I spent 20+ years in submarines, and if I had to take one of my boats to war there is no one I would rather have as my CO than Captain Toti. I spent most of his tour as his battle stations helmsmen so I got to see his sub driving skills up close. Never a better skipper in my career. Thanks Capt for this, and every episode.
I have heard of using the periscope to observe and track potential victims spotting the masts and or the smoke ! TDC was an incredible tool the Sub had a huge gyroscope as did each torpedo to keep them running straight ! If the torpedo turns back to hit the Sub as it happened a couple times the gyroscope would shut down the torpedo if any degree change of 180 happened ! The Kursk did an intentional 180 to get the gyroscopes to turn off the torpedoes in a last ditch attempt to turn them off !
Captain, Just the idea of you breaking into the bar to train your officers raises you ten brownie points in the eyes of this Marine. That sounds like something a senior SNCO would do, not an officer.. Bravo Zulu sir
As a retired Senior Chief and a proud Nose Picker from the engine room back aft, I have taken time to wipe away the tears to reply to this story. I was a member of the last Diesel Boat,581, And having served in P.H and know all that the Plotting party In the conn went through' I salute all who served and have brought us to this point
As a marine from 59-71 , I still have my tattoos from Broadway in San Diego. Do I remember a bar for nuclear boats sailors and another for diesel? Some very lively discussions with the wrong sailor wandered in. I just sat there and marveled.👍🇺🇸😂
That must have been the USS Blueback. We operated against that boat in many exercises. Thank you for your service. It is moored up in Portland on the river. I would like to visit someday.
Well Commodore Toti, as a retired Marine Colonel, all I can say Bravo Zulu on taking the initiative and re-opening the Clean Sweep Bar. That action is indicative of a true leader. I am not sure if your listeners really have a true appreciation for the impact of your actions, but I do. Again, well done.
As an "old school" soldier, this is truely the love of tradition and the Proud History of the Sub Service from Mr Toti passed along to his crew, definately a true leader that does this
Captain and Seth, you guys rock! I don’t remember if it was my first or second shore tour at NSSF NLON, 77-78 or 81-85 but it was during the SALT treaty when the USS George Washington was converted from a boomer to a “slow attack” boat by disabling the missile tubes in order to be in compliance with the treaty. I was aboard doing some required work, (synchronization of the cesium beam frequency standard) and a TM buddy showed me a MK 14, still in service in order to have a full war load, just in case they needed a fish to say boom should they need it. The fish he showed me was marked SUB BASE PEARL HARBOR- 04-1945, the Tullibee and Trepang also carried a MK-14 or 2, just in case, they were stamped 1944, the last MK 14 had been retired by 1984-85, for such a poor start they were held in stock until there 48:44 leftover MK 14s were virtually free compared to the “new” MK 48 Fish being deployed at that time. We had a SINK-ex operating with USS Shark, we used one of the new Harpoons and Shark got to use an old MK 14. The TMs always bragged about the MK-14 being the only “combat proven” torpedo in the fleet!
I cannot thank you enough for the efforts you both and your guests put forth. Absolutely the best pacific Ww2 information stream I have encountered. My dad enlisted in 39 and first ship was the USS Chester. Then “captained” (as a CPO) a tug out of NC pushing supplies to surrounding islands. Later served on uss Cartaret at Ewo Jima and Okinawa and bringing groups home after the war until Dec 46. I was lucky enough to become his designated driver on those occasions when he and his buddies got together for poker and spirits. Seems the stories only came out when they had sufficient “lubrication”. I need to dedicate more time to preserving those golden nuggets. Your series has helped me visualize these tremendously. Thank you again!
Captain Toti, thank you for sharing your personal experiences and training with us! I thought I was reasonably well-read on submarine combat in the Pacific, but you presented a LOT of good material. Some of this clarified points but quite a bit was new and could only come from an actual submarine commander. Your presentation style is good. One has to appreciate that a US submarine in the Pacific was often hundreds of miles (or much more) away from any other Allied forces. No support, no help, just those 80 men and a single ship. It took a particular fortitude to do that! Sometime, perhaps, could you talk about escape and evasion? One hears about finding a target and lining up the shot(s) but what techniques did they use to clear datum and survive to fight again? Thanks for this presentation.
@@william_toti As a Army port support OIC I once had a submarine LT jg show up in Samesan Thailand. Asked me Sir, can I park my sun here. Cobra Gold 1994
My uncle Bill in WW2 helped developer Asdic and skippered two corvettes on anti submarine actions mainly in the Med and the Atlantic. Ironically later his sisters son, my cousin was a Royal Navy sub skipper helped develop Trident. After retirement he went to the US as a bureaucrat like Bill. He edited the RN magazine and was on an icebreaker in The Falklands in 1982 and helped RN marine helicopters capture an Argentine submarine. He was Lt Cdr Francis Ponsonby. He was connected, his grandfather was Queen Victorias private secretary. After the Falklands War the Queen invited him to the palace. She asked about the Falklands and said my husband has been there but all he did was twitter about the birds. Toti and the boltcutters. A man after my own heart. Love him.
His demeanor conveys the intensity of a torpedo attack, and the skill and focus required to pull it off. And can't many of us relate to that? Especially people who have had real-world jobs, having dealt with certain points in a procedure when you have to rise to a relatively dangerous occasion, when a failure to give 100% means a big loss, injury, or death? This happens in construction, fishing, firefighting, and so on. How much more when the safety of a boat's crew is on your shoulders, plus the chance of a tactical failure with consequences of strategic failures?
In O'Kane's memoir he relates an incident on Wahoo that somehow a table of navigation figures was lost. The enlisted man & O'Kane spent hours with a slide rule rebuilding that table. O'Kane was an incredible intellect & leader.
Thanks again Seth and Bill for yet another (can't stop listening and watching) dynamic discussion! You guys have become my go-to for military history fix!
Hello, I'm catching up and also listening to your recent podcasts. What I appreciate is you are filling in the gaps of the who, why, when and where. I had no idea who Adm. King was or his tyrannical yet brilliant leadership. That podcast was fascinating and interlaced with the history of the USS Indianapolis. Who knew! So, my continued appreciation. Thank you both and your guests!
@@leoamery I always wondered who had the inspiration to island skip. That was brilliant. Having Nimitz and Halsey as commanders was brilliant. He may have been a nasty man, but he obviously has the leadership and admin skills necessary to be in charge of the Navy's fleet in both the Atlantic and Pacific. I have no doubt he made mistakes and I'm not really a fan of his. But that doesn't mean I can't admire his brilliance.
@@leoamery Good Morning Leo. In my 1st comment, I said I'd never heard of King. From the context and perspective of what was discussed in the podcast, what I perceived was a highly intelligent tyrant. I won't argue I don't know, because I don't. I am seriously enjoying these histories as they are brilliant! Enjoy your day.
Ok... so who really needs to do housework when I can listen to a master class. Thank you gentlemen. Informative, enlightening and, wonderful... as usual. Please keep it coming. House work will be done, eventually.
Found this by accident--but what a find! This is a really good summary of actions in the Pacific. Unfortunately too many times it points out so many admirals that are proving the Peter Principle! Thanks for these presentations.
Great Episode Bill !! I am a few years older, NROTC Class of 1971. In 1969 as 1/c middie made patrol on SSBN 656 under Paul Tomb. Had an opportunity for port call in Lisbon with ward room dinner with Eugene Fluckey. What a memorable experience. Also had experience on Balo class Guppy III Cobbler before reporting to nuc school. Eventually returned to nuc school (Bainbridge} as an instructor. Maybe your class?
My brother was on the HardHead in the 1960s as a sonar tech. He also taught school in Key West as a Chief around 1970-71. I went down and saw him there a few times. I met up with him in Rota and had breakfast at 2am in the Chiefs Mess. He was on the Pargo then. I was in VP-23. My brother in law did a career on boomers in the 60s-70s. He was also an STC.
@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar I was the First LT and move officer for the move to Orlando. Code 08 (i.e., the admiral) resisted the move. The first class in Orlando had 5 comprehensive exam failures an unheard of number, unofficially blamed on the "playground" location of the school
Always a feeling of pleasurable anticipation when the UA-cam notification of the next podcast comes up, this one did not disappoint. Great intro about bolt cutters episode and continued on from there. Tbh I wasn't that impressed when Seth said that "even the Brits had better torpedos". This brought to mind what Drachinifel said about Admiral Willis Lee's mission to England about 1940. Admiral King thought that the Royal Navy was basically crap. Lee reported back that in fact the RN was superior to the USN in all operational procedures with the exception of carrier avaition, which obv was v deficient given the rotten aircraft the Fleet Air Arm had. One British Admiral wrote that the FAA suffered from "arrested development". But in terms of anti-, submarine warfare for instance the RN was definitely superior. Lee later told the USN that if they couldn't source decent radar sets they should buy British, likewise he said the same about torpedos As an English guy I had to get that in there 😊
I've watched some parts four times now (except the cosine part because that makes me sweat too.) This is amazing. Love everything you are doing. It is awesome to hear Captain Toti's experience and detailed knowledge. Would love more "how to submarine." Thank you both for all the work you do to make this excellent series.
Great episode. Loved the good CAPT's technical rundown, but really like the anecdote about the bar at Lockwood Hall. That captured some of the best parts of my 22 years in service as an officer in the US Army. Those opportunities to tie yourself to illustrious history are some of the finest rewards for serving. As a young Army lieutenant in a Signal Battalion, I helped construct a battalion bar in a (decommissioned) COMSEC vault on a base in Germany. This is around the millenium, and was certainly a "forgiveness vs permission" decision by the commander. All senior NCOs (E7 and above) were brought in. We had artifacts from all over the battalion (some 30-40 years old) that gave it a sense of gravity. That unit was tight and we cared about each other. Being in the presence of fellow service members and kicking back, telling war stories ("talkin' story") gave us a sense of duty and attachment to each other. We policed our own, didn't let anyone drive home after drinking and had a great experience. In my next assignment, I went to a Cavalry (the "Cav") unit in Korea and watched the Brigade bar (the "corrals") close. The unit was never the same, and our colors were cased, and our Cav lineage (which dated to the Army of Potomac in 1861) was gone when we reflagged. It was a very sad day in uniform to watch the Army decide to kill our Cav heritage.
You guys are awesome. This may be a bit off topic, but Bill, can you at some time share any Rickover stories you may have? Preferably, your favorite! Seems no discussion of submarine-ing should be without!!
I work as a contractor for the Navy in Washington in 1986-1987 and I heard about Admiral Rickover's gift to GE Defense System's CEO. It was a HEAVY box with a piece of rough cut stainless steel pipe and a note inside. The note read: "Congratulations! You have now been exposed to the same radiation my ratings had when they removed this poorly welded pipe! Rickover"
@@william_toti Excellent, found it at USNI, just read it. Thank you Sir, for writing that up. I totally get where yourself and Rickover were coming from at the time. Most importantly where you were coming from and what you were communicating about in the article so many years after (2010). I heard some Rickover stories during the exact same time period. I was in NROTC at Ohio State, at the same time. Did not follow through with it. I will definitly apply your lessons learned (in your writeup) in my life.
I absolutely love these podcasts. I listen to them repeatedly. I would like if Bill could enlighten us with some of his stories and his port of calls. Also, if he could give us a rundown of how life on a sub and the locations of the work stations and how they are situated on the sub. do you have to walk through berthing areas to get to the galley? Where the heads are located, and how do you flush the toilets? How the weapons are stored? A rundown on how torpedoes and missle's are fired. Are there two keys like in Red October and Crimson Tide, etc?
One last thing here. This has been one of my all-time favorite episodes just to hear Captain Bill run "silent run deep!" Good Lord man the amount of knowledge that you have attained over the years is just astounding and greatly appreciated! I wish my uncle Harold who served in the silent service during World War II could have met you! I think you two would have gotten along really really well! You have the same kind of sense of humor and the same joyous personality! 😅🎉❤
My favorite episode yet! So interesting to hear Bill tell what happens and what the skipper says during a crash dive and an attack run, and comparing that to the war movie clichés. Also very interesting why many of our skippers were so cautious and risk adverse early in the war. I recall reading how many were reluctant to attack inside the "hundred fathom curve (600ft)" as that would entail limited space for manuver, where later captains like Eugene Fluckey would sometimes take their boats into make night surface attacks even in areas too shallow to crash dive.
I'm an ex-sonarman and was the best sornarman on my ship (according to the Captian). I aced the passive analyst school. I also completed ASROC fire control 'C' school. And I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this episode. Keep bringing it Gentlemen !
My oldest brother taught sonar school in Key West for a few years around 1970. He was a Chief then, and I was was just out of boot camp going to Avionics A School and never went on a ship, except a few in port.
My brother was an officer on a nuclear sub from mid 80s to 2000, and I got to go on the sub when it was in port. I think it was his sub or maybe it was a decommissioned , but I was just a kid, I'm not sure how the security worked then. Either way I was shocked how huge it was on the outside, and how small and cramped everything felt on the inside. They obviously build them for function, and not for crew comfort. It's amazing crews work in that environment for months at a time.
I went through PLDC ( Petty Officer leadership development course ) with a group of submariners. I was the only non- submariner in the class. Very smart guys and enjoyed hanging out with them too.
How great it is to get an authoritative discussion about military history. Thank you all. The main thing I have learned is there are no winners. There are those who lose the least.
My gosh what an absolute fantastic lesson. I just started listening to this series and my history class is opening up even more. Thank you for doing this .
Capt. Toti, you were a true leader from the old school and I think your contacts with those Giants of WW2 had a incredibly positive effect to your career that made you a Capt that would really bend the rule to improve your crew management skills. And sir think you for being you and becoming the Capt. you became and your service!
Before I get any further want to thank you Capt Bill for your service!! How cool is it to hear from a real sub driver how to make a torpedo attack!! Thought that only the Germans ran guys forward to help them dive faster - so much for Hollywood! Great episode guys - keep it up!
Just Another Excellent Episode. Practical facts with valuable comments. I did not know that in WW2 still moving crew forward had so much impact during submerging. Story about initial reopening Clean Sweep bar is like stuff from a good movie!
I just found these videos and they're great .....my gal friends father was MH "CY" Austin he was Skipper of the REDFIN 272 in 44 ....XO on the COD in 43 ..one of those class of 35 guys ......wonderful stuff here ....thank you ....
OMG OMG Captn' Toti thank you. As a "nub" E3 I was praised by the CO for using my "seaman skills" to "relocate" some shipyard equipment. Also Thank you for explaining TMA and contact management and Trig in your head. This FTG1(ss)'s heart is warmed by your sea stories. Nobody or any movie ever mentions the FT .
As an active duty marine from 1959 till 1971….. thank you! As a kid I sat in the Toms River,NJ library for many hours. Ed Beach was one of my favorite authors.
I appreciate the work you guys do. I am grateful for your work. It’s a welcome distraction for me as life throws me a lousy hand. I look forward now more then ever for the fruits of your labor.
CAPT Toti, absolutely magnificent discussion. I've immensely enjoyed all episodes in the series, but this installment stands out. BZ, sir. I don't know how many thousands of watch hours I must've stood in surface ships (LST, CV, FFG, DDG, MHC) over the years; I can attest that simply determining a ship's target angle at a glance - even a large merchant or tanker - can often be surprisingly ambiguous, especially if it's hull-down enough not to be able see the waterline. It's deceptively easy to be 90 degrees off because one thinks the vessel is heading away or toward you, when in fact it's doing the opposite.
I would like to hear more details from Captain Toti. For instance, how was a day to day operation on a patrol ? How was it divided between watches, when do they eat, what do they eat, that sort of things.
I am thoroughly enjoying this new season with both of you, especially because it's about the naval war in the PTO. I hooked on the subject when I read one of the first books written about the Battle of Savo Island when I was in high school, and it's become a lifetime labor of love for me for a little over 60 years. With respects to this particular subject, about 40 odd years ago, when my son was a toddler, I happened to pass by a sign that said there was a WW II museum submarine moored on the Hackensack River in New Jersey, the USS Ling, Balao class fleet sub. It was my first taste of what it might have been like for the brave men of the Silent Service, and it really opened my eyes. My wife tried to come also, but the minute she went below decks she got very claustrophobic and had to get out. It really was VERY different from the Hollywood version of submarines, so cramped and cluttered with pipes, valves, conduits, cables and a hundred other things. My son got excited and wanted to touch everything, and when we looked at the freezer and refrigerated lockers he wanted to go down the ladder, lol. Afterwards I looked up the displacement and it was really something, 1500 tons on the surface and 2300 tons submerged. The thought of being on the Ling while it was under depth charging make me really respect the submariners who fought for our country. And as I read more, I found that the German Type VIIc U-boat has half the displacement of the Ling and other American fleet subs. And watching Das Boot really made an impression on me. Such valor and bravery from all of the submariners of WW II.
I would be curious to hear more of Bill’s thoughts on what he thinks when he watches “Das Boot,” particularly with his background as a submarine skipper. I have always thought that film is one of the best war films ever made because it shows (what I imagine to be) both the boredom and the indescribable terror of war at sea. Thanks for the podcast!
This is very interesting. One comment from an ex-Army guy: I locked on the discussion of fire vs. shoot...The word repeat is the same for the Army. We never said repeat if we want someone to say something again, because that word was reserved for fire missions to get artillery to shoot the same thing they just fired, which could be a bad thing. If one wanted another person to say something again, we were conditioned ask "Say again" and not "repeat." Strange as it may be, I still say "Say again..." if I don't understand something said to me so strongly was the message driven home.
Thank you CPT Toti for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. Sinking an enemy ship is a much more complicated process than I had previously thought. Great intro for future programs on the Silent Service in World War II. BTW, nice to see the subscriber numbers slowing climbing. This channel certainly deserves it! Thx!!
Great show. Great topic. I have a ton of admiration for the bravery of those who choose/chose to serve in the deeps. Takes tough smart dudes, all of them.
Wonderful podcast. My father Herb Schyman flew C47's in the pacific theatre during the war and his best friend Eddie Goldfarb (still alive and well at 101) was on the Batfish during the war. Great men both!
Thank you again for this great podcast. I really appreciate the insight you provide. This will sound dumb, but watching your programs, I am now starting to appreciate the amount of training that it takes to get a crew to act as a unit. Capt. Toti your description of just how they would dive the sub, who went down the hatch first, who went down last, who closed the hatch, how they took bearings with the scope, how to keep the scope lens stable and clear....just fascinating. God bless those men who crew our subs, both now and in the past. Truly a special breed.
Every week is six days waiting for your next video. The longer the better and pour out the details. The devil is in the fascinating details. Please keep it coming. Your series of videos is needed.
Good call Skipper. As one of the last 'ol skool' submarine Chiefs (1978-1995) I appreciated traditions and legends of the submarine community. I was a junior petty officer on ASPRO 648 when you reported to PH, so we both saw our world through like eyes. We both worshipped at the alter of ADM. Lockwood. Innovation and aggressive tactics were our calling cards. The unconventional became SOP. Yes, there were many things that were absolutely and rigidly adhered to, (ie reactor operation). Yet other things had few 'rules' and had 'guidelines'. Sonar and approach/attack tactics were governed by what worked for a given CO and his attack team. That made us exceptionally dangerous to our enemies because they could not predict what a given submarine might do. That all started during the war. As COs developed and shared what they found effective, the enemy could not defend against submarines. We were then as we still are the most feared seaborne weapon the US Navy has. Hungry sharks in a pond full of tasty fish.
Fantastic episode 202. I’ll Daly for episode 203! Capt and Bill, I have learned so much just from you talking about your own sub experiences. Thanks for sharing 👊🏻👊🏻
So when I was in trigonometry in HS, I was also in history class, learning how WWII submarines stalked and attacked enemy targets. 😎 Like the detail? I LOVE the detail!
Mister Seth and Commodore Bill- Just listened to episode 202. I am catching up. Regarding the rear tubes on a WW2 sub. Were they used much? Is it crewed by the "B" team or would forward crew run back to the rear? Also, many subs had 6 forward tubes, but I almost never hear of a sub firing all 6 fish at once. Were two kept in reserve, or not even loaded? Thanks guys. You are really making the winter tolerable in the Chicago 'burbs. BTW- we have two awesome sub museums in this general area. U-505 in Chicago, and Manitowoc, WI, has the Cobia
Would have like to hear more about TMA (target motion analysis). Perhaps a sample of a basic geoplot and how 'legs' were conducted would really demonstrate the complexities of a submarine approach. I was the guy in sonar that fed bearings to the CO so he could evaluate the plot. I was a sonarman during Commodore Toti's era. Served on 637's mostly including ASPRO in PH. Even then we did manual TMA to back up our sophisticated computer fire control systems. It was always cool when what we got was a close match to the fire control system.
Fantastic explanation Captain! You were no doubt a very good teacher, which as you know is a key part to being a great leader. Josh M's comments below don't surprise me at all.
Capt. Toti - thank you for the education and insight. You guys are always well worth the time, and put the effort in to get the details correct, illustrated by incisive anecdotes - and this time you were the primary source! One question I'd hoped you would answer - and this is probably a bonehead question, maybe predicated on Hollywoodizing - why, prior to firing did they say "match bearings and ...fire"? "Match" to what? Didn't they already do that "math"? Wasn't the TDC already "programmed"? Match the torpedoes to the TDC? What's with the "match bearings" lingo? Thanks in advance.
As the TDC would generate a bearing for what is called "generated solution" (as opposed to "ground truth"), error would creep into the solution over time, which would cause generated bearing to drift off true bearing. When you think you have the solution "good enough," you want to make sure the TDC bearing is the correct bearing at time of fire. So "match bearings" means put the bearing I call out into the TDC before you fire.
@@william_toti Thank you. So does it mean, essentially, update the TDC's ongoing calculations to the moment I say "match bearings"? Can that be done "instantaneously"? Apologies if I'm being thick about this.
Captain Toti’s explanations of sub operations was just fascinating!! This episode was an outstanding presentation. I was an Infantryman for 30 years and had no idea of the complexity of the submarine operations, Seat-of-your pants decision making, and Commander calls based on gut instinct and best guess. Thank you so much for this outstanding presentation.
Yo Bill. Typically, I'm just here for the history lesson but that was some great bolt cutting leadership on your part. Created a piece of history yourself. Well done.
This was a great episode, but I have been listening to many of your episodes from Midway to Guadalcanal to Macarthur. I was a Naval Flight Officer in the S-3 Viking, VS-21, out of NAS North Island and the USS Enterprise, CVN-65 1985-87. I also worked as a Range Safety Officer on an instrumented underwater range off of SOCAL seeing all kinds of ASW exercises. I wish I knew more about submarine tactics from the SSN community back then. Finally, I just finished reading a book on Adm Rickover. Capt. Bill Toti makes an appearance in the book with one of those infamous interviews with the Father of the Nuclear Navy. While that may not be about the Pacific War, that is worthy of an episode itself, gents.
I've really enjoyed this podcast, thank you both (and your guests!) and I'm looking forward to the submarine series as Cpt Toti's passion & knowledge really shines through so far. There's one subject related to submarines that I'd really love to hear the historian and the officer's perspective on: the US went to war in WW1 in large part because of Germany's use of unrestricted submarine warfare against Britain and the effect on neutral nations. Then in WW2 the US adopted unrestricted warfare against the Japanese. I'd love to see some thoughtful discussion about this seeming contradiction. While the strategic & tactical rationales for USW are clear, what are the moral consequences, and what debates were there at the time concerning this change in attitude? Looking forward to what comes next.
In the book "The Thousand Mile War," an excellent history of WWII in the Aleutians, the author describes the absolute horror of an old US Navy S Boat trying to navigate in those waters. It was incredible!
Yes, again, thank you Capt. Toti. The steps that must be taken to submerge--to say nothing of what is involved in tracking and firing on a target--amazes me. (And, yet, how else could it be accomplished? For operations to be carried out on such vast and liquid, i.e., ever-changing, circumstances, all parts of those operations would have to be exceedingly complex.) A brother-in-law served on a submarine in the 1960s, I think; and no one in the family (unless it was my father) asked him about any of it. I'm so ashamed.
Refreshing coverage of things I once knew. Sounds like Bill was better than I at the mental gym. For Sean's ability to sleep at night, we did memorize cosine table in first quadrant (easy enough to convert to sine or other quadrants), BUT we didn't memorize it to 4 decimal places. Just to a reasonable accuracy.
I spent 20+ years in submarines, and if I had to take one of my boats to war there is no one I would rather have as my CO than Captain Toti. I spent most of his tour as his battle stations helmsmen so I got to see his sub driving skills up close. Never a better skipper in my career. Thanks Capt for this, and every episode.
Very kind, Josh! I remember you!
0:05 0:05 0:05 0:05 ftt
😅Ft😅😅d 0:05 😊😊😊dxrff😅dgff😊
I am not military, but I see him as leader and a commanding officer to respect and listen to. Following orders without hesitation or question.
Reading this must make him feel he deserves the accolade of great submariner. Thanks for sharing.
I'm not addicted to the 'Unauthorized History of the Pacific War' podcast, really I'm not. I can quit anytime I want to. I just don't want to.
Haha
I have heard of using the periscope to observe and track potential victims spotting the masts and or the smoke ! TDC was an incredible tool the Sub had a huge gyroscope as did each torpedo to keep them running straight ! If the torpedo turns back to hit the Sub as it happened a couple times the gyroscope would shut down the torpedo if any degree change of 180 happened ! The Kursk did an intentional 180 to get the gyroscopes to turn off the torpedoes in a last ditch attempt to turn them off !
🤣🤣🤣
Cutting the lock off the door and schooling your officers in that mystique was an excellent and heart-filled move. Well done, sir, well done.
That alone is inspiring.
Captain, Just the idea of you breaking into the bar to train your officers raises you ten brownie points in the eyes of this Marine. That sounds like something a senior SNCO would do, not an officer.. Bravo Zulu sir
Thanks
As a retired Senior Chief and a proud Nose Picker from the engine room back aft, I have taken time to wipe away the tears to reply to this story. I was a member of the last Diesel Boat,581, And having served in P.H and know all that the Plotting party In the conn went through' I salute all who served and have brought us to this point
dbf
As a marine from 59-71 , I still have my tattoos from Broadway in San Diego. Do I remember a bar for nuclear boats sailors and another for diesel? Some very lively discussions with the wrong sailor wandered in. I just sat there and marveled.👍🇺🇸😂
That must have been the USS Blueback. We operated against that boat in many exercises. Thank you for your service. It is moored up in Portland on the river. I would like to visit someday.
Well Commodore Toti, as a retired Marine Colonel, all I can say Bravo Zulu on taking the initiative and re-opening the Clean Sweep Bar. That action is indicative of a true leader. I am not sure if your listeners really have a true appreciation for the impact of your actions, but I do. Again, well done.
Absolutely - truly a command decision :-)
As an "old school" soldier, this is truely the love of tradition and the Proud History of the Sub Service from Mr Toti passed along to his crew, definately a true leader that does this
Thank you, guys. I feel like I'm taking an advanced naval history class. This series is awesome.
Glad you like it
Captain and Seth, you guys rock! I don’t remember if it was my first or second shore tour at NSSF NLON, 77-78 or 81-85 but it was during the SALT treaty when the USS George Washington was converted from a boomer to a “slow attack” boat by disabling the missile tubes in order to be in compliance with the treaty. I was aboard doing some required work, (synchronization of the cesium beam frequency standard) and a TM buddy showed me a MK 14, still in service in order to have a full war load, just in case they needed a fish to say boom should they need it. The fish he showed me was marked SUB BASE PEARL HARBOR- 04-1945, the Tullibee and Trepang also carried a MK-14 or 2, just in case, they were stamped 1944, the last MK 14 had been retired by 1984-85, for such a poor start they were held in stock until there 48:44 leftover MK 14s were virtually free compared to the “new” MK 48 Fish being deployed at that time. We had a SINK-ex operating with USS Shark, we used one of the new Harpoons and Shark got to use an old MK 14. The TMs always bragged about the MK-14 being the only “combat proven” torpedo in the fleet!
I cannot thank you enough for the efforts you both and your guests put forth. Absolutely the best pacific Ww2 information stream I have encountered. My dad enlisted in 39 and first ship was the USS Chester. Then “captained” (as a CPO) a tug out of NC pushing supplies to surrounding islands. Later served on uss Cartaret at Ewo Jima and Okinawa and bringing groups home after the war until Dec 46. I was lucky enough to become his designated driver on those occasions when he and his buddies got together for poker and spirits. Seems the stories only came out when they had sufficient “lubrication”. I need to dedicate more time to preserving those golden nuggets. Your series has helped me visualize these tremendously. Thank you again!
Captain Toti, thank you for sharing your personal experiences and training with us! I thought I was reasonably well-read on submarine combat in the Pacific, but you presented a LOT of good material. Some of this clarified points but quite a bit was new and could only come from an actual submarine commander. Your presentation style is good. One has to appreciate that a US submarine in the Pacific was often hundreds of miles (or much more) away from any other Allied forces. No support, no help, just those 80 men and a single ship. It took a particular fortitude to do that! Sometime, perhaps, could you talk about escape and evasion? One hears about finding a target and lining up the shot(s) but what techniques did they use to clear datum and survive to fight again? Thanks for this presentation.
Exactly, Gary.
@@william_toti As a Army port support OIC I once had a submarine LT jg show up in Samesan Thailand. Asked me Sir, can I park my sun here. Cobra Gold 1994
Sub
I love submarines, but is there anything on PT Boats in the Pacific as well? I mean, more stories and details than the usual fare here on YT?
My uncle Bill in WW2 helped developer Asdic and skippered two corvettes on anti submarine actions mainly in the Med and the Atlantic. Ironically later his sisters son, my cousin was a Royal Navy sub skipper helped develop Trident. After retirement he went to the US as a bureaucrat like Bill. He edited the RN magazine and was on an icebreaker in The Falklands in 1982 and helped RN marine helicopters capture an Argentine submarine. He was Lt Cdr Francis Ponsonby. He was connected, his grandfather was Queen Victorias private secretary. After the Falklands War the Queen invited him to the palace. She asked about the Falklands and said my husband has been there but all he did was twitter about the birds. Toti and the boltcutters. A man after my own heart. Love him.
I love how Captain Toti becomes even more excited than usual when he gets to talk submarines.
His demeanor conveys the intensity of a torpedo attack, and the skill and focus required to pull it off. And can't many of us relate to that? Especially people who have had real-world jobs, having dealt with certain points in a procedure when you have to rise to a relatively dangerous occasion, when a failure to give 100% means a big loss, injury, or death? This happens in construction, fishing, firefighting, and so on. How much more when the safety of a boat's crew is on your shoulders, plus the chance of a tactical failure with consequences of strategic failures?
The details make the History ! 4.0 Captain
Many thanks
I knew hearing Bill talk about submarines would be epic, and it still exceeded all expectations.
In O'Kane's memoir he relates an incident on Wahoo that somehow a table of navigation figures was lost. The enlisted man & O'Kane spent hours with a slide rule rebuilding that table. O'Kane was an incredible intellect & leader.
Gold Plated bolt cutters awarded to Captain Bill Toti !!!!
No lie. Bill is a man amongst men.
-SP
Thanks again Seth and Bill for yet another (can't stop listening and watching) dynamic discussion! You guys have become my go-to for military history fix!
Thanks
Hello, I'm catching up and also listening to your recent podcasts. What I appreciate is you are filling in the gaps of the who, why, when and where. I had no idea who Adm. King was or his tyrannical yet brilliant leadership. That podcast was fascinating and interlaced with the history of the USS Indianapolis. Who knew! So, my continued appreciation. Thank you both and your guests!
@@leoamery I always wondered who had the inspiration to island skip. That was brilliant. Having Nimitz and Halsey as commanders was brilliant. He may have been a nasty man, but he obviously has the leadership and admin skills necessary to be in charge of the Navy's fleet in both the Atlantic and Pacific. I have no doubt he made mistakes and I'm not really a fan of his. But that doesn't mean I can't admire his brilliance.
@@leoamery Good Morning Leo. In my 1st comment, I said I'd never heard of King. From the context and perspective of what was discussed in the podcast, what I perceived was a highly intelligent tyrant. I won't argue I don't know, because I don't. I am seriously enjoying these histories as they are brilliant! Enjoy your day.
It's coming
See the episode on King
@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar
Love this. 9 mins in and so happy you fellas are back. Ww2 submariners did so much damage. They deserve this.
Ok... so who really needs to do housework when I can listen to a master class. Thank you gentlemen. Informative, enlightening and, wonderful... as usual. Please keep it coming. House work will be done, eventually.
Master Class indeed it is! Excellent description.
Excellent episode! Brought back many memories of the things my Father told me and all of the WW2 books I read as a kid.
Capt. Toti, your energy and excitement while discussing your favorite subject is infectious. Great presentation guys.
Seth, Bill, as a Misguided Child, I have one word for your work
OUTSTANDING!
BTW, can't wait for the next video.
And the next.
Found this by accident--but what a find! This is a really good summary of actions in the Pacific.
Unfortunately too many times it points out so many admirals that are proving the Peter Principle!
Thanks for these presentations.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great Episode Bill !!
I am a few years older, NROTC Class of 1971. In 1969 as 1/c middie made patrol on SSBN 656 under Paul Tomb. Had an opportunity for port call in Lisbon with ward room dinner with Eugene Fluckey. What a memorable experience. Also had experience on Balo class Guppy III Cobbler before reporting to nuc school. Eventually returned to nuc school (Bainbridge} as an instructor. Maybe your class?
My brother was on the HardHead in the 1960s as a sonar tech. He also taught school in Key West as a Chief around 1970-71. I went down and saw him there a few times. I met up with him in Rota and had breakfast at 2am in the Chiefs Mess. He was on the Pargo then. I was in VP-23. My brother in law did a career on boomers in the 60s-70s. He was also an STC.
I was an Orlando nuke school guy, 1979
@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar I was the First LT and move officer for the move to Orlando. Code 08 (i.e., the admiral) resisted the move. The first class in Orlando had 5 comprehensive exam failures an unheard of number, unofficially blamed on the "playground" location of the school
Always a feeling of pleasurable anticipation when the UA-cam notification of the next podcast comes up, this one did not disappoint. Great intro about bolt cutters episode and continued on from there.
Tbh I wasn't that impressed when Seth said that "even the Brits had better torpedos". This brought to mind what Drachinifel said about Admiral Willis Lee's mission to England about 1940. Admiral King thought that the Royal Navy was basically crap. Lee reported back that in fact the RN was superior to the USN in all operational procedures with the exception of carrier avaition, which obv was v deficient given the rotten aircraft the Fleet Air Arm had. One British Admiral wrote that the FAA suffered from "arrested development". But in terms of anti-, submarine warfare for instance the RN was definitely superior.
Lee later told the USN that if they couldn't source decent radar sets they should buy British, likewise he said the same about torpedos
As an English guy I had to get that in there 😊
And you are correct, sir! Yours aye, Bill
I've watched some parts four times now (except the cosine part because that makes me sweat too.) This is amazing. Love everything you are doing. It is awesome to hear Captain Toti's experience and detailed knowledge. Would love more "how to submarine." Thank you both for all the work you do to make this excellent series.
Cosine is adjacent over hypotenuse
How powerfully my eyes were opened. No longer blind to the Silent Service. I’m incredibly grateful. Thank you.
Man! I've been waiting for sub talks.
Great episode. Loved the good CAPT's technical rundown, but really like the anecdote about the bar at Lockwood Hall. That captured some of the best parts of my 22 years in service as an officer in the US Army. Those opportunities to tie yourself to illustrious history are some of the finest rewards for serving.
As a young Army lieutenant in a Signal Battalion, I helped construct a battalion bar in a (decommissioned) COMSEC vault on a base in Germany. This is around the millenium, and was certainly a "forgiveness vs permission" decision by the commander. All senior NCOs (E7 and above) were brought in. We had artifacts from all over the battalion (some 30-40 years old) that gave it a sense of gravity. That unit was tight and we cared about each other. Being in the presence of fellow service members and kicking back, telling war stories ("talkin' story") gave us a sense of duty and attachment to each other. We policed our own, didn't let anyone drive home after drinking and had a great experience. In my next assignment, I went to a Cavalry (the "Cav") unit in Korea and watched the Brigade bar (the "corrals") close. The unit was never the same, and our colors were cased, and our Cav lineage (which dated to the Army of Potomac in 1861) was gone when we reflagged. It was a very sad day in uniform to watch the Army decide to kill our Cav heritage.
Thank you, your story gives me a much better understanding of the meaning of Heritage.
You guys are awesome. This may be a bit off topic, but Bill, can you at some time share any Rickover stories you may have? Preferably, your favorite! Seems no discussion of submarine-ing should be without!!
Haha. I wrote an article about my interview with Rickover. Titled "The Wrath of Rickover." I think you can Google it.
I work as a contractor for the Navy in Washington in 1986-1987 and I heard about Admiral Rickover's gift to GE Defense System's CEO. It was a HEAVY box with a piece of rough cut stainless steel pipe and a note inside. The note read: "Congratulations! You have now been exposed to the same radiation my ratings had when they removed this poorly welded pipe! Rickover"
@@william_toti Excellent, found it at USNI, just read it. Thank you Sir, for writing that up. I totally get where yourself and Rickover were coming from at the time. Most importantly where you were coming from and what you were communicating about in the article so many years after (2010). I heard some Rickover stories during the exact same time period. I was in NROTC at Ohio State, at the same time. Did not follow through with it. I will definitly apply your lessons learned (in your writeup) in my life.
I absolutely love these podcasts. I listen to them repeatedly. I would like if Bill could enlighten us with some of his stories and his port of calls. Also, if he could give us a rundown of how life on a sub and the locations of the work stations and how they are situated on the sub. do you have to walk through berthing areas to get to the galley? Where the heads are located, and how do you flush the toilets? How the weapons are stored? A rundown on how torpedoes and missle's are fired. Are there two keys like in Red October and Crimson Tide, etc?
Wow, that's a lot of detail unrelated to the Pacific War. But let's see if it comes up in conversation
One last thing here. This has been one of my all-time favorite episodes just to hear Captain Bill run "silent run deep!" Good Lord man the amount of knowledge that you have attained over the years is just astounding and greatly appreciated! I wish my uncle Harold who served in the silent service during World War II could have met you! I think you two would have gotten along really really well! You have the same kind of sense of humor and the same joyous personality! 😅🎉❤
My favorite episode yet!
So interesting to hear Bill tell what happens and what the skipper says during a crash dive and an attack run, and comparing that to the war movie clichés.
Also very interesting why many of our skippers were so cautious and risk adverse early in the war. I recall reading how many were reluctant to attack inside the "hundred fathom curve (600ft)" as that would entail limited space for manuver, where later captains like Eugene Fluckey would sometimes take their boats into make night surface attacks even in areas too shallow to crash dive.
Oftentimes shallower than 150 feet! I myself have operated in water that was half as deep as my submarine was long!
I'm an ex-sonarman and was the best sornarman on my ship (according to the Captian). I aced the passive analyst school. I also completed ASROC fire control 'C' school. And I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this episode. Keep bringing it Gentlemen !
My oldest brother taught sonar school in Key West for a few years around 1970. He was a Chief then, and I was was just out of boot camp going to Avionics A School and never went on a ship, except a few in port.
Thanks!
Thank you!
This episode deserves a part 2.
My brother was an officer on a nuclear sub from mid 80s to 2000, and I got to go on the sub when it was in port. I think it was his sub or maybe it was a decommissioned , but I was just a kid, I'm not sure how the security worked then. Either way I was shocked how huge it was on the outside, and how small and cramped everything felt on the inside. They obviously build them for function, and not for crew comfort. It's amazing crews work in that environment for months at a time.
Did you push buttons on that Nuke sub and ask: What does this button do ?? :)
Awesome story Captain!
I went through PLDC ( Petty Officer leadership development course ) with a group of submariners. I was the only non- submariner in the class. Very smart guys and enjoyed hanging out with them too.
Thanks! Very informative and easy listening. My grandfather and father worked at the NNSY .
Thanks for all the time you put into these. I can’t listen to them fast enough
How great it is to get an authoritative discussion about military history. Thank you all. The main thing I have learned is there are no winners. There are those who lose the least.
My gosh what an absolute fantastic lesson. I just started listening to this series and my history class is opening up even more. Thank you for doing this .
Capt. Toti, you were a true leader from the old school and I think your contacts with those Giants of WW2 had a incredibly positive effect to your career that made you a Capt that would really bend the rule to improve your crew management skills. And sir think you for being you and becoming the Capt. you became and your service!
The videos and images shown in this one, make the episode an excellent one! What incredible footage. Looking forward to hearing and SEEING more!
Before I get any further want to thank you Capt Bill for your service!!
How cool is it to hear from a real sub driver how to make a torpedo attack!! Thought that only the Germans ran guys forward to help them dive faster - so much for Hollywood!
Great episode guys - keep it up!
Thanks
Just Another Excellent Episode. Practical facts with valuable comments. I did not know that in WW2 still moving crew forward had so much impact during submerging.
Story about initial reopening Clean Sweep bar is like stuff from a good movie!
Bill's time to shine! The detail is amazing for the average Joe!
I just found these videos and they're great .....my gal friends father was MH "CY" Austin he was Skipper of the REDFIN 272 in 44 ....XO on the COD in 43 ..one of those class of 35 guys ......wonderful stuff here ....thank you ....
OMG OMG Captn' Toti thank you. As a "nub" E3 I was praised by the CO for using my "seaman skills" to "relocate" some shipyard equipment. Also Thank you for explaining TMA and contact management and Trig in your head. This FTG1(ss)'s heart is warmed by your sea stories. Nobody or any movie ever mentions the FT .
Great show, can’t wait for more sub stuff. I grew up in the 1950’s watching SILENT SERVICE, makes me want to go watch more re-runs on UA-cam 👍
As an active duty marine from 1959 till 1971….. thank you!
As a kid I sat in the Toms River,NJ library for many hours. Ed Beach was one of my favorite authors.
Cpt. Toti was on fire in this episode! Awesome!
I appreciate the work you guys do. I am grateful for your work. It’s a welcome distraction for me as life throws me a lousy hand. I look forward now more then ever for the fruits of your labor.
CAPT Toti, absolutely magnificent discussion. I've immensely enjoyed all episodes in the series, but this installment stands out. BZ, sir.
I don't know how many thousands of watch hours I must've stood in surface ships (LST, CV, FFG, DDG, MHC) over the years; I can attest that simply determining a ship's target angle at a glance - even a large merchant or tanker - can often be surprisingly ambiguous, especially if it's hull-down enough not to be able see the waterline. It's deceptively easy to be 90 degrees off because one thinks the vessel is heading away or toward you, when in fact it's doing the opposite.
I would like to hear more details from Captain Toti. For instance, how was a day to day operation on a patrol ? How was it divided between watches, when do they eat, what do they eat, that sort of things.
We will try to fold some of this into a future episode. Thanks for the recommendation!
I am thoroughly enjoying this new season with both of you, especially because it's about the naval war in the PTO. I hooked on the subject when I read one of the first books written about the Battle of Savo Island when I was in high school, and it's become a lifetime labor of love for me for a little over 60 years. With respects to this particular subject, about 40 odd years ago, when my son was a toddler, I happened to pass by a sign that said there was a WW II museum submarine moored on the Hackensack River in New Jersey, the USS Ling, Balao class fleet sub. It was my first taste of what it might have been like for the brave men of the Silent Service, and it really opened my eyes. My wife tried to come also, but the minute she went below decks she got very claustrophobic and had to get out. It really was VERY different from the Hollywood version of submarines, so cramped and cluttered with pipes, valves, conduits, cables and a hundred other things. My son got excited and wanted to touch everything, and when we looked at the freezer and refrigerated lockers he wanted to go down the ladder, lol. Afterwards I looked up the displacement and it was really something, 1500 tons on the surface and 2300 tons submerged. The thought of being on the Ling while it was under depth charging make me really respect the submariners who fought for our country. And as I read more, I found that the German Type VIIc U-boat has half the displacement of the Ling and other American fleet subs. And watching Das Boot really made an impression on me. Such valor and bravery from all of the submariners of WW II.
I would be curious to hear more of Bill’s thoughts on what he thinks when he watches “Das Boot,” particularly with his background as a submarine skipper. I have always thought that film is one of the best war films ever made because it shows (what I imagine to be) both the boredom and the indescribable terror of war at sea. Thanks for the podcast!
It's a great one. particularly the pathos of knowing you are likely going to die
This is very interesting. One comment from an ex-Army guy: I locked on the discussion of fire vs. shoot...The word repeat is the same for the Army. We never said repeat if we want someone to say something again, because that word was reserved for fire missions to get artillery to shoot the same thing they just fired, which could be a bad thing. If one wanted another person to say something again, we were conditioned ask "Say again" and not "repeat." Strange as it may be, I still say "Say again..." if I don't understand something said to me so strongly was the message driven home.
Very informative. Love The Captain's enthusiasm for the work in particular.
Thank you CPT Toti for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. Sinking an enemy ship is a much more complicated process than I had previously thought. Great intro for future programs on the Silent Service in World War II. BTW, nice to see the subscriber numbers slowing climbing. This channel certainly deserves it! Thx!!
Great show. Great topic. I have a ton of admiration for the bravery of those who choose/chose to serve in the deeps. Takes tough smart dudes, all of them.
Great long winded Intro! Another great show. Thanks to both of you!
Wonderful podcast. My father Herb Schyman flew C47's in the pacific theatre during the war and his best friend Eddie Goldfarb (still alive and well at 101) was on the Batfish during the war. Great men both!
Thank you again for this great podcast. I really appreciate the insight you provide. This will sound dumb, but watching your programs, I am now starting to appreciate the amount of training that it takes to get a crew to act as a unit. Capt. Toti your description of just how they would dive the sub, who went down the hatch first, who went down last, who closed the hatch, how they took bearings with the scope, how to keep the scope lens stable and clear....just fascinating. God bless those men who crew our subs, both now and in the past. Truly a special breed.
Utmost respect for Bill Toti his analogies from his time as submariner.
One of the best episodes yet. You guys are fantastic.
Capt. Extremely well done. I thank both you and Seth for outstanding work on all of your podcasts. Please keep it up!
Captain Bill, thanks again for your input and "CHAT." Love the backdrop! A+! Your passion truly shows.
Every week is six days waiting for your next video. The longer the better and pour out the details. The devil is in the fascinating details. Please keep it coming. Your series of videos is needed.
Good call Skipper. As one of the last 'ol skool' submarine Chiefs (1978-1995) I appreciated traditions and legends of the submarine community. I was a junior petty officer on ASPRO 648 when you reported to PH, so we both saw our world through like eyes. We both worshipped at the alter of ADM. Lockwood. Innovation and aggressive tactics were our calling cards. The unconventional became SOP. Yes, there were many things that were absolutely and rigidly adhered to, (ie reactor operation). Yet other things had few 'rules' and had 'guidelines'. Sonar and approach/attack tactics were governed by what worked for a given CO and his attack team. That made us exceptionally dangerous to our enemies because they could not predict what a given submarine might do. That all started during the war. As COs developed and shared what they found effective, the enemy could not defend against submarines. We were then as we still are the most feared seaborne weapon the US Navy has. Hungry sharks in a pond full of tasty fish.
Captain Toti. I enjoy watching you shine while sharing submarine info.
Great stuff, guys. The more detail the better as far as I'm concerned. This is gold.
Fantastic episode 202. I’ll Daly for episode 203! Capt and Bill, I have learned so much just from you talking about your own sub experiences. Thanks for sharing 👊🏻👊🏻
So when I was in trigonometry in HS, I was also in history class, learning how WWII submarines stalked and attacked enemy targets. 😎 Like the detail? I LOVE the detail!
Excellent episode! I'm a former ASW aviator and Capt Toti is spot on - subs can be visible well below the surface from the air.
Mister Seth and Commodore Bill-
Just listened to episode 202. I am catching up.
Regarding the rear tubes on a WW2 sub. Were they used much? Is it crewed by the "B" team or would forward crew run back to the rear?
Also, many subs had 6 forward tubes, but I almost never hear of a sub firing all 6 fish at once. Were two kept in reserve, or not even loaded?
Thanks guys. You are really making the winter tolerable in the Chicago 'burbs. BTW- we have two awesome sub museums in this general area. U-505 in Chicago, and Manitowoc, WI, has the Cobia
An excellent story. Thank you Bill for sharing this with us. It is important.
Glad you enjoyed it
Would have like to hear more about TMA (target motion analysis). Perhaps a sample of a basic geoplot and how 'legs' were conducted would really demonstrate the complexities of a submarine approach. I was the guy in sonar that fed bearings to the CO so he could evaluate the plot. I was a sonarman during Commodore Toti's era. Served on 637's mostly including ASPRO in PH. Even then we did manual TMA to back up our sophisticated computer fire control systems. It was always cool when what we got was a close match to the fire control system.
Welcome aboard!
Fantastic explanation Captain! You were no doubt a very good teacher, which as you know is a key part to being a great leader. Josh M's comments below don't surprise me at all.
Capt. Toti - thank you for the education and insight. You guys are always well worth the time, and put the effort in to get the details correct, illustrated by incisive anecdotes - and this time you were the primary source! One question I'd hoped you would answer - and this is probably a bonehead question, maybe predicated on Hollywoodizing - why, prior to firing did they say "match bearings and ...fire"? "Match" to what? Didn't they already do that "math"? Wasn't the TDC already "programmed"? Match the torpedoes to the TDC? What's with the "match bearings" lingo?
Thanks in advance.
As the TDC would generate a bearing for what is called "generated solution" (as opposed to "ground truth"), error would creep into the solution over time, which would cause generated bearing to drift off true bearing. When you think you have the solution "good enough," you want to make sure the TDC bearing is the correct bearing at time of fire. So "match bearings" means put the bearing I call out into the TDC before you fire.
@@william_toti Thank you. So does it mean, essentially, update the TDC's ongoing calculations to the moment I say "match bearings"? Can that be done "instantaneously"? Apologies if I'm being thick about this.
@@OverpaidSlacker Essentially, yes
This episode was amazing. Thank you.
Another excellent episode, gentlemen. You were right about the details - they definitely enhance the narrative.
All your episodes are great. This one was greater! Love all the detail provided by Capt. Toti.
Captain Toti’s explanations of sub operations was just fascinating!! This episode was an outstanding presentation. I was an Infantryman for 30 years and had no idea of the complexity of the submarine operations, Seat-of-your pants decision making, and Commander calls based on gut instinct and best guess. Thank you so much for this outstanding presentation.
Yo Bill. Typically, I'm just here for the history lesson but that was some great bolt cutting leadership on your part. Created a piece of history yourself. Well done.
This was a great episode, but I have been listening to many of your episodes from Midway to Guadalcanal to Macarthur. I was a Naval Flight Officer in the S-3 Viking, VS-21, out of NAS North Island and the USS Enterprise, CVN-65 1985-87. I also worked as a Range Safety Officer on an instrumented underwater range off of SOCAL seeing all kinds of ASW exercises. I wish I knew more about submarine tactics from the SSN community back then. Finally, I just finished reading a book on Adm Rickover. Capt. Bill Toti makes an appearance in the book with one of those infamous interviews with the Father of the Nuclear Navy. While that may not be about the Pacific War, that is worthy of an episode itself, gents.
Bill responding: I had forgotten about that Rickover book. But will never forget about my interview!
I've really enjoyed this podcast, thank you both (and your guests!) and I'm looking forward to the submarine series as Cpt Toti's passion & knowledge really shines through so far.
There's one subject related to submarines that I'd really love to hear the historian and the officer's perspective on: the US went to war in WW1 in large part because of Germany's use of unrestricted submarine warfare against Britain and the effect on neutral nations. Then in WW2 the US adopted unrestricted warfare against the Japanese. I'd love to see some thoughtful discussion about this seeming contradiction. While the strategic & tactical rationales for USW are clear, what are the moral consequences, and what debates were there at the time concerning this change in attitude?
Looking forward to what comes next.
There is a good book on that subject, but I can't seem to find my copy to give you title...
You are moving faster than you promised.. Much appreciated
I really appreciate the time effort you guys put into these. I look forward to it every week. Seems, I learn something new every pod cast.
Thank you Seth and Bill
Dang, much more involved than the arcade game I played as a kid🤣
I love the details! “Dos Boot” was and is an awesome move.
In the book "The Thousand Mile War," an excellent history of WWII in the Aleutians, the author describes the absolute horror of an old US Navy S Boat trying to navigate in those waters. It was incredible!
Yes, again, thank you Capt. Toti. The steps that must be taken to submerge--to say nothing of what is involved in tracking and firing on a target--amazes me. (And, yet, how else could it be accomplished? For operations to be carried out on such vast and liquid, i.e., ever-changing, circumstances, all parts of those operations would have to be exceedingly complex.)
A brother-in-law served on a submarine in the 1960s, I think; and no one in the family (unless it was my father) asked him about any of it. I'm so ashamed.
Refreshing coverage of things I once knew. Sounds like Bill was better than I at the mental gym. For Sean's ability to sleep at night, we did memorize cosine table in first quadrant (easy enough to convert to sine or other quadrants), BUT we didn't memorize it to 4 decimal places. Just to a reasonable accuracy.
Love the new intro!
WE LOVE THE DETAILS!!!!!!!
I feel like I just spent an hour in naval training. Love it.
Very interesting. Thanks.