The Drydock - Episode 177

I liked your "Fightcamp 2021" video from October; a couple minute 'taste' was a good portion size for viewing. Keep them short and see which ones draw enough feedback, which presentation style gets viewer interest.

Robert Hilton

During WW2, did the US Navy use mostly HE shells for shore bombardment - or were AP shells also used? Ian W Toll's "Twilight of the Gods" seems to indicate that HE were the primary shell type. Toll does mention that some bombs with delay fuses were used to good effect.

Michael A Klaene

Having grown up in San Diego I have fond memories of crossing the harbor to Coronado Island on that ferry in the back seat of a 1960 Buick convertible. NOBODY should be surprised by the spot-on intel published by the offices at Drachinifel Central!!! Star of India; check. Side-wheeler is likely the Bahia Bell when mobile circa 1964. The ferry pictured, locally known as a “nickel-snatcher” (5 cents a ride in the early days), was one of the last of the family that formed the primary conduit for civil and military defense workers commuting between greater San Diego and Naval Air Station San Diego (commissioning in 1917), later NAS North Island (renamed in 1955). Beginning in 1918 and until 1969 when the ribbon was cut on the Coronado Bay Bridge effectively outlawing commercial commuter ferry service anywhere on the harbor, the ferry ride obviated a 25-mile drive around South Bay as Coronado is an island in name only (sources: Coronado Historical Society, Flagship Cruises and Events history page, Wikipedia). I had the good fortune of knowing Capt’n Bill in his later years, ship’s master of the Cabrillo, the last of the ferries to make the run. From his limitless stories of misadventure and hijinks on the high seas of San Diego Harbor, it was obvious that his was the finest job in the entirety of the city. Ranging from fisticuffs with drunken sailors returning from all-nighters in the bars at the foot of Broadway, to losing an idling Pontiac, y compris le chauffeur, off the bow one foggy morning, his was a life of rollicking day-time adventures on the waterfront combined with that ever-so-rare benefit in a sailor’s life: that of sleeping in his home bed every night.

I am sure you once mentioned that a destroyer or cruiser was tested with a high speed run at shallow water to get a faster measured test run. -- How can this be? Wouldn't the "squat" effect pull the ship deeper into the water and reduce its spead instead? (And is it really true that shallow water can increase a ship's stopping distance?)

Ole Bjørsvik

In Operation Downfall the Allies planned to use a decoy fleet to draw out the kamikazes that were being held in reserve and destroy them. Which ships would have been best suited for this crazy fleet and how effective do you think it would have been? One would think the Japanese wouldn't fall for it unless a substantial force was deployed. Do you think the Japanese military would have fallen for the ruse?

Fireteam Joker