Wow. The “what if” about threat of the French destroyers to the American transports and what could’ve happened was an amazing piece of information that I had not heard about. Thank you for another excellent program.👍
I had to view most of on the replay as I was at work for most of it. I must admit that in general histories of the Torch landings I had never heard of this naval battle in detail such as Vincent has written about. I can assure you that I will be purchasing his book. This presentation was very informative with the blow by blow description of the naval fighting. Amazing figures pointing out the number of shells fired to produce the hits achieved! I have read of similar results from the Battle of Jutland, as well as from the battles against the Bismarck as well. Fascinating.
Vince gives an outstanding presentation on the Naval Battle of Casablanca. The USS Massachusetts still has the scars from the damage it received from French shore batteries.
Torch has been an interesting learning experience. Fascinating and surprising in places for one who knew only a little about this. Great example of military logic at the end of this presentation: "If we practise we'll lose too many aircraft" Could have come straight out of "Catch 22". Thanks Woody and all the learned guests.
This was a great episode, changed my clichéed view of how the French reacted to the Torch landings. Thinking about the fate the transports could have suffered and the torpedo near misses gives me chills, it's almost unthinkable how badly it could have gone wrong
Very good presentation of this important action. I would just like to point out an error on the slide at around 11.15. The cruisers Augusta and Tuscaloosa were "heavy" cruisers of the Northampton and New Orleans type, respectively. As such they mounted 8 inch main battery guns, not 6 inch guns.
Additionally, only USS Massachusetts, heavy cruiser USS Wichita, and the destroyers had 5"/38 dual purpose guns. USS Augusta, USS Tuscaloosa, and USS Brooklyn had 5"/25 AA guns, whose low muzzle velocity made them not great for anti-ship use.
War is never a "perfected art" because the enemy gets a vote. The smart strategy is flexibility of plans, resources and most importantly making the right call at the right time.
I was very curious on Raymond Gervais de Lafond to be honest, would love to see a mini episode on him, or maybe some leads on where I can look him up better for personal research
Enemy warships firing on Allied landing craft during landings: it's easy to forget the Lyme Bay disaster, especially bad as the German E-boats were "visiting" at the home team field not the other way around
Luckily the French destroyers weren’t aggressive like the Japanese. They would have fired all their torpedoes and sank or damaged all the cruisers as the Japanese usually did. I really don’t think the French had their hearts in the engagement, they did their duty then capitulated as soon as possible.
Another great show. Good guest. I learn so much from these lesser known actions and or nuanced perspectives on actions well known. Forcing me to add books to my list. I hope that you find me sincere. I trust you are all aware of how YT views history. Problematic algorithms select out long format and more so if it has history as theme. I'm not 40 yet and have lived under both right and left wing regimes. Right now the left are burning the books, control All institutions, anybody who denies this is not intellectually honest. We should all be careful because we can do Spain all over again both thinking we doing the right thing if we not careful. I wish this can be avoided because there are good people on both sides and no sane person wants kinetics.
I know your political beliefs. We spoke about this briefly a few years ago. That's fine. Been watching every episode for years. A fan really. But, sir, clearly, objectively, the left are burning books, the right will do the same if they were in charge, but right now they are not. Spain is not very far from where the rift is leading to. I will go as far as to say that from now on out nothing can change this trajectory. Notice who won in Spain and that I am on the right not wanting to repeat. This time around the reaction might be more than we can handle as a civilisation.
It's ironic that a self-professed fan of history would be so ignorant, and so totally incorrect, and so laughably paranoid, about the real world in which you're now living.
The number of American torpedo tubes were irrelevant. Because at that time American torpedoes were unreliable. As in 90% of them wouldn’t have functioned
I'm sorry but any naval action that doesn't include Drach is not legit. You'll have to get him in here and start over. because he's more entertaining than you two.
You do know that Drach reveres Vince right? I was literally with Drach in Vince's house last month and Drach looks up at Vince as a genuine history superstar. Now maybe you are just being sarcastic, but to understand history you should never rely on a single historian. Drachinifel is brilliant, but there are plenty of other fantastic Naval historians worth listening to / reading
@@WW2TV MOAR ENTERTAINING THAN YOU TWO EGGHEADS COMBINED. That plain enough? I wouldn't call it sarcasm. Show less of yourselves and MORE OF THE HISTORY
@@HJBounell Okay, so a few points. 1) I'm not sure egghead is the insult you think it is, from the dictionary: "a highly academic or studious person; an intellectual" 2) I completely get that you may not like my style of presenting, and that's fine. We all have UA-camrs we like and dislike. But seriously, Vincent O'Hara is a legend and probably one of the finest Naval scholars in the World? 3) When you say "MORE OF THE HISTORY", that's literally what we discussed for the whole show. The subject was the Naval battle for Casablanca and that's what we covered - step by step, map by map. 4) And my final point is, going back to your first comment about "any naval action that doesn't include Drach is not legit". Again, Drach is great and he's a mate of mine, but he would be the first person to say that no-one should ever take their history from one source. That's exactly why when I cover something like the Naval campaign in the Solomons for example I use different historians: Trent Hone, Dave Holland, Craig Symonds, Jeffrey Cox and Trent Telenko. That's how we learn, but listening to a variety of opinions. Anyway, despite our awkward start I hope you stick around on WW2TV, I think you'll like the content
Thanks again for peeling back layers of the onion. Stellar presentation, thanks Woody and Vincent.
Wow. The “what if” about threat of the French destroyers to the American transports and what could’ve happened was an amazing piece of information that I had not heard about. Thank you for another excellent program.👍
You're welcome
I had to view most of on the replay as I was at work for most of it. I must admit that in general histories of the Torch landings I had never heard of this naval battle in detail such as Vincent has written about. I can assure you that I will be purchasing his book. This presentation was very informative with the blow by blow description of the naval fighting. Amazing figures pointing out the number of shells fired to produce the hits achieved! I have read of similar results from the Battle of Jutland, as well as from the battles against the Bismarck as well. Fascinating.
Yet another interesting and detailed discussion on a battle that is usually given a footnote on the Torch landing.
That was fascinating from Vince. I didn't realise quite how contested those landings were.
Fantastic presentation by Vince. Thank you. Loads of detail and great photos. I never realised how contested the landings were. Many thanks
Woody/Vince, Thank you for such a detailed presentation on an important episode during WW2. The maps were incredible! Bob
To add to this crazyness, Gallop did a phone survey of French housholds in Casablanca the day before to question if they would fight.
Thanks!
Thanks, guys. Absolutely fantastic presentation. It certainly sorted out a few misconceptions that I've held concerning Torch.
Late again Paul. Nothing new. However I will enjoy this later. World class by any standards. Thanks again from Redding California.
Vince gives an outstanding presentation on the Naval Battle of Casablanca. The USS Massachusetts still has the scars from the damage it received from French shore batteries.
Torch has been an interesting learning experience. Fascinating and surprising in places for one who knew only a little about this. Great example of military logic at the end of this presentation: "If we practise we'll lose too many aircraft" Could have come straight out of "Catch 22". Thanks Woody and all the learned guests.
This was a great episode, changed my clichéed view of how the French reacted to the Torch landings. Thinking about the fate the transports could have suffered and the torpedo near misses gives me chills, it's almost unthinkable how badly it could have gone wrong
Vincent is an absolute GOD. He should do a biography of bergamini!
Very good presentation of this important action. I would just like to point out an error on the slide at around 11.15. The cruisers Augusta and Tuscaloosa were "heavy" cruisers of the Northampton and New Orleans type, respectively. As such they mounted 8 inch main battery guns, not 6 inch guns.
Additionally, only USS Massachusetts, heavy cruiser USS Wichita, and the destroyers had 5"/38 dual purpose guns. USS Augusta, USS Tuscaloosa, and USS Brooklyn had 5"/25 AA guns, whose low muzzle velocity made them not great for anti-ship use.
Love this channel. ✝️🇺🇸
Drach has an excellent episode on this also.
War is never a "perfected art" because the enemy gets a vote. The smart strategy is flexibility of plans, resources and most importantly making the right call at the right time.
I was very curious on Raymond Gervais de Lafond to be honest, would love to see a mini episode on him, or maybe some leads on where I can look him up better for personal research
Enemy warships firing on Allied landing craft during landings: it's easy to forget the Lyme Bay disaster, especially bad as the German E-boats were "visiting" at the home team field not the other way around
To be fair I think Vincent meant warships of destroyer and up, size. The E-Boats at Slapton not really being called as war ships
Luckily the French destroyers weren’t aggressive like the Japanese. They would have fired all their torpedoes and sank or damaged all the cruisers as the Japanese usually did. I really don’t think the French had their hearts in the engagement, they did their duty then capitulated as soon as possible.
I recently reread Morison’s North African Waters. Still an excellent read despite its’ age.
Another great show. Good guest. I learn so much from these lesser known actions and or nuanced perspectives on actions well known. Forcing me to add books to my list. I hope that you find me sincere. I trust you are all aware of how YT views history. Problematic algorithms select out long format and more so if it has history as theme. I'm not 40 yet and have lived under both right and left wing regimes. Right now the left are burning the books, control All institutions, anybody who denies this is not intellectually honest. We should all be careful because we can do Spain all over again both thinking we doing the right thing if we not careful. I wish this can be avoided because there are good people on both sides and no sane person wants kinetics.
It is not the left burning books, and I am a socialist and proud of it
I know your political beliefs. We spoke about this briefly a few years ago. That's fine. Been watching every episode for years. A fan really. But, sir, clearly, objectively, the left are burning books, the right will do the same if they were in charge, but right now they are not. Spain is not very far from where the rift is leading to. I will go as far as to say that from now on out nothing can change this trajectory. Notice who won in Spain and that I am on the right not wanting to repeat. This time around the reaction might be more than we can handle as a civilisation.
If the left could relax even just 5% I think that would be rather helpful.
lol. It's the far right conservatives that need to take some chill pills
It's ironic that a self-professed fan of history would be so ignorant, and so totally incorrect, and so laughably paranoid, about the real world in which you're now living.
HMM USN communication failure under pressure-its a familiar story vis a vi the the battles in iron bottom sound
Maybe they should have given the landing troops surfboards and the could have surfed into the beach.
Why did not French submarines attack the transports as a mission to stop the invasion; is it wrong to state they attacked only warships of the line?
The number of American torpedo tubes were irrelevant. Because at that time American torpedoes were unreliable. As in 90% of them wouldn’t have functioned
I agree about the need to be a discriminating reader.
I'm sorry but any naval action that doesn't include Drach is not legit. You'll have to get him in here and start over. because he's more entertaining than you two.
You do know that Drach reveres Vince right? I was literally with Drach in Vince's house last month and Drach looks up at Vince as a genuine history superstar.
Now maybe you are just being sarcastic, but to understand history you should never rely on a single historian. Drachinifel is brilliant, but there are plenty of other fantastic Naval historians worth listening to / reading
@@WW2TV MOAR ENTERTAINING THAN YOU TWO EGGHEADS COMBINED. That plain enough? I wouldn't call it sarcasm. Show less of yourselves and MORE OF THE HISTORY
@@HJBounell Okay, so a few points.
1) I'm not sure egghead is the insult you think it is, from the dictionary: "a highly academic or studious person; an intellectual"
2) I completely get that you may not like my style of presenting, and that's fine. We all have UA-camrs we like and dislike. But seriously, Vincent O'Hara is a legend and probably one of the finest Naval scholars in the World?
3) When you say "MORE OF THE HISTORY", that's literally what we discussed for the whole show. The subject was the Naval battle for Casablanca and that's what we covered - step by step, map by map.
4) And my final point is, going back to your first comment about "any naval action that doesn't include Drach is not legit". Again, Drach is great and he's a mate of mine, but he would be the first person to say that no-one should ever take their history from one source. That's exactly why when I cover something like the Naval campaign in the Solomons for example I use different historians: Trent Hone, Dave Holland, Craig Symonds, Jeffrey Cox and Trent Telenko. That's how we learn, but listening to a variety of opinions.
Anyway, despite our awkward start I hope you stick around on WW2TV, I think you'll like the content
@@WW2TV me sat here agape that someone thinks Vincent O'Hara isn't good enough 💀
@@TheAngelobarker i know, crazy isnt it?
If ever in Fall River,Mass. you need to go see the USS Massachusetts. Still has battle scars from this Torch action. Drach has a tour vid on his site.