The Drydock - Episode 279 (Part 1) (Patreon)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:45 - Naming conventions and how good various navies were at following them?

00:10:08 - In the United States Navy in World War Mark E Stille confidently proclaims that the US Navy produced the best submarines of the war in the Gatos, the best destroyers of the war in the Fletcher's, the best light cruisers in the Clevelands and the best heavy cruisers in the Baltimore class plus the best carriers in the Essex's and battleships in the Iowa class. This seem 'just a tad' overblown to me or is he actually correct in this assessment?

00:18:28 - What intelligence did the USN have about the IJN after Battle of the Philippines Sea and before Leyte Gulf?

00:22:16 - The RAF was seen as doing much of the heavy lifting during the Battle of Britain but was it ever conceived to position RN cruiser squadrons in the Channel to break up the formations before the made landfall?

00:24:54 - Mogami-like schemes by other navies?

00:27:48 - After the Turret/Rotating Gun Mount etc., were developed, or any time after the centerline rotating mount on the USS Monitor was developed, why did navies stick with the row of guns along the side of ships instead of developing the rotating gun mount for so long?

00:33:45 - What is the exact definition of a Man-of-war?

00:35:36 - In a recent Drydock, you showed a photo of an antiaircraft tower mount on the USS Texas. Would you explain it's operation, manning and ammunition supply method? Thanks!

00:39:49 - While Britain (and several other countries depending on the era) produced ships for foreign navies up through WWII.  It appears no one made an "export model" like the Soviets would do with tanks.  In fact, most "foreign equivalents" seem to have been improvements on the original design.  Was it the small (often singular) numbers ordered that led to this?

00:46:43 - How did ships in the Age of Sail deal with going through the "Doldrums"?

00:50:10 - How might have the WW2 War in the Pacific have been affected if Britain had fortified Singapore enough to successfully prevent Japan from conquering Singapore early in the war?

00:54:13 - What effect could a LSM(R)-188 class ship have on a cruiser, battleship or carrier respectively?

00:58:59 - Do you consider that the Mahanian desire fore a decisive ultimately did more harm to navies than good?

01:06:43 - Are their any naval figures who you believe are not deserving of their reputation, either positive or negative?

01:13:41 - Could you explain the various stages of ship construction?

01:21:38 - Given that the Battle of the Philippine Sea can be seen as something of a "reverse Midway", would it have been possible for the Japanese to rely more on their submarines to take out American carriers at the Battle of Midway with greater success?

01:25:49 - For obvious reasons, the United States Navy resembled the Royal Navy during the Age of Sail. Did women serve in similar capacities on board Yankee vessels? Is there documentation of female participation in any of the War of 1812 battles?

01:30:25 - Did the Waffen-SS ever plan or discuss creating a Waffen-SS naval force?

01:33:22 - Were there any plans to build coastal defense ships for Sweden after the Sverige class?

01:36:57 - Of the ships sunk in the close quarters combat in the waters off Guadalcanal, and that of Taffy 3, did any carry wooden or metal lifeboats/launches, and how many of these were able to be used while the ships were sinking?

01:39:28 - Of all our funny YouTube names over the years, which one has made you laugh the most. And a request, can we have the 1 hour mark intermission music back?

01:41:48 - In your reviews of Japanese ships, were hot baths incorporated into their ship designs?

01:44:03 - The accuracy of gunnery on the Bismarck during the final battle was decidedly worse compared to the battle of the Denmark Strait even before taking hits to the main director. Was this due to the steering and propulsion problems or more of a human factor?

01:46:41 - During the age of sail who in your opinion was France’s greatest admiral and what was some of his achievements, and what ship is the admiral most famous for commanding? 

01:50:50 - Sealed orders and their scope?

01:55:42 - Failed toilet paper requisition?

02:00:08 - How were naval cannon tested in the age of sail? 

02:04:23 - Off-set gun barrels on large turrets?

02:07:22 - John Fowke and the gunpowder trade?

02:15:44 - Considering their weight and armament, what is your opinion of the Project 66 heavy cruisers of the soviet union?

02:20:42 - If the Japanese had not solved the problem of using torpedoes in shallow water but were determined to go ahead with the Pearl Harbor attack anyway, what would you consider an optimal allocation?

02:24:16 - Captains checking out in the middle of combat?

02:27:32 - Admiral Willis Lee was an Olympic sharpshooter, and Admiral Jackie Fisher was an enthusiastic dancer. Do you know of any other naval officers who had interesting talents or hobbies that one would not think of for a career military man?

02:29:45 - Minefields and minesweeping?

02:38:02 - Cross-deck hangar catapults?

02:41:05 - Night Action of Guadalcanal shell types

02:46:14 - Your favorite figure head of the age of sail ships?

02:48:52 - Did IJN ever considered repair/maintenance of their vessels overseas similar to USN during interwar period or WW2?

02:52:38 - Considering the famous and decidedly unofficial 'Christmas Truce' in the trenches of the Western Front in 1914... Were there any similar situations involving Naval forces during the period(s) the channel covers?

02:56:34 - How did Australia pay for, supply and maintain HMAS Australia (1911)?