America Stole A German Submarine And Stuck It In Chicago

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  • Опубліковано 18 чер 2023
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 4,8 тис.

  • @the_fat_electrician
    @the_fat_electrician  Рік тому +1913

    Sorry video was a day late this week.

    • @DRAGONFLAIR2008
      @DRAGONFLAIR2008 Рік тому +117

      Thats fine as long as its good content take as long as needed

    • @generalspitfire01
      @generalspitfire01 Рік тому +38

      Thank you for making this amazing story. This is one of the many ways that proves Uncle Sam will go through many lengths to get what he wants

    • @Rurik_Luci
      @Rurik_Luci Рік тому +28

      Will the next one be a day early?

    • @deadlyred0112
      @deadlyred0112 Рік тому +15

      Please keep up the good work I wait all week for more of these and I love showing them off

    • @ryanupchurch9683
      @ryanupchurch9683 Рік тому +15

      Do the Alamo or the battle of San Jacinto

  • @Duck-yw4eh
    @Duck-yw4eh 11 місяців тому +4783

    I was once, about 15 years ago, on a plane with an elderly gentleman named “Steve.” He told me a story of how he went on a tour of that boat, and the tour guide spoke with a German accent. The guide spoke competently about crew routines, how they lived day to day, and how they operated. Steve stuck around to talk to the guide and asked how he could possibly know so much. The guide responded “I was a radioman on this boat when it was captured.”

    • @cracker9302000
      @cracker9302000 11 місяців тому +712

      Hans Goebeler. He wrote a book about it. Made a comment about it here. He actually talks about this in the book. It's on Audiable. One of the most interesting ones I've listened to.

    • @FavioredValkyrie
      @FavioredValkyrie 11 місяців тому +266

      Lol, that's awesome.
      The radio operator?
      Would love to have a chat with him.

    • @aziahmccall1460
      @aziahmccall1460 11 місяців тому +87

      All I can say is wow

    • @YossiRafelson
      @YossiRafelson 11 місяців тому +253

      The POWs from this u boat were sent off to Canada and spent the rest of the war basically living the easy life on farms and what not. After the war many chose to stay in Canada.

    • @johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555
      @johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555 11 місяців тому +103

      30 or 40 years ago .... I went to the Museum of Science and Industry and took the tour, when it was still included in the admission price for the place.

  • @williamcostigan91
    @williamcostigan91 Рік тому +3502

    UK: "So you stole the sub and put it in a museum?"
    USA: "Well... I learned it by watching you."
    UK: "Im so proud."

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  Рік тому +754

      happy father's day 😆 🤣

    • @DutchTraveler
      @DutchTraveler Рік тому +111

      @@the_fat_electrician that is beautiful.

    • @Channel-23s
      @Channel-23s Рік тому +110

      The student surpasses the mentor I see 👀👀😏😏 (this sub taking is wild)

    • @MajesticDemonLord
      @MajesticDemonLord Рік тому +125

      *sniffs holding back Fatherly and patriotic Tears* "I've taught you all I know. You must now make your own way in the world, my Son"

    • @DutchTraveler
      @DutchTraveler Рік тому +22

      @@MajesticDemonLord if only it went like that.

  • @DOMFRMDA_800
    @DOMFRMDA_800 5 місяців тому +391

    "Not only are you not allowed to sink your own ship
    Your not even allowed to rage quit and the us is about to joyride your fucking submarine through the Bermuda triangle
    Im literally crying laughing

    • @WOTArtyNoobs
      @WOTArtyNoobs 2 місяці тому +2

      Seems only fair as they did not have keyboards to smash against their screens back then!

    • @Cowboycomando54
      @Cowboycomando54 Місяць тому +3

      German Officer: "They stole the whole sub. Can't have sht in the Atlantic!!!"

  • @rednecktek2873
    @rednecktek2873 7 місяців тому +280

    When I started as a merchant sailor I heard a story that I didn't believe at first but turned out to be true. Back in WW2 merchant sailors on the Atlantic run would sometimes sneak off the ship and join the Marines... because it was safer. The merchant fleet had a higher loss of men than all 3 branches of the military combined over the length of the war. To this day we STILL wonder why we're not allowed to be armed.

    • @LordWaterBottle
      @LordWaterBottle 7 місяців тому +10

      It's probably in one of those Geneva conventions

    • @rednecktek2873
      @rednecktek2873 6 місяців тому +17

      @@Kyle_Da_Frog Rarely, and most of those are gone now. I was on one ship with an arms locker. The Engineering crew got nothing but the OS got the grenade launcher... on a munitions ship... 😬

    • @GraemeFaber-ls5wp
      @GraemeFaber-ls5wp 6 місяців тому +9

      @LordWaterBottle ahh yes. The Geneva Suggestions

    • @Krieg-ch8ot
      @Krieg-ch8ot 5 місяців тому +7

      Many were armed with 4inch guns fore and aft along with anti aircraft guns. The problem is that only really helps if the enemy is a surface ship or surfaced sub. As the war went on UBoat surface attacks were rarer and rarer as escorts and aircraft increased in numbers. You can have all the firepower in the world but It does very little to help when your ship is hit by a torpedo fired by a submerged submarine.

    • @elduquecaradura1468
      @elduquecaradura1468 Місяць тому +1

      ​@@LordWaterBottlekind off, any armored ship in any regards is considereda war vessel, so is not a war crime to shot it
      Sadly this for merchant ships makes them easy targets, I wish that all ships even civilian ones counts under protection of a nation (if you want to hold a ship legally) and if this ship is attacked it counts as a war agression, wich would make pirates unable to attack freely, and nations would be careful about where they send their ships, and what ships they capture for being ilegally in their waters (in fact, doing this had triggered was in the past)

  • @josephseid4049
    @josephseid4049 Рік тому +5511

    The whole of WW2 was just America dropping UNLIMITED amounts of disrespect. And i love it

    • @DZ4295DBW
      @DZ4295DBW Рік тому +258

      Patton should have pushed through Russia after DubDub2

    • @shangri-la-la-la
      @shangri-la-la-la Рік тому +154

      @@DZ4295DBW Churchill would have approved.

    • @howardanon7433
      @howardanon7433 Рік тому +44

      ​@@DZ4295DBWthat would not have ended well for anyone

    • @DiamondDude-so6dz
      @DiamondDude-so6dz Рік тому +267

      💎”we attacked three boats, they dropped the sun on us twice”💎

    • @shangri-la-la-la
      @shangri-la-la-la Рік тому +123

      @@howardanon7433 Wouldn't have ended WWII as quick but the cold war stand off with all the events like Vietnam, Bay of pigs and the like along with the Great leap Forward and the current CCP would be gone.

  • @arkad6329
    @arkad6329 Рік тому +874

    Fun fact about U505 not in the video:
    After the war when news that U505 was being turned into a museum ship, the companies in West Germany that used to manufacture spare parts for those subs, offered to supply replacement parts for the sub.
    I can just imagine it: “we regret that you have taken our boat captive. But since she’s going to be a museum ship, here; at least make her look accurate.”

    • @radicalgremlin6440
      @radicalgremlin6440 11 місяців тому

      Most German fucking thing ever. Well if your going to have our ship it had to be proper and look good.

    • @davidschmidt6013
      @davidschmidt6013 11 місяців тому +125

      Germans are an interesting people. I can understand their logic:...there was no point in grumbling about it, the US had it, so might as well put a good face on it, and get back just a leeeetle bit of respect.

    • @Idiotresponsibly
      @Idiotresponsibly 11 місяців тому +126

      “If you’re gonna show off our engineering at least do it right” oh and btw the engines still work

    • @barryrammer7906
      @barryrammer7906 11 місяців тому +14

      ​@Idiotresponsibly tell that to my Audi lol, that's why my daily car is a Honda.

    • @AdmiralYeti8042
      @AdmiralYeti8042 11 місяців тому +9

      @@davidschmidt6013I mean what were they going to do? Fight us?

  • @rhawkas2637
    @rhawkas2637 4 місяці тому +39

    Love that comment at 15:05 "Where it sits as a proud member of the second largest navy on the planet: America's fleet of museum ships." XD

  • @button-jeff
    @button-jeff 5 місяців тому +128

    @the_fat_electrician I met one of the crew that carried out this mission. He was a really great guy named Rex Moore, and he lived in Van Meter, IA. When I was in 8th grade I interviewed him for an English project. His story was basically the same as yours. That the Germans tried to sink it but "we didn't let them." He said they hooked a chain to it and drug it across the ocean. They were pretty happy about finding that enigma machine. I went to Chicago and got him one of those little injection molded submarines you can get at the museum. He was pretty tickled about that. RIP Mr. Moore. Thanks for telling the story sir.

  • @elistewart3435
    @elistewart3435 Рік тому +637

    German U-boat commander: “When my chain of command hears about this, I am so screwed.”
    American commander: “IF. IF your chain of command hears about this.”

    • @JakeCWolf
      @JakeCWolf Рік тому +155

      German U-boat commander: "If? If is good!"

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  Рік тому +140

      someone call IXII

    • @mythicsgames2913
      @mythicsgames2913 Рік тому +16

      This. This is why I follow you.

    • @Tigrisshark
      @Tigrisshark Рік тому +33

      @@the_fat_electrician Fun fact- HIS boss is one of the very few that survived the war and the trials.

    • @jonpinkston
      @jonpinkston Рік тому +7

      That's hilarious. I love the reference. Ya'll are the best.

  • @bryancamacho101
    @bryancamacho101 Рік тому +685

    Seabees: "We robbed a train."
    USS Barb: "Ha. We blew up a train."
    TF 22.3: "That's adorable. We blew up, salvaged, and stole a submarine!"

    • @vidard9863
      @vidard9863 Рік тому +39

      Stole. Stole a train. Big difference.

    • @kentuckyace1068
      @kentuckyace1068 Рік тому +22

      ​@@vidard9863 and many cases of beer

    • @Rotorhead1651
      @Rotorhead1651 Рік тому +4

      @bryancamaco101
      😂😝😀😅😜😁👍😈
      That is epic U.S. interunit one-up-manship. 👍😉
      Although TECHNICALLY, the Sea Bees STOLE that train, and the Barb SANK theirs, but still a great gag.

    • @Noobster15
      @Noobster15 Рік тому +37

      @@vidard9863 borrowed, borrowed without permission
      -Captain Jack Sparrow

    • @NightLexic
      @NightLexic Рік тому +17

      I mean technically the Seabees not only stole the train they repaired the tracks to keep it from being stolen.

  • @CRASH546
    @CRASH546 4 місяці тому +40

    This video needs to be shown at the exhibit in the museum in Chicago!! Give them the rights please!

  • @MoppelMat
    @MoppelMat 9 місяців тому +80

    as a german citizen I can say: WOW that's a GREAT story! thank you for telling it so wonderfully

    • @erebostd
      @erebostd 8 місяців тому +4

      It’s a great story, absolutely. But he twists some bits and tells it very favorably for the Americans. For example it’s way easier to repair a surfaced uboat if nobody shoots at you. I bet the Germans could have easily repaired the boat if let alone. It takes away from the accomplishments those brave Americans have shown by blowing them out of proportion…

    • @iridium204
      @iridium204 Місяць тому +2

      ​@@erebostd Womp womp

    • @wannamontana4130
      @wannamontana4130 Місяць тому +1

      @@erebostd ... because after all, the germans could have paddled themselves into motion with oars and spun that propeller, generating the needed power in time before it sank.

  • @Volvith
    @Volvith Рік тому +1055

    Normal countries: "We defend ourselves by building walls and digging trenches so the enemy can't get to us."
    America: _"We defend ourselves by eradicating the enemy pre-emptively, so the enemy can't get to us."_
    *America: Because an enemy can't be an enemy if it has neither arms nor legs to fight or run with.*

    • @Rotorhead1651
      @Rotorhead1651 Рік тому +13

      Correct me if I'm mistaken, but you seem to be a bit facetious.
      France built the Maginot Line after WW I, that didn't work out so well for them.

    • @evanulven8249
      @evanulven8249 Рік тому +60

      "The enemy cannot push a button if you disable his hand."
      "MEDIC!"

    • @Droski-Boutta-Bag
      @Droski-Boutta-Bag Рік тому +5

      ​@@Rotorhead1651yea it didn't work bc they built a wall of bodies and German pierced though a single part of it which broke the line

    • @Tommy-tz7hm
      @Tommy-tz7hm Рік тому +6

      @@Rotorhead1651the maginot line was built after the German-French war that created the Germany empire. It didn’t work cause of Belgium.

    • @acbrown2011
      @acbrown2011 Рік тому +19

      ​@@Droski-Boutta-BagMaginot failed because it was developed by French war strategists who failed to realize that a static defensive line only works if you can't blitzkrieg the guy next door to death and drive around.
      "We don't need to build this around Belgium. No army can get past Jean-Claude Van Damme."
      "but sir! He hasn't been born yet!"
      "noooooooooo!"
      German Army: "who's up for waffles?"

  • @jetorixjones
    @jetorixjones Рік тому +401

    I'd rather climb Everest to fight a Yeti than get into a submarine. Hats off to those that do.

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  Рік тому +66

      same!

    • @tyrant1384
      @tyrant1384 Рік тому +17

      I would rather have a drink made by Bill Cosby than get in a glorified metal tube

    • @darrellfarley1869
      @darrellfarley1869 Рік тому +9

      I’m a Marine Veteran, but worked for the Navy 22 years. 10 for Navair, the rest for Sublant. Worked on the Balistic missile boats, I got claustrophobia after working on those damn things!

    • @NavyGuy2OO7
      @NavyGuy2OO7 Рік тому +13

      When I enlisted in the Navy my recruiting station was all prior sub guys, my recruiter was an MM1 bubblehead, I was a rail skinny kid at the time and he looked at me and said "you'd be a perfect fit for sub duty!" I looked him in the eye and said, "The Marines next door are looking really good right now!" Mad props to the people that can do it, I certainly cannot!

    • @MesaperProductions
      @MesaperProductions Рік тому +8

      @@the_fat_electrician I'm a former sub sailor.
      I like to say that we're not elite (because you just volunteer and you get in; there's no "selection" like in the SF communities).
      HOWEVER, there are so few of us willing to do the job, we ARE special.

  • @missmeppsie3389
    @missmeppsie3389 8 місяців тому +32

    "Here's all the shit from your office and it's distinctly not water logged." Lmfao

  • @shake307
    @shake307 9 місяців тому +30

    As a fellow electrician, that driveshaft hack was fucking baller

  • @IzzyManDude
    @IzzyManDude Рік тому +813

    Hey Nick, one of my great-grandfathers took part in capturing the U-505. He was part of the boarding party, and where he had to swim to the damn sub in order to get the hatches open. He received the Presidential Unit Citation for him and his units' bravery while under hostile gun fire. My grandma told me that his job in the Navy had to do with engineering, so, he was pretty much needed in the salvaging operation that took place during and after capture. Sadly, in 1973, at age 44, he passed from cancer. After being told his story and his bravery, he is now one of my inspirations for joining the Navy, hopefully, soon. I will send an email to you with the actual paper certificate, the picture of him and his fellow sailors.
    Edit/Correction: He was 18 when he joined in 1943 and died at 48 in 1973. His name was John Howard "Mickey" Davies, Jr.
    Sorry to those who literally went to all hands on deck to correct me. Jeez.

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  Рік тому +225

      that incredible! thank you for sharing I hope u liked the video

    • @nunyaargo9629
      @nunyaargo9629 Рік тому +51

      Out-fucking-standing!

    • @grahamoliva885
      @grahamoliva885 Рік тому +46

      I remember reading about him in the U505 exhibit. One of my favorite parts because I thought "who would do that!?" What he did is incredible. I'm so sorry to hear he passed away so young.

    • @nautifella
      @nautifella Рік тому +19

      Submarine duty is the best duty in the Navy.... Ex-Bubblehead. (STS2-SS).
      Good Luck.

    • @Schwarzgeist89
      @Schwarzgeist89 Рік тому +23

      Your Great Grandpa is a Legend.

  • @snowdragon2841
    @snowdragon2841 Рік тому +593

    I've been on this U-boot at the MSI. It was... humbling.
    Also, you left the best part of the story out: The interior of the ship had to be refurbished after the war. The curator of the exhibit wrote to all the German companies he needed parts from, fully expecting to be told "Nein, fahr zur Hoelle". Every single company sent the parts free of charge, with a passive-aggressive message saying that it was still German property and they wanted it to be a testament to German engineering.

    • @bjaminf113
      @bjaminf113 Рік тому +16

      😆 epic!

    • @DD_Dietriech
      @DD_Dietriech Рік тому +51

      That's the German Spirit that I Know and Love.

    • @Just_A_Dude
      @Just_A_Dude Рік тому

      For all their shitty leadership and the monstrosity of the Holocaust, the Germans really did have incredible tech edge for the day. They just didn't have anything like enough of an industrial infrastructure to keep up with America, who was supplying themselves, plus England and Russia with enough goodies to win the war of attrition.
      The whole situation was perfectly summed up when I heard someone say _"One Tiger was worth three Shermans, but America could build five."_

    • @InchonDM
      @InchonDM Рік тому +112

      The specific wording used in the museum's description of the event, as I recall, is "We are terribly sorry that you have our U-boat, however, as it appears she is going to be there for a while, we want her to be the best testament to German engineering that she can be."

    • @KinshinReaper
      @KinshinReaper Рік тому +17

      Which is fair enough.

  • @LarryW91964
    @LarryW91964 10 місяців тому +51

    I've been through that sub several times. It is an amazing piece of history! One bit missing from the story is how we found the subs to hunt them down. That was due to the 10th fleet. A US Naval fleet with no ships. It operating a line of radio direction finders spread from Greenland through to Brazil allowing the US to locate every sub when it radioed status reports back to Germany.
    They were instrumental in helping send troops to England for D-Day, especially the Queen Mary and her sister ship, who were too fast for any escorts.

    • @Lupus_Indomitus
      @Lupus_Indomitus 3 місяці тому +5

      Yeah, the peope aboard those ships had freacking balls of steel, to run across the atlantic, with engines that where always at the absolute limit, meaning they could break down at any time, without any escorts, meaning, if that ever happened, and a sub was anywhere nearby, tthey all would be dead. I mean, the QE even sunk a sub by ramming it. The sub got lucky and was in a good position, when they spotted the QE, but missed their torps and the QE got a bead on them. But since it wasnt armed against subs, they had basically only the option to run, and probably eat the second set of torps, that the sub was preparing, or ramming the sub. Both very risky moves, especially since the QE could basically carry an entire infantry division over the ocean in one run.

  • @DavidKoppana-iq8jr
    @DavidKoppana-iq8jr 4 місяці тому +14

    Supporting a family owned company with forged lifetime Tools is remarkable. Thank you very much.

  • @HeisenbergFam
    @HeisenbergFam Рік тому +587

    "strategically transfered a piece of equipment to an alternate location" is a beautiful way to describe stealing

  • @mattdirks7896
    @mattdirks7896 Рік тому +877

    "I stole that submarine fair and square" -makes me proud to be an American!

    • @josephgipson7469
      @josephgipson7469 11 місяців тому +11

      🇺🇸❤️

    • @Ey_SmoKrac
      @Ey_SmoKrac 10 місяців тому

      God bless the United States.

    • @pigpuke
      @pigpuke 10 місяців тому +11

      The sheer gall of wanting to nuke such an impressive war trophy!

    • @Tony.795
      @Tony.795 10 місяців тому +4

      @@pigpuke They nuked several allied and axis ships that were worthy for preservation, the Prinz Eugen for example. They probably didn't see the value of that yet.

    • @pigpuke
      @pigpuke 10 місяців тому +4

      @@Tony.795 Those were ships boarded while moored in port after the surrender, not a ship captured in battle on the high seas. There is no honour or glory lost in nuking them.

  • @michealsmith101
    @michealsmith101 9 місяців тому +94

    All of his content is freaking amazing, I really do look forward to the weekly content, and his sense of humor is FKN EPIC!!!! Love this guy lol, and how he puts his own personal spin on things.

  • @History_Buff
    @History_Buff 4 місяці тому +8

    I think the best part of the story was the company who built U-505 was the one who restored it. The inside was kinda trashed and after sitting in Chicago for a couple decades things were rusting a bit. They said they would restore it back to original conditions for free as long as it was them doing the work. So that boat is as close to original delivery condition as you could possibility get it.

  • @adawg3032
    @adawg3032 10 місяців тому +1316

    Once I heard the part about a cameraman boarding the sub, I knew they were going to succeed. Camera man never dies.

    • @DanielAfonso-IT_Consultant
      @DanielAfonso-IT_Consultant 9 місяців тому +22

      My friend, never go on Live Leak

    • @Gabryal77
      @Gabryal77 9 місяців тому +19

      Survivor's bias my dude, the ones where the camera man didn't make it are the one's we don't know about or are forgotten

    • @Meowthix
      @Meowthix 8 місяців тому +9

      My immediate reaction. "They succeeded this BECAUSE of the camerman. He wasn't the outlier, he was the reason."

    • @Meowthix
      @Meowthix 8 місяців тому +8

      @@Gabryal77 Lies camerman never dies.

    • @Richco07
      @Richco07 8 місяців тому

      Plenty of cameramen died during world War 2 trying to record footage for movies. Check out the lost camera crews on bombers.

  • @BrassMtn
    @BrassMtn Рік тому +660

    The fact that we have a museum of ships that is only second in size to our active navy is just incredible!

    • @DrRussian
      @DrRussian 11 місяців тому +92

      If I remember correctly, there are 9 surviving battleships in the world and the US owns (and has kept afloat, mind you) 8 of them.

    • @Saanonymous80
      @Saanonymous80 11 місяців тому +26

      ​@@DrRussianand used a few during the Gulf War.

    • @berryreading4809
      @berryreading4809 11 місяців тому +31

      The Iowa class battleships originally built during WW2 had early 1980's designed UAV "pioneer" drones for observing/spotting shells from the 16" guns and targeting/damage reporting for the Tomahawk missiles on board during their 1980s refitting programs, which resulted in the first known time in human history of enemy combatants surrendering to an unmanned aerial drone that I'm aware of (pretty sure there is still video of this available)... You'd think maybe it would've been during the GWOT, or maybe while Turkish drones were harassing the Kurds, or even as late as videos from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, part 1 in 2014 or part 2 "3 days to take Kiev" in 2022 (It's still Kyiv btw 😉) But nope, it was in 1991 during the freaking Gulf War, to a pretty badass drone built in 1986 launched from an absolutely badass Iowa class Battleship, the USS Wisconsin 😎 🇺🇲 Saddam's guys just couldn't handle 16"... Except a few of the guys during downtime with the local livestock... Wait nevermind that livestock part was several years later, seen by drones in Afghanistan...My bad! 🤣

    • @davidschmidt6013
      @davidschmidt6013 11 місяців тому

      Yep!! AND...what is the world's largest Air Force? US Air Force. 2nd Largest? US Navy.
      Don't mess with the US. MAGA

    • @MrOiram46
      @MrOiram46 11 місяців тому +13

      @@berryreading4809 I remember watching an IR footage from a drone during the Gulf War somewhere in UA-cam where one of the Wisconsin’s 16” shells sent a technical truck flying into the air like a punted football after its impact

  • @Vod_MacDuff
    @Vod_MacDuff 10 місяців тому +16

    I walked through this sub like 15 years ago, and it was pretty cool. I didn't know the whole story on it at the time, and now I appreciate it more.

  • @rexringtail471
    @rexringtail471 6 місяців тому +14

    The rube-goldberg mechanisms Navy enlisted men have come up with multiple times to save a ship from certain destruction always amaze me.
    Best example was when a mine broke FFG-58's keel and the Captain was preparing to order abandon ship, since you are pretty screwed with a broken keel, then some rando E-4 suggested running steel cable between the fore and aft capstans and taking them under strain to artificially create a new keel between the strongest structural points of the ship, the capstans. It worked, the ship was saved and continued to serve till retirement in 2015. I was a DivO and despite their lack of education, the enlisted man is cunning and should be heeded for wisdom and watched for mischief in equal measure.

  • @Ryvaken
    @Ryvaken Рік тому +513

    Regarding the cameraman: This was the first look inside a WW2 German sub. Any picture of any electronics, machinery, documentation, gauges, pretty much anything inside that submarine that was not a kitchen sink (and I'm not sure about that one) had the potential to be an intelligence windfall. And if you're not sure you'll be able to keep a sub for more than a few minutes, you have to send that camera in the first wave.

    • @timmycolpman
      @timmycolpman Рік тому +7

      Really.. mmmm Nope Royal Navy captured a U-570 a type VII uboat in 1941 and she was commisioned into the Royal Navy till Jun 1943 as HMS Graph

    • @BuckeyeNut123
      @BuckeyeNut123 Рік тому +15

      Signal Corps. If someone is sent in, Signal is already there. When all others leave, Signal is still there.

    • @juju1896
      @juju1896 Рік тому +5

      @Ryvaken that makes so much sense. And it WAS an intelligence windfall!

    • @Ryvaken
      @Ryvaken Рік тому +14

      @@juju1896 Not for the reason most people think, ironically. The Enigma was nice to have, but several had already been captured. The code books gave the codebreakers a free ride for a few weeks, though.

    • @usaturnuranus
      @usaturnuranus 11 місяців тому +11

      ​@@Ryvakenagreed, those code books (designed to become pulp upon exposure to the sea) were the actual goldmine of UBoat capture.

  • @sethdunlap9868
    @sethdunlap9868 Рік тому +374

    Just imagine how interested kids would be in history, if the Fat Electrician taught all the classes! 😀👍

    • @bobw7018
      @bobw7018 Рік тому +25

      He would make history interesting. alright class! Today's lesson of warheads on foreheads s how these absolutely fearless men decided during a seek and destroy mission to play the very first GTA with a German U boat!

    • @ThelostMirage
      @ThelostMirage Рік тому +21

      Not only would his class be the absolute best, it would also inspire more generations to join the military

    • @Reniu87
      @Reniu87 Рік тому +4

      Thats so true!

    • @maryaurorafate
      @maryaurorafate Рік тому +6

      I'd happily attend that class

    • @jamesmason4382
      @jamesmason4382 Рік тому +4

      No shit lol

  • @scottd9448
    @scottd9448 5 місяців тому +7

    If you're in Chicago, it's definitely worth a visit. It has been beautifully restored and the short tour is very informative.

  • @n5378w
    @n5378w 4 місяці тому +12

    They didn't steal it, they captured it. Remember the war?

  • @mikemattox1976
    @mikemattox1976 Рік тому +512

    I grew up in Illinois. There was always a story floating around that one of the US sailors that "acquired" the sub was feom Chicago. Every year he took his kids and eventually his grandkids to see the sub. He often took them into parts of the sub not open to the public. Supposedly one time a museum worker said something to him going over the rooes. His reply was basically "F u. I helped steal this sub and I will go where I want to on it." The story continues with the worker replying "Yes sir. Have a great day." Not sure how true it is. But it would be awesome if it was.

    • @CT-5736-Bladez
      @CT-5736-Bladez Рік тому +24

      That’s fvcking badass 😂

    • @koathekid8255
      @koathekid8255 Рік тому +60

      The shear “fair enough” level is insane
      Bro was verbally flash banged so hard he just said “ok”

    • @chrismaverick9828
      @chrismaverick9828 Рік тому +60

      Just as the Medal of Honor has perks attached for those who earned it, I, as a tax-payer, have absolutely NO PROBLEM with a warrior who helped seize the thing wandering around it all they want. I'd go about it with a special lanyard or tag or something so that all the staff knows who not to mess with and should be absolutely listened to, but it would certainly be their right.

    • @AdamWest84
      @AdamWest84 Рік тому +36

      Just toured the U505 this weekend. Really cool story. Commander Gallery was from Chicago, he's one of the key reasons it ended up there.

    • @txusmc69
      @txusmc69 Рік тому +42

      ​@chrismaverick9828 this reminds me of when Donald Pleasence gave the director of "The Great escape" advice on the set and tunnels and the director blew him off. He thought it was an actor just trying to show off but when others told him that Pleasence had actually been a POW during the war, the director went back and asked him for advice.

  • @ericzaiz8358
    @ericzaiz8358 Рік тому +249

    The fun thing bout U505, was that in like the 80s she was in bad shape.
    Cause she was originally left outside in a Chicago park for like 40 odd years.
    So they decided to move her inside to what is her current location after restoration.
    Well the company that built her and made most of her parts in the War, which been long since knicked by the locals cause Chicago never change, came to the museum and said:
    "We are sorry that you have our U-boat, but since she's going to be there for many years, we want her to be a credit to German technology."
    And that is how U505 became the most complete German submarine in the world.

    • @roberthultz9023
      @roberthultz9023 Рік тому +20

      I saw her in the early 90s; when she was still outside. The new room is a fitting tribute to her, her sisters and the Allies who hunted them

    • @seldoon_nemar
      @seldoon_nemar Рік тому +17

      "we are sorry you have our U-boat" is such a German way of saying "yeah, sorry we tried to take over the world and made you stop us..." 🫥

    • @pauld6967
      @pauld6967 Рік тому +5

      I went aboard U-505 twice, once in the late 1970s and again in the early 1980s.
      Seeing it in the indoor display room is on my 'To Do' list.

  • @M240Bravo
    @M240Bravo 5 місяців тому +4

    Thats why i love this channel. When i was a new sailor in Chicago at A-school, i went to see this and i never realized how impressive the story was. Same for the Wisconsin in Norfolk.

  • @fknight0
    @fknight0 5 місяців тому +7

    I've been to the U-505 exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. It's one of the coolest exhibitions I've ever been to and a must-see for any history nerd, especially those interested in WW2 history. You get to walk around inside the U boat and see basically everything inside. If you're taller than 5'8" though, watch your head.

  • @weebandgaminginc.7593
    @weebandgaminginc.7593 10 місяців тому +327

    American military logic in a nutshell:
    Psychologist: “insane”
    America: “challenge accepted”
    Psychologist: “risk”
    America: “try me”
    Psychologist: “destruction”
    America: “Tuesday afternoon”

  • @riktor3005
    @riktor3005 11 місяців тому +422

    The photographer may have been the most important man on the mission - if they determine the boat IS sunk, he can snap a few pics of any important docs/intel before the lot of it sinks to the bottom. Remember, the paper had ink that dissolved in water so taking any intel of the boat where the ocean can get to it would be highly risky to the intel. But if they had a photo of it...

    • @BlackReaps
      @BlackReaps 9 місяців тому +32

      damn, I did not realize that until you pointed it out. Thye really could have just let the thing sink and let the photographer take pics of as many stuff as he could.

    • @ThePhoenixAscendant
      @ThePhoenixAscendant 8 місяців тому +8

      What do people say? A picture is worth 1000 words?

  • @darkwater5614
    @darkwater5614 6 місяців тому +7

    Lmfao! You got me with the Where's Waldo book! I actually believed that until you said you made it up. 😂😂😂

  • @biketech60
    @biketech60 8 місяців тому +5

    Every one of your presentations brings tears to my eyes . You are the best storyteller , period ! I wish public education taught History as entertaining as you do . We stole it , not giving it back

  • @dennisyanan9728
    @dennisyanan9728 Рік тому +306

    Fun fact - the original periscope for the U505 had been removed and taken to San Diego for inspection. The German periscopes were able to be rotated up in order to look for airplanes, this was adapted to American submarines and were used in the 50s to inspect the polar ice when we were sending nukes to the North Pole. It was found in a warehouse scheduled for demolition in the 90's, and they sent it to Chicago to be remounted in the 505. I actually went through the sub in the early 80's, and was surprised at how cramped they were (and that was the larger of the two types the Kriegsmarine used through most of the war).

    • @chrismaverick9828
      @chrismaverick9828 Рік тому +20

      US Subs, at least after the S-Class, were designed for longer patrols and better comfort for crews. Happier crews means more bad guys on the bottom, it's just simple arithmetic.

    • @jonpatterson7211
      @jonpatterson7211 Рік тому +4

      Dennis, that's an absolutely awesome piece of info. Thank you for that. It's amazing how many pieces of our military history were very nearly lost, but due to the efforts of one or two individuals, were saved. It's similar in a minor way to Remington Arms Model 721 bolt action rifles. I won't bore you with the details but if you're interested, Google "Drafted but never served" and get the full story. I have one of the Model 721's in my gun cabinet, complete with the original shipping carton and advertising from 1941. Have a great day and thanks again.

    • @papajohnsy6659
      @papajohnsy6659 Рік тому +1

      @@jonpatterson7211 Not sure on the military side, but the 721 and 722 are pretty much the dad of the 700, and were very popular hunting and target shooting rifles in their days. I've seen a plethora of 721s in 30-06 in the hunting woods, and an uncle owns one. The 722 in 222 was a very popular platform for varmint hunting and benchrest shooting.

    • @zackwolf974
      @zackwolf974 Рік тому

      Actually Germans were slightly shorter in the kriegsmarine specifically the U-Boots because they are designed to cut through the water like a knife and to be able to run silently at around 6knts. And for those of you who do not know what silent running is silent running is where the screw will be turning so slow that it does not create bubbles in the water. This allowed for the Germans to quickly escape Royal Navy patrols who used hydrophones and lacked American sonar. They may have been able to stop the Luftwaffe but man did the uboats do a number on them.

    • @dennisyanan9728
      @dennisyanan9728 Рік тому +1

      @@zackwolf974 The Royal Navy actually had been using Sonar during World War I calling ASDIC, they refined the tactics during WW2 with the "Creeping Attack" where one ship would keep the U-boat detected, while another ship would actually perform the attack.

  • @jimreilly917
    @jimreilly917 10 місяців тому +588

    What’s actually most amazing is how this critically damaged U boat didn’t go to the bottom by the shear weight of our USN sailors balls of titanium. Great job as usual. Subbed.

    • @cruisinguy6024
      @cruisinguy6024 7 місяців тому +13

      Titanium is actually quite lightweight which is one reason why it’s so popular in aviation.

    • @jimreilly917
      @jimreilly917 7 місяців тому +5

      @@cruisinguy6024 it’s 10x the tensile density of steel which is also why it’s ideal for aircraft

    • @CaesarShadowKnight
      @CaesarShadowKnight 7 місяців тому +7

      @@jimreilly917 *angry DH-98 Mosquito noises*

    • @jimreilly917
      @jimreilly917 7 місяців тому

      @@CaesarShadowKnight 😁

    • @covercalls88
      @covercalls88 6 місяців тому +4

      Besides having the balls of titanium, the seamen applied a lot of the American know how to figure things out. In fact, a lot of success in the maintenance of US equipment during WWII was due to so many Americans being backyard mechanics, and had technical knowledge of the use of power tools and machinery. So training them was an easier short process. Japan lacked this basic resource so their out commission rate was much higher.

  • @Markgyver8240
    @Markgyver8240 8 місяців тому +3

    Hell yeah, I'm from West Virginia, thanks for supporting our businesses.

  • @Potato2595
    @Potato2595 Рік тому +90

    Fun fact: Not only can you see it, but also walk around inside and view its war materials in the museum its placed in.

    • @ninjabearpress2574
      @ninjabearpress2574 Рік тому +2

      I've toured the USS Requin in Pittsburgh, PA a few times, and I want to see this U-boat.

    • @AdamWest84
      @AdamWest84 Рік тому +3

      Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. We just toured the U505 this weekend. Super cool.

  • @dondavenport7077
    @dondavenport7077 Рік тому +208

    Another detail that saved the sub was the German crew's failure to dispose of a critical piece of sea scuttling equipment. U-Boats were equipped with sealed pipes called 'sea strainers' which would fill the craft with seawater when the cover was removed. Those covers were then supposed to be tossed overboard. However, whoever removed the cover on the U505 just dropped it next to the pipe. A member of the recovery crew was lucky enough to find the cover in the knee-high water next to the strainer and seal it back up. If this wasn't done the sub probably would have been lost.

    • @frankjohnson6646
      @frankjohnson6646 Рік тому +34

      His name was Hans Goebler, I met him back in the 80's and have an autographed picture of him. In his defence he was a very young 18 and no one expected the americans to board the sub.

    • @johnmcdonald587
      @johnmcdonald587 Рік тому +19

      @@frankjohnson6646 I too knew Hans. He was a standard fixture at gun shows in Florida in the 80's and 90's. He was an absolute encyclopedia of U-boat knowledge. I loved our gab sessions talking submarines.

  • @OYisit
    @OYisit 5 місяців тому +3

    I can remember how sad it was when U 505 was was just sitting outside the museum rusting away behind a chainlink fence and thought out of respect for the story and war heroes that captured it deserved a better fate. So I was relieved to finally see it restored and moved indoors for the proper display it deserved to show it to many future generations.

  • @11SchwartzSJ
    @11SchwartzSJ Рік тому +275

    Anyone who has the opportunity to visit the Museum of Science and Industry will be awestruck at how a submarine is nestled into a building. It was my favorite thing to see as a child. The entire museum is wonderful.

    • @marklytge743
      @marklytge743 11 місяців тому

      Youre talking about portland right?

    • @GuitarBob311
      @GuitarBob311 10 місяців тому +8

      Chicago

    • @marklytge743
      @marklytge743 10 місяців тому +3

      They also have a sub at the math and science institute in Portland also.

    • @justanothergmailaccount1353
      @justanothergmailaccount1353 10 місяців тому

      It has been so long since I have been there. I should have gone back to it when I stayed with my family who lives near by.
      Sucks that it is in Chicago.

    • @Xyrin1
      @Xyrin1 10 місяців тому +1

      It is fantastic, I hope to be able to take my son one day.

  • @shaun3423
    @shaun3423 Рік тому +169

    As a retired sailor, I can say, with absolute certainty, that all of this is keeping with the greatest traditions of the Navy. One of our earliest heroes, John Paul Jones, acquired the British ship that sank his, as his was sinking.
    I am still waiting on your take on the battle off Samar. I wonder what you would make of the displacement of the USS,Johnston and USS Samuel B Roberts, due to the sheer mass of their crews balls.

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  Рік тому +74

      samar is intimidating one I really gotta get right

    • @adenkyramud5005
      @adenkyramud5005 Рік тому +13

      JPJ was one hell of a character for sure. The amount of fuckery that went on during that entire mission is hilarious

    • @5peciesunkn0wn
      @5peciesunkn0wn Рік тому +4

      @@the_fat_electrician I look forward to it.

    • @norahc.
      @norahc. Рік тому +8

      ​@@the_fat_electricianThat's what Admiral Kurita was probably thinking about Taffy 3.😅

    • @norahc.
      @norahc. Рік тому +8

      Well, when those ships finally hit the ocean floor, their balls kept going and created the Phillpine Trench. 😅

  • @CivRichieP
    @CivRichieP 4 місяці тому +1

    I just found your channel and am currently binging your content. I'm a huge history buff and Marine veteran. You have a gift for telling these stories and delivering information in such a way that keeps your listeners entertained the entire time. Your veteran antidotes are hilarious, something I've missed since being around these filthy civilian casuals. Please keep the amazing content and history coming.

  • @darkstar5871
    @darkstar5871 8 місяців тому +4

    I've lived in Chicagoland all my life, visited 505 on many occasions. Never knew the story. Thank you for this

  • @revejmal
    @revejmal Рік тому +115

    As a former submariner, I feel I should somewhat defend the German submarine crew, when our guys were doing all that they, didn't have the threat of constant depth charging to worry about. I know, it's all in jest, but all submariners during ww2 had balls of steel.

    • @megawolfr1986
      @megawolfr1986 Рік тому +16

      Yeah there is a big difference between: evading capture of a submarine destroyer whilst in a damaged submarine vs saving a submarine with the help of a destroyer.

  • @XR171
    @XR171 Рік тому +127

    You know you've failed when you can't sink your own submarine.

  • @strykerclay9597
    @strykerclay9597 8 місяців тому +4

    I have been inside that submarine at the museum in Chicago when I was a kid back in the seventies and had no idea of the significance and the history behind that until now , holy cow what a story. I love how you deliver your stories keep up the good work my friend

  • @michaeloverton04
    @michaeloverton04 Рік тому +67

    Hell of a way to console an enemy commander who's in deep shit.
    Bad guy: "Oh shit, my chain of command is going to do things that are absolutely illegal to me for a failure like this!"
    American: "Don't worry. No one will torture/execute you because there won't be any chain of command."
    Bad guy: "What?"

  • @slavasatonin947
    @slavasatonin947 10 місяців тому +288

    Towards the end of WW2 U boats were staffed with 18 y.o kids, an average age of a captain was 26. There is a book called “shadow divers” about a U boat that was found 70miles off the coast of New Jersey and there was no record of it ever being there so a couple of guys spent about 20 years diving there to identify what that boat was doing there. Book opens a good amount of information about U boats in general. Fascinating read, so is this story.

    • @papasmurf5925
      @papasmurf5925 9 місяців тому +2

      One of my Favorite Books!

    • @mamavswild
      @mamavswild 8 місяців тому +6

      The average age of a U-Boat seaman/rating was 18! And that’s the average!

    • @itsmatt2105
      @itsmatt2105 6 місяців тому +5

      U-boats were all over and in close to the East Coast. I think I read a U-boat had sailed quite a way up the St. Lawrence seaway. They took tons of picture of the East coast.

    • @trentonebel9088
      @trentonebel9088 4 місяці тому

      I read that book.

    • @humbertojimenez3475
      @humbertojimenez3475 2 місяці тому

      Great book!

  • @kate2create738
    @kate2create738 6 місяців тому +5

    This video gave me the ONLY reason why I’d want to visit Chicago, to visit this submarine.

    • @ToddAdams1234
      @ToddAdams1234 6 місяців тому +1

      Yup. That’s EXACTLY what I thought. The only friggin 1!

  • @ojc2612
    @ojc2612 5 місяців тому +3

    I had the privilege of seeing the U-boat 505 when I was a kid in Chicago. It’s a hell of a boat, and such an Incredible story. Hard to believe it’s like 40 almost 45 years ago since I’ve seen it but yeah, if you ever get a chance to see it you should definitely go and see it. Hats off to the greatest generation.

  • @kermitfrog7677
    @kermitfrog7677 Рік тому +178

    I would love to see a video about the worlds first attack helicopter: The AH 1 cobra and its history. Thanks for all the great content!

    • @sexybastard4356
      @sexybastard4356 Рік тому +5

      That would be sick

    • @darrellfarley1869
      @darrellfarley1869 Рік тому +5

      Better yet, the first rescue by helicopter from the jungles of Burma. It took 2 days because it could only carry one pilot and one passenger.

    • @Maroco918
      @Maroco918 Рік тому

      YES!

    • @DSToNe19and83
      @DSToNe19and83 Рік тому

      Ahh yes, the first real attack whirlybird! Definitely worthy of a quack video..
      🍻

    • @kurousagi8155
      @kurousagi8155 Рік тому

      Would be extra interested if the video includes the Iranian copies.

  • @tony66au
    @tony66au Рік тому +106

    I had a High school history teacher who was German born and had served in WWII, I recall his telling of this story with a lot of humour from the German Grunt perspective and it stuck with me to this day. Gotta say Nic, You are a national treasure mate.

    • @cracker9302000
      @cracker9302000 11 місяців тому +3

      Go find the book Steel Boat Iron Hearts by Hans Goebeler. If you liked his stories, you'll love this one.

  • @masonreese6990
    @masonreese6990 4 місяці тому +3

    My father in law was one of the lead mechanical engineers that helped restart the engine on the U505 maybe 10-15 years ago. Pretty dope!

  • @digitalbaka7722
    @digitalbaka7722 8 місяців тому

    Been in the thing at least a half dozen times when I was a kid. Never cared to read the boards on the wall about the story, just thought it was cool. This was a much better way to learn the history. Keep up the good work!

  • @ek2156
    @ek2156 Рік тому +179

    It simply amazes me the amount of courage and grit those sailors had just rowing up to a sinking U-Boat, let alone boarding her, full well knowing scuttling charges were armed! Being able to work in a proficient, safe manner finding the charges and then disarming them.... I am no expert on scuttling charges, and maybe it is not as complicated as it sounds, but damn that took some balls of steel!

    • @Mrblueridgeman
      @Mrblueridgeman 11 місяців тому +16

      I grew up near Chicago and visited the U505 (and watched the movie) more than once. My recollection is that the Germans didn’t didn’t set scuttling charges (thankfully), but unscrewed a scuttling “plug”, fairly large diameter. They were supposed to throw it overboard but in their haste just set it aside. Luckily the boarding party discovered it and was able to reinstall it. There was also a code book that had lead covers and was supposed to be thrown overboard and was overlooked. The Enigma was icing on the cake but the German code was already broken by the British at Bletchley Park. An incredible story. WWII truly brought out the best of America in so many ways.

    • @bransonwalter5588
      @bransonwalter5588 11 місяців тому +7

      It does take balls of steel. Scuttling charges are usually big enough to crack the hull from the inside. They are designed to kill everything, especially the submarine. The USS Laffy used one to send a train about 200 feet in the air. In addition, you are dead if you fail fairly instantly. For context, EOD techs are the modern version of this. An explosion this big is a "no equipment" situation. That doesn't mean it is small. In fact, it means the exact opposite: it is so large the equipment won't have an effect anyway so you might as well be comfortable.

    • @bradhaines3142
      @bradhaines3142 10 місяців тому

      @@bransonwalter5588 even the stuff theyre supposed to wear is just so they might have something to bury if things go south. it doesnt really save you, just tries to keep the meat bag in mostly 1 piece

  • @Yatsunari
    @Yatsunari Рік тому +75

    America really said "I'll be taking that now"

  • @COREYDEER
    @COREYDEER 3 місяці тому +1

    I love the way you tell stories. Its so crazy these things actually happened. I have burst out laughing more then once watching your stuff. The complete hold my beer attitude of these men haha

  • @jaycooper2812
    @jaycooper2812 9 місяців тому +5

    My grandfather was part of the crew that boarded U-505 in 1944.

  • @kevinskiera5307
    @kevinskiera5307 Рік тому +140

    Love seeing the U-505 making an appearance on your channel! I worked as MSI's curatorial intern during the summer of '21. They knew I was a military history buff right off the bat and let me get hands on U-505 both inside and out in the archives. One of the documents I came across during digitalization was the literal deed of ownership from the US Navy to MSI.
    On my last day I got to take my family through on a private tour with the Director of my department.
    A great story I came across through older staff (and more corroborative documents) was that one of her former crew Hans Goebeler, author of "Steel Boats, Iron Hearts" gave tours of his boats to guests in the 70s and 80s! I can barely imagine getting a tour of a U-Boat by one of her crewmen.
    She also has all four original flags (two large sailing flags and two battle ensigns), which I got to take out one of sailing flags to confirm it was. Someone had emailed the Director that they thought they had one of U-505's Reichskriegsflagge because it had Hans signature on it. I had written to let the collector know that it wasn't one of U-505s real flags as they are all accounted for (MSI has two, and the other two are with the US Navy, one of the battle ensigns om exhibit at Annapolis. The collector had a legitimately real Reichskriegsflagge but either from Army or Civilian use. Someone before they collector had gotten the flag and asked Hans to sign it. I still don't know if the collector sold it. Just to cover my bases I contacted the German Naval Museum and the curator there told me along the lines of "I asked a friend of mine who was a Submarine captain in the 80s and he said they still get issued four flags, two sailing and two battle ensigns." SOP is one of those things that never changes lol.
    One last little story I have to share is regarding their time in Camp Ruston where the US overlooked the Geneva Convention rules due to the fact the sub was captured whole, including the enigma machines on board. The scuttling was reversed nearly at the last the second by US sailors. The government didn't want the Kriegsmarine to know they knew the codes so everything was super secret. Meaning, the sailors were kept in their own section of Ruston, LA and hidden when the Red Cross showed up. So these guys were desperate to let other Getman POWs know they were alive to let their families know they were still kicking. No attempt really worked, but the U-505 boys made a make shift balloon and painted a black iron cross on it with the bold words that "U-505 lives!"
    The story of the capture is amazing as Quack Bang has shown us. Hans' book is a great read if you're interested in the Enlisted Man's experiance as a unterboatman.
    If you're ever planning a trip to MSI email the Collections department and ask if you can get a private tour of the Archives. We had maybe less than 10% of the collection on exhibit... there are over 10k artifacts at MSI! I got to take parties through the archives and based on what they were interested in tailored the tour around that. Some of my favorites are: the Dragon head and tail of the Norwegian Longship "Viking" that sailed from Norway to Chicago to prove the Vikings made it to the new world for the 1893 Columbian Exposition World's Fair, Lewis guns as part of the Spitfire and Stuka gifted by the UK (from the Africa Campaign), a insane collection of multi-million motorcycles (most being the very first of their kind!), some Civil War Era Fire Engines, one of the first armored vehicles in America (from St. John's Academy), a Soviet space probe (likely surveillance satellite, Roscosmos never got me to confirm that before my contract was up), not only 1893 World's Fair stuff but tons from the 1933 World's Fair Century of Progress with medals and models the Regia Aeronautica's massive seaplane flight over (that carried the column from the ancient Roman Port city thay linked Rome to the wider world, Ostia. It's still up on Balbo Ave by Soldier Field. Oldest artifact on public display in the city. It needs restoration badly). I can go on! Just make sure you see it next you're in the Museum! Collections is hidden in the old US Navy department right by the U-505. Infact my adhoc office was inside the mockup of the nuclear submarine and outside my office were no less than FIVE WWII torpedoes!

    • @YesHumphreyAppleby
      @YesHumphreyAppleby Рік тому +3

      Damn son

    • @jimmieraper5807
      @jimmieraper5807 11 місяців тому +4

      great story thanks for sharing actually went and saw that boat four years ago fascinating

    • @JonsGarage89
      @JonsGarage89 11 місяців тому +4

      welp, add that to the bucketlist

    • @YossiRafelson
      @YossiRafelson 11 місяців тому +2

      I've been to msi twice but both times too late to snag a tour.

    • @OneEyedManKingdomOfTheBlind
      @OneEyedManKingdomOfTheBlind 11 місяців тому +2

      Well I definitely know where I’m going when I visit Chicago

  • @tedwaterhouse564
    @tedwaterhouse564 3 місяці тому

    I went through it around 1966 as a kid. You could look through the periscope and see ships on the lake. The tour was awesome and then many years later I got to meet Hans Goebler at two different times about a year or two before he passed. I heard his stories and saw the pictures and logs of the captains of U-boat 505. He had moved to the U.S. after the war and he still had his fairly thick German accent. They were awesome experiences!

  • @SOUTHERNFURY1957
    @SOUTHERNFURY1957 4 місяці тому +2

    My dad was with that task group that captured the U505. He was aboard the Destroyer USS POPE, DE134.

  • @paulherman5822
    @paulherman5822 Рік тому +35

    Visiting the U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry as an early teen is something I still remember. One of the events that encouraged my love of history.

    • @timmosher4194
      @timmosher4194 Рік тому +2

      Yes indeed, visited it many, many years ago. To me, it was the highlight of the museum. BTW, my uncle was with me at the time. He was infantry, who followed Patton's tanks through Europe. What a guy he was. He met Patton, said he was every bit the badass the movie portrayed him to be.

  • @Nedmarx
    @Nedmarx 10 місяців тому +238

    I just found your channel. Your passion, humor, and pride for our country is beyond belief. Thank you for producing the content.

  • @velboyd5483
    @velboyd5483 6 місяців тому

    I have binge watched your videos all afternoon. Because your delivery is bomb, and the information you are imparting is just too awesome to not know. Thank you so much for detailing these incredible stories, like the utter badass you clearly are.

  • @battlegnome7.625
    @battlegnome7.625 6 місяців тому

    Love your stuff man! Your sense of humor is great!

  • @kyleh3615
    @kyleh3615 Рік тому +24

    Here's a fact that you, a true American Laborer will appreciate.
    All the guys from the local Chicago unions who helped put the 505 in her current home got hard hat stickers of her. I met one of the crane operators at a union picnic and he's very proud of that sticker
    Edit: checked with my father, he was an iron worker

    • @ZackarySchejbalCODBO2RGM2
      @ZackarySchejbalCODBO2RGM2 Рік тому

      What iron worker union was your father from?

    • @kyleh3615
      @kyleh3615 Рік тому

      @@ZackarySchejbalCODBO2RGM2 my father isn't an iron worker. He's IUOE. I just met the gentleman briefly some 10 years ago so my memory isn't very helpful

  • @SnackPack913
    @SnackPack913 Рік тому +36

    You’ve found a great niche here on UA-cam. These interesting military history anecdotes are fascinating and your delivery is hilarious. Keep it up good sir

  • @corbynclark-garza5824
    @corbynclark-garza5824 2 місяці тому

    I live in the Chicago suburbs and every time I watch this video, it makes me want to go to the museum just to see this boat because of the story of how it was acquired. You, sir, are one of the best story tellers on here

  • @progrocker2112
    @progrocker2112 5 місяців тому +4

    I went to both U-505 in Chicago and the USS Texas before I turned 13 in the 80s. I wish your videos had been featured on the tours so I could have comprehended the gangster shit that went down.

  • @gfwinn
    @gfwinn Рік тому +26

    The best part about this story is after his distinguished military career Daniel Gallery went on to write two comedic novels inspired by his military service. “Now Hear This” and “All Hands on Deck.” I don’t believe they’re currently in print but if you can find them they are hilarious.

  • @SpaceCowboy46
    @SpaceCowboy46 10 місяців тому +91

    My great uncle was on the U.S.S. Guadalcanal during ww2. He worked in the engine room. God bless the men who built and protected this country.

    • @natehoward4597
      @natehoward4597 6 місяців тому +2

      My grandpa served aboard the Pargo 264 as an electrician where his duties would require him to extinguish an electric fire in an enclosed space costing him his sense of smell. God bless indeed.

    • @patkidd6489
      @patkidd6489 2 місяці тому +1

      My grandfather served on the Guadalcanal, maybe your great uncle may have knew him

  • @rhondaboisseau8874
    @rhondaboisseau8874 23 дні тому

    Thank you for this amazing story! I grew up in Chicago in the 60’s, and almost every year in school we would take a field trip to the museum. In those days you couldn’t walk around the outside, just into a small room. I never knew this whole story, and I was always fascinated with how they got it to the museum location. I no longer live in Chicago, but I hope to go back and see the updated display that you show in your video.

  • @Darcsyde100
    @Darcsyde100 Рік тому +33

    If you want to know more about Admiral Gallery, he penned numerous books that, hilariously, told of life in the US Navy like, "Capt. Fatso", "Awaaaay All Boats", and "Clear All Decks".
    He, also, wrote a novel about the comandeering of the U505.
    He was a badass Sailor with a....unique personality and view on the world.

    • @underwoodvoice9077
      @underwoodvoice9077 Рік тому +7

      Ah, you beat me to it. I have two of his books, Now Hear This and Stand By-y-y To Start Engines. Damned funny stuff.

  • @travishabursky4362
    @travishabursky4362 Рік тому +28

    The U-505 legit got me into studying military history as a kid. That line of interest led me to earn two degrees.
    Sparky, thank you again for extolling the virtues of Warwood tools. This native son of Wheeling thanks you.

    • @johngillespie3409
      @johngillespie3409 Рік тому +1

      I was born in Wheeling and graduated HS in Wheeling after being in 3 different states and 10 different schools. I now live a couple miles from the museum on the Southside.

  • @JakeW72
    @JakeW72 10 місяців тому +3

    2:18 always gets me😂

  • @damaddog8065
    @damaddog8065 5 місяців тому +1

    I love the way you put these stories.

  • @119jle
    @119jle 7 місяців тому +3

    One of the German crew actually visited the 505 and praised the USA for preserving his boat. Much respect

  • @wes11bravo
    @wes11bravo 11 місяців тому +141

    Years ago, I read Gallery's book about the capture of U-505. It's a good read and really highlights how difficult and dangerous it was to be a naval aviator. Escort carriers were pretty small and a huge number of planes were lost, especially during night operations. Those guys definitely didn't get the notice that the guys in the Pacific did.

    • @telesniper2
      @telesniper2 10 місяців тому

      It still is dangerous and they censor a lot of losses. You should check out F-14 losses during the 1990s

    • @ToJo503
      @ToJo503 9 місяців тому

      He has several books and is in general pretty funny in his writings, especially the fiction

    • @jamesthenuclearnut7382
      @jamesthenuclearnut7382 6 місяців тому

      Hans Goebeler, one of the German crewman, wrote a book about the Uboat and its capture also, Steel Boat, Iron hearts, said it was a good book but he hated Galleries conclusion that the crew had low morale do to the suicide of the previous commander, his book said that almost the whole crew hated that captain.

    • @somedude5637
      @somedude5637 3 місяці тому

      My grandpa was on the jenks and always said Gallery almost cost them the mission because he was too concerned with which ship the Germans surrendered too. So even though 2 ships where close and all had boarding parties they waited for the boarding party from his ship and it took an extra several minutes for the boats to get in position.

  • @bullpupgaming708
    @bullpupgaming708 Рік тому +46

    Imagine playing battleship and when your opponent steps a way for a second and you S.T.E.A.L his submarine and then take a picture of his entire layout and use that information to defeat him? That's basically a dumbed down, Barney/Army proof story of what happened. Lol

    • @HoneyBadger762
      @HoneyBadger762 Рік тому +3

      Imagine the conversation between the players
      Player 1 "I have yoinked your sub prepare to die!"
      Player 2 "what?!"

    • @deeeeesp.
      @deeeeesp. Рік тому

      It's called a sea train

  • @darlaharrelson6487
    @darlaharrelson6487 5 місяців тому

    I heard about the this when I was a kid don’t remember much of it but I remember mama daddy laughing there ass off but I do remember that every day for damn near two years all you heard about was the man who stole it. I can appreciate it now. Your story telling is so good hell I could watch and listen for hours. Thank you

  • @xgford94
    @xgford94 9 місяців тому +2

    We know that trick too “What do you call the only A7V Tank in the world…Australian!” 0:05

  • @dgrcgrl
    @dgrcgrl Рік тому +85

    I guarantee the guy who thought about unhooking the propeller shaft from the engine had adhd. Only someone with that level of quicknthinking and craziness would come up with a solution that fast. Awesome men.

    • @the_fat_electrician
      @the_fat_electrician  Рік тому +24

      incredible thinking lol

    • @dgrcgrl
      @dgrcgrl Рік тому +8

      I have adhd. I can spot that kind of thinking and action a mile away. It's the only reason he was calm in a sinking U-boat and still getting it. Lol great men indeed.

    • @darrellfarley1869
      @darrellfarley1869 Рік тому +3

      @@the_fat_electrician it was probably a Chief Petty Officer, like the one on the Texas !

    • @johnroth9876
      @johnroth9876 Рік тому +14

      The moment he was explaining it my mechanic brain was thinking, "well ya got it moving.....slam it in gear and pop the clutch" 😂😂😂😂😂 damn near same principle

    • @bogustoast22none25
      @bogustoast22none25 Рік тому +5

      Funny thing is, I have ADHD and as he was talking about towing and the batteries and how they only had lights I thought “hey if it moves, it will spin the propeller and that should give energy, right?”

  • @PilotTed
    @PilotTed 11 місяців тому +107

    I have been inside that U-Boat, its pretty awe inspiring and sick. Sadly, some parts of the ship are in, suboptimal conditions, and are now blocked off due to safety concerns. Basically, some of the metal and wood floors are corroded badly and they are worried people will step right through them and get injured. Hopefully one day, they get the entire sub available for the public, would be pretty sick.

    • @chuckwhitney6864
      @chuckwhitney6864 11 місяців тому +9

      I mean considering it spent DECADES outside in the Chicago climate just naked in a ‘dry dock’ enduring the seasons. I spent many a day in my youth when we visited the MSI touring the sub. I’m so glad it was moved indoors so that my children,grandchildren and future generations can witness its majestic haunting beauty as I did as a child.

    • @allenhigginbotham3740
      @allenhigginbotham3740 11 місяців тому

      ​@chuckwhitney6864 I went on a field trip in grade school in the mid 70's to the museum. went on a tour of the sub and I think it was still outside.

    • @bobklaege5569
      @bobklaege5569 10 місяців тому +4

      I first remember seeing the submarine in the late 60s on a grade school field trip. It was outside the museum but was connected through hallways. A few years ago when I was back in Chicago I went back with my family. The U-505 now has its own underground gallery protected from the elements. One of the interesting things you see when you get on the submarine is the difference in the thickness of the hull from the outer hull to the inner home. The outer hull was exposed to the weather, and had corroded and rusted until it was less than half It’s original thickness. The inner hull is still the same thickness as it was when it was built. When you realize the size of the crew, and how small the inside of the submarine was, it’s amazing they could even live and work in those conditions.

    • @Gargs454
      @Gargs454 10 місяців тому +2

      Definitely recommend taking the trip to the Museum of Science and Industry! The sub is truly a great exhibit even with parts closed off. Thanks for doing this video!

  • @wesleyquinn2939
    @wesleyquinn2939 3 місяці тому

    As a U.S. Navy vet it was awesome to go visit 505. It's been well preserved and it's incredible hear the story again.

  • @blakeantos1301
    @blakeantos1301 7 місяців тому +1

    I’ve been there and seen it a couple of times. I never realized just how insane the story of its procurement was.

  • @chibineo24
    @chibineo24 Рік тому +37

    Loving the long form. Much more room for better joke set ups
    And that you're going into detail is good too. Almost as good as Warwood Tools

  • @joeinmi8671
    @joeinmi8671 10 місяців тому +94

    One of my greatest regrets in life: as an 8th grader we went to the chicago museum with u505 and you could, at that time, still board the sub. Our group "decided" (a teacher decided) not to do that part of the museum. I couldve broken off and went with another group but i did not.

    • @WestSideGorilla1980
      @WestSideGorilla1980 7 місяців тому +4

      You can't get in it now? That's lame. I was on a school trip in 8th grade 94ish?

    • @rickcox5527
      @rickcox5527 6 місяців тому +6

      You can tour the boat. I have done so multiple times, last was roughly 2 years ago

    • @77marioland
      @77marioland 6 місяців тому +3

      Yeah, I've been to the MSI many times, did the tour when it used to be outside and now it's inside it is much nicer. They dug a big hole and moved it about 20 years ago (ua-cam.com/video/DUuQIpVuhCg/v-deo.html). Cool video of it being moved.

    • @theAsterisk
      @theAsterisk 5 місяців тому +4

      ​@@WestSideGorilla1980Couldn't for a while, as it needed work to keep/make it safe for visitors as it aged. I think you can again, now, though it may be on a more restricted schedule or require advance reservation or something- I remember that was the idea while it was being renovated/restored/relocated.

    • @rdfox76
      @rdfox76 4 місяці тому +1

      @@theAsterisk It's an added cost above the standard admission fee.

  • @RespectMyAuthoritaah
    @RespectMyAuthoritaah 5 місяців тому +2

    This story is so hilarious. Thanks.

  • @DevilsInBaggyPants1941
    @DevilsInBaggyPants1941 4 місяці тому

    Dude I am so impressed and grateful you do these videos, I'm not one to comment on many but you have me typing away, I'm x military and appreciate it severely.

  • @NavyGuy2OO7
    @NavyGuy2OO7 Рік тому +54

    The Enigma machine was certainly a good find, but by that point, the Alies had already broken the code and been listening in. U-505 wasn't even the only UBoat captured during the war. It was still an impressive story, along with what happened while they were restoring it. They got many of the original equipment manufacturers in Germany to help with restoring it.

    • @Morthatron
      @Morthatron Рік тому +4

      Came here to say this about the Enigma code

    • @davidsnapp7121
      @davidsnapp7121 Рік тому +2

      And because of this, Admiral King was more pissed off than usual.

    • @stischer47
      @stischer47 Рік тому +10

      Yes, but having the up-to-date codes was extremely important. Perhaps more important than the machine.

    • @PrinceOfDolAlmroth
      @PrinceOfDolAlmroth Рік тому +8

      ​@@stischer47 Not to mention that it still had to be top secret because if the Germans knew that we had not only captured a complete Enigma machine with the codebooks (which they would certainly see as probable) but their entire submarine (which would almost guarantee their suspicions), they could still change the design for enigma and render all german communicaitons unreadable. Granted, this was at the ass end of the war, but another thing not mentioned here is that only a very very small percentage of allied command even knew that we were reading and acting upon german communications, which were seen by most of the world as unreadable (I would go as far to say that most allied sailors who captured an enigma machine and codebook intact didn't really (and I do mean REALLY) know how valuable that information even was). So AFTER the war, when we gave out enigma machines to neutral countries like Argentina, Venezuela, Kenya, and India (to provide an example), we were essentially giving them machines that they thought as unbreakable but we could read incredibly easily, thus allowing what is possibly the greatest intelligence coup of the entire 20th century. The implications of this essentially meant that for the majority of the countries that relied on enigma machines or something similar enough for diplomatic cables and military transmissions, we (meaning the British and the Americans) were reading them as if they were unencrypted, part of the reason why nobody knew about Blechley park and what work they did there until the late 1970's when most countries moved away from mechanical polyalphabetic cyphers like the enigma machine to actual (albeit very early) computers.

    • @jarink1
      @jarink1 Рік тому +1

      @@stischer47 They added rotors to the machines during the course of the war. The naval Enigmas had the most rotors. Adding even a single rotor made the encryption vastly more difficult to break.

  • @DARTHMARC0720
    @DARTHMARC0720 Рік тому +56

    I spent Christmas time when growing up touring the Museum of Science and Industry, and I always went to go check on the submarine. It really is an incredible piece of history, and it was awesome when they updated the exhibit to have more backstory and context that you actually go over in this video.
    The reason I went during christmas is because my mother headed up the Polish Christmas tree that goes on display during the holdiays. She’s the reason the ornaments changed every year, and subsequently why all the other christmas trees look better and fancier because they don’t want to look pathetic in contrast, and she’s also the reason that most of the ornaments on all the trees are wire-tightened onto the branches so that viewers can’t grab the decorations off. People were literally stealing ornaments, some of which were candies, because my mom is a gangster christmas tree decorator.

    • @rtm27
      @rtm27 Рік тому +1

      The Christmas tree displays were awesome to look at when I had went there for a school field trip in 1984. Each one decorated for a different country.

    • @DARTHMARC0720
      @DARTHMARC0720 Рік тому

      @@rtm27 she took over in 2003, the trees before then were bland compared to now. We were reusing the same ornaments for probably 2 decades until my mom decided to make them different EVERY year.

  • @kenf3539
    @kenf3539 7 місяців тому

    How have I missed this channel? Just found you, subscribed and thumbs up. Now I have to go find some other gems! Thanks for the work!