For a follow up, Doug juggled three chainsaws on a unicycle while blindfolded- easier and safer. I’m always amazed at the “computers”- a combination of ingenious mechanical devices and highly skilled crews.
This isn't quite related to the video, but apparently the B26 was so hard to fly that it had the following nicknames: -Widowmaker -Martin Murderer, after the company that made it and its official name, the Marauder -Baltimore Whore (where Martin was based) -Flying Coffin -B_Dash_Crash -One a Day in Tampa Bay (primary flight training school) And the best, due to its very thin wings, -Flying Prostitute, because it was fast and had no visible means of support.
After the wing was modified and the pilots were trained not to fear it, the Marauder went on to have the lowest loss rate and any US bomber in the ETO.
So at absolute minimum range of 400 yards for the torpedo to aim when it hits the water! Last Ditch effort is about 5 seconds? This is just like describing Kentucky Windage ( No Offense) to anyone that Knows nothing about the wind and or water currents! THE GREATEST GENERATION! FROM EVERY CIVILIAN, MILITARY MEMBER, MANUFACTURING COMPANY! THEY PROVED TO THE WORLD NOTHING CAN'T BE OVERCOME!
And the proof is, they did not call themselves the Greatest Generation. That was only applied to them by others decades later. You asked most of them, they said that they just had work to do, and did it.
BATTLE: A combination of planning, adapting, technology, training, skill, courage, and perseverance along with a measure of good luck against things that you have no control over, such as the weather and the enemy's preparations for battle. That's a LOT of variables that one must have control over for a battle to be won. But as bad as it is to lose lives in a battle, it's the EQUIPMENT taken out (i.e., the enemy's ability to continue to wage war) that determines when war is over.
I had the same thought. Only in the movies... Must not have been MK14s. Or, this is an Army film and Adm. Christie didn't have any influence on Army ordinance so maybe they actually worked if they could get a hit.
The scroll at the beginning is pretty funny--the part about just coordinating with some dive bombers and fighter and you've got it made. In practice, this was nearly impossible. At Midway, three whole torpedo squadrons were almost completely wiped out, at least partly because they attacked without fighters or dive-bombers. The plane shown in the film carrying the torpedo is a B-26, and interestingly enough there were some of these planes at Midway and they did make torpedo attacks, but did not score any hits and I believe several were shot down. The Japanese were much better at coordinating attacks than we were, but they generally took terrible losses anyway.
And by about a year later, US flyers' coordination and ability to actually attack in concert with fighters, bombers, and torpedo planes was vastly improved--by the end of the war it was routine. Midway, and Coral Sea before, were kind of the wake-up call for that.
@@JohnCBobcat I'd rate the performance at Coral Sea as about the best in the war, when TBDs put seven torpedoes into Shoho. It seems like most of the attacks after that were made at extreme range and there wasn't wasn't enough time/fuel to form up into coordinated attacks. I'm limiting the battles to ones where there was an air defense, so anything after the Philippine Sea is in a different category, at least how I see it.
The Mark 14 was junk. And was more likely to be a dud than work. Especially at Midway! It had to be dropped at slow speeds and low altitude, or it would break up when hitting the water. The problem wasn't fixed until later in the war. Alot of brave men died for nothing!
The Navy's prefacing text emphasized the need to coordinate with dive bombers and fighters. It is appalling that they did not accomplish that at the Battle of Midway.
Did some very quick research in response to this. Couldn't find any information for the B25. You may already know this, but it was more generally used as a very successful low-altitude bomber, especially against smaller ships. Fit it with half a dozen heavy cannon in the nose to suppress the ship's anti-aircraft fire, and light bombs that could be skipped along the surface of the sea like rocks, and it was very effective. Regarding the 26, Wikipedia says that "there are no records of any successful torpedo attack by a USAAF B-26".
@@sturmovik1274 Thanks for the information. My wife’s great uncle flew B25s on anti shipping raids in the pacific but he never mentioned anything about torpedoes, it was the guns and bombs.
It was always in my thought.. About getting blasted with one Of those thru our engine room i was a BT aboard Ship an I'll be Danged they never tell you about the one that could easily be dropped down our Smoke Stack.. Just as well, the atrocities of it all !!
When ordinary men do extraordinary things
Complicated business. Those boys had an awful lot to think about while under extreme pressure.
No they don't, I do (I'm a milkman).
For a follow up, Doug juggled three chainsaws on a unicycle while blindfolded- easier and safer. I’m always amazed at the “computers”- a combination of ingenious mechanical devices and highly skilled crews.
This isn't quite related to the video, but apparently the B26 was so hard to fly that it had the following nicknames:
-Widowmaker
-Martin Murderer, after the company that made it and its official name, the Marauder
-Baltimore Whore (where Martin was based)
-Flying Coffin
-B_Dash_Crash
-One a Day in Tampa Bay (primary flight training school)
And the best, due to its very thin wings,
-Flying Prostitute, because it was fast and had no visible means of support.
After the wing was modified and the pilots were trained not to fear it, the Marauder went on to have the lowest loss rate and any US bomber in the ETO.
Somewhere on this channel is a video on how to properly balance the weight of the B-26. If it’s done correctly it’s apparently easy to fly.
Did the Greatest Generation at the Navy labs ever fix the Damn Things? Blaming the Sub. Crews?
So at absolute minimum range of 400 yards for the torpedo to aim when it hits the water! Last Ditch effort is about 5 seconds? This is just like describing Kentucky Windage ( No Offense) to anyone that Knows nothing about the wind and or water currents! THE GREATEST GENERATION! FROM EVERY CIVILIAN, MILITARY MEMBER, MANUFACTURING COMPANY! THEY PROVED TO THE WORLD NOTHING CAN'T BE OVERCOME!
And the proof is, they did not call themselves the Greatest Generation. That was only applied to them by others decades later. You asked most of them, they said that they just had work to do, and did it.
BATTLE: A combination of planning, adapting, technology, training, skill, courage, and perseverance along with a measure of good luck against things that you have no control over, such as the weather and the enemy's preparations for battle. That's a LOT of variables that one must have control over for a battle to be won. But as bad as it is to lose lives in a battle, it's the EQUIPMENT taken out (i.e., the enemy's ability to continue to wage war) that determines when war is over.
Wait -- the torpedoes actually worked?
I had the same thought. Only in the movies... Must not have been MK14s. Or, this is an Army film and Adm. Christie didn't have any influence on Army ordinance so maybe they actually worked if they could get a hit.
The scroll at the beginning is pretty funny--the part about just coordinating with some dive bombers and fighter and you've got it made. In practice, this was nearly impossible. At Midway, three whole torpedo squadrons were almost completely wiped out, at least partly because they attacked without fighters or dive-bombers. The plane shown in the film carrying the torpedo is a B-26, and interestingly enough there were some of these planes at Midway and they did make torpedo attacks, but did not score any hits and I believe several were shot down. The Japanese were much better at coordinating attacks than we were, but they generally took terrible losses anyway.
And by about a year later, US flyers' coordination and ability to actually attack in concert with fighters, bombers, and torpedo planes was vastly improved--by the end of the war it was routine. Midway, and Coral Sea before, were kind of the wake-up call for that.
@@JohnCBobcat I'd rate the performance at Coral Sea as about the best in the war, when TBDs put seven torpedoes into Shoho. It seems like most of the attacks after that were made at extreme range and there wasn't wasn't enough time/fuel to form up into coordinated attacks. I'm limiting the battles to ones where there was an air defense, so anything after the Philippine Sea is in a different category, at least how I see it.
The Mark 14 was junk. And was more likely to be a dud than work. Especially at Midway! It had to be dropped at slow speeds and low altitude, or it would break up when hitting the water. The problem wasn't fixed until later in the war. Alot of brave men died for nothing!
So, did the plywood air stabilizer detach when the torpedo entered the water?
Yup, the force of entering the water would rip it off.
most shattered on impact!!!
@@keithmoore5306 Ahh, that makes sense.
Tied on with fuse wire.
The Navy's prefacing text emphasized the need to coordinate with dive bombers and fighters. It is appalling that they did not accomplish that at the Battle of Midway.
B25 very high Speed anywhere? Great medium Bomber. How effective were the Torpedoes carried by Marauders at Midway?
What was the type of dive bomber they showed at the end in the coordinated attack? It wasn't an SBD, looked like a texan trainer. Anyone recognize it?
Vultee Vengeance
@@vonfragesq7145 cool thanks!
Did a B25 or B26 ever make a successful torpedo attack in combat?
Did some very quick research in response to this. Couldn't find any information for the B25. You may already know this, but it was more generally used as a very successful low-altitude bomber, especially against smaller ships. Fit it with half a dozen heavy cannon in the nose to suppress the ship's anti-aircraft fire, and light bombs that could be skipped along the surface of the sea like rocks, and it was very effective.
Regarding the 26, Wikipedia says that "there are no records of any successful torpedo attack by a USAAF B-26".
@@sturmovik1274 Thanks for the information. My wife’s great uncle flew B25s on anti shipping raids in the pacific but he never mentioned anything about torpedoes, it was the guns and bombs.
The B25 is one big plane to do such a low and slow torpedo attack against a battle ship and its escorts whose only job is to spoil your day ,😟
12:12 How did they know the german battleship was built by millions of guys named Mark. Lol
Just imagine the 4 26's at Midway skip bombing...
It was always in my thought..
About getting blasted with one
Of those thru our engine room
i was a BT aboard Ship an I'll be
Danged they never tell you about
the one that could easily be
dropped down our Smoke Stack..
Just as well, the atrocities of it all !!
Torpedoes what Nintendon't.