Hey, Drach, I absolutely love your channel. I discovered your videos just before you transitioned from using computer narration to recording the V/O yourself. You've always produced quality content, but you've really developed a great unique voice & style (also switching to human narration was the probably the single best decision you made.) Now, I'm sorry but this isn't a question but I was really hoping to get this noticed: Have you ever listened to The Dreadnoughts? They've recorded many chanties and other naval themed content as well. If nothing else to "Lifeboat Man" "Pique La Baleina". Thank you for all the quality content and your time
About 20 years ago when I was in boy scouts we did a weekend trip where we stayed aboard the Salem, the museum staff gave us damage control and first aid training that they were able to make fun and we got to play hide and seek on the cruiser, framed as a training exercise to find a missing and injured sailor. Easily one of my best childhood memories.
I got to do the same thing aboard the Massachusetts itself, back in like '88 or '89. Honestly one of the highlights of my entire childhood. Just getting to live on a battleship for a weekend. I really wanted it to be the New Jersey. (My troop was in NJ) but she was still active duty at the time. 😂
Far longer than 20 years ago, mid 70's ... I got to do a dependents day cruise on the USS Oriskany. My Dad was in Fox Div onboard her. Laying flat on my back as we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, I would have sworn that we were going to hit the underside of the bridge. That was a fun day.
Went as a cub scout! We were there for a whole weekend near Halloween was pretty spooky. My dad still has the hat and wears it all the time. Make sure to go see the Massachusetts in Fall River, just don't leave the R/V unattended too long lol.
On the topic of Museum ship hospitality in the US, I volunteered on the USS Midway for around 8 or 9 months before leaving for college. Despite being in the safety team and not being the main people guests will talk to, we were still trained to be as polite as possible and to know information about the ship. The reason why I believe most of these museum crews are so kind in the US is because most of us are volunteers who want to be here and want to share our love of these ships. It creates an real appreciation for our guests.
Like so many of our old war ships, she needs some love. Thank you for bringing our attention to her. USS Texas is sitting wonderfully in dry dock, getting some well earned rest and refit.
@@timclaus8313Which is why she won't be going back to her old berthing. She was getting enough visitors to cover the day to day operating expenses but never made enough to cover maintenance or get anywhere close to the cost to take her out of the water.
The videos I saw she's siting next to a jack-up rig, and 2 drilling rigs. I don't think they are allowing visitors onboard (except maybe VIPs), as she's in full refit (or refit for return to the original berth at San Jacinto Monument). Her hull was so deteriated, she was actual resting on the bottom. I hear the main goal is to get her hull more stable, and a coat of paint, clean-up, to be more "presentable" to the public. Funded by the Taxpayers of Texas.
In regards to going to museum ships I remember going to see USS Texas before she went to dry dock. So very happy she’s getting the work done she deserves.
"Do not put hands in hoist" is like "Do not place head in Guillotine". How much smarter are the designers of this system compared to the expected operators ? So, if you meet an older fellow with an anchor tattoo on his forearm but no hand……. Don’t ask. I’m glad that everyone here in the US treated you very well. I’m sure that your videos will increase visitation making it easier to maintain our ships. I'm sure that everyone interested in naval history, WWII, etc. watches all of your videos. God bless the Queen. Long live the King.
I served on the Newport News during her last Vietnam deployment. She was the most powerful and best looking ship in the world at that time - yeah the bird farmers might disagree with me, but the News and her sisters were built to rule the seas. I worked down in the engine room and didn't get to see the sun very often but I'll brag on the fact that our high mileage ship was fast and surprisingly reliable. The Des Moines class cruisers were of course a much later and heavier design, but the time traveler in me says that a couple of these gunships would have owned the waters around Guadalcanal. At night or in poor visibility I'd go against the Yamato with two Des Moines cruisers.
@@Engine33Truck I was a 2nd class ET on the NN in 1968-70 and was on the second Vietnam cruise, just a little ahead of you. Some of our shipmates join working parties on Salem, I haven't got to go because of work and now health, but it sure would be nice to get back with some of the "slut dogs".
When my older brother was stationed in Hawaii, we all went to see the USS Missouri. Seeing that beast from the pier was awe inspiring. Seeing a ship like that from the waterline truly does impart the grandness of scale one won’t get standing on the deck. One has to look almost straight up to see it all. We then did a deck walk. One, it definitely took a few minutes to walk from bow to stern. And two, I remember touching turret one and feeling how solid it felt. So much steel. Steel, everywhere. Haha 😂
Those battleships are just so....sturdy. I remember walking around Norfolk and then touring the Wisconsin. The ground outside on the pavement didn't feel as sturdy as walking on the Wisconsin. I've been on Wisky, Iowa and Mo, and all three ladies were wonderful to tour. It was like walking into a time capsule.
I've been aboard the Jerz. I remember standing in front of the turret looking at that ridiculously thick armor on the face, and then looking at the armored conning tower, again armored like crazy. And I remembered thinking that they needed all that armor in order to stand a chance against other ships much like her. She looked like she could take a small nuke and just walk it off, yet there were things out there to be feared, like Yamato's guns, and modern antiship missiles. Hence the 20mm CWIS Phalanx armament and the Tomahawk missile launchers and, I think, Sea Sparrow missile launchers, and a flotilla of guided missile destroyers to keep her company.
@@legessi you can tell those armored behemoths were designed to get in your face and give you a good slap from the feel those many, many tons of steel. At least, that's how they feel to the touch. 😂
Love this heavy cruiser to bits. Have visited her recently with a friend and meet the staff who are indeed awesome and very nice. Hope more people can visit Salem, you can’t find a ship like this anywhere else anymore.
that section in the gunpit made me realize how impressive it is that these guns were all-angle autoloading. The entire loading mechanism had to swing downward along with the gun into the pit Also I've been on the Salem numerous times, and this is the first time I've ever seen the gunpits and magazines. Those areas are normally blocked off from the general public
@@thomasbaughman9941 not at all unique, there are other autoloading guns that works in all angles but the ones on des moines class cruisers is the only one at this large size, the others are 155mm (6.1 inch) or smaller guns. like the archer spg/howitzer from volvo/bae systems has a 152mm (6 inch) gun that autoloads at any angle
@@Deilwynna Yea but this was in the 1940s. The Archer is from the 90's. In the Des Moines' day, the only weapons systems like the 8"/55RF Mk 16 were the 6" autoloading guns on the Worcester and Tiger class cruisers. All-angle loading itself was very rare
@@Billy-I-Am-Not The big difference s that the 8 inch gun system worked, the US and British 6 inch systems didn't US Mk 16 "These guns did not prove reliable in service, possibly because of the high rate of fire and need for any-elevation loading. Another contributing cause was that they used a dual projectile hoist system - one for AP and one for HC/AA shells - which proved to be a source of jamming."
As far as ship size prospective goes I think USS Wisconsin is one of the best, absolutely took my breath away when I rounded the corner onto the road directly towards her. Then going up a 6 story parking garage to take pics at radar height was awesome.
That is one good thing with the Wisconsin moored at Nauticus, the bow on view is awesome. Plus you have to go up a couple of floors in the museum to reach the brow to the weather deck.
Yup. Everyone who's ever seen her agrees that Wisky has the most *dramatic* presentation as regards your first impression. You park in a random urban area, start walking through the city, come around the corner, and *boom*, battleship, twelve o'clock, 200 yards, heading straight for you! Even when you know it's coming, it's a shock to the system.
@@timclaus8313 I took my father, he served on the USS Los Angeles and USS Rochester, he is very proud of his time served. All that is left of the Heavy Cruisers he served on seem to be the mast he had to once climb in front of the museum there. Yes they are bad ass ships!
I'm so glad you were treated well by the museum crew. I'm sure they, like most of us, appreciate the interest in Naval history and museum ships you generate with your channel.
A main reason why the US Navy switched to the 3"L50 Automatic Cannon is that, unlike the 40mm shells, its shells could be fitted with VT (proxy) fuses for improved AA protection.
Salem, along with Massachusetts and Forrestal have a special place in my heart as the ships that my great-uncle used to take me to see as a kid (in Forrestal's case, we didn't visit her so much as drive past her on the way to his doctor's appointments at NAVSTA Newport. At least, while she was still there)
I hope you saw our small museum aboard USS Salem, our crew (USS Newport News) have working parties aboard Salem USS Newport News (CA-148) The last all gun Heavy Cruiser. My time aboard 1968-69-70 Call sign THUNDER flag hoist; November - India - Quebec - Quebec Then onboard the USS Springfield (CLG-7) 71-72 Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Delta - Mike "Fair Winds and Following Seas" Brothers Very good video that brings back memories.
As a Marine, I wish we still had fire support like this. Those 8inch autoloaders are probably why this is my favorite class of cruiser by far. Also, I think I've mentioned it on your Des Moines-class 5-minute guide, but I seriously think a Des Moines could wreck early WW1-era superdreadnoughts in a 1:1 (due to the advantages of speed and radar fire control).
It would depend on who hit first and how often. But yes, my bet would on the late model 8 in. cruisers! I think the Salem could probably have a pretty fair chance against most inter-war Battleships! Not the latest, but the 1920s and early '30s. Not the latest or most modernized but as built. The radar, fire control, and rapid fire, would be difficult to defeat. Sustained 8 inch hits could disable and render most Battleships unfit for combat, provided they didn't sink their opponent first.
@@devilslawyer1646 The Japanese battleship Hiei tangled with US cruisers, both light and heavy and I think USS Helena which had fifteen automated 6 inch guns absolutely shredded the superstructure and bridge, and the daylight found Hiei steaming in a circle at 5 knots and Henderson Field's aircraft took her out.
I wish both your channel and RUclips were around 30 years ago. The biggest reason is when you visited these museum ships back then, some of the crew (especially WWII crew) would give some amazing private tours. The stories they had, and memories shared were just amazing. I was in the Marine Corps in the late 90’s stationed in Hawaii. As a platoon we went to the Arizona Memorial in uniform for an educational trip. When the veterans of WWII saw us coming, they went to their cars and grabbed scrapbooks of photos and shared their memories with us. The one veteran that really stuck out to us was a fellow Marine that was a bugler on the Pennsylvania during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Drach, I made a short video about Salem about a month here on RUclips, luckily it got lots of traction! Hope your video brings more attention to Salem and prompts support for her restoration!
@@robertslugg8361 The US Navy insisted on that. Also, all the crewmen wore their US uniforms. My personal take is they didn't want pictures of their ship covered in swastikas showing up in Pravda.
So, me and wifey driving back from Boston to NYC, desided we got time to check out USS Salem in Quincy, MA, back on 09/11/22. I also touched those 16" shells at the entrance but the yellow paint was fresh, still, and the lady at the entrance had a good laugh. Upon entering the ship I saw 4 ppl following an elder volunteer, I promptly forgot his name but he is present in a couple of pictures I took, so I will remember him forever, because this dude took our group anywhere we wanted, and when the museum closed we stayed for another couple of hours with him. We went to last armored pilot house, the bridge, upper decks, engine room, aft hangar, #2 main battery turret... I mean, we werr there with him for over 5 hours, and the reason we left was immence hunger and a thought of another 4-5 hours drive back home in a nasty rain in the evening. This guy is close to 70yo, former navy man, who is in charge of electric and mech parts of the ship and he HAD STORIES I wish I was recording, but I took pictures instead. Even my wife, who will not watch a movie about war or read a book pertaining to history, was hanging on his every word, climbing multitudes of steep stairs and stepping in inevitable machine oil puddles in areas marked "NO ADMITTANCE", cause we stuck our noses everywhere. The guy begged us to talk up the ship on social media, which kinda sucks, because I dont have FB, Twatter or IG. I dumped some pics on my WOWS clans Discord channel, but not many ppl will see. Point is, if anyone is interested in US history, engineering, etc, needs to visit places like these, because they are slowly getting whittled away by time and especially the people who still work on this ship will eventually dissapear. I saw some young volunteers but I doubt their knowledge and willingness to spend hours on such personalized tour. Guy refused any tips, so I dropped some money into the donation box before exiting. Oh, and if anyone is going to Battleship Cove, USS Massachusetts is under repair. JPKennedy and Lionfish were accessible, as well as USS Cassin Young back in Boston. Note, that USS Constitution is under "active duty", so the cops with metal detectors will stop you from going through if you got a pocket knife in your jeans pocket... ahem. Had to leave it with wife and go alone and let her have a turn. USS Constitution has very low ceiling on lower deck and I slammed my forehead a few times, so be warned. Plan your trip fast ppl, the winter is not too far off and Im not sure how accesible those ships are in the winter!
My Dad served on the Salem during his final summer at the USNA in 1956. We live locally, and have visited many times, along with the Constitution, and the battleship USS Massachusetts, and other ships, in Fall River. I consider myself very lucky to be on these wonderful museum ships with a naval veteran who KNOWS what he’s takin about! Thanks for visiting Massachusetts and we hope you enjoyed your stay!
Awesome video! I was onboard that day, I was the kid with the "Illustrated Design History of U.S Cruisers". As one of the volunteers, it was a pleasure meeting you.
This is when I'd support using CGI for external views of the ship. I'd see those three turrets and go 'nope' and watch something else. It's like using the turboprop BeechcraftTexan II for a Zero in a movie simply because it has a single prop.
Drach don't underestimate just how much you are changing the perceptions of the public, I'm a flier and really didn't give a fig about the navy until I saw your video's about the Australian Navy and much to my surprise called it such instead of lumping it as commonwealth forces as most channels do. It's not just us it is every country that was involved you pay the same curtesy and it was for that and that alone I subscribed now I'm a fan so thank you from a mad Aussie fly boy.
The USS Iowa is moored next to the Port of Los Angeles cruise terminal. In addition to the quay being rather high out of the water, it is dwarfed by the cruise ships and container vessels docked next to it.
Navigation is perfect, that beautiful sunrise and the silhouette of the ship. Brings back some memories as a Merchant seaman drinking my coffee of course.
"This warning sign, despite being from thr Bureau of Ordnance was actually quite helpful." BURORD was possibly the greatest asset to the IJN during the war.
Heck, a ship in the USN doesn't need to be in mothballs to be cannibalized for spares! It routinely happens to ships that are just in the shipyard for overhaul/repair or modernization. I've been on both sides of it (having parts from my boat cannibalized and going to other boats in the yard to take their parts.)
So true. I remember well, Easter Weekend, 1992 (I think) I was the leading comm ET on USS Peterson DD-969, we were finishing up a 14-month ROH at Ingalls in Pascagoula. I had weekend duty. The USS John Hancock DD-981 had a bad class Alpha fire in her radio transmitter room, (The RM's had been stowing burn bags in the transmitter room. Still can't believe that the EMO or the Lead comm ET allowed that, I know I wouldn't have) and they caught fire, never did find out exactly how. Smoke and heat damage was extensive. Hancock was scheduled for deployment in just over a month. My guys and I had just spent the neter part of 6 months overhauling and grooming of all our HF transmitters, they were like brand new. I was ordered to load them all into a rental truck and drive them from Pascagoula to Jacksonville and deliver them to the Hancock. We brought back their fire damaged junk, and had to do a hasty, abbreviated rehab job on them with very little time to get it done. Went from having a like-new HF suite to trying to remedy someone else's problems. (again) We eventually got them up to snuff, but it was a long, frustrating and exhausting process. Truth be told, I'm still a little hacked off about it 30 years later. LOL
Great video! I agree with others that the USS Salem is one of my favorite museum ships I have seen. The ship is technologically impressive, but (at least when I went on a weekend) there were so many guides that everyone was basically getting private tours. It really makes all the difference to hear the history / stories that goes with the ship. Definitely worth the visit.
Wonderful program , it’s just like being back on board. They sailed so well, stable with responsive handling and projected power. And the guns, just awesome. They were fast and commodious , the time of my life. All three sat like Queens in Phila, even the missing rifle from number two turret on NN not diminishing their grace and beauty.
Visited the Salem in 2010 and my dad served as a ship board Marine officer in the 1955 range, when she was part of the Mediterranean fleet. Back then, the final port of call before heading home was Havana. Scattered some of my dad's ashes over the side when no one was looking.
Awesome to see. They recently moved Battleship Texas, which was moored 10 minutes away from me. ( I live where Urban cowboy was filmed) across the street from the old Gilleys bar.
Drach, I think it's worth mentioning that the industrial area where the USS Salem is located was once the Fore River Shipyard. Both Lexingtons were built there as well as USS Wasp, Bunker Hill, Philippine Sea, and Hancock. Both the Des Moines and Salem, along with Long Beach, Portland, Quincy and Vincennes. The list is very long and worth googling. Sadly, shipbuilding ceased in 1986.
Ah. good to see that Ms. Drach got to meet one of her relatives. XD I remember how I got some looks from some of the fans during the Haida meetup, after making a remark about another sea mine there. XD I have to assume they weren't familiar with that rather famous episode. :D
It was a pleasure meeting you on Salem Drach! And Constitution, And Massachusetts lol. The drive from new York was worth it. I enjoyed the ships very much and you only made it better.
Nice! Early in August my wife and I were able to take a trip to the USS Yorktown. She said my expression was priceless as we pulled up. We've decided to plan future vacations around other museum ships. Was definitely one of the coolest things I've done in my life. Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures!
35:07 I am thoroughly disappointed we didn't a Toy Story "The CLaaaawwwww" moment. All jokes aside, great video, the autoloader mechanism looks insanely complex, but I gather it was pretty reliable. I hope she gets a bit more footfall, she looks a little tired and like Texas, she's basically unique. Every museum ship is precious as every ship has a story to tell, but when a ship is the representative of her type or generation, then she becomes even more important to preserve. As a Brit, I lament Vanguard and Warspite going to the scrap yard, and even more modern ships like the Tiger class and Invincible class all just vanish into little more than cutlery and imagines in history books.
I‘m glad you Brits managed to save HMS Belfast. I walked past her multiple times while visiting London, but my interest in historical navy ships was not there yet. Missed opportunity 😕 Too bad the Yanks decided to nuke Prinz Eugen after the war. That would be an even more special museum ship.
Unfortunately, the gun pit, handling rooms, and magazines are only accessible via vertical ladders, which means the general public will never get to visit them in person. Benefits to being a volunteer! :)
I visited USS Salem 3 days before I moved from Quincy Ma. I decided after living there for a few years I could not leave without seeing that ship, so I had to rush through in an afternoon, while my wife packed. I have no regrets. :D
Thank you for visiting and reviewing the Salem. I love this ship. We would sleep over on her and Mammy as kids during field trips or scouts. They turn the Sea Witch into a haunted house for Halloween and it’s terrifying. It needs a little TLC so every $5-10 donation counts! I wish the state put as much care into her as Constitution but I get it. The ship is huge, it’s over 700ft long so I can’t imagine maintaining it. Our weather is obv famously bad half the year so she sits in snow, heat, salt, wind, sun, you name it. Still looks beautiful though and is a real statement to US power projection in the early Cold War years.
The Constitution is an active US Navy vessel and is fully funded by the Navy, not a dime from Massachusetts. 99% of all museums in Massachusetts get no state funding as they are private non-profit institutions. There is some state grant money available, but not not even remotely close to the needs of many dozens of organizations that could use help.
I also visited “Intrepid” few years ago. And it was really impressive. The size and everything. But. When I visited “New Jersey” - one of the “Iowa” class battleships, I will never forget the first impression, when I saw her. I remember that as it was yesterday. Such a beauty. Such a power. And I am so happy that so many ships are preserved as museums in States so we can visit them.
Hi I stand to be corrected but here goes! A British war film, Battle of the River Plate, made in 1956, need a ship to represent the German Battleship Graf Spee, the ship they used was the USS Salem! God Bless all the armed forces of the free world for keeping us all safe.
How did you like American roads and rental RV's. I took 7 family members form Miami to Oklahoma City to Greensborough Kentucky to Miami. 6300 miles in 14 days. Great way to travel.
I live north of the USS Salem by an hour and a have and have driven by there many times going elsewhere. I have it on my bucket list of things to do when I have a spare moment to go looking at attractions. The Constitution and USS Massachusetts are also on that list. Warships are fascinating to explore. I went to the Alabama when I lived down that way in the 80's and was awestruck by it's size and all the cool stuff that they stuff on a warship. It's wonderful to hear you were treated to some good 'ole New England hospitality
When she first came to Quincy she was docked closer to the bridge with easy access off the nearby rotary. Unfortunately the bridge had to be torn down and replaced requiring her to be moved to the more out of the way location she is in now. Hopefully one day she can move back to her previous berth.
Actually the ship was in that same berth all throughout the bridge construction project. The MBTA sold the land to Cashman Marine, who is using it for industrial marine purposes. Cashman provided the infrastructure for the current berth, which was, and is, better than the alternative of disposal of the ship!
I was mainly referring to when she first arrived in Quincy she had a berth right next to the bridge with easy access off the rotary. She also had some other WW2 memorabilia on display next to the ship and lots of parking. This was all before the bridge had issues and if memory serves there were issues with the berth as well (could be mistaken on that). Ultimately requiring her to move a few berths down. That being said anywhere she can dock and still be able to be visited is better than the breakers.
@@jimd312 The state originally wanted the ship moved to build the temporary bridge, and eventually the new bridge, but balked at the cost to move it, so the museum lost a lot of the display space where Gulf/Iraq War vehicles and weapons were displayed. Eventually the MWRA transferred the land to the MBTA, who eventually determined the pier needed work and didn't renew the Salem's lease. The MBTA sold the land/pier to Cashman Marine who built the existing mooring for the Salem. Other locations were explored, but there simply isn't an available location anywhere in New England. This is all first hand knowledge.
6:15 @Drachinifel wait until you see USS Missouri firstly across the harbour from the visitor center and then when you approach the ship by foot when you leave the shuttle bus. That is a sight to behold you won’t forget!
The opening observation regarding the external view is interesting. I had the pleasure of going aboard the USS Iowa on her visit to Pompey Dockyard in the late 80's. I worked in the yard at the time and had a walk around the public didn't get with a middle aged leading seaman re-activated due to the near uniqueness of the Iowa in the US fleet at that time. She was berthed on Pitch House Jetty (from memory) and was a truly menacing sight on a misty pre-dawn morning. The gun house was an inverse Tardis. Massive on the outside, much smaller on the inside. The armoured conning tower gave a similar feeling but more so. I wonder how many other 56 year Olds there are out there that can say they have been on board an active commissioned battleship? The size of Iowa compared to HMS Tiger (or Blake - the memory fades!) Also in Pompey about that time was staggering. Anyway, thanks Drach. Another great video.
Constitution being only a few miles away, the Navy's last wooden frigate (and the oldest commissioned ship in the world) overshadows both the Cassin Downes (moored across the pier from Constitution) and the Salem (moored in Quincy). Any attention the Salem can get is a good thing, so thank you very much for giving the fine old lady of the South Shore some love!
That whole area, Fore River, was once a booming ship building complex and has a history of it's own. As a young boy, I can remember seeing large amounts of old smaller ships from WWII with flat tops built on top. Not sure what the name or class of those ships were but there was quite a few of them all ganged up.
The Salem has a museum on the main deck with exhibits, models, pictures and dioramas about the Fore River Shipyard and Boston Navy Yard. The Long Beach was built there, as well as the Lexington (CV-2) and many others, big and small. Worth spending an extra hour - and air conditioned!
Looking at the mechanisms of the gun turrets made me think of all the old technologies of the twentieth century that have essentially been lost. Even when we have complete examples left we don't have an understanding of how they were used let alone how they were manufactured. Vacuum tubes for example. We know the theory of their design and a historically minded artisan might be able to produce one but the actual methods and machinery of how they were mass produced have been lost. Designs for individual pieces of equipment might still exist buried in an patent archive somewhere but finding them and relating them in context to each other would be like finding the lost Ark.
As a guitar player I'll have to strongly disagree when it comes to vacuum tubes. A lot of newly designed guitar amps still use tubes. The problem is that their manufacturing is no longer profitable in the West so they are no longer manufactured here . But still, hundreds of boutique guitar amp builders still understand vacuum tube technologies veeeeeery well.
@@TheShrike616 My main concern in this context is that the processes for mass manufacturing of older technologies isn't being preserved. Not just the items themselves but the machinery that was used in the process. To use an analogy it would like knowing you use a hammer and an anvil to make shovel or an axe but, if you don't know what a hammer or and anvil even is, there isn't much point;).
Salem was the perfect choice for portraying the Graf Spee in my opinion. Such a powerful ship. I assume she could have taken down all 3 British cruisers without much trouble.
Having half a decades worth of improved fire control, radar and especially those automatic gun mounts. She could probably take on twice as many cruisers as Graf Spee did and still come out on top
That is a fun question. The actual participants; Exeter, Ajax and Achilles probably would stand no chance; Salem's rate of fire would probably overwhelm them in fairly short order before they could dial in the range and begin to deal attractional damage. Fiji and 2 Leander's may be a different prospect; the 12 guns of a Crown Colony class are the same as the Town's and were designed to give similar fire-power to a peer heavy cruiser, so the two Leander's and a Fiji possibly could throw enough 6in fire to certainly make a fight of it. I would expect all of the participants of the actual battle, ie Exeter, Ajax, Achilles AND Graf Spee would be able to take down a Des Moines class, although I would expect Salem could take one or two with her. It is very much opinion; I've not looked at shell weights/shells per min/bursting charge weights to verify though. Speed would also be a factor; if Salem could dictate the engagement range she will have a huge advantage against any combination of battle/film particpants.
@@deaks25 Well, I do believe that 6inch gunfire isn't enough to take down a very large heavy cruiser like Salem. Graf Spee took lots of 6inch hits and while they did damage, it certainly wasn't catastrophic damage. Salem had much heavier armor protection than Graf Spee, and the British cruisers would have no immunity from her heavy 8inch AP. To beat a Salem, I assume you would need 3 County class cruisers, or 2 pocket battleships. I think the effectiveness of her rate of fire coupled with her very advanced and accurate fire control cannot be overstated. Regarding the Graf Spee + British cruisers vs Salem, I do think it depends heavily on whether or not Salem is able to knock out Graf Spee quickly. If she fails to do this, then she will probably be overwhelmed.
The Movie is right, the British Cruisers won that fight as a direct result of their aggression, in true Naval traditions they moved into closer range to fight Graf Spee inside her gun range, Damn the torpedoes "Full speed ahead".
The Gun Pit reminds me of the bascule chambers in the piers of Tower bridge in London, not a good idea to be there when several tonnes of machinery lower to occupy the space. I'm unsurprised by the Welcome you were given, the Americans can be extraordinarily hospitable folks.
I'm so glad that you got to see the Salem Drachinifel! I took my son to the Boston area last summer to see the Salem, Constitution, Cassin Young, Massachusetts, Lionfish, Joseph P Kennedy and last but not least the Hiddensee! The Salem really is a beautiful ship, but she's in rough shape these days. I hope your exposure helps to get her some funding so she can stay beautiful.
Two more I would suggest: the USS Nautilus in Groton, CT (just returning from drydocking), and the USS Alabacore in Portsmouth, NH. The history of the post-war submarine revolution. Still within a days drive.
Glad you came over to the U.S. for your tours of WW-2 Museum ships. I've followed you for a few years now and have always enjoyed your presentations on warships. Thanks!
Just donated $10 to her. That old girl definitely needs some TLC. I was glad to see Constitution and Cassin Young last week during a visit for a wedding. Your video on the Constitution was very helpful in recognizing things. It's weird to think that after we retired the Iowa's, the largest naval gun for shore bombardment we now have is substantially outgunned by a Fletcher.
I see this Ship from my House , its like less than half a mile from it (I tried pushing it with my Kayak, Its really BIG) Its a shame that is in what was the Bethlehem Steel - Fore River Shipyard, it has been so gutted its difficult to find a trace of it, other than the enormous size of the place you wouldnt know what was there, . such a disgrace America no longer has these Yards, some famous Ships came our of here, the Quincy , Astoria, they sailed pass ed my House and didn't come back. I hope you make it to the Battleship Massachusetts , its like 40 miles South of this.
You can push it with a rowboat but not with a kayak. It has to do with the inverse of hydrodynamic fluid mechanical rotational force. Think of a reverse thread on a jar lid but counter exculpatory.
If you like puns, just wait till you sea mine! Glad you had fun, visiting but Salem isn't doing so hot herself. Unlike USS Texas, she's not scheduled for drydock time, no money. I've donated several times to help the museum but if we all pitch in she can stay around a lot longer. 🙂
The only musem ships I have seen are the USS Texas, the Constitution, and the Olympia. All of this was almost 40 years ago, spread over about 3 years time. I plan to revisit those ships plus many more in the next couple of years. I very much enjoy your channel, and plan to visit Great Britain, and tour it's museums and ships as well! Thank your for your commentary, and support of all museum ships, and Naval history!
I visited the Salem about a month and a half ago when I was visiting Massachusetts. She is a great ship to be able to see in person but she is in desparate need of some TLC, she is veeery rusty. I do however recommend a visit nontheless.
Mount 82 was restored and is maintained by former USS Newport News crewmen and their families, as a tribute and memorial to the 20 crewmen they lost off Vietnam
Am glad that my fellow countrymen have given you that sort of welcome and hospitality during your trip, just awesome almost as good as your vids. Theodore Roosevelt would have loved this ship, a big stick mounted to a jackhammer LOL, not only can we hit you but multiple times VERY quickly :)
Slide rules and manual calculations were the computers of the day. The Salem has many analog fire control computers on board, but those were likely designed using slide rules!
I worked in ship design before computers. The internals was designed with the help if a number of 1/8 scale models with perspex decks and bulkheads, and push-together plastic pipework.
Approximately 20 years ago I visited the ship as work was being done and off the bridge I think I found the Captain's day cabin and there was an opening in the ceiling above his bunk with an extension cord going up and into and like any Tribe Drach member I climbed in and up...and up...and up where I found what I believe to be an emergency gun director position for literally a 1 to 3 person crew with optical equipment, switches, lights and all covered by a clear dome similar to a bomber gun turret. Could you look into this and expound upon its uses and any other info you think interesting / appropriate in a Drydock please. All the best to you and yours. P S please try not to poison yourself in the future....
You are lucky to have visited this off limits space and not gotten caught! That access near (not in) the captain's sea cabin is Spot 1, the main gun director for the forward facing gun mounts. That is completely off limits to visitors due to the vertical ladder access.
@@lmo1960 thank you for that...I figured as much regarding access...what was also interesting was the way every approximately 7ft I had to switch sides on the ladder which was obviously to keep one from falling too far should one be separated from said ladder. Thanks again. Best wishes to you and yours PAB
Outstanding as always, Drach! To digress- your pearl harbor salvage videos showed a sailor in one of the battleship turrets(surrounded by filth and muck)just over one of the Japanese heavy bombs, with two lifting lugs on the flat base...first saw this photo in us Navy's official book on the salvage effort.
Des Moines and Alaskas have to be my absolute favourite WW2 cruisers...they just look so picturesque! They're the only class of US cruisers who have turrets that are "proportional" to their hulls, imo
@@battlefieldthree5394 And if you consider the definition of a battlecruiser as a cruiser killer that will never sail in a line of battle, the Alaska and Guam may have qualified. Certainly fit the definition of a super cruiser at least.
I’m really impressed with your knowledge of these ships! I was in the USAF in the very early eighties. I was assigned as a aircraft maintenance specialist working on the B-52G& H models. They were very complex too. So, I admire your skills and appreciate them!
This ship is 10 minutes from me, I went to a haunted ship theme one October years and years ago, we went to outback after that at the now demolished Hanover mall. I’ll definitely remember that great time
Pinned post for Q&A :)
Did being on this ship make you feel more manly? Did you instantly start growing more chest hair and a thicker beard?
Do you think La Galissonniere class is a bit under-armed for their rather long hull?
any plans to visit some destroyers museum-ized in the US? DD 946 Edson, etc?
8:14 is it the rust?
Hey, Drach, I absolutely love your channel. I discovered your videos just before you transitioned from using computer narration to recording the V/O yourself. You've always produced quality content, but you've really developed a great unique voice & style (also switching to human narration was the probably the single best decision you made.)
Now, I'm sorry but this isn't a question but I was really hoping to get this noticed:
Have you ever listened to The Dreadnoughts? They've recorded many chanties and other naval themed content as well. If nothing else to "Lifeboat Man" "Pique La Baleina".
Thank you for all the quality content and your time
When the Brits are impressed by your heavy cruiser you know you built a good heavy cruiser.
Probably because they never got any Heavy Cruisers comparable to it.
About 20 years ago when I was in boy scouts we did a weekend trip where we stayed aboard the Salem, the museum staff gave us damage control and first aid training that they were able to make fun and we got to play hide and seek on the cruiser, framed as a training exercise to find a missing and injured sailor. Easily one of my best childhood memories.
That’s a cool story. I served on a carrier and I’m still a bit jealous.
I got to do the same thing aboard the Massachusetts itself, back in like '88 or '89. Honestly one of the highlights of my entire childhood. Just getting to live on a battleship for a weekend. I really wanted it to be the New Jersey. (My troop was in NJ) but she was still active duty at the time. 😂
Far longer than 20 years ago, mid 70's ... I got to do a dependents day cruise on the USS Oriskany. My Dad was in Fox Div onboard her. Laying flat on my back as we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, I would have sworn that we were going to hit the underside of the bridge. That was a fun day.
Did the same for the Yorktown ^-^
Went as a cub scout! We were there for a whole weekend near Halloween was pretty spooky. My dad still has the hat and wears it all the time. Make sure to go see the Massachusetts in Fall River, just don't leave the R/V unattended too long lol.
On the topic of Museum ship hospitality in the US, I volunteered on the USS Midway for around 8 or 9 months before leaving for college. Despite being in the safety team and not being the main people guests will talk to, we were still trained to be as polite as possible and to know information about the ship.
The reason why I believe most of these museum crews are so kind in the US is because most of us are volunteers who want to be here and want to share our love of these ships. It creates an real appreciation for our guests.
Like so many of our old war ships, she needs some love. Thank you for bringing our attention to her. USS Texas is sitting wonderfully in dry dock, getting some well earned rest and refit.
Only because the state stepped in with a big chunk of change. Ships take a lot of money to maintain, even in a museum state.
@@timclaus8313Which is why she won't be going back to her old berthing. She was getting enough visitors to cover the day to day operating expenses but never made enough to cover maintenance or get anywhere close to the cost to take her out of the water.
@@alexsis1778 I heard they want to move her to Galveston or near the Lexington.to increase tourism to both ships.
The videos I saw she's siting next to a jack-up rig, and 2 drilling rigs. I don't think they are allowing visitors onboard (except maybe VIPs), as she's in full refit (or refit for return to the original berth at San Jacinto Monument). Her hull was so deteriated, she was actual resting on the bottom. I hear the main goal is to get her hull more stable, and a coat of paint, clean-up, to be more "presentable" to the public. Funded by the Taxpayers of Texas.
It would make more sense to locate Texas in Galveston for Ticket Sales. Park her right next to Elisssa.
In regards to going to museum ships I remember going to see USS Texas before she went to dry dock. So very happy she’s getting the work done she deserves.
A lady like that deserves every bit of it
"Do not put hands in hoist" is like "Do not place head in Guillotine". How much smarter are the designers of this system compared to the expected operators ? So, if you meet an older fellow with an anchor tattoo on his forearm but no hand……. Don’t ask.
I’m glad that everyone here in the US treated you very well. I’m sure that your videos will increase visitation making it easier to maintain our ships. I'm sure that everyone interested in naval history, WWII, etc. watches all of your videos.
God bless the Queen. Long live the King.
Ah yes, the ship capable of flinging over a ton of shell downrange *every six seconds*
Her sister Newport News was still active in Vietnam providing what can only be described as; “a withering shitstorm of fire”.
That’s over five tons of ‘fuck off’ a minute, for those of us wondering.
HMS tiger (C20): those are amateur numbers
@@bigships Tiger's guns didn't work, Salem's did
@@alexs1954 closer to 10 tons/minute. 2 Des Moines class could put 1.5 times more weight downrange/minute than 1 Iowa with he shells
I served on the Newport News during her last Vietnam deployment. She was the most powerful and best looking ship in the world at that time - yeah the bird farmers might disagree with me, but the News and her sisters were built to rule the seas. I worked down in the engine room and didn't get to see the sun very often but I'll brag on the fact that our high mileage ship was fast and surprisingly reliable.
The Des Moines class cruisers were of course a much later and heavier design, but the time traveler in me says that a couple of these gunships would have owned the waters around Guadalcanal. At night or in poor visibility I'd go against the Yamato with two Des Moines cruisers.
I wish all 3 Des Moines would’ve been preserved.
@@Engine33Truck I was a 2nd class ET on the NN in 1968-70 and was on the second Vietnam cruise, just a little ahead of you. Some of our shipmates join working parties on Salem, I haven't got to go because of work and now health, but it sure would be nice to get back with some of the "slut dogs".
The main deck museum has a display commemorating her sister ships Des Moines and Newport News. Worth a visit.
@@gregorywright4918 You can also buy items from the USS Newport News ship store that help with funding the museum.
Speaking of high mileage, I heard that Columbus got 1,700 miles to the galleon..........
When my older brother was stationed in Hawaii, we all went to see the USS Missouri. Seeing that beast from the pier was awe inspiring. Seeing a ship like that from the waterline truly does impart the grandness of scale one won’t get standing on the deck. One has to look almost straight up to see it all. We then did a deck walk. One, it definitely took a few minutes to walk from bow to stern. And two, I remember touching turret one and feeling how solid it felt. So much steel. Steel, everywhere. Haha 😂
Those battleships are just so....sturdy. I remember walking around Norfolk and then touring the Wisconsin. The ground outside on the pavement didn't feel as sturdy as walking on the Wisconsin.
I've been on Wisky, Iowa and Mo, and all three ladies were wonderful to tour. It was like walking into a time capsule.
@@legessi one more to go and you will have the whole set.
@@geece1 I'd love to, but I'm not seeing any time of me heading up the coast to see New Jersey. I need a friend who lives near there to visit.
I've been aboard the Jerz. I remember standing in front of the turret looking at that ridiculously thick armor on the face, and then looking at the armored conning tower, again armored like crazy. And I remembered thinking that they needed all that armor in order to stand a chance against other ships much like her. She looked like she could take a small nuke and just walk it off, yet there were things out there to be feared, like Yamato's guns, and modern antiship missiles. Hence the 20mm CWIS Phalanx armament and the Tomahawk missile launchers and, I think, Sea Sparrow missile launchers, and a flotilla of guided missile destroyers to keep her company.
@@legessi you can tell those armored behemoths were designed to get in your face and give you a good slap from the feel those many, many tons of steel. At least, that's how they feel to the touch. 😂
2:16 “Hello Friend” gotta love Mrs Drac! 🤣🤣🤣
*"a surprise to be sure but a welcome one"*
Mrs. Mine is always happy to make new friends and hug them.
Love this heavy cruiser to bits. Have visited her recently with a friend and meet the staff who are indeed awesome and very nice. Hope more people can visit Salem, you can’t find a ship like this anywhere else anymore.
that section in the gunpit made me realize how impressive it is that these guns were all-angle autoloading. The entire loading mechanism had to swing downward along with the gun into the pit
Also I've been on the Salem numerous times, and this is the first time I've ever seen the gunpits and magazines. Those areas are normally blocked off from the general public
That was truly a marvel of engineering. The only such system in the world,
@@thomasbaughman9941 not at all unique, there are other autoloading guns that works in all angles but the ones on des moines class cruisers is the only one at this large size, the others are 155mm (6.1 inch) or smaller guns. like the archer spg/howitzer from volvo/bae systems has a 152mm (6 inch) gun that autoloads at any angle
@@Deilwynna Yea but this was in the 1940s. The Archer is from the 90's. In the Des Moines' day, the only weapons systems like the 8"/55RF Mk 16 were the 6" autoloading guns on the Worcester and Tiger class cruisers. All-angle loading itself was very rare
@@Billy-I-Am-Not The big difference s that the 8 inch gun system worked, the US and British 6 inch systems didn't US Mk 16 "These guns did not prove reliable in service, possibly because of the high rate of fire and need for any-elevation loading. Another contributing cause was that they used a dual projectile hoist system - one for AP and one for HC/AA shells - which proved to be a source of jamming."
@@colbeausabre8842 the guns on the HMS Tiger worked fine, by most accounts
As far as ship size prospective goes I think USS Wisconsin is one of the best, absolutely took my breath away when I rounded the corner onto the road directly towards her. Then going up a 6 story parking garage to take pics at radar height was awesome.
That is one good thing with the Wisconsin moored at Nauticus, the bow on view is awesome. Plus you have to go up a couple of floors in the museum to reach the brow to the weather deck.
Yup. Everyone who's ever seen her agrees that Wisky has the most *dramatic* presentation as regards your first impression. You park in a random urban area, start walking through the city, come around the corner, and *boom*, battleship, twelve o'clock, 200 yards, heading straight for you!
Even when you know it's coming, it's a shock to the system.
The Iowa almost seems dwarfed by all the cruise and cargo ships nearby. Still a magnificent ship.
@@westcoaststacker569 Well, is doesn't look like. a floating hotel, what is does look like is one bad ass ship.
@@timclaus8313 I took my father, he served on the USS Los Angeles and USS Rochester, he is very proud of his time served. All that is left of the Heavy Cruisers he served on seem to be the mast he had to once climb in front of the museum there.
Yes they are bad ass ships!
I'm so glad you were treated well by the museum crew. I'm sure they, like most of us, appreciate the interest in Naval history and museum ships you generate with your channel.
Hope you're feeling better Drach!
A main reason why the US Navy switched to the 3"L50 Automatic Cannon is that, unlike the 40mm shells, its shells could be fitted with VT (proxy) fuses for improved AA protection.
Salem, along with Massachusetts and Forrestal have a special place in my heart as the ships that my great-uncle used to take me to see as a kid (in Forrestal's case, we didn't visit her so much as drive past her on the way to his doctor's appointments at NAVSTA Newport. At least, while she was still there)
Quite a beautiful ship, my grandfather served on the Canberra in 43'
I hope you saw our small museum aboard USS Salem, our crew (USS Newport News) have working parties aboard Salem
USS Newport News (CA-148) The last all gun Heavy Cruiser. My time aboard 1968-69-70 Call sign THUNDER flag hoist; November - India - Quebec - Quebec Then onboard the USS Springfield (CLG-7) 71-72 Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Delta - Mike "Fair Winds and Following Seas" Brothers Very good video that brings back memories.
The "claw-type device" is called a parbuckle, and is also present in larger caliber shell handling rooms on various USN ships.
As a Marine, I wish we still had fire support like this. Those 8inch autoloaders are probably why this is my favorite class of cruiser by far. Also, I think I've mentioned it on your Des Moines-class 5-minute guide, but I seriously think a Des Moines could wreck early WW1-era superdreadnoughts in a 1:1 (due to the advantages of speed and radar fire control).
RIP AGS
Of course. There are lots of examples where radar was decisive between WWII-era ships. (North Cape, Surigao Strait, Cape Matapan, Rheinübung)
would an 8" shell penetrate the belt, deck, or turret armor on a WWI battleship at a range where the battleships secondary armament was ineffective?
It would depend on who hit first and how often.
But yes, my bet would on the late model 8 in. cruisers!
I think the Salem could probably have a pretty fair chance against most inter-war Battleships! Not the latest, but the 1920s and early '30s. Not the latest or most modernized but as built. The radar, fire control, and rapid fire, would be difficult to defeat. Sustained 8 inch hits could disable and render most Battleships unfit for combat, provided they didn't sink their opponent first.
@@devilslawyer1646 The Japanese battleship Hiei tangled with US cruisers, both light and heavy and I think USS Helena which had fifteen automated 6 inch guns absolutely shredded the superstructure and bridge, and the daylight found Hiei steaming in a circle at 5 knots and Henderson Field's aircraft took her out.
I wish both your channel and RUclips were around 30 years ago. The biggest reason is when you visited these museum ships back then, some of the crew (especially WWII crew) would give some amazing private tours. The stories they had, and memories shared were just amazing. I was in the Marine Corps in the late 90’s stationed in Hawaii. As a platoon we went to the Arizona Memorial in uniform for an educational trip. When the veterans of WWII saw us coming, they went to their cars and grabbed scrapbooks of photos and shared their memories with us. The one veteran that really stuck out to us was a fellow Marine that was a bugler on the Pennsylvania during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Drach, I made a short video about Salem about a month here on RUclips, luckily it got lots of traction! Hope your video brings more attention to Salem and prompts support for her restoration!
USS Salem was in the role of Graf Spee in british movie "The Battle of the River Plate".
Just downloaded and watched it. Didn't even bother to cover up "139."
@@robertslugg8361 The US Navy insisted on that. Also, all the crewmen wore their US uniforms. My personal take is they didn't want pictures of their ship covered in swastikas showing up in Pravda.
@@JohnWilliamNowak Makes sense
@@JohnWilliamNowak 'Russia Today has joined the chat' (sees USN uniforms) 'Russia Today has left the chat'
The finest gun system ever used on a warship in my opinion.
So, me and wifey driving back from Boston to NYC, desided we got time to check out USS Salem in Quincy, MA, back on 09/11/22. I also touched those 16" shells at the entrance but the yellow paint was fresh, still, and the lady at the entrance had a good laugh. Upon entering the ship I saw 4 ppl following an elder volunteer, I promptly forgot his name but he is present in a couple of pictures I took, so I will remember him forever, because this dude took our group anywhere we wanted, and when the museum closed we stayed for another couple of hours with him. We went to last armored pilot house, the bridge, upper decks, engine room, aft hangar, #2 main battery turret... I mean, we werr there with him for over 5 hours, and the reason we left was immence hunger and a thought of another 4-5 hours drive back home in a nasty rain in the evening. This guy is close to 70yo, former navy man, who is in charge of electric and mech parts of the ship and he HAD STORIES I wish I was recording, but I took pictures instead. Even my wife, who will not watch a movie about war or read a book pertaining to history, was hanging on his every word, climbing multitudes of steep stairs and stepping in inevitable machine oil puddles in areas marked "NO ADMITTANCE", cause we stuck our noses everywhere. The guy begged us to talk up the ship on social media, which kinda sucks, because I dont have FB, Twatter or IG. I dumped some pics on my WOWS clans Discord channel, but not many ppl will see. Point is, if anyone is interested in US history, engineering, etc, needs to visit places like these, because they are slowly getting whittled away by time and especially the people who still work on this ship will eventually dissapear. I saw some young volunteers but I doubt their knowledge and willingness to spend hours on such personalized tour. Guy refused any tips, so I dropped some money into the donation box before exiting. Oh, and if anyone is going to Battleship Cove, USS Massachusetts is under repair. JPKennedy and Lionfish were accessible, as well as USS Cassin Young back in Boston. Note, that USS Constitution is under "active duty", so the cops with metal detectors will stop you from going through if you got a pocket knife in your jeans pocket... ahem. Had to leave it with wife and go alone and let her have a turn. USS Constitution has very low ceiling on lower deck and I slammed my forehead a few times, so be warned. Plan your trip fast ppl, the winter is not too far off and Im not sure how accesible those ships are in the winter!
My Dad served on the Salem during his final summer at the USNA in 1956. We live locally, and have visited many times, along with the Constitution, and the battleship USS Massachusetts, and other ships, in Fall River. I consider myself very lucky to be on these wonderful museum ships with a naval veteran who KNOWS what he’s takin about! Thanks for visiting Massachusetts and we hope you enjoyed your stay!
Awesome video! I was onboard that day, I was the kid with the "Illustrated Design History of U.S Cruisers". As one of the volunteers, it was a pleasure meeting you.
Ah yes, a tour of the Admiral Graf Spee. Thank you, Drach and hope you feel better
Salem cosplaying Spee (・o・)
@@Aelxi and Sheffield as Ajax, Jamaica as Exeter and Achilles as....Achilles
@@Big_E_Soul_Fragment And also HMS Cumberland playing herself!
This is when I'd support using CGI for external views of the ship. I'd see those three turrets and go 'nope' and watch something else. It's like using the turboprop BeechcraftTexan II for a Zero in a movie simply because it has a single prop.
Drach don't underestimate just how much you are changing the perceptions of the public, I'm a flier and really didn't give a fig about the navy until I saw your video's about the Australian Navy and much to my surprise called it such instead of lumping it as commonwealth forces as most channels do.
It's not just us it is every country that was involved you pay the same curtesy and it was for that and that alone I subscribed now I'm a fan so thank you from a mad Aussie fly boy.
The USS Iowa is moored next to the Port of Los Angeles cruise terminal. In addition to the quay being rather high out of the water, it is dwarfed by the cruise ships and container vessels docked next to it.
Navigation is perfect, that beautiful sunrise and the silhouette of the ship. Brings back some memories as a Merchant seaman drinking my coffee of course.
"This warning sign, despite being from thr Bureau of Ordnance was actually quite helpful." BURORD was possibly the greatest asset to the IJN during the war.
So glad you visited USS Salem. I'll have to see it next time I visit relatives nearby.
There's a video on operation of the 8" & 3" automatic guns: usssalemca139, rapid fire guns video. (Separated into words: USS Salem CA 139)
It is on the Salem's RUclips channel!
@@lmo1960 Yeah, but I figured to get the word out....
Awesome look inside the ship. Much too short. I could spend days crawling all over that ship. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed your journey to the U.S. and our naval history.
Heck, a ship in the USN doesn't need to be in mothballs to be cannibalized for spares! It routinely happens to ships that are just in the shipyard for overhaul/repair or modernization. I've been on both sides of it (having parts from my boat cannibalized and going to other boats in the yard to take their parts.)
So true. I remember well, Easter Weekend, 1992 (I think) I was the leading comm ET on USS Peterson DD-969, we were finishing up a 14-month ROH at Ingalls in Pascagoula. I had weekend duty. The USS John Hancock DD-981 had a bad class Alpha fire in her radio transmitter room, (The RM's had been stowing burn bags in the transmitter room. Still can't believe that the EMO or the Lead comm ET allowed that, I know I wouldn't have) and they caught fire, never did find out exactly how. Smoke and heat damage was extensive. Hancock was scheduled for deployment in just over a month. My guys and I had just spent the neter part of 6 months overhauling and grooming of all our HF transmitters, they were like brand new. I was ordered to load them all into a rental truck and drive them from Pascagoula to Jacksonville and deliver them to the Hancock. We brought back their fire damaged junk, and had to do a hasty, abbreviated rehab job on them with very little time to get it done. Went from having a like-new HF suite to trying to remedy someone else's problems. (again) We eventually got them up to snuff, but it was a long, frustrating and exhausting process. Truth be told, I'm still a little hacked off about it 30 years later. LOL
ITs just as bad on the seawolf subs
Great video! I agree with others that the USS Salem is one of my favorite museum ships I have seen. The ship is technologically impressive, but (at least when I went on a weekend) there were so many guides that everyone was basically getting private tours. It really makes all the difference to hear the history / stories that goes with the ship. Definitely worth the visit.
Weekends are much better. I was there on a weekday last year and there was only a person taking tickets and a person on the weather deck. Slow day.
Wonderful program , it’s just like being back on board. They sailed so well, stable with responsive handling and projected power. And the guns, just awesome. They were fast and commodious , the time of my life. All three sat like Queens in Phila, even the missing rifle from number two turret on NN not diminishing their grace and beauty.
I wish someone had taken a picture of that lineup back then.
Visited the Salem in 2010 and my dad served as a ship board Marine officer in the 1955 range, when she was part of the Mediterranean fleet. Back then, the final port of call before heading home was Havana. Scattered some of my dad's ashes over the side when no one was looking.
I have a feeling that you might not be the only one to do that. I know nothing, I see nothing! :)
Awesome to see. They recently moved Battleship Texas, which was moored 10 minutes away from me. ( I live where Urban cowboy was filmed) across the street from the old Gilleys bar.
Love your work with Tino Struckmann and Appearances elsewhere! Would love to see you make a trip to Japan to see the Yamato Muesum or Mikasa.
I was there for the chat, Drach. It was a great time and very informative! I'm the guy who gave you the Lego Royal Navy Sailor ;)
I like to start my day with a "whilst" from Drach! As an English major, I appreciate the uncommon word choice. Cheers!
Drach, I think it's worth mentioning that the industrial area where the USS Salem is located was once the Fore River Shipyard. Both Lexingtons were built there as well as USS Wasp, Bunker Hill, Philippine Sea, and Hancock. Both the Des Moines and Salem, along with Long Beach, Portland, Quincy and Vincennes. The list is very long and worth googling. Sadly, shipbuilding ceased in 1986.
I live right up the street from the Salem. Super excited you finally did a video on it!
Ah. good to see that Ms. Drach got to meet one of her relatives. XD
I remember how I got some looks from some of the fans during the Haida meetup, after making a remark about another sea mine there. XD I have to assume they weren't familiar with that rather famous episode. :D
It was a pleasure meeting you on Salem Drach! And Constitution, And Massachusetts lol.
The drive from new York was worth it. I enjoyed the ships very much and you only made it better.
Hooray! More America trip videos!
Nice! Early in August my wife and I were able to take a trip to the USS Yorktown. She said my expression was priceless as we pulled up. We've decided to plan future vacations around other museum ships. Was definitely one of the coolest things I've done in my life. Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures!
35:07 I am thoroughly disappointed we didn't a Toy Story "The CLaaaawwwww" moment. All jokes aside, great video, the autoloader mechanism looks insanely complex, but I gather it was pretty reliable.
I hope she gets a bit more footfall, she looks a little tired and like Texas, she's basically unique. Every museum ship is precious as every ship has a story to tell, but when a ship is the representative of her type or generation, then she becomes even more important to preserve.
As a Brit, I lament Vanguard and Warspite going to the scrap yard, and even more modern ships like the Tiger class and Invincible class all just vanish into little more than cutlery and imagines in history books.
I‘m glad you Brits managed to save HMS Belfast. I walked past her multiple times while visiting London, but my interest in historical navy ships was not there yet. Missed opportunity 😕
Too bad the Yanks decided to nuke Prinz Eugen after the war. That would be an even more special museum ship.
Every 8-inch shell ever chosen was so excited to go on to a better place. 😁
Salem is the only surviving heavy cruiser in the world.
Awww... it's nice to see family that's been separated by such long distances.
Never seen a full mechanism, gun loading and traverse system on the Salem before, although I've visited the Salem like 4 times already
Only special Naval Historians and crew get to se that
Unfortunately, the gun pit, handling rooms, and magazines are only accessible via vertical ladders, which means the general public will never get to visit them in person. Benefits to being a volunteer! :)
I visited USS Salem 3 days before I moved from Quincy Ma. I decided after living there for a few years I could not leave without seeing that ship, so I had to rush through in an afternoon, while my wife packed. I have no regrets. :D
Thank you for visiting and reviewing the Salem. I love this ship. We would sleep over on her and Mammy as kids during field trips or scouts. They turn the Sea Witch into a haunted house for Halloween and it’s terrifying. It needs a little TLC so every $5-10 donation counts! I wish the state put as much care into her as Constitution but I get it. The ship is huge, it’s over 700ft long so I can’t imagine maintaining it. Our weather is obv famously bad half the year so she sits in snow, heat, salt, wind, sun, you name it.
Still looks beautiful though and is a real statement to US power projection in the early Cold War years.
The Constitution is an active US Navy vessel and is fully funded by the Navy, not a dime from Massachusetts. 99% of all museums in Massachusetts get no state funding as they are private non-profit institutions. There is some state grant money available, but not not even remotely close to the needs of many dozens of organizations that could use help.
I also visited “Intrepid” few years ago. And it was really impressive. The size and everything. But. When I visited “New Jersey” - one of the “Iowa” class battleships, I will never forget the first impression, when I saw her. I remember that as it was yesterday. Such a beauty. Such a power. And I am so happy that so many ships are preserved as museums in States so we can visit them.
Thank you, Drach for this video. I wish you will visit much more ships here so all of us can enjoy the results, like this one! 🙌🏻
Hi I stand to be corrected but here goes! A British war film, Battle of the River Plate, made in 1956, need a ship to represent the German Battleship Graf Spee, the ship they used was the USS Salem!
God Bless all the armed forces of the free world for keeping us all safe.
How did you like American roads and rental RV's. I took 7 family members form Miami to Oklahoma City to Greensborough Kentucky to Miami. 6300 miles in 14 days. Great way to travel.
I wish you could have seen the USS Lexington, she's enormous...
I live north of the USS Salem by an hour and a have and have driven by there many times going elsewhere. I have it on my bucket list of things to do when I have a spare moment to go looking at attractions. The Constitution and USS Massachusetts are also on that list. Warships are fascinating to explore. I went to the Alabama when I lived down that way in the 80's and was awestruck by it's size and all the cool stuff that they stuff on a warship. It's wonderful to hear you were treated to some good 'ole New England hospitality
When she first came to Quincy she was docked closer to the bridge with easy access off the nearby rotary. Unfortunately the bridge had to be torn down and replaced requiring her to be moved to the more out of the way location she is in now. Hopefully one day she can move back to her previous berth.
I had the opportunity to speak to someone about that an I believe Quincy has plans to make her a centerpiece for a waterfront
Actually the ship was in that same berth all throughout the bridge construction project. The MBTA sold the land to Cashman Marine, who is using it for industrial marine purposes. Cashman provided the infrastructure for the current berth, which was, and is, better than the alternative of disposal of the ship!
I was mainly referring to when she first arrived in Quincy she had a berth right next to the bridge with easy access off the rotary. She also had some other WW2 memorabilia on display next to the ship and lots of parking. This was all before the bridge had issues and if memory serves there were issues with the berth as well (could be mistaken on that). Ultimately requiring her to move a few berths down. That being said anywhere she can dock and still be able to be visited is better than the breakers.
@@jimd312 The state originally wanted the ship moved to build the temporary bridge, and eventually the new bridge, but balked at the cost to move it, so the museum lost a lot of the display space where Gulf/Iraq War vehicles and weapons were displayed. Eventually the MWRA transferred the land to the MBTA, who eventually determined the pier needed work and didn't renew the Salem's lease. The MBTA sold the land/pier to Cashman Marine who built the existing mooring for the Salem. Other locations were explored, but there simply isn't an available location anywhere in New England. This is all first hand knowledge.
6:15 @Drachinifel wait until you see USS Missouri firstly across the harbour from the visitor center and then when you approach the ship by foot when you leave the shuttle bus. That is a sight to behold you won’t forget!
The opening observation regarding the external view is interesting. I had the pleasure of going aboard the USS Iowa on her visit to Pompey Dockyard in the late 80's. I worked in the yard at the time and had a walk around the public didn't get with a middle aged leading seaman re-activated due to the near uniqueness of the Iowa in the US fleet at that time. She was berthed on Pitch House Jetty (from memory) and was a truly menacing sight on a misty pre-dawn morning. The gun house was an inverse Tardis. Massive on the outside, much smaller on the inside. The armoured conning tower gave a similar feeling but more so. I wonder how many other 56 year Olds there are out there that can say they have been on board an active commissioned battleship?
The size of Iowa compared to HMS Tiger (or Blake - the memory fades!) Also in Pompey about that time was staggering. Anyway, thanks Drach. Another great video.
Fascinating sir. Thanks for sharing. I assume tiger or Blake were both just sitting in docks in reserve at that time?
Constitution being only a few miles away, the Navy's last wooden frigate (and the oldest commissioned ship in the world) overshadows both the Cassin Downes (moored across the pier from Constitution) and the Salem (moored in Quincy). Any attention the Salem can get is a good thing, so thank you very much for giving the fine old lady of the South Shore some love!
That whole area, Fore River, was once a booming ship building complex and has a history of it's own. As a young boy, I can remember seeing large amounts of old smaller ships from WWII with flat tops built on top. Not sure what the name or class of those ships were but there was quite a few of them all ganged up.
Escort Carriers!!
@@Kellen6795 Thanks, you are correct. Looked up some photos and that's what I remember seeing.
The Salem has a museum on the main deck with exhibits, models, pictures and dioramas about the Fore River Shipyard and Boston Navy Yard. The Long Beach was built there, as well as the Lexington (CV-2) and many others, big and small. Worth spending an extra hour - and air conditioned!
Welcome to the United States. Im glad you found our museums hospitable.
Will Mrs. Drach be narrating new episodes on mine warfare? I would listen to that.
A mechanical engineer's dream! Thanks so much for the tour Drach!!
Looking at the mechanisms of the gun turrets made me think of all the old technologies of the twentieth century that have essentially been lost. Even when we have complete examples left we don't have an understanding of how they were used let alone how they were manufactured.
Vacuum tubes for example. We know the theory of their design and a historically minded artisan might be able to produce one but the actual methods and machinery of how they were mass produced have been lost. Designs for individual pieces of equipment might still exist buried in an patent archive somewhere but finding them and relating them in context to each other would be like finding the lost Ark.
As a guitar player I'll have to strongly disagree when it comes to vacuum tubes. A lot of newly designed guitar amps still use tubes. The problem is that their manufacturing is no longer profitable in the West so they are no longer manufactured here . But still, hundreds of boutique guitar amp builders still understand vacuum tube technologies veeeeeery well.
And people say the mechanicus is unrealistic when we have lost the technology to make laserdiscs
@@TheShrike616 My main concern in this context is that the processes for mass manufacturing of older technologies isn't being preserved. Not just the items themselves but the machinery that was used in the process.
To use an analogy it would like knowing you use a hammer and an anvil to make shovel or an axe but, if you don't know what a hammer or and anvil even is, there isn't much point;).
2:11 - You are a very brave man. 42:52 - tappin out eh? Well done sir!
Salem was the perfect choice for portraying the Graf Spee in my opinion. Such a powerful ship. I assume she could have taken down all 3 British cruisers without much trouble.
Salem's Spee cosplay
Having half a decades worth of improved fire control, radar and especially those automatic gun mounts. She could probably take on twice as many cruisers as Graf Spee did and still come out on top
That is a fun question. The actual participants; Exeter, Ajax and Achilles probably would stand no chance; Salem's rate of fire would probably overwhelm them in fairly short order before they could dial in the range and begin to deal attractional damage. Fiji and 2 Leander's may be a different prospect; the 12 guns of a Crown Colony class are the same as the Town's and were designed to give similar fire-power to a peer heavy cruiser, so the two Leander's and a Fiji possibly could throw enough 6in fire to certainly make a fight of it.
I would expect all of the participants of the actual battle, ie Exeter, Ajax, Achilles AND Graf Spee would be able to take down a Des Moines class, although I would expect Salem could take one or two with her.
It is very much opinion; I've not looked at shell weights/shells per min/bursting charge weights to verify though. Speed would also be a factor; if Salem could dictate the engagement range she will have a huge advantage against any combination of battle/film particpants.
@@deaks25 Well, I do believe that 6inch gunfire isn't enough to take down a very large heavy cruiser like Salem. Graf Spee took lots of 6inch hits and while they did damage, it certainly wasn't catastrophic damage. Salem had much heavier armor protection than Graf Spee, and the British cruisers would have no immunity from her heavy 8inch AP.
To beat a Salem, I assume you would need 3 County class cruisers, or 2 pocket battleships. I think the effectiveness of her rate of fire coupled with her very advanced and accurate fire control cannot be overstated.
Regarding the Graf Spee + British cruisers vs Salem, I do think it depends heavily on whether or not Salem is able to knock out Graf Spee quickly. If she fails to do this, then she will probably be overwhelmed.
The Movie is right, the British Cruisers won that fight as a direct result of their aggression, in true Naval traditions they moved into closer range to fight Graf Spee inside her gun range, Damn the torpedoes "Full speed ahead".
Im a little north of Boston and have seen Massachusetts at fall river but had no idea Salem was so close. Definitely need to visit soon
The Gun Pit reminds me of the bascule chambers in the piers of Tower bridge in London, not a good idea to be there when several tonnes of machinery lower to occupy the space.
I'm unsurprised by the Welcome you were given, the Americans can be extraordinarily hospitable folks.
Also, it's a safe bet that anyone who works on these ships knows who Drach is by now.
I never heard of him until his visit, despite being involved with museum ships since 1994!
One of my most favorite naval vessels ever. I really hope I can get out to Massachusetts some time to see her
I'm so glad that you got to see the Salem Drachinifel! I took my son to the Boston area last summer to see the Salem, Constitution, Cassin Young, Massachusetts, Lionfish, Joseph P Kennedy and last but not least the Hiddensee! The Salem really is a beautiful ship, but she's in rough shape these days. I hope your exposure helps to get her some funding so she can stay beautiful.
Two more I would suggest: the USS Nautilus in Groton, CT (just returning from drydocking), and the USS Alabacore in Portsmouth, NH. The history of the post-war submarine revolution. Still within a days drive.
Glad you came over to the U.S. for your tours of WW-2 Museum ships. I've followed you for a few years now and have always enjoyed your presentations on warships. Thanks!
Just donated $10 to her. That old girl definitely needs some TLC.
I was glad to see Constitution and Cassin Young last week during a visit for a wedding. Your video on the Constitution was very helpful in recognizing things.
It's weird to think that after we retired the Iowa's, the largest naval gun for shore bombardment we now have is substantially outgunned by a Fletcher.
The Zumwalts have 2x 6" guns, but the Navy blew the development of ammo for them and they are looking to remove them now. Sad.
At 30:25 you call the elevation gears a "rack and pinion", actually the correct term is, "sector and pinion" as a "rack" is straight not curved
I see this Ship from my House , its like less than half a mile from it (I tried pushing it with my Kayak, Its really BIG) Its a shame that is in what was the Bethlehem Steel - Fore River Shipyard, it has been so gutted its difficult to find a trace of it, other than the enormous size of the place you wouldnt know what was there, . such a disgrace America no longer has these Yards, some famous Ships came our of here, the Quincy , Astoria, they sailed pass ed my House and didn't come back.
I hope you make it to the Battleship Massachusetts , its like 40 miles South of this.
You can push it with a rowboat but not with a kayak. It has to do with the inverse of hydrodynamic fluid mechanical rotational force. Think of a reverse thread on a jar lid but counter exculpatory.
I love your commentary! Thank you for highlighting this wonderful ship!
If you like puns, just wait till you sea mine!
Glad you had fun, visiting but Salem isn't doing so hot herself. Unlike USS Texas, she's not scheduled for drydock time, no money. I've donated several times to help the museum but if we all pitch in she can stay around a lot longer. 🙂
The only musem ships I have seen are the USS Texas, the Constitution, and the Olympia. All of this was almost 40 years ago, spread over about 3 years time.
I plan to revisit those ships plus many more in the next couple of years.
I very much enjoy your channel, and plan to visit Great Britain, and tour it's museums and ships as well!
Thank your for your commentary, and support of all museum ships, and Naval history!
I visited the Salem about a month and a half ago when I was visiting Massachusetts. She is a great ship to be able to see in person but she is in desparate need of some TLC, she is veeery rusty. I do however recommend a visit nontheless.
I think that is why Drach spent so much film time on turret 82 - it is in the best condition...
Mount 82 was restored and is maintained by former USS Newport News crewmen and their families, as a tribute and memorial to the 20 crewmen they lost off Vietnam
Am glad that my fellow countrymen have given you that sort of welcome and hospitality during your trip, just awesome almost as good as your vids. Theodore Roosevelt would have loved this ship, a big stick mounted to a jackhammer LOL, not only can we hit you but multiple times VERY quickly :)
What truly boggles the mind is that that ship was blueprinted without the use of computers. And then to build her with all that internal complexity.
Slide rules and manual calculations were the computers of the day. The Salem has many analog fire control computers on board, but those were likely designed using slide rules!
I worked in ship design before computers. The internals was designed with the help if a number of 1/8 scale models with perspex decks and bulkheads, and push-together plastic pipework.
@@dukenukem5768 I built many a model ship as a kid. I would have loved to get one that size to work on.
Great Vid, Thank You ! So fortunate to have had the 139 in our back yard for all these years, much pride and respect from all aboard the Vessel Betty
Well done
@Drachinifel i am glad you had a good experience on the USS Salem.
Approximately 20 years ago I visited the ship as work was being done and off the bridge I think I found the Captain's day cabin and there was an opening in the ceiling above his bunk with an extension cord going up and into and like any Tribe Drach member I climbed in and up...and up...and up where I found what I believe to be an emergency gun director position for literally a 1 to 3 person crew with optical equipment, switches, lights and all covered by a clear dome similar to a bomber gun turret. Could you look into this and expound upon its uses and any other info you think interesting / appropriate in a Drydock please. All the best to you and yours. P S please try not to poison yourself in the future....
You are lucky to have visited this off limits space and not gotten caught! That access near (not in) the captain's sea cabin is Spot 1, the main gun director for the forward facing gun mounts. That is completely off limits to visitors due to the vertical ladder access.
@@lmo1960 thank you for that...I figured as much regarding access...what was also interesting was the way every approximately 7ft I had to switch sides on the ladder which was obviously to keep one from falling too far should one be separated from said ladder. Thanks again. Best wishes to you and yours PAB
Outstanding as always, Drach! To digress- your pearl harbor salvage videos showed a sailor in one of the battleship turrets(surrounded by filth and muck)just over one of the Japanese heavy bombs, with two lifting lugs on the flat base...first saw this photo in us Navy's official book on the salvage effort.
Des Moines and Alaskas have to be my absolute favourite WW2 cruisers...they just look so picturesque! They're the only class of US cruisers who have turrets that are "proportional" to their hulls, imo
Careful now British consider Alaska class were battlecruisers in their eyes
@@battlefieldthree5394 And if you consider the definition of a battlecruiser as a cruiser killer that will never sail in a line of battle, the Alaska and Guam may have qualified. Certainly fit the definition of a super cruiser at least.
29:49 even though I'm an IT professional not an engineer, I find looking at all these pipes and tubes fascinating.
I had the pleasure of seeing the St. Paul whilst my ship was transiting South China Sea after offloading Marines and their equipment at Danang.
My dad was on the fighting saint during the Korean war.
my Uncle was in the Mardet on the uss Des Moines in ww2 I'd like to see this ship some day
The old lady still looks awesome.
I’m really impressed with your knowledge of these ships! I was in the USAF in the very early eighties. I was assigned as a aircraft maintenance specialist working on the B-52G& H models. They were very complex too. So, I admire your skills and appreciate them!
Ow, did you just say that Mrs. Drach lays in wait quietly then explodes when you least expect it?😂
Or is he saying she is lorge and round?
(points to Drach's video on the Channel Dash)
This ship is 10 minutes from me, I went to a haunted ship theme one October years and years ago, we went to outback after that at the now demolished Hanover mall. I’ll definitely remember that great time