed.

@JK-wc5oq

Жыл бұрын

The Royal Navy's greatest enemy has always been the treasury.

@WALTERBROADDUS

Жыл бұрын

The British like National health Care more than they like ships.

@JK-wc5oq

Жыл бұрын

@@WALTERBROADDUS The Warspite, like the Belfast was going to be purchased by a charity and therefore would have cost the taxpayer nothing and would actually benefit the economy. Just look at how many paying visitors the ships we have preserved attract.

@WALTERBROADDUS

Жыл бұрын

@@JK-wc5oq your average amusement park has more visitors. As interesting as we may think these ships are. They are no Six Flags park.

@JK-wc5oq

Жыл бұрын

@@WALTERBROADDUS choosing corporate theme parks over history is a truly depressing state of affairs.

Approximately 20 years ago I visited the ship as work was being done and off the bridge I think I found the Captain's day cabin and there was an opening in the ceiling above his bunk with an extension cord going up and into and like any Tribe Drach member I climbed in and up...and up...and up where I found what I believe to be an emergency gun director position for literally a 1 to 3 person crew with optical equipment, switches, lights and all covered by a clear dome similar to a bomber gun turret. Could you look into this and expound upon its uses and any other info you think interesting / appropriate in a Drydock please. All the best to you and yours. P S please try not to poison yourself in the future....

@lmo1960

Жыл бұрын

You are lucky to have visited this off limits space and not gotten caught! That access near (not in) the captain's sea cabin is Spot 1, the main gun director for the forward facing gun mounts. That is completely off limits to visitors due to the vertical ladder access.

@peterbrezniak7224

Жыл бұрын

@@lmo1960 thank you for that...I figured as much regarding access...what was also interesting was the way every approximately 7ft I had to switch sides on the ladder which was obviously to keep one from falling too far should one be separated from said ladder. Thanks again. Best wishes to you and yours PAB

Wonderful video, Can't wait to get up there and see this beautiful ship. Love your details !!!

Great Vid, Thank You ! So fortunate to have had the 139 in our back yard for all these years, much pride and respect from all aboard the Vessel Betty