USS Olympia - Pint-size battleship in a cruisers skin
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- Опубліковано 29 січ 2019
- Today we talk about USS Olympia, a 19th century protected cruiser that could punch well above its weight and is remarkably, if only just, still with us!
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Music - / ncmepicmusic
Pinned post for Q&A :)
Drachinifel all things considered, how would the Olympia have faired against the Spanish battleship if that battle had taken place?
Why not take the Texas and Olympia and give them a berthing like the Mikasa? I can’t imagine they’d have many issues with water damage if they were encased in concrete.
When did the term Britannia rules the waves come about? Did it come after trafalgar or did it come from before?
@@Morbeus3WasTaken on paper the Spanish battleship would've crushed Olympia had she tried to fight. In practice it would probably be more down to if the Spanish gunnery was as bad in their home fleet as overseas.
Q & A Gangut class battleship vs HMS Erin
She is over 100 years old and got the honor to carry the Unknown Soldier home... i hope she stays with us as long as possible
"Petty Officer, where did those gatling guns come from?"
"We... acquired... them, sir."
"...Carry on."
He was just asking to find out if they got him one as well.
CPO Shultz: What Gatling guns? I see NOTHING! I know NOTHING!
"They were adrift, sir, and gear adrift is a gift"
"Right.... carry on"
"'Uhhhhh... teaching props for the 2nd amendment?"
"... Fair enough."
USN Vet: I wager every JO has a conversation like this with his division's LCPO at least once in his first sea tour.
On a related note, I suspect Navy supply officers are taught: "Not all 5# cans of coffee are destined for the coffee mess. Allow some tolerance for some cans to go to the repair facility in emergencies. Your ship will thank you for your understanding."
Germany: We invented the Pocket Battleship
Olympia: Am I a joke to you
Follow-up: This is now how I build all my early game cruisers in Rule the Waves
polygondwanaland to be fair, if you have a bunch(more than 5) of good ACRs at the start of the game probably having 2x2 10in, you are in a lot of advantage...
Freeways also...what's your point?
When was the last time Germany won a war?
@@mrsaturdaynightspecial3055 A rather unfair question considering they typically don't get involved in wars.
One interesting thing the museum staff told me: the main difficulty with her hull is not corrosion, but erosion. She's far enough upriver to be in freshwater, but the Delaware is silty and fast-moving through there, and grit in the water wears away at her paint and hull metal like sandpaper. They were doing a portable-cofferdam repair on a patch of her hull when I was there. Interesting work.
Must people never even consider moving water could be just like one, big and powerful sanding belt that never stopped.
"My god, why does the crew require such an arsenal of personal weapons?!"
"They're Americans."
"Oh, right. Carry on then."
General Jack Ripper. Because they are trying to take all of our bodily fluids mandrake
YES "They" are using the fluoridation of our water to rob us of our manly man essence, our precious bodily fluids. It's time to take a stand by deploying a .50 cal machine gun and launch your bombers.
Not all personal 'weapons' are American...
@@mindtouchone wasn't that "light" support gun? M2 50. are heavy full of goodness and hefty to setup. I mean I thought the generals machine rifle was a lighter config?
Edit: 30. Cal 1919*. Not meaning to be OCD about it at all bub.
It sounds a bit like a holdover from earlier naval doctrine, where the British in particular used to send gunboats to trouble spots. If the threat of the naval guns wasn't enough, they could always land boarding parties. I remember reading some great Douglas Reeman novels, the great naval writer, about a naval family who sent several generations to see in the marines. Can't remember the particular novels, but he was a great writer.
“Several Gatling guns and ... a substantial collection of personal weapons, excessive even for a ship of war.”
I have tears of pride.
@@timesthree5757 I weep and I cackle like a mad lad. WE ARE YANKEES.
@@thanatosstorm hey, I ain't no yank! I'm a jonny reb.
@timesthree5757 to the rest of the world, you're a yank. Remember that Washington, the Head Yankee Doodle Dandy, was a Virginian.
One of the 5"/51 guns is operable, so our family ran through gun drill. It was aimed toward the USS New Jersey. No ammunition was provided.
The first time I toured the New Jersey I turned one of the sights in the front turret towards the Olympia. Bring it.
I believe I took a photo of the New Jersey looking down the rifled barrel of that very gun. I expect that if it came down to a battle between the two, Olympia, however feisty she may be, would NOT come out on top.
@@seanbryan4833 Does the New Jersey have any functioning weapons?
I expect the New Jersey's guns are at least as functional as Olympia's, at a minimum.
ShadowKick USS New Jersey is one of the 2 Iowas that are still on the Navy Register, so all of her weapons must work. This is because she can be reactivated at any given time if she is needed.
In the early 2000s I occasionally volunteered on the Olympia with some friends. We played in a Civil War-type brass band and it was just a quick change of uniform to become late 19th century seabees. In 2007 the History Channel made a documentary about the Spanish American War, and a large majority of the scenes on a ship (Spanish or American) were filmed on Olympia, right there in Philadelphia at Penn's Landing. Careful shots, excessive use of a smoke machine, etc to block out the city when filming above deck. We vols were used as background characters in plenty of scenes, but I got a brief close-up cameo playing the bugle at one point. My one Warhol moment I suppose.
Well thank you for your service admiralcapn!!
That doc is what initially peaked my interest in the SaW.
Very cool.
An American ship cannot possibly have enough guns. You should know that by now. :P
almost as many guns as your typical American interwar tank design (seriously they loved their machine guns on those things)
American naval doctrine has always been that should a battle damaged ship ground itself or abandons ship near land the crew becomes infantry. That was the case through WW2. With that in perspective you can see why the crew would want their own personal weapons. Americans are far more used to personal firearms and their use than the majority of their European cousins. In the majority of American territory we still learn to safely handle firearms, long guns, early in life. Handguns were usually not taught until mid-teens. Depends on the kid. It also depends on the area of America you grow up in and live in. Americans have always believed that we are personally responsible for own safety. Peace officers are there to protect property.
You can never have enough dakka
@@wyominghorseman9172 May I refer you to the outstanding battlefield performance of the grounded German naval crews at Narvik, compared to the dismal performance of US naval personal in the defense of Corregidor. It was in part because of the Navy's failings during the Philippines campaign that the US military turned to training over a reliance on the native feistiness and familiarity with firearms of Americans. The combat training of all branches of military personnel has served us well since that time.
@@wardkerr2456 You do realize that Corridor was an Island? Because of American isolationism and the Great Depression from the 1929 stock market collapse until WW2 American military was badly under funded.
To the detriment of all. Getting back to Corregidor and the Philippines in general.
On December 29, 1941, the defenders got their first taste of aerial bombardment on Corregidor. The attack lasted for two hours as the Japanese destroyed or damaged the hospital, Topside and Bottomside barracks, the Navy fuel depot and the officers club. Three days later, the island garrison was bombed for more than three hours.
Periodic bombing continued over the next four days, but with only two more raids for the rest of January, the defenders had a chance to improve their positions considerably. To the amusement of the beach defenders on Corregidor, the Japanese dropped only propaganda leaflets on January 29. On March 12, under cover of darkness, Gen. MacArthur was evacuated from Corregidor, using four PT boats bound for Mindanao, from where he was eventually flown to Australia. He left Lt. Gen Jonathan M. Wainwright in command in the Philippines.
From December 29 to the end of April 1942, despite incessant Japanese aerial, naval and artillery bombardment, the garrison on Corregidor, which consisted of the 4th Marine Regiment and combined units from the United States Army, the US Navy, and locally recruited Filipino soldiers, resisted valiantly, inflicting heavy enemy losses in men and aircraft.
The Allied command center inside Malinta Tunnel
The defenders were living on about 30 ounces of food per day. Drinking water was distributed only twice a day, but the constant bombing and shelling often interrupted the distribution of rations. When the bombardment killed horses of the Cavalry, the men would drag the carcasses down to the mess hall and they would be eaten. The continued lack of proper diet created problems for the Corregidor garrison, as men weakened and lacked reliable night vision. From Cebu, seven private maritime ships under orders from the army, loaded with a supply of food, sailed towards Corregidor. Of the seven ships, only one reached the island, the MV Princessa commanded by 3rd Lieutenant Zosimo Cruz (USAFFE).
Japanese artillery bombardment of Corregidor began immediately after the fall of Bataan on 9 April. It became intense over the next few weeks as more guns were brought up, and one day's shelling was said to equal all the bombing raids combined in damage inflicted. However, after an initial response from a 155 mm GPF battery, Lt. Gen. Wainwright prohibited counterbattery fire for three days, fearing there were wounded POWs on Bataan who might be killed.[2]
Japanese bombing and shelling continued with unrelenting ferocity. Japanese aircraft flew 614 missions, dropping 1,701 bombs totaling some 365 tons of explosive. Joining the aerial bombardment were nine 240 mm (9.45 in) howitzers, thirty-four 149 mm (5.9 in) howitzers, and 32 other artillery pieces, which pounded Corregidor day and night. It was estimated that on May 4 alone, more than 16,000 shells hit Corregidor.[3]
As of about April 15, 1942, the combined strength of the four fortified islands-including US Army, Philippine Scouts, Philippine Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Philippine Navy, and civilians-totaled about 14,728.[4]
From April 28, a concentrated aerial bombardment by the 22nd Air Brigade of Maj. Gen. Kizon Mikami-supported by ground artillery on Bataan from May 1-5, preceded landing operation
Also, I can’t help but imagine Dewey sounding *exactly* like Grand Moff Tarkin when delivering his famous line.
Actually I thought he would have a Texan accent because with that moustache he reminds me of an old town sheriff.
I think Sam Elliott give the orders.
Dewey was from Montpelier, Vermont, so I would imagine he would have had something of a Victorianized version of of an old Vermont Yankee accent.
@@lonepilgrim83 I think it was more a reference to his laconic line and whom people see playing it. His accent might have been a "service" accent since he went to the Naval Academy at 17 after spending two years at Norwich University. His first duty was the Mediterranean Squadron, so who knows how he talked. There is probably a recording since he lived long enough to be able to be recorded.
Vermonters have long been well known for their very laconic speech, which Dewey certainly seems to have held onto, but you're right, that does make sense that he would have had picked up a "service accent" after all of those decades in the Navy. I haven't heard any recordings of his voice, but yes, there's a good chance that see some exist... Hmm...
Navy: What kind of armament are we putting on her?
Designer: All of the armament....
Anything that makes holes :P
*MOAR DAKKA!!!!*
crew: needs more guns!
reminds me of a line from a favorite story... "just how many laws does this gun break?" ..... "all of them"
@@josephdedrick9337 a little cowbell wouldnt hurt either
"The hot dogs are ready for the crew's picnic, sir!"
"You may put them on the fire when ready, Gridley!"
While most happy to hear the story of the Olympia; you skipped over She is docked here in Philadelphia, PA! 🤔 It is part of the Independence Seaport Museum on the city's Delaware Riverfront along side the submarine Becuna. These days sadly, most tourists rather go across the river to Camden, NJ and visit the more impressive USS New Jersey. Leaving the Olympia under visited and underfunded. 😞
I did offer to get him pictures about a month ago but I guess I took a bit too long. I work overnights in a store and I was trying to figure out how/when to get it done.
I've also tried to get the Savoy Opera Company to stage productions of H.M.S. Pinafore on her.
Why not just visit all of those vessels if you're in the area?
To be fair a proper ship tour can last a good two to three hours and it's not unusual to cost a good bit of money not counting parking,and the $5 bridge toll to go to Camden and back. You'd have to plan a whole day of nothing but ship touring if you wanted to do that then again that might appeal to this audience.
True, I guess that's the difference between casual tourists and naval history enthusiasts.
"Congress" simultaneously a word, a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter, and a book.
Congress is the opposite of Progress.
Don't forget that politicians are the worlds greatest experts on asolutely everything - even the things that they've never heard of!
And a condemnation
As well as a curseword
A Congress is also a gathering of Baboons. I am dead serious. And it does explain quite a lot.
Had the pleasure of visiting USS Olympia last year. Her material condition is much better than I expected, and she is a gorgeous little ship.
They have been doing a good job working on her and she looks much better now then she used to. She was in pretty bad shape at first and you could see it, the paint was fading and flaking, the hull was rusty in some parts (I believe the team running the museum at the time may have embezzled some of the maintenance money but I could be wrong). They replaced the skylights in the Admiral's cabin not too long ago. I believe it was about two years ago. I think she’ll be just fine.
CountvonStaffordofVirginia1607 I’ve heard she’s still pretty bad below the waterline, with apparently the torpedo tubes flooding as well
I would go into Philly every year from Florida when I would come up to Levittown, PA to visit my parents. I never got tired of visiting her. The Captain’s quarters were amazing. I served 4 years in the Coast Guard in the 60’s on a cutter that was made in 1927 that had nowhere near the beautiful furnishings the Olympia has.
Well, I'm making a trip this spring. Assuming we can travel without the .gov demanding our papers...
If the Battle of Manilia sounds a bit unfair...remember the goal of any military force is NEVER to enter a fair fight. I you arrive with a force five times the size of the enemy force "Ya done did it right" as an old fella I knew was fond of saying.
If you find yourself in a fair fight, you’ve done something wrong.
I think US Marines are Bad Ass aka Dumb enough to bring A Knife to A Gunfight
@@patrickbutler4894 oftentimes bringing a knife to a gunfight is a very good idea. Within a distance of about 20 yards a knife is far more deadly and effective than a gun.
A key to successful empire building not lost on the Americans, who had the erudition of British to thank for their contemporary demonstration of the fact.
Sounds like standard American tactics, throw resources at something till it drops.
When I was about 12 years old, I built Revel plastic models of the Great White Fleet. Even at that age, I recognized just how beautiful and elegant these ships were and it began my life long love of cruiser class warships. Around the same time, I built models of the USS San Francisco, Baltimore, Atlanta, and the HMAS cruiser Melbourne, and a dozen others that sat on shelves in my bedroom. I'm happy that the Olympia has not been scraped. I'd love to see her once she has been fully restored. Many years later, I began collecting historical photographs largely from Northern California. I found a dozen photographs of the Great White Fleet's visit to San Francisco Bay around 1910. They really were beautiful ships.
Don't wait go now she is a beauty. My wife as little interest in war. To say she was impressed with this grand dame is an understatement. We have been on carriers subs and battleships. This is the one she liked.
We had the Olympia model. It is why I chose to view this video. I learned more of the history of our model ship.
@2:20 "But hey, Congress". That could be used in soooo many modern circumstances. Come to think of it, pretty much every situation.
For some reason when you were mentioning the Olympia's sheer number of guns, from the 8 inch guns down to the personal weapons like rifles and revolvers, made me think of the Engineer from TF2.
"...How am I going to stop some big mean mother hubbard from tearing me a structurally superfluous new behind? The answer...use a gun. And if that don't work, use more gun."
Or as da Orkz like ta say MORE DAKKA!
@Battleship009 no
"You may fire when ready Gridley!" ... I first heard this quote from Daffy Duck, believe it or not.
A cartoon made when it could be expected that most of the adults, and even some of the youth, would know what Daffy was referring to when he said that. Too many people these days think the universe began when they were born!
@@gregb6469 youth is wasted on the young..😄
Where exactly did you hear this?
I remember that too, hahaha
@Stanley Jedrzejczyk daffy said it to Marvin the Martian.
The U.S.S. Texas needs some love!!
"An 1890s version of space invaders" Yeah that's a pretty new of putting it and it works better then any other explanation I have ever heard of. Always love your videos....keep it up sir.
She's one of the oldest warships in existence and it's nice to see her still afloat, but a wouldn't permanent dry dock arrangement be better at this time?
Oldest steel hull ship afloat in the US Navy
And last surviving ship of the Spanish-American war
The folks in charge of the ship lack the funding.
I've seen it claimed that she's not actually afloat anymore, and actually is sitting on the mud at the bottom of the Delaware River. Not sure if that's actually true, though.
@@RedXlV partly true. Some dredging would be needed to get her to the ship channel. The drydocks of the Navy Yard are only a short tow away.
@@WALTERBROADDUS True, I know the current managers have been trying to get funding to help restore certain portions of the ship and provide better protection for the ships. I would like to see the Navy or Congress to provide the funds to turn her into a better Museum ship.
Visited her in Philly back in 06' she is extremely beautiful and majestic, and has such a extensive service record for a ship of her time. It's positively insane seeing The technology of the Olympia and then goin over to the USS New Jersey and going through a ship made a little over 40 years later. Your literally walking through time.
They should be berthed alongside each other with a "time bridge" connecting the two, built to specific length so that each stride you make represents one year of those 40.
iwant crawfish when I was around 10 years old I visited a recreation of the Golden Hinde, the ship that Drake circumnavigated the globe in. I couldn't believe how tiny it was. Braver men than I.
Add to that the 1980s tech on the New Jersey, another 40 years later. Tomahawk missile launchers and Phalanx gun mounts.
Many years ago I visited the Olympia and as granted permission to look through some of the period papers in a cabin. As I had my back to the cabin door many thought I was part of the exhibit until I moved.
It sounds as if the US Navy accidentally invented the battle cruiser.
i'd say she's more of an early armoured cruiser rather than a battlecruiser
i was thinking more like the original pocket battleship
According to Dewey, Olympia was very much a continuation of the American tradition of the USS Constitution, which was itself like a miniature ship-of-the-line in the form of a frigate.
Early heavy cruiser more like.
@@fusioncannon I agree pocket Battleship. Ship Builder, "Well, what do you think of the ship."
US Navy Rep, "Uhh it doesn't have enough Bald Eagles."
Ship Builder, " Patty, Go down to the Store buy all of their daca, daca and put it on the ship."
Thank you for the video Drachinifel. If you are in the Philadelphia area I would love to give you a tour of both the Olympia and the Becuna. I am a docent and do repairs on both craft. A couple points you may not of had space for she was designed to be a flagship so that is why she carried such a large assortment of small arms. It is also why she has a larger than normal officer country.
Also her 8” guns are replicas, but the 5” are of the same type used at the time of her WWI service. I think they came from the Colorado. She is more an example of 1917 than 1898, but I still love her.
Lastly she was an electronics wonder as she had early wireless, well before most of the navy and had sonar to use in her anti submarine patrols in The Great War. Add in her service in the Russian Civil War and bringing home the remains of the Unknown Solider she is one of the most important pieces of physical history in the United States.
Thank you again.
I forgot, my miniature wargame club, host an event on the Olympia closest weekend to May 1st with an overnight sleepover.
@@jony663 Are you actually related to the Yuengling family that owns the brewery or is that just your internet handle?
Nice info. I'm gonna be in Philly next summer so will make sure to visit thisship
@@Mugdorna There is also a seaport museum at Penn's Landing near the ship that's worth a visit, and if you can get across the river to see the battleship New Jersey, by all means do it.
If I remember from my visit she also had the first icemaker deployed aboard a US Navy vessel, a welcome accommodation, I'm sure, in the southwest Pacific!
"1890's Space Invaders..." I'm dying here, Drach!
I've visited this ship IRL in Philadelphia - pretty cool!
I've visited, too, as a college student in the late 1960s. One of my favorite memories of Philadelphia.
It's a great visit. And the USS New Jersey is right across the river. Ive got pictures of her from the decks of the Olympia. The sub next to the Olympia is a great visit too, and you can get into it on the same fare.
It was an amazing ship to visit, when i boarded the ship in the officer's quarters, i thought i was walking into a fancy hotel! i was rather impressed
@@Slayer_Jesse ...USS Becuna SS319
I got the opportunity to spend the better part of an afternoon touring and poking through Olympia in 1986 when my ship, USS Caron (DD 970) moored nearby at Penn's Landing. As we passed her, just before sending our lines over the Olympia's crew fired one of the 5 inch guns in salute. No one warned us they were going to do this so it surprised the hell out of us and, of course, we had no guns ready to return the salute.
She is fascinating to visit and tour, polished wood and gleaming brass main deck and above internally. Caron was gas turbine powered so Olympia's triple expansion engines were amazing to our crew as were her secondary battery guns. Her 'main battery' was nothing more than mockups of course.
We were told that a number of her spaces below the waterline were flooded and that she was resting on the bottom of the river. Very sad for such a proud old lady.
I don't know what it is but I find these late 19th century warships incredibly endearing with their masts, rigging, smokestacks and iron everywhere. On some ships it is laughable how much they represent two eras colliding, on others the mix is pulled off with more grace. And the anachronistic items like figureheads (or near enough) on Olympia are extremely charming. It's just an interesting period of rapid advancement in naval technology where it seems a ship is first in it's class one day only to be a dinosaur soon after.
The detailed carvings from the front of the OLYMPIA are on display at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD.
I got to visit the Olympia in Philadelphia. She really is a beautiful ship. Seeing her in person is what got me interested in naval history and because of her I'll always have a soft spot for pre-dreadnoughts.
As I grew up in Philadelphia, I have loved Olympia my entire life. I too have a soft spot for her and the Great White Fleet. She still remains perfect in her lines, and the interior takes you directly to the 1880’s.
I was surprised by all the beautiful wood work. Parts of her look more like a pleasure cruiser than a warship. Truly an elegant weapon from a more civilized time.
The senior officers did like their creature comforts
A Philadelphia Resident! Thank you, Sir! She’s our Texas that needs a fix up bad.
Just wanted to give a tourist endorsement of the Olympia and the museum next to her. We had a nice three hour visit to her, the other ships and the museum. It is one of the few ship tours my wife has liked. It has a very attractive interior to go with all the fighting history. It is also unique whereas the North Carolina, Massachusetts and Wisconsin are similar. Did not bother with the NJ for that reason. Found it easy to get on and off the main highway through Philly and found a nice lunch truck for Philly Steaks and Pork Loin a couple blocks away while driving in. Great afternoon. If you are doing the NYC - DC run, this is a great add on.
Arlene Birnbaum I’ve visited the Olympia several times. Lovely ship!
Where's my pit-beef !
I've read that the commander of the Spanish forces; Admiral Patricio Montoyo, was recalled to Madrid, court martialed, expelled from the navy and imprisoned for his failure at Manilla. Talk about an unfair vedict. The source I read said he was eventually exonerated (though it didn't say when) and Admiral Dewey was one of his supporters. If you think about it, the officers and crews of the Spanish squadron displayed great courage in an absolutely hopeless situation, and they suffered terrible casualties as a result.
The failure was really that of an empire at the very end of a long decline, that neither fortified Manilla Bay in a significant way or supplied its navy with the ships and equipment that might have been able to do the job. For example, Admiral Montoyo's ships carried a total of 19 torpedo tubes, but no torpedoes.
As I recall, you are right, and Admiral Dewey actually testified on behalf of the Spanish Admiral, testifying that he had his opponent outgunned and that they had fought bravely.
Somebody in Hollywood I think wrote a screenplay about that court-martial, similar to the Indianapolis movie with Nicholas Cage.
Patricio Montojo y Pasaron (not Montoyo).
@@andreinarangel6227 - Thank you for the correction. I just copied off an article I read on the subject.
@@DEP717 You have a collection of barely-seaworthy obsolete vessels, and get savaged by a fleet of latest-greatest naval weapons available. COURT-MARTIAL! That being said, Admiral Dewey was a class act to speak on his opponent's behalf.
this ship and the USS Texas are my 2 favorites i hope they can be restored and possibly dry berthed to preserve them properly
brokenwrench1 the battleship that should have been preserved as a museum ship was the USS Washington, BB-56. Her sistership the North Carolina is now a museum ship, but after the war, the state of Washington turned down the opportunity to have it. She had an incredible war record, and never lost a man due to enemy action. According to my father, a crewman for 5+ years, only one man was wounded, (a member of a topside gun crew caught a small shell splinter in the butt!) the only battle damage received was a secondary caliber shell passed through the CXAM antenna without detonating at Guadalcanal-Savo Island. She was in her first regular shipyard overhaul availability when the war ended, but was back at sea for Magic Carpet. She had spent so much time in theater that she was called the “rusty W” by 1945. A complete History is available in the book “Battleship at War” by Ivan Musicant. She was an incredible ship. Adm. Willis A.Lee won the Navy Cross aboard Washington at Guadalcanal.
The Texas is about to get a dry dock and repairs. I was on it 2 years ago and it looked fantastic. Unfortunately it sank and was raised again about a year ago due to everything not on the tour being rusted to oblivion. If I remember right the Navy is helping with the repairs. It's the oldest Battleship in the world, so must be preserved.
Stanley Jedrzejczyk
So is PA the state that currently houses the Olympia, what’s your point?
@@Kurvaux When you grow up and can drive a car, you may understand people interested in historic ships like to go see them
dirkbonesteel
A. I can drive
B. Despite the fact that I prefer military history focused on land I have still found time to visit USS Olympia, USS becunda, USS New Jersey, USS North Carolina, USS Torsk, USS Wisconsin, USS laffey, USS Yorktown, USS Clamagore, and visited deutches marinemuseum Wilhelmshaven.
C. This argument does not apply to you
D. My main gripe was with the chap who was trying to make the claim that a certain American political party was biased against preservation of history, I was pointing out a counter example of a state run by that political party preserving a historical ship.
E. I am a firm believer in the importance of preservation of history, I donate a small potion of my income to the American battlefield fund every month.
G. That’s about it, happy new year! :)
You may fire when ready, Gridley.
The family went on a Summer vacation tour in 1959, partly to pick up the full sized Plymouth station wagon, but mostly to visit wartime buddies who'd served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Italy and France. We stopped by to see the U.S.S. Olympia, before going on to naval academy in Annapolis. The ship was a magnificent sight back then, with a number of visitors to see this Spanish-American War command ship. It should have the same status as Admiral Togo's battleship "MIkasa," but there are other, more modern museum ships.
Stanley Jedrzejczyk What does that have to do with anything?
"...because of course they did." That's Americans for you I suppose.
"We choose to go to the moon. Not because it's easy, but because it is hard."
-JFK
@@Boxghost102 Not to mention we didn't want the Russians to beat us in space again.
Other nations to America throughout her history: Okay but why are you doing this?
America: Because fuck you that’s why
speaking!
Nothing like overwhelming American firepower in the morning
Nothing says "hello neighbor" better than 4 carrier battle groups off your shores.
-Murica
*Freedom intensifies*
Nothing like a bit of american friendly fire in the morning
*MOAR DAKKA! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!*
Thank you for this video on the Olympia. I toured the ship several times throughout my life. She is a source of pride for many Philadelphians like myself. Being ex-Navy she is also near and dear to my heart for other reasons.
I've watched nearly all of your videos and I just love them. Everytime I see one I watch it as soon as I can. I just wanted to say thank you for bringing this interesting content is such an engaging and enjoyable way! Your videos brighten up my day and teach me a lot.
It's a beautiful Ship. I was on it as a child in the seventies as a child and it's still down at Penn's Landing not to far from my Home here in Upper Darby. On a side note, right across the Delaware River is the Battleship New Jersey, what a beautiful Battleship in it's own right.
I really like all of your videos. As a model builder, they give me good historical background on the ships like U.S.S. OLYMPIA; which I am building. Thanks so much.
As an ex-US Navy guy, I couldn't resist going aboard the Becuna and Olympia when last in Philly. What amazed me was the amount of wood and the low overhead. Apparently sailors were a lot shorter back then. We were able to tour both vessels on our own, which made it very leisurely.
Thank you so much for featuring USS Olympia! I got to visit her in Philly in 1978. It really has an "Old World" charm that is rare in our preserved ships here. I noticed at the time I visited that her main guns were fake but never knew the reason.
In 1986 I had the privilege of being given a tour of her engineering spaces, which were not open to the public. Her massive triple expansion steam engines, shaft allies, and boiler room were in rough shape but quite impressive. Olympia is a national treasure that should be preserved at all costs.
I'm surprised Drac didn't mention that Olympia's captain during the Spanish American wars was dieing of cancer as they were beating on the Spanish in manila harbor.
So glad he was only dieing of cancer at the time and not actually dying 😁
@@timothycook2917 In any other setting, Captain Gridley would have been lying on his deathbed. He stood in the pilot house of the Olympia during the battle through sheer force of will. After the battle, he allowed Dewey to relieve him of duty and retire. The boat that took him off Olympia would normally have been a motor launch. However, the officers of the squadron instead used a twelve-oared cutter manned entirely by officers of the Olympia. There were men in the boat who has not pulled a stroke for a quarter of a century. With his first officer acting as coxswain.
@@Vanilla0729 um, I was just making a joke about his misspelling of the adjective 'dying' and not a commentary of his circumstances
@@Vanilla0729 A hero's procession, well deserved for a man chosen to command such a great ship.
@@Vanilla0729 There's a reason why Dewey's order to open the battle was to defer to Capt. Gridley. Dewey wanted to give the captain the honor of starting things off. From all I've read, everybody seems to have loved the guy (well, probably not the Spanish, but under the circumstances that's understandable...).
I have had the pleasure and honor of seeing her in Philly. Her main guns were replaced with wooden models, as I recall. Of course, for retirement in Philadelphia, " Quaker Guns " seem natural. Seeing her showed the progression between the USS Constitution and the USS Massachusetts. She had both old school and modern features. Great work!
That was necessary because the original 8"/35 and 5"/50 guns had long since been removed (and presumably cut up for scrap) after their replacement in 1917 with a uniform battery of 5"/51 guns.
I suggest a video about the heavy cruiser USS Newport News (CA-148). Last all gun cruiser in commission in the US Navy. Served as the 2nd fleet flagship for much of her service. Participated in combat during the Vietnam War with distinction, despite being decades old and using guns instead of guided missiles. Along with other Des Moines class cruisers, had advanced autoloading dual purpose 8 inch main guns. These fired the first 8 inch cased shells from naval guns instead of separate bag charges. Had a pyramidal superstructure like the previous Oregon City class but with more guns with anti-air ability, including the main guns. One of these guns was destroyed in action from a defective fuze that caused premature detonation and many casualties. She continued in service for a few more years after that but the damaged turret was never replaced before she was decommissioned.
The Des Moines-class cruisers were both beautiful and capable warships.
Sometime in the early 1960s when I was about 12 years old my late grandfather took me to see the Olympia moored in Philadelphia and bought me a bronze medal made from the screws. I think about it often and will NEVER forget that wonderful experience!
As a kid I toured this ship in Philadelphia. At the gift shop my father bought me a coin made from one of the propellers. Great souvenir until my step-father ran out of beer and pawned it. Just yesterday 45 years later my coin returned as I bought one from a collector.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this informative and interesting video. I loved the snarky comments about the "battleships that run aground in their own waters club"; the exclusive club with a membership that apparently includes several American warships, ouch! Good thing the narrator was clearly British, since the Royal Navy about only organization with the respect and credibility to engage in that sort of "trash talk" without inviting scorn. :) Literally nice work, the quality of the video editing and well scripted narrative are second to none. Thanks for contributing.
As a Decendant of that Captain Gridley I am obliged to watch and like this at least once a week. :P
She is truly a magnificent ship. Growing up in the Philadelphia area, we visited her regularly. The USS Olympia is an often forgotten treasure of a largely forgotten era in American history sandwiched between the Civil War and the World Wars, respectively.
The first battleship I ever fell in love with, and my heart still beats faster whenever I see photos of her, or visit her. She's an exquisite jewel - a work of art and a TRUE national treasure that MUST be kept repaired and available for Americans to tour. I know, I know, I'm hiding my mancrush on her REALLY well...
"but....... Congress..." dying here on that one.🤣
Amazing video. Love the humor! Your doing such a great job with this series! o7
Excellent video and thank you for making it. I remember visiting her at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia years ago. After watching this I think it's time to go again and make a donation. Keep up the great work!
From a HT2 Veteran in the U.S. Navy, thank you so much for your channel. You do a great job and I love your work.
Same concept as USS Constitution, only 100 years later. More armor & guns than the same class in foreign navies.
More speed as well. The idea was to be big enough to defeat everything in the same class and fast enough to outrun anything too big (or too numerous) to defeat in combat.
Not entirely different from the thinking behind the Panzerschiffe design of about 1930--and, come to that, behind the later Bismarck-class battleships as well. Like the U.S. Navy in the 1780's and in 1890, the interwar German Navy faced being seriously outnumbered in almost any foreseeable naval confrontation, and this concept is one way to address numerical inferiority.
Yeah same concept
AND IT WORKS
get wrecked
What a life! Found my second favourite American ship (after USA Texas BB 35).
Thanks as always for the great guide!
Hello from Philadelphia County Pennsylvania- great report Sir. Havent seen her since 1991 ( Gulf One). Navy Reserve Vet- gee I hafta go see her again...thanks Drach-
I went aboard the ship while in Philly back in 1991. The bridge was really classy with fine woodwork and lots of brass. I was a QM, so I felt for the crewmen who had to shine everything daily.
Drach and community, if you have a chance to go aboard and see this ship in person - TAKE IT! It is a very impressive and fascinating experience. One of the things which really stood out to me was the design and lay out of the officers quarters. This part of the ship as compared to the USS New Jersey BB-62 which is moored just on the other side of the Delaware River from Olympia, is so reminiscent of the old sailing ships. The officers quarters are all aft, wooden paneled, look so much like what you would except to see on something like HMS Victory. This ship is a treasure to be sure being from such a transitional period of design and technology.
Yes, the transitional nature of this ship is most impressive. It is a modern steel warship, with some of the luxury of the wood ships. Only for the officers though, as the enlisted crew quarters are very crude. The Admiral's and Captain's cabins are in the rear of the main deck, and are very large and well furnished. Each has one of the side firing 5" guns inside! There is a removable hull plate on all the 5" gun stations that allowed the gun to swivel some. The commanders would not be in their cabins during battle, so a gun crew came in.
@@loboheeler Indeed! It is like looking at the HMS Surprise set in Master&Commander. And as you mention the crew quarters are just as crude. However, I cannot over state the very poor condition of this ship. It is very nearly as poor as USS Texas. The sad thing is that the Aurora is the only other ship from this period. I do not count Mikasa as nearly 80% of her was reconstructed after WWII and the ship is set in concrete. I would like to see the US Park service get involved with the Olympia. They need to start a campaign to get all of these ships out of the water and into perm dry docks. I mean we have $ to study the flow rate of ketchup and the mating of dung beetles.
Found a video of the engine room, which was not available for touring when I saw the Olympia back around 2001. Not very good quality, but hey? ua-cam.com/video/G_U9PaZbF0Q/v-deo.html
Another excellent video. Please do HMS Gannet (1878) preserved at Chatham in Kent, a good example of the many little warships of the Victorian Royal Navy that kept the 'Pax Britannica' and that actually fired her guns against the Dervishes of the Sudan and took part in anti slavery patrols in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
That's a badass ship! I am glad they found the funding to keep up with her preservation.
I’ve been on board her several times. It’s really incredible comparing her construction to the many more preserved ships from the interwar years and World War II. Lots of fine woodwork and the board room is gorgeous. You can actually stand on foot prints that allegedly mark the spot where Dewey uttered his famous words.
That ship is my neighbor! I'm actually planning a day trip to her soon.
Do it, well worth it.
SavingPvtRiley Riley volz or you can hop over one of the bridges and see New Jersey
Very good. For a long time I questioned why she was a single ship of her class. This in light of her superiour design for her time and the mediocre ships following her. his is explained short but good.
I love the history you present. Outstanding work!
I built as Revel model of the Olympia when I was 12. I fell in love with that particular ship because she possessed elegance and beauty, and 55 years later I still love it. In fact, I have always loved naval historiography in large part because of my early love of Olympia. Ships are a thing of beauty at the same time often representing death and destruction. I'm happy Olympia remains afloat and hopefully that will continue for decades to come. She's a real beauty with a great history: thanks for developing this video. Given a choice between Olympia and New Jersey I'd pick Olympia...but I'd want to visit New Jersey too. I visited Iowa a few years ago.
Yay! More Armoured and Protected Cruisers!
1880.
UK. Son it is time you join your brothers in the family matters.
US. DAD! I live by myself I do not want to join the family business.
WWI. Do not worry UK. I will sort him out just give my three decades.
Thank you for fulfilling this request!
Love your work. Always interesting and fills the gap in my knowledge on all things Naval. Thanks
One must wonder why the Spanish fleet anchored away from covering fire from the forts! Love your videos!
There is some suggestion that the Spanish Admiral didn't want stray shot landing on civilians in the town, and the forts were built to protect the town, so being I'm range of them meant being in range of the town as well.
Given the accuracy on both sides, he probably saved a lot of collateral damage.
Bob Perrine . Some of the ships were Moored in Shallow water on purpose because they knew it was Going to be like a Turkey shoot . We have a Naval Rifle from the Castilla , which was towed there a day or so before . She had a Leak around the propeller shaft so they sealed it with concrete a few days before the battle .
Thanks for this vid! I like the pre-Dreadnaught armored ships.
I'm looking forward to your video on the "DY-NO-MITE!" cruiser USS Vesuvius. 😜
I love these documentaries!!
It's wonderful that you did this one. So few examples of pre-dradnaughts survive, and the time between iron clads and dreadnought is fascinating.
flopsiejmcradle what do you mean by pre dreadnoughts because there is only one pre dreadnought left that being the battleship mikasa do you mean pre dreadnought battleships or pre dreadnought era warships
Best warship channel on UA-cam!
We really do need to save the Olympia. She is such a beautiful and important part of our Navys history. Its a massive shame to see her rot away :(
@Det Nine Material value is not the end-all-be-all of value and you are a fool to think that.
Thank you so much for this splendid adn informative video. I was last on the Olympia about 2 years ago.
Thanks for the great review. That set looks fantastic!
I personally believe the USS Olympia is as important to Naval History as the USS Constitution, and I would recommend the Olympia be brought back into active service to serve alongside the likes of the USS Constitution, and USS Nautilus.
The Olympia also brought back the remains of John Paul Jones to Annapolis. And what many overlook in the Battle of Manila Bay, this was an unprecedented Naval Campaign. The skill, planning, and preparation to be able to have the Asiatic Fleet sail from China to the Philippines and engage in battle was a masterful campaign. Congress should pass special rules for all Military Museums, especially the ships. The other Navy ship that merits historical recognition is the USS Texas. All these ships are irreplaceable pillars of Naval History. Instead of teaching our kids how great Communism is, while flourishing in a capitalist setting; we should show them this living history in museums and these great ships who represent the freedoms we should cherish so greatly in our country.
Michael Crabtree , teaching our kids how great communism is? I agree with everything else you say, except this one sentence. Things have gone to hell in the last several years, but I have never in my 57 years heard of anyone here teaching how great communism is...
@@MajicMongoose62 It's subverted. They don't say outright communism is good. They plant seeds in their minds:
"Isn't it so unfair this person makes more than you?"
"Isn't it so unfair people in the past were mistreated?"
"Isn't it so unfair men seem to have more 'privilege' than women?"
"Isn't it so unfair that people can't jump out of their biological suits and be what they want?"
"Isn't it so unfair America has so many guns?"
"Isn't it unfair that people just can't waltz over our border?"
"Isn't it so unfair we can't get free healthcare? (Nevermind our healthcare market is uber restricted and held down by the insurance lobby making money hand over fist but believe "it's capitalism's fault")
Ever notice someone showing a Commie flag gets a pass but showing a swastika is the ultimate taboo? Nevermind communism/socialism is responsible for and continues to claim more victims than Nazism ever could, other leaders killed more people based on race than Hitler ever dreamed of, that everyone knows everything about Hitler but not a god damn thing about Stalin, Mao, or Pol Pot who make Hitler look like an amateur (Mao and Pol Pot aren't white so they get a pass) but before you cry but Kim Jong Un isn't white though he is the closest one ever got to communism while Venezuela is ignored unless to throw fire at Trump (and Venezuela is supported by the Russians (oops) but that doesn't stop moronic, libtard dumbasses from spitting nonsense) it is why they hate him because Trump wants to end a stupid war that has gone on long enough and it would make him look good.
Then you wonder why millennials and gen z are pro-socialist. It didn't happen in a vacuum. Boys were educated from 4-5 years old to be milquetoast pussies while women to be men.
If you haven't figured this out by now you are a goddamn fool.
@@OriginalBongoliath Its people like you bring in shit like that, that has no place in a discussion about the preservation of naval heritage, that turns people away from your line of thinking. If you kept it in relevant places, people might actually listen instead of tuning you out.
Scott7891 the most brilliant statement I have ever seen truly wonderful. God bless you
@@OriginalBongoliath your a perfect example of what conservatives think liberals beleive. Like damn, your like a conservative caricature
Great video drach.
Went aboard USS Olympia as a school trip in elementary school. Loved the history and mystique that surrounds that ship. Also had a great uncle, George Dunning, that served aboard USS Essex during the Spanish-American war.
I get to see that beautiful ship every day on Penn's Landing in Philadelphia
Wait...are we ABSOLUTELY SURE that no Orks were involved in designing, building or crewing this ship? Because this seems like an excessive amount of firepower for a ship built by “umies”.
Armageddon-class (Rebuild Lunar-class hulls) is pretty much this ship IIIIIINNN SPAAAACE!!
Lol, my thought too when he was talking about the number of shells fired and their accuracy.
William Signs I wish I could like this multiple times, just because now I’m imagining Dewey talking like Kaptin Bluddflagg.
Datz got dem daka dakas for days! Git da boyz its time for the waaaaaaaaagh
Firepower is measured on a scale.
Unarmed
Poorly Armed
Adequately Armed
Heavily Armed
Excessively Armed
American
Major Powers Having a Pissing Contest(Schwerer Gustav, Grand Slam, Yamato, etc.)
Looking forward to your visit next Wednesday!
Quelle époque !! Déjà impressionnants ces navires ...De belles photos ...Merci ...
Observer: congrats, you finally managed to sink them.
Captain: Damn right.
O: you hit 1/100 of your shots.
C: area saturation.
O: huh?
C: A R E A, S A T U R A T I O N.
You can’t hit nowhere if you hit everywhere
Were Americans of course they brought their guns and ammo.....
Thank You, I really enjoy catching history not spotlighted else where.
WOW!!!! Great history review. Thank you!!!
At the Olympia today. Great weather Becuna done also and New Jersey to follow! Enjoyed your dulcet tones whilst traipsing thus far.
it is a cool ship, stepping on board is like a trip back in time.
Why is this ship NOT in World of Warships? Instead there's Albany (ex-Almirante Abreu), St. Louis (1906), Charleston (1905), and Chester (1908).
yeah I dont get it either. It would be great if they did the same thing as the texas and used the funds to help the real ship.
Because of the mixed armament, and the fact that the 8" guns are very low velocity compared to every current weapon in World of Warships.
Though the 1917 configuration with a uniform armament of 5"/51 guns would be easy enough to balance (would play almost exactly like the Russian Bogatyr).
@@RedXlV they could make it a t2 ship with 2 different hulls, a hull making her like a mini-mikasa, and a b hull making her a mini st louis
She would obliterate every ship at tier 2.
@@cadengrace5466 All the more reason she should be a premium.
You know your videos are part of the reason I based one of my two major college papers around the USS Texas
Love your stuff man! Youre a true Naval Historian and i am learning alot!