Quotulatiousness

December 9, 2021

The sequel to the British disaster at the Battle of Coronel, the German disaster at the Battle of the Falkland Islands

Filed under: Americas, Britain, Germany, History, Military, WW1 — Tags: , , , , — Nicholas @ 03:00

On December 8th, the people of the Falkland Islands observe “Battle Day” to commemorate the British naval victory off the islands in 1914. This is the bookend to the Battle of Coronel the previous month (described here and here), where a Royal Navy squadron was almost annihilated by Imperial Germany’s East Asia Squadron under Vice-Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee. At the Battle of the Falkland Islands, an equally lop-sided victory eliminated von Spee’s ships with minimal damage to Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Doveton Sturdee’s squadron. In The Critic, A.S.H. Smyth outlines the events as shown in a British film released in 1927:

Battle of the Falkland Islands, 1914 by William Lionel Wyllie. SMS Scharnhorst rolls over and sinks while SMS Gneisenau continues to fight.
Originally published in 1918 by Cassel & Company. Retouched image via Wikimedia Commons

Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Doveton Sturdee (unimprovably British, isn’t it?), Chief of War Staff at the Admiralty, and at distinct risk of being scapegoated for the Coronel catastrophe, was summarily appointed Commander-in-Chief South Atlantic and Pacific(!) and despatched posthaste by [First Sea Lord John “Jackie”] Fisher (with whom he did not get on), on something of a do-or-die mission as the commander of new, eight-cruiser squadron.

The Admiral Superintendent of Devonport warns that Sturdee’s two battle cruisers, Invincible and Inflexible, cannot be ready before Friday the 13th November. First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill balks at that ill-omened date, and orders that they sail on the 11th, ready or not. (Students of the 1982 conflict may see more than a couple of parallels here.) Cue: dockyard refitting montage.

Cut to the German colony at Valparaiso, where his countrymen fête von Spee’s glorious German victory in their first naval battle. “Damnation to the British Navy!” they want to toast. No, says, von Spee: “to a gallant enemy.” Handed a bouquet of flowers, he says he’ll keep them for his funeral “when my time comes.” For “when were the British ever content to leave an enemy to his triumph?”

Von Spee was well aware, it seems, that running the gauntlet up through the Atlantic was going to be a torrid prospect, even without a veangeful enemy on the look-out for him personally. But homeless (Tsingtau had fallen to the Japanese), in need of fuel, and down to half their ammunition, von Spee’s captains urged him now to head for Germany, and he agreed.

Von Spee’s ships were in need of dockyard maintenance and not steaming efficiently, but thanks to a captured British collier they were not in need of coal to be able to get home. Before setting off from where they’d been refuelling, Spee decided to strike another blow against the British and raid the Royal Navy’s supply base at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands where only local militia were expected to be defending.

It was, among other things, sheer bad luck that von Spee came up to Stanley just a few hours after Sturdee had arrived with his group of cruisers — all newer, faster, and better-gunned than their fatigued German counterparts — and was busily refuelling. Likewise, that the sea was calm, there was little wind, and visibility was excellent. Too late, Gneisenau observes that there are British warships in the harbour! (The acting here is particularly terrible.)

It has been suggested that von Spee had not known that the British ships were “waiting” there (they hardly were); but it has also been alleged that he was misled by poor German intelligence, or even false British cryptography. [The Wikipedia article on the battle credits misinformation by British intelligence for leading von Spee into the trap.]

In Britain, meanwhile, the Admiralty is under the impression that Sturdee is the one who has been caught unawares in the Falkland Islands. Von Spee is a mere 12 miles away, and none of the British ships have their steam up. The FIVF [the Falklands Islands Volunteer Force] are called out, as the ships are ordered to go from zero to hero. One poor lad has to run up the Union Jack in local weather conditions (I’ve been that lad: he has my sympathies); another forgets his rifle, as emphasised by a heavily-asterisked title card.

As so often happens, Fate now played its hand, and Canopus, parked, with her fully-functioning 12-inch guns (so missed at Coronel) in Stanley Harbour, as the Islands’ main defensive battery, came into her own. As the Germans turn and run, Canopus opens fire, and soon enough the “grimly purposeful” cruiser group — “fittingly bearing names from the four corners of Britain … Kent, Cornwall, Glasgow and Carnarvon” — set off in pursuit.

The maths was simply not on the Germans’ side. Sturdee even sent his men below to eat. At midday, he called them back to Action Stations. Von Spee responded by ordering his light cruisers to scatter and make for neutral ports, while Scharnhorst and Gneisenau remained to “accept action to cover their escape”. Flashback to the presentation of those flowers.

November 30, 2021

Dynamite Luke Dillon and the Welland Canal

Filed under: Britain, Cancon, History, Law, USA — Tags: , , , , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered
Published 29 Nov 2021

Around 7 in the evening on April 21, 1900 two large explosions rocked the hamlet of Thorold, Ontario. It was an act of terrorism, an attempt to breach the locks of the Welland canal — a ship canal connecting Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, allowing ships to bypass Niagara Falls. Three men were arrested, but who were these “dynamitards”? It would be two years before the identity of their notorious leader would be revealed.

This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.

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Script by THG

#history #thehistoryguy #Canada

November 23, 2021

Canadian Army Newsreel – Baby Flat-Tops Protect Convoys

Filed under: Britain, Cancon, History, Military, WW2 — Tags: , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

canmildoc
Published 18 Nov 2012

Newsreels shot between 1940 and 1946 by the Canadian Army Film Unit for presentation to servicemen and women. A unique document of Canada’s role in the war on the front lines as well as on the home front.

Tags: Canadian Army Film Unit, Canadian Army, war, World War II, front lines, home front, servicemen, servicewomen, newsreel, military, WWII

October 23, 2021

Flower class corvettes – Guide 124

Filed under: Britain, Cancon, History, Military, WW2 — Tags: , , , , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

Drachinifel
Published 25 May 2019

The Flower class, ASW corvettes of the Royal Navy, are today’s subject.

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October 22, 2021

The Vehicle That Will Win World War Two – WW2 Special

Filed under: History, Military, Technology, USA, WW2 — Tags: , , , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

World War Two
Published 21 Oct 2021

The Higgins Landing Craft, Higgins Boat, Landing Craft, or whatever you would like to call it, is one of the most important vehicles of the Second World War — perhaps just as much as tanks, planes, and warships. In a war full of amphibious invasions, landing on beaches in a safer and more efficient way is crucial to victory. So let’s find out the history of this war machine and its use by the World War Two allies.
(more…)

October 15, 2021

RV Petrel – The Pac-Man of Wartime Shipwrecks

Filed under: Australia, History, Japan, Military, Pacific, USA, WW2 — Tags: , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

Drachinifel
Published 13 Nov 2019

A quick summation of the excellent work being done by the RV Petrel crew and the Paul Allen Foundation.

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Drydock Episodes in podcast format – https://soundcloud.com/user-21912004

Music – https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic

October 8, 2021

ARA General Belgrano – Guide 047

Filed under: Americas, Britain, History, Military, USA, Weapons — Tags: , , , , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

Drachinifel
Published 18 Dec 2019

The ARA Belgrano of the Argentine Navy is today’s ship.

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October 1, 2021

The Russian 2nd Pacific Squadron – Voyage of the Damned

Filed under: History, Japan, Military, Pacific, Russia — Tags: , , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

Drachinifel
Published 13 Mar 2019

The story of a few good men’s struggle, against their own commanders, their own fleet, their own ships and their own men.

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Music – https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic

September 27, 2021

How exactly does dazzle paint work?

Filed under: Britain, Cancon, Germany, History, Military, USA, WW1, WW2 — Tags: , , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

Nautical Study
Published 22 May 2021

In early 1917, a British artist by the name of Norman Wilkinson approached the British admiralty with an ingenious idea that would save countless lives from the German U-boat campaign. His idea: dazzle paint. Complex in concept, but just crazy enough to work.

Thanks for your support!

Music: Emperor’s Waltz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foHeA…

All colorized photos in this video have credits attributed to them if I could find them. If you know who colorized any that are left unattributed, please let me know!

September 24, 2021

Battle of the Hampton Roads – The Fury of Iron and Steam

Filed under: History, Military, Technology, USA, Weapons — Tags: , , , , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

Drachinifel
Published 20 Feb 2019

The first ironclad vs ironclad battle is reviewed, along with the origins of the ships and some of the myths and legends about this historic battle.

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Music – https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic

September 17, 2021

The Real-Life Nazi Pirates – WW2 Special

Filed under: Australia, Germany, History, Military, WW2 — Tags: , , , , , — Nicholas @ 04:00

World War Two
Published 16 Sep 2021

There is more to war on merchant shipping than U-Boats and the Battle of the Atlantic. Raiders disguised as innocent traders also play the role of privateers; stalking vessels, approaching with a false flag, and then striking before anyone can react. Here’s the story of one: Kormoran.
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The Battle of Lissa, 1866

Filed under: Europe, History, Italy, Military — Tags: , , , , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

Drachinifel
Published 26 Sep 2018

One of the most unintentionally hilarious battles of the 19th century is the subject of today’s special video.

Bezeuge Mich!” – Admiral Tegethoff 1866 (probably)

September 15, 2021

Look at Life – Sea Horses – Tugboats from the 1960s

Filed under: Britain, Europe, History — Tags: , , , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

PauliosVids
Published 24 Nov 2018

[The version of this film I originally scheduled has been taken down, but included a much more informative description, which I’m retaining below:]

capspread
Published 11 Oct 2020

#LookatLife #Tugboats #MerchantNavy #QueenMary #QueenElizabeth
Look at Life – Sea Horses – Tugboats from the 1960s

The video is the latest Look at Life, Volume One – Transport called Sea Horses – Little Tugs, without which any big port would come to a standstill, are featured made in May 1962.

Several Tugs are featured in the video along with several ships, including Ocean Liners. Those with names that are recognisable are below. There are others which are not shown below because their names are not known.

Tugboats

William Ryan
Built 1908 – Re-engined 1956 – Sold in 2000 for £1 as a “non-commercial worker”. In 2005, spotted at Hoo Marina converted to a houseboat. In 2009 for sale priced £33k In 2010 – Engine Removed.

Sun.X
Built in 1920 in Selby in Yorkshire. 196grt. Disposed 1969 and scrapped in 1969.

Effleton Hall
Paddlewheel Tugboat built in 1914. In service until 1967 where she was sold to shipbreakers for scrap. She was left sitting on a mudbank in Dunston. As part of the scrapping process her wooden afterdeck and interior were destroyed by fire prior to being broken up. The tug remained there for 2 years, deck frames warped, wood burned or rotted, hull part flooded and engines rusty but intact. But she was bought by an American and rebuilt on the River Tyne during 1969, modified to enable her to cross the Atlantic Ocean under her own steam, requiring fitting of modern navigational aids, radio, an enclosed wheelhouse and conversion from coal to diesel oil firing. She set sail on 18 September 1969 and arrived late March 1970 at San Francisco. She was donated to the National Park Service in 1979 and is now berthed at Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco. She has been restored to resemble her condition post-War 1946. 166grt – Length – 100 feet; Beam 21 feet; Depth of hold 10.8 feet.

Gladstone – Registered at Liverpool

Formby – Built 1951 Registered at Liverpool – 237grt Steam Engine

Canada – Registered at Liverpool

Marinia – Ocean going Tugboat

Poolzee – Dutch Smit Tug – Built 1942

Hestor – Could be Dutch

Ocean Liners

Queen Mary – 81,000 grt
In service between 1936 and 1967. She is now permanently moored as a tourist attraction, hotel, museum and event facility in Long Beach California.

Queen Elizabeth – Largest Ocean Liner at the time at 83,000 grt. In service between 1939 and 1968. Caught fire in Hong Kong in 1972 and completely destroyed.

Cargo Ships

Northern Clipper – No info

Toula – Built in 1937 as Westralia as a passenger-cargo ship. Renamed Toula in 1959 and in 1970 broken up in Shanghai.

Allegrity – Built 1945 as a coastal tanker. In 1946 renamed Sobat. In 1951 renamed Allegrity and purchased by FT Everard. On 22 December 1961 she capsized after grounding near Falmouth. She was a total loss
798grt Length – 183 feet; Breadth – 28 feet; Depth – 13 feet
Speed – 9 knots.

September 10, 2021

The Channel Dash / Operation Cerberus — How to win through refuge in audacity

Filed under: Britain, Germany, History, Military, WW2 — Tags: , , , , , , — Nicholas @ 02:00

Drachinifel
Published 9 Jan 2019

Today we look at the Channel Dash, also known as one of the few times Hitler was right, the British were asleep and the Germans succeeded in spite of thinking they were all doomed. An operation made up purely of rolling natural 1’s and 20’s.

August 31, 2021

Isambard Kingdom Brunel: The Genius of the Industrial Revolution

Biographics
Published 23 Mar 2020

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Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/…
History Today: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/…
The Thames Tunnel: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor…
The atmospheric railway: https://www.theguardian.com/science/t…
SS Great Britain accident: https://www.ssgreatbritain.org/about-…

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