I bow before you in gratitude sir, I've been waiting a long time for this moment. Now it's time to get some cheese and crackers ready for a late night's watching.
Which axis admiral in your opinion was the most skilled? And why does it seem like in general besides Yamamoto most axis admirals don't get much conversation?
I suspect you'd enjoy Roger Knight's new book 'Convoys' about their part in winning the Napoleonic Wars. It argues that a good convoy system and an adequate merchant marine was as important as the Royal Navy.
Whenever the HMS New Zealand is mentioned in a a video, even briefly, and I cannot help but think of the Maori warrior outfit and it's ability to make a ship invincible.
From: The Battle of Jutland Part 1. ruclips.net/video/TkR2HpkrJ2c/видео.html 30:24 "Aboard HMS New Zealand, Captain John Greene, also known as 'Jimmie', solemnly orders the Maori warrior skirt and green pendant, be brought to the bridge, where he puts them on. Thus enabling the supernatural protection that these items bestow upon his ship."
I admit, I may have postulated how I would make them work as McGuffins in a modern urban fantasy (i went with "divert a hit to someone else on your side")
Fisher is certainly a fascinating character, but my favorite Royal Navy connected story remains one involving Charles Gordon. When Gordon was made governor of the Sudan, which at the time was a truly vast portion of Eastern Africa, one thing he made a point of doing was running around the territory and meeting all the major potentates. So he ends up high in the mountains somewhere in the South talking to one some powerful warlord. The warlord turns to Gordon and says 'you do realize that I could have you killed right here and now?" Gordon answers, without blinking, 'yes, but then you would have to deal with the Royal Navy." Gordon make it home just fine, at least at that point.
@Roy Pignatiello - I think I see your mistake. Drach's content requires a sufficiently high level of intelligence and discernment as a prerequisite for appreciating it. It could be that you're assuming a much larger percentage of the people who frequent RUclips possess those qualities than is actually the case.
@@rohanthandi4903 Thank you for illustrating the point so clearly, which is that *_appreciating_* the content requires intelligence and discernment. By the way, are you a subscriber?
I love how Fisher has this continually pissed expression on his face. To the point where I've never seen the thumbnail photo, but I still recognize the guy.
This reminds me of something Othias from C&Rsenal said. All the successful armament engineers and entrepreneurs were insane narcissists. Getting their way at all costs was how they pushed unproven technology through government inertia and risk adverse businessmen. There are some exceptions of course. Even his enemies described John Browning as a very nice man.
@@johnnash5118 Are we defining Fisher as a sociopath or a narcissist? Never having met him and not being a clinical psychologist I couldn't say myself with certainty. In any case I would say the answer to your question is probably yes. It does seem to me one can likely be a sociopath, e.g. exhibiting some antisocial behaviours, without such behaviour necessarily being self interested, e.g. narcissistic.
@@johnnash5118 One thing I would say, is that in dealing with the inertia of a Royal Navy steeped in it's traditions, Fisher's means seem to me understandable.
I'll nail my colours to the mast. My pikeman's helmet says "Fear Godde And Dredd Naught" on the side. One of my railway locomotives is named "Fisher". Been waiting for this one, Thank You Drach!
One of my naval heroes - a proper sailor, moderniser and technocrat. My grandfather was Naval Gunfire Support at Gallipoli (waving semophore flags whilst being shot at by the Turks) and - according to my dad - always blamed Churchill and the politicians for the bloody mess it was, never Fisher. Nice to finally find out he was right.
I read a book on the Gallipoli campaign. It was a mess all around and never should have been attempted the way it was... A tragedy for all the grunts forced into it.
@@WhySolSirius probably one of the only *REMOTELY* good things to come out of it was Australia's entry into the global stage, and even that can be conteste.
@@cameronnewton7053 I'd say the reputation gained from our involvement was probably worth it... but I wasn't alive at the time, And I'd bet the families who lost their sons would disagree. It did, however. Set us up post war for more independence from British rule.
You can add at the Dardanelles, which originally supposed to have be the only plan the British and French had. It was expected that the RN and additional French vessels would force the Dardanelles and take Constantinople on their own. The British Admiral in charge was also afraid once he started to loose his ships despite being told and expecting to loose several ships. His force comprised older obsolete battleships that were really good for nothing except their huge caliber guns. They, unknowingly, had basically defeated the Ottomans when bombarding the forts in the Dardanelles. Some of the Ottoman forts had used up all their shells. But the British admiral retreated and delayed is next attack allowing the forts to be resupplied. Then the French ships did an about face. Thus once Britain had committed it's self they had to push on then came the land campaign at Gallipoli. The only successful this the Brits did was evacuate their entire land force in one night without a death and Johnny Turk even knowing. With hind sight if the ships had of charged the straights again the next day most likely they would have taken the entire Ottoman Empire out with a single stroke.
My great grandad was on one of the pre dreadnaught battleships sunk in the Dardanelles (I've never been able to find out if it was Ocean or Indefatigable) and he always told my grandma a similar story. After the ship sank he was stranded out at sea for over 24 hours with hundreds of fellow sailors until a British destroyer rescued them. He always blamed Churchill, but never Fisher.
Most people under about 40 nowadays can't even remember who Monty was, let alone Fisher. Unlike the Americans, we never enshrined the men of WW1 or WW2 into our history as heroes. With one obvious exception- Churchill
@@silverhost9782 even in North America no one knows a darn thing about history except the nazis where the baddies lol its pathetic I once had a former boss tell me he could not find France on a map in short history in general is forgotten by the public till it serves a political will to either upset a certian group or pull us together around someone as a symbol
I can’t believe it I’m watching an animated thing about Iwo Jima. It comes to the navy and the crazy Japanese. “I was like I love this guy”. Who is it. YOU MY MAN YOU. I’ve been here from Dry Dock 30ish. I’m still here. You make the world a happier place. Imagine Star Wars dread knots imagine a movie with you sensibilities. Keep it up.
I enjoyed this tremendously. For his time Jackie Fisher was as brilliant as Mahan - and as impactful in his deeds. The transformation of the Royal Navy to the modern age probably couldn’t have been done by anyone else. Unless you serve a Navy for decades (or write/study about it) - you probably can’t grasp how conservative and resistive to necessary change the great Navies of the world are. Thank You
Can't wait for part 2. I thought I knew a lot about Fisher but this last hour has expanded my knowledge 10 fold. In an extremely entertaining way too. Thanks Guys.
Really highlights how fast technology changed in the later half of he 1800's that a naval officer who was educated by men who possibly served under Nelson, would command the fleet in WW1.
Fisher was director of ordnance in 1886---that explains something. I have been looking at British coastal guns in WWII. Most of the coastal guns used by the army for coast defense were originally developed for the RN. Some of the types still in use for coast defense during WWII dated their original designs to the mid and late 80s, exactly when Fisher was in charge.
Thank you for this video Jackie Fisher was a man of great achievement but not without flaws but certainly a man who made the Royal Navy fit to fight WW1.
I'll watch this at the weekend with a beer (and some chocolate) but I have waited for someone to do a detailed video on this controversial character for ages! Looking forward to it
It should be remembered that all the physical attributes that make for a great dancer also make for a great fighter, plus you can get along with people.
A really good video! You have to have “movers & shakers” that are not only innovative, but with the force of personality to see their vision thru to fruition. Imagine if he’d come along a generation later, and the innovations he could have brought to the Royal Navy in WW2. Bravo Zulu!
Some years ago, I mused about what it would be like to have a young Jackie as a messmate, watching his mind work. Now I am looking forward to the next installment with greater anticipation. I have been reading the Raven book, and the way the gestation of the Renowns and Courageouses, Jackie's last projects, are laid out, makes no sense. There is more to that story, somewhere.
Based on everything we talked about Admiral Fisher. Is it safe to assume, he is the Steve Jobs of late 19th century to early 20th century naval industry of the world. He brought radical changes to the how ship are built and operated. The HMS Dreadnought is like the Iphone of its time.
I’m surprised nobody has discussed Fisher’s development of network-centric warfare. I’d argue that he was the greatest of ALL admirals, a colossus among midgets.
"Lord Kelvin, my good friend, have a look at this. This new fangled electricity is making a quite spectacular showing but I wonder could this be dangerous?" [points to the exposed wire arcing to ground] "Oh heavens no, old chap. See." ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡ "Upon further consideration, perhaps it is quite dangerous." Roflmao
British folk/pop singer Al Stewart has a song called 'Old Admirals' from his album Past, Present, and Future which was clearly about Fisher although he's never named.
Been waiting for this. To digress. I'm a big Al Stewart fan. History inspires much of his work. Only person I know of who ever wrote a song about Lord Fisher. I saw Al a few years back and spoke to him about "Old Admirals". He laughed saying that few Americans had any idea who "Jackie Fisher" Was. Lyrically it breaks a bit from history toward the end....but I love the lyric over all. "I can still recall the first time....I ever put to sea..abourd the old Calcutta, in 1853...🎶🎶" Etc. For anyone here who's not heard it....enjoy. ruclips.net/video/qpenAC2nBBc/видео.html
I've got this track on an LP released at the time. The whole LP is great but is stowed away somewhere in my office next to the 78s and VHS tapes. I must retrieve it and play it again soon.
@@jimtalbott9535 Thanks for that Jim. I did watch some oldies on YT last night. Couldn't be bothered to fight through the pile of stuff filling my office that was from my late Father and Mothers' house. I'll check out this one, thanks.
Dr Clarke did an excellent video on the programme that Fisher and Lord Selborne created to integrate engineering officers into regular training, and keeping that in place seems like it was a missed opportunity for the RN. At the same time, the RN also dodged massive disaster by managing to keep Lord Beresford out of the Admiralty.
Ok I really like the pun/reference of the Incomparable battlecruiser that Fisher always envisioned on building. I find it funny and a rather nice detail. Over all pun score 10/10.
I was literally just thinking yesterday, for how much Drach mentions him, im surprised he doesnt have a video on Fisher. To the point that i thought this was an old video i somehow missed when browsing the channel
Admiral Fisher, prior to the Great War, wanted to Copenhagen the German fleet. He foresaw that war was coming and envisaged that the UK would get bogged down in a massive war of attrition, if involved in land battles. Seeing the Navy as the primary and capable service it had become, he thought he could avert a prolonged war by destroying the German fleet. "Funding our navy out of cash flow, not debt". What a great idea. Live within our means. Wish modern governments would listen to this. The shore bombardment at Alexandria is taken as the point at which Fisher thought modern guns could be effective in destroying forts and coastal installations, hence his confidence that the Navy could destroy Turkish fortifications, and force the Narrows in the Gallipoli campaign.
I read a biography of Churchill by Violet Bonham Carter, daughter of Lord Asquith and mother of Helena Bonham Carter, which gave her account of the Fisher - Churchill split so it was interesting to hear an account of Fisher's side.
@@RedFawcett That would make sense. The new Ironclads were the most advanced technology that existed in the late nineteenth century. They could fight on fairly equal terms with Martian tripods.
@@alanpennie8013 Yes, and we then we learn Fisher had petroleum in his veins and had his own Boss music play whenever he entered the Admiralty offices!
Fun Friday or maybe April fools idea: Come one come all to KINGFISHER! The CLASH OF TITANS! The IRATE INDOMITABLE IRON MEN face off! Basically an extension of the “who wins a fist fight, fisher or king” drydock question except told in the style of one of your old battle reports.
A great presentation about a great and greatly crazy man, essentially the founder of the modern RN. Someone needs to write a great film or TV serial or play or novel about him. His father, oddly enough, was an army officer, 78th Foot (Seaforth Highlanders) I think. Imagine what might have happened if Jackie had chosen the army rather than the navy. How much better the British Army might have been in the Great War if someone as innovative and ruthless as Fisher had been around to reform it before 1914. Fisher would have been very much at home on the internet. I can see him as an 'influencer' online firing off broadsides right and left, and all in block capitals with multiple exclamation points. YOURS TO A CINDER!!!!!!!!!!
BT3 BRYANT ADVANCE BOILER TECHNICIAN U.S.S. Gridley CG-21(now D.L.G.GRIDLEY)She goes from ‘Flank’ spd to stop in one ship’s length, with only a shudder. 10-17-84.(6YO: 6 year obligator.
Fisher was brilliant career sailor; rarely both a technocrat and a fighting sailor, but his prickly personality made him fewer friends than he deserved. I've noticed that the Royal Navy have not named a warship after him, such as HMS's Nelson, Anson, Hood and Rodney (all named after famous RN sailors). Why has he missed out this deserving accolade of having a warship named after him by the institution and country that he loved and served?
57:00 the Machine Gun was invented by similar reasoning, though that worked out quite differently Also Quite interesting how things might've changed if Britain kept it's back Straight against Germany, though that said Germany itself also shot itself in the foot by directly challenging Britain's dominance
Hello drach! Question: which nations did a good job at modernizing and refitting their dreadnoughts/ other ships during WW2, and why would you consider them to be good at picking which attributes to modernize?
I think he answered that in one of his drydocks already, he thought the Italian battleships were very well modernised. Besides that the British did a good job with super charging shells for extra oomph in old ships and new superstructure.
@@creativehorse7907 note that the supercharges were for the ships that hadn't been modernized. The modernization program included opening the turrets up a little to increase elevation on the guns from 20 to 30 degrees, which increased the range of those guns (the 15"/42) from just like under 29,000 yards to around 36,000 yards. According to navweaps, super charges were never issued to ships that had been modified for elevation above 20 degrees.
@@davidmcintyre8145 fitted for, perhaps. Navweaps states that Vanguard never carried supercharges, which is not surprising as she was completed after the war and there was never any need to issue her with them. Note that I believe I misstated something in my original comment, as the 36,000 yard range is only possible at 30 degrees elevation with supercharges, while the range at that elevation with normal charges is about 32,000 yards.
I am curious about Fisher's caution and where it came from as it seems out of character. Was it when an obsolete U-Boat (U-9 I believe) sank the cruisers Hogue, Cressy and Aboukir in 1914? Was it due to his age? Was it the effects of trench warfare and his desire for overwhelming firepower before committing to combat? Or he simply was worn out dealing with politicians? Or are the answers coming in part 2?
The U-9 was a pretty ordinary WW1 -submarine, the RN - cruisers mentioned were the obsolete ones. Brits knew that and thus called it the live bait squadron. Exposing those cruisers in frontline service was foolhardy, to say the least. Any sound minded first lord would avoid that, regardless of Royal navy´s centuries of tradition on aggressive warfare. And regardless of age..
@@Ah01 Thank you for your response. Much of what I know on this subject comes from George Weller's "The Story of Submarines" from the early 60s when I was much, much younger. I I did not know their nickname was the "Live Bait Squadron", but if they were the live bait, they should have had some help. I know the Cressy class cruisers were obsolete, and that were some objections in the Royal Navy to having them out on their own anyway. Why they did not have any back-up, I do not know. I just can't figure out why - other than political reasons - those three ships were out there without appropriate back-up. As for the U-9, I always thought it was an obsolete boat that if memory serves, burned paraffin. To sink three cruisers like that, even obsolete ones, was quite an achievement. Maybe my questions will be answered in Part II. Again, thank you for your response. Tim/
@@timothysullivan2997 There was rough weather and the covering destroyers sought harbour, then the weather improved and the sub showed up before the destroyers, hardly believing it's luck. And the brits thought at first having hit a mine field, thus staying there as sitting ducks.
Jackie Fisher unleashes himself all the time if he were somehow teleported to the death star he Will probably make Tarkan cry Yell Darth Vader and then storm out. if Admiral Fisher animal Strauss they would yell at each other for 10 minutes straight until Strauss decided to get physical The guy definitely needed therapy
About the anecdote with lord kelvin, i'm amazed that the question "is this dangerous" was even asked by an officer who had time on wooden ships and should have fire safety deeply ingrained in him.
@@alanpennie8013 In the books the only Victorians Flashman is interested in meeting are willing Victorian ladies. Victorian men, especially politicos and soldiers usually results in Flashman being exposed to losing life or limb. With both comedic and historic results. IMO Flashy, while GMF lifted the basic character from Tom Brown's Schooldays he is more based on people such as Sir Richard Burton. Burton sure seems to have inspired Flashy's ability to blend into a culture and pick up languages. Unfortunately if GMF were still writing today none of Flashman's adventures would get published due to Flashy's Anglocentric, racist and sexist attitudes.
@@alanpennie8013 Also rather than reading the novels a better approach is to listen to them. It really gives you sense of Flashy "dining out" on his reminiscences. I still haven't been able to find library copies of all of the audio books. Plus I really mean to try the ones dealing with his "ancestors". In my reading interests I go through phases. Flashman and Jack Aubry are two recurring phases.
@@mpetersen6 My sense is that a lot of these reminiscences are "too good to be true" and that Flashman is inventing a great deal. But of course it's all fiction really and there are obvious Doylist explanations for his going everywhere and meeting everyone.
I don't have this volume at hand. Was Fisher just mentioned in passing or did the author give an assessment of his character? With regards to the authorship, Fraser always claimed that he merely "edited and arranged" these memoirs of Sir Harry Flashman VC.
@@RCAvhstape john paul jones was a sham and an actually horrid man. Pedophile and overall dickhead who only got his ship cus he managed to charm some french noble ladies
@@RCAvhstape Stephen decatur Jr. blows his career out of the water in terms of competence, feats, cunning, and even morally by far. Decatur was an honorable person, a long shot better than John paul jones.
This discussion introduced me to Lord Charles Beresford. As an American, I find myself shocked to learn that it is (or was) possible for a serving officer to also hold elected office as a member of Parliament. In the US, any member of the military is answerable to the President as Commander-in-Chief, so for an officer or enlisted man to also hold a seat in Congress would create a huge separation of powers issue. There is also an incompatibility clause in Article 1, Section 6 that may prohibit serving military personnel from also holding a seat in Congress, but it's rarely been litigated and is mostly up to Congress to enforce itself.
@@20chocsaday I'm not sure I see the relevance. The Earl of Cardigan is an inherited title, so he'd always have a seat in the House of Lords. What caught my attention was that Beresford was able to use his elected position in the Commons to make trouble for his rival in the Royal Navy hierarchy.
@@kemarisite Separation of powers has never really been a thing on this side of The Pond where executive and legislative have always been closely intertwined despite occasional efforts to separate them.
In one of the videos, you said they flooded the powder room to prevent the powder from blowing up. Once that sea water got into to the powder bags, is the powder still useful after it is dried out or must it all be thrown away ?
Whatever explosive cargo arriving at a port, it would have to be isolated, I'd guess it would have had to be removed carefully, but surely it would be inert, because most of the Potassium Nitrate would be washed away as it dissolves very easily in water. I think seawater would render it useless.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Pinned post for Q&A :)
Do you take your tea with cream & sugar? Is it true? Are you in line to be next week’s Prime Minister?
I bow before you in gratitude sir, I've been waiting a long time for this moment. Now it's time to get some cheese and crackers ready for a late night's watching.
Which axis admiral in your opinion was the most skilled? And why does it seem like in general besides Yamamoto most axis admirals don't get much conversation?
I suspect you'd enjoy Roger Knight's new book 'Convoys' about their part in winning the Napoleonic Wars. It argues that a good convoy system and an adequate merchant marine was as important as the Royal Navy.
@*Uncle Joe* i say we make them walk the plank !
Whenever the HMS New Zealand is mentioned in a a video, even briefly, and I cannot help but think of the Maori warrior outfit and it's ability to make a ship invincible.
The Maori thing is very quaint, but I suspect one can achieve the same effect by never changing one's socks.
@@thomasjamison2050 And that was the reason for developing long range fire..... (what IS that smell?)
@@scottgiles7546 Yukon Dan is the cause of long range fire control
ruclips.net/video/oJ9YaDgSGmA/видео.html
From: The Battle of Jutland Part 1.
ruclips.net/video/TkR2HpkrJ2c/видео.html
30:24 "Aboard HMS New Zealand, Captain John Greene, also known as 'Jimmie', solemnly orders the Maori warrior skirt and green pendant, be brought to the bridge, where he puts them on. Thus enabling the supernatural protection that these items bestow upon his ship."
I admit, I may have postulated how I would make them work as McGuffins in a modern urban fantasy (i went with "divert a hit to someone else on your side")
Admiral Fisher: The man. The myth. the Legend....the first user of "OMG" as a text message
OMG - Shower it on the Admiralty!
"The ego" "Oh yes, I had to scale that down quite a bit"
OG OMG
OMFG
Such a seemingly random and hilarious revelation.
Fisher is certainly a fascinating character, but my favorite Royal Navy connected story remains one involving Charles Gordon. When Gordon was made governor of the Sudan, which at the time was a truly vast portion of Eastern Africa, one thing he made a point of doing was running around the territory and meeting all the major potentates. So he ends up high in the mountains somewhere in the South talking to one some powerful warlord. The warlord turns to Gordon and says 'you do realize that I could have you killed right here and now?" Gordon answers, without blinking, 'yes, but then you would have to deal with the Royal Navy." Gordon make it home just fine, at least at that point.
Still can't believe Drach doesn't have a million subscribers let alone 500000. This kind of content deserves so much more recognition.
@Roy Pignatiello - I think I see your mistake. Drach's content requires a sufficiently high level of intelligence and discernment as a prerequisite for appreciating it. It could be that you're assuming a much larger percentage of the people who frequent RUclips possess those qualities than is actually the case.
@@Vito_Tuxedo This....
@@rohanthandi4903 Thank you for illustrating the point so clearly, which is that *_appreciating_* the content requires intelligence and discernment. By the way, are you a subscriber?
@@Vito_Tuxedo r/iamverysmart
On RUclips? He would have to sport a Bikini.
I love how Fisher has this continually pissed expression on his face.
To the point where I've never seen the thumbnail photo, but I still recognize the guy.
it’s kind of like Churchill, no matter how many photos you look about them, they always look pissed.
I guess he definitely would have gotten along with Ernest King. Semper Iratus.
Really? I always thought he looked "determined' rather than irritated.
Just like Admiral Ernst King. Always had a look" I'll cuss you out"
Actually he had a very charming, humorous smile, you can see it in a few of his photographs. I expect he saved it up to use on the ladies.
This reminds me of something Othias from C&Rsenal said.
All the successful armament engineers and entrepreneurs were insane narcissists. Getting their way at all costs was how they pushed unproven technology through government inertia and risk adverse businessmen.
There are some exceptions of course. Even his enemies described John Browning as a very nice man.
mmm... This is somewhat the personality profile of many successful people. Not narcissist necessarily. Determined.
@@seanm8030 Is it possible to be such a sociopath and still not be a narcissist?
@@johnnash5118 Are we defining Fisher as a sociopath or a narcissist? Never having met him and not being a clinical psychologist I couldn't say myself with certainty. In any case I would say the answer to your question is probably yes. It does seem to me one can likely be a sociopath, e.g. exhibiting some antisocial behaviours, without such behaviour necessarily being self interested, e.g. narcissistic.
@@seanm8030 Idk either, just following the theme of this stream. He must’ve been self-defined by his results.
@@johnnash5118 One thing I would say, is that in dealing with the inertia of a Royal Navy steeped in it's traditions, Fisher's means seem to me understandable.
When I started watching 4 years ago, I thought I knew a little about naval history. Now I know that I know nothing. Thank you Drach!
I'll nail my colours to the mast. My pikeman's helmet says "Fear Godde And Dredd Naught" on the side. One of my railway locomotives is named "Fisher". Been waiting for this one, Thank You Drach!
YESSSSSS! I WAS WAITING FOR SO LONG FOR THIS.
There he is, the man himself.
Thanks Drach!
My reaction as well!!! The very colourful admiral behind the sleekest, fastest ships with the biggest guns.
Jackie Fisher and Curtis LeMay had a similar view on how to wield their commands: Peace Through Superior Firepower.
Theodore Roosevelt had a similar philosophy.
I like that philosophy :D
Jackie Fisher, the man who coined the phrase “hit first, hit hard and keep on hitting!”
"So that in a nutshell is Fisher up until about 1910..." says Matthew after 40 minutes non-stop :). Great episode - thanks.
One of my naval heroes - a proper sailor, moderniser and technocrat. My grandfather was Naval Gunfire Support at Gallipoli (waving semophore flags whilst being shot at by the Turks) and - according to my dad - always blamed Churchill and the politicians for the bloody mess it was, never Fisher. Nice to finally find out he was right.
I read a book on the Gallipoli campaign. It was a mess all around and never should have been attempted the way it was...
A tragedy for all the grunts forced into it.
@@WhySolSirius probably one of the only *REMOTELY* good things to come out of it was Australia's entry into the global stage, and even that can be conteste.
@@cameronnewton7053 I'd say the reputation gained from our involvement was probably worth it... but I wasn't alive at the time, And I'd bet the families who lost their sons would disagree. It did, however. Set us up post war for more independence from British rule.
You can add at the Dardanelles, which originally supposed to have be the only plan the British and French had. It was expected that the RN and additional French vessels would force the Dardanelles and take Constantinople on their own. The British Admiral in charge was also afraid once he started to loose his ships despite being told and expecting to loose several ships. His force comprised older obsolete battleships that were really good for nothing except their huge caliber guns. They, unknowingly, had basically defeated the Ottomans when bombarding the forts in the Dardanelles. Some of the Ottoman forts had used up all their shells. But the British admiral retreated and delayed is next attack allowing the forts to be resupplied. Then the French ships did an about face. Thus once Britain had committed it's self they had to push on then came the land campaign at Gallipoli. The only successful this the Brits did was evacuate their entire land force in one night without a death and Johnny Turk even knowing. With hind sight if the ships had of charged the straights again the next day most likely they would have taken the entire Ottoman Empire out with a single stroke.
My great grandad was on one of the pre dreadnaught battleships sunk in the Dardanelles (I've never been able to find out if it was Ocean or Indefatigable) and he always told my grandma a similar story. After the ship sank he was stranded out at sea for over 24 hours with hundreds of fellow sailors until a British destroyer rescued them. He always blamed Churchill, but never Fisher.
Mr. Wright is fantastic. Knowledge, expert and, best of all; a kiwi. Your guests are consistently great. Keep it up mate.
After Nelson, this is the biography I've been most looking forward to!
Sadly all but forgotten by his country now. People like him deserve to be remembered by the nation.
Most people under about 40 nowadays can't even remember who Monty was, let alone Fisher. Unlike the Americans, we never enshrined the men of WW1 or WW2 into our history as heroes. With one obvious exception- Churchill
@@silverhost9782 even in North America no one knows a darn thing about history except the nazis where the baddies lol its pathetic I once had a former boss tell me he could not find France on a map in short history in general is forgotten by the public till it serves a political will to either upset a certian group or pull us together around someone as a symbol
@@silverhost9782 23% of Britons think Churchill is a fictional character...
@@beyond560 The version of Churchill in "Darkest Hour" was pretty darn close to fictional, so I don't blame them...
@@silverhost9782 Sadly our history appears to be non PC these days.
"Speed is armour, my..." Final words of the helmsman of HMS Invincible.
Relying on overpens. 😂
Downside of using the armor instead of the speed
'So then they decided it was very dangerous'
Needs to be on a Drach shirt
The naval history version of SO ANYWAY, I STARTED BLASTING
Thanks Drach, and guest Matthew Wright, for your illuminating discourse on one of the pivotal characters in naval history.
I can’t believe it I’m watching an animated thing about Iwo Jima. It comes to the navy and the crazy Japanese. “I was like I love this guy”. Who is it. YOU MY MAN YOU. I’ve been here from Dry Dock 30ish. I’m still here. You make the world a happier place. Imagine Star Wars dread knots imagine a movie with you sensibilities. Keep it up.
I enjoyed this tremendously. For his time Jackie Fisher was as brilliant as Mahan - and as impactful in his deeds. The transformation of the Royal Navy to the modern age probably couldn’t have been done by anyone else. Unless you serve a Navy for decades (or write/study about it) - you probably can’t grasp how conservative and resistive to necessary change the great Navies of the world are. Thank You
Can't wait for part 2. I thought I knew a lot about Fisher but this last hour has expanded my knowledge 10 fold. In an extremely entertaining way too. Thanks Guys.
Peace through Strength.
I didn’t know of him,
but he sounds like quite a character.
Thank You! 🚢☺️
Really highlights how fast technology changed in the later half of he 1800's that a naval officer who was educated by men who possibly served under Nelson, would command the fleet in WW1.
Fisher was director of ordnance in 1886---that explains something. I have been looking at British coastal guns in WWII. Most of the coastal guns used by the army for coast defense were originally developed for the RN. Some of the types still in use for coast defense during WWII dated their original designs to the mid and late 80s, exactly when Fisher was in charge.
Great video Drach. Matthew is definitely a good guest on the channel.
Ruthless. Relentless. Remorseless. A true legend.
Admiral Jackie Fisher - definitely one of my favorite people from history.
Excellent-was looking for a good topic to listen to on a long drive. Thank you Drach!
Thank you for this video
Jackie Fisher was a man of great achievement but not without flaws but certainly a man who made the Royal Navy fit to fight WW1.
I'll watch this at the weekend with a beer (and some chocolate) but I have waited for someone to do a detailed video on this controversial character for ages! Looking forward to it
It should be remembered that all the physical attributes that make for a great dancer also make for a great fighter, plus you can get along with people.
Great to have videos like this! I love to learn naval history and the unique people who shaped the navies of the world.
A really good video! You have to have “movers & shakers” that are not only innovative, but with the force of personality to see their vision thru to fruition. Imagine if he’d come along a generation later, and the innovations he could have brought to the Royal Navy in WW2. Bravo Zulu!
Some years ago, I mused about what it would be like to have a young Jackie as a messmate, watching his mind work. Now I am looking forward to the next installment with greater anticipation. I have been reading the Raven book, and the way the gestation of the Renowns and Courageouses, Jackie's last projects, are laid out, makes no sense. There is more to that story, somewhere.
literally just as I was wondering if drach made a vid on fisher. Could not have been better timed!
I have waited for this video for such a long time really worth the wait
I have a copy of Matthew Wright's book 'Rails across New Zealand a history of rail travel'. And a very good book it is too.
I’ve been waiting for this video for too long
Perfect, released just before I go to work I shall enjoy it on my drive there and back
Outstanding! Thank you both.
This is my great grandad!
You have some amazing guests
Based on everything we talked about Admiral Fisher. Is it safe to assume, he is the Steve Jobs of late 19th century to early 20th century naval industry of the world. He brought radical changes to the how ship are built and operated. The HMS Dreadnought is like the Iphone of its time.
WOW! Been waiting for this, thank you!
Great book on Fisher called "Fisher's Face" written by Jan Morris. Very entertaining and informative.
An absolutely fantastic and humane book.
@@ProfessorPesca
Glad to see that some people still remember it.
2:08 ! Wow! Jackie Fisher could even SMILE?!
great guest and a great overview of admiral fisher
I’m surprised nobody has discussed Fisher’s development of network-centric warfare. I’d argue that he was the greatest of ALL admirals, a colossus among midgets.
Excellent - thank you!
4:11 gotta say this, Jackie Fisher got more miles under sail during this voyage than most people ever get, he was 6 years old
"Lord Kelvin, my good friend, have a look at this. This new fangled electricity is making a quite spectacular showing but I wonder could this be dangerous?"
[points to the exposed wire arcing to ground]
"Oh heavens no, old chap. See."
⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
"Upon further consideration, perhaps it is quite dangerous."
Roflmao
Wonderful. Loved it!
Yesss! i've been waiting for this one !:-)
Imagine what a BB looked like when Fisher joined the navy in 1854, compared to what they looked like when his career ended in 1915.
British folk/pop singer Al Stewart has a song called 'Old Admirals' from his album Past, Present, and Future which was clearly about Fisher although he's never named.
HMS Inflexible,
"The proudest ship that ever sailed,
For Queen and country."
Not very good looking though, according to Jan Morris.
Thank you, Drachinifel.
Would you ever do a video on how ships of different eras were started up. Like what had to be done to get boilers lit, steam going, etc.
Exactly,, hth do you get a man-o-war away from the dock? Without tugs LOL?
Excellent video fellas, lots of things I never knew I now know!😁
Been waiting for this. To digress. I'm a big Al Stewart fan. History inspires much of his work. Only person I know of who ever wrote a song about Lord Fisher. I saw Al a few years back and spoke to him about "Old Admirals". He laughed saying that few Americans had any idea who "Jackie Fisher" Was. Lyrically it breaks a bit from history toward the end....but I love the lyric over all.
"I can still recall the first time....I ever put to sea..abourd the old Calcutta, in 1853...🎶🎶" Etc.
For anyone here who's not heard it....enjoy.
ruclips.net/video/qpenAC2nBBc/видео.html
I was just thinking about this song about 3 minutes in - pretty much the moment they showed HMS Calcutta.
An another Al Stewart fan who thought the same thing.
I've got this track on an LP released at the time. The whole LP is great but is stowed away somewhere in my office next to the 78s and VHS tapes. I must retrieve it and play it again soon.
@@Tim67620 I can recommend on of his NEW songs, “Hanno the Navigator”. Available here on YT.
@@jimtalbott9535 Thanks for that Jim. I did watch some oldies on YT last night. Couldn't be bothered to fight through the pile of stuff filling my office that was from my late Father and Mothers' house. I'll check out this one, thanks.
Dr Clarke did an excellent video on the programme that Fisher and Lord Selborne created to integrate engineering officers into regular training, and keeping that in place seems like it was a missed opportunity for the RN. At the same time, the RN also dodged massive disaster by managing to keep Lord Beresford out of the Admiralty.
Extremely interesting, multi-dimensional, aka real history and analysis. Well done.
Fascinating story!
Very interesting discussion. Shelf for shelf... Matthew's wins.
Ok I really like the pun/reference of the Incomparable battlecruiser that Fisher always envisioned on building.
I find it funny and a rather nice detail. Over all pun score 10/10.
It was Fisher that summed up his view of Naval strategy as: 'hit first, hit hard, keep hitting.' Copied and paraphrased to this day.
I'm genuinely shocked you haven't done a video on this man yet.
Cant wait for part 2
1:02:00 that’s because the British said to Willhelm ii that invading Belgium wouldn’t be decisive factor in Britain entering the war
Man, that had to be weird, going from the age of "Wooden Ships and Iron Men" to steam powered steel-hulled juggernauts and aircraft.
Thanks for the oh- dark thirty piece!
I was literally just thinking yesterday, for how much Drach mentions him, im surprised he doesnt have a video on Fisher. To the point that i thought this was an old video i somehow missed when browsing the channel
That was excellent video!
Old Admirals. Thanks Al for the song.
I've got Lord Fisher's book 'Records' - it's a most wonderful read, as politically incorrect as anyone could wish and full of common sense!
Admiral Fisher, prior to the Great War, wanted to Copenhagen the German fleet. He foresaw that war was coming and envisaged that the UK would get bogged down in a massive war of attrition, if involved in land battles. Seeing the Navy as the primary and capable service it had become, he thought he could avert a prolonged war by destroying the German fleet. "Funding our navy out of cash flow, not debt". What a great idea. Live within our means. Wish modern governments would listen to this. The shore bombardment at Alexandria is taken as the point at which Fisher thought modern guns could be effective in destroying forts and coastal installations, hence his confidence that the Navy could destroy Turkish fortifications, and force the Narrows in the Gallipoli campaign.
But the most important question about Fisher, Was he known to fish for freshly fished fresh fish for fish fry Friday?
Todd Webb -Fisher Fritz fisched Frisch Fische in German .
@@ronnieince4568 das stimmt
always brilliant and interesting
I read a biography of Churchill by Violet Bonham Carter, daughter of Lord Asquith and mother of Helena Bonham Carter, which gave her account of the Fisher - Churchill split so it was interesting to hear an account of Fisher's side.
I do recommend, Churchill and Fisher, by Barry Gough.
So much to take on board about this man.
Genuine legend.
This should be a three parter: Part One the Man, Part Two the Myth, Part Three the Legend.
I keep thinking he'll name Part 2, 'The Machine' for some reason. LOL
@@RedFawcett
That would make sense.
The new Ironclads were the most advanced technology that existed in the late nineteenth century.
They could fight on fairly equal terms with Martian tripods.
@@alanpennie8013 Yes, and we then we learn Fisher had petroleum in his veins and had his own Boss music play whenever he entered the Admiralty offices!
Peace through superior firepower - A sound concept.
Could you review Admiral Hyman Rickover
Fun Friday or maybe April fools idea: Come one come all to KINGFISHER! The CLASH OF TITANS! The IRATE INDOMITABLE IRON MEN face off!
Basically an extension of the “who wins a fist fight, fisher or king” drydock question except told in the style of one of your old battle reports.
A great presentation about a great and greatly crazy man, essentially the founder of the modern RN. Someone needs to write a great film or TV serial or play or novel about him. His father, oddly enough, was an army officer, 78th Foot (Seaforth Highlanders) I think. Imagine what might have happened if Jackie had chosen the army rather than the navy. How much better the British Army might have been in the Great War if someone as innovative and ruthless as Fisher had been around to reform it before 1914. Fisher would have been very much at home on the internet. I can see him as an 'influencer' online firing off broadsides right and left, and all in block capitals with multiple exclamation points.
YOURS TO A CINDER!!!!!!!!!!
BT3 BRYANT ADVANCE BOILER TECHNICIAN U.S.S. Gridley CG-21(now D.L.G.GRIDLEY)She goes from ‘Flank’ spd to stop in one ship’s length, with only a shudder. 10-17-84.(6YO: 6 year obligator.
Fisher was brilliant career sailor; rarely both a technocrat and a fighting sailor, but his prickly personality made him fewer friends than he deserved. I've noticed that the Royal Navy have not named a warship after him, such as HMS's Nelson, Anson, Hood and Rodney (all named after famous RN sailors). Why has he missed out this deserving accolade of having a warship named after him by the institution and country that he loved and served?
57:00 the Machine Gun was invented by similar reasoning, though that worked out quite differently
Also Quite interesting how things might've changed if Britain kept it's back Straight against Germany, though that said Germany itself also shot itself in the foot by directly challenging Britain's dominance
Hello drach!
Question: which nations did a good job at modernizing and refitting their dreadnoughts/ other ships during WW2, and why would you consider them to be good at picking which attributes to modernize?
I think he answered that in one of his drydocks already, he thought the Italian battleships were very well modernised. Besides that the British did a good job with super charging shells for extra oomph in old ships and new superstructure.
He did a big old video on Dreadnought modernisations a year or so ago, which if I recall covers this
@@creativehorse7907 note that the supercharges were for the ships that hadn't been modernized. The modernization program included opening the turrets up a little to increase elevation on the guns from 20 to 30 degrees, which increased the range of those guns (the 15"/42) from just like under 29,000 yards to around 36,000 yards. According to navweaps, super charges were never issued to ships that had been modified for elevation above 20 degrees.
@@kemarisite According to DK Brown who should know he did after all work on the ship as a youngster HMS Vanguard was also fitted for supercharges
@@davidmcintyre8145 fitted for, perhaps. Navweaps states that Vanguard never carried supercharges, which is not surprising as she was completed after the war and there was never any need to issue her with them. Note that I believe I misstated something in my original comment, as the 36,000 yard range is only possible at 30 degrees elevation with supercharges, while the range at that elevation with normal charges is about 32,000 yards.
I am curious about Fisher's caution and where it came from as it seems out of character. Was it when an obsolete U-Boat (U-9 I believe) sank the cruisers Hogue, Cressy and Aboukir in 1914? Was it due to his age? Was it the effects of trench warfare and his desire for overwhelming firepower before committing to combat? Or he simply was worn out dealing with politicians?
Or are the answers coming in part 2?
The U-9 was a pretty ordinary WW1 -submarine, the RN - cruisers mentioned were the obsolete ones. Brits knew that and thus called it the live bait squadron. Exposing those cruisers in frontline service was foolhardy, to say the least. Any sound minded first lord would avoid that, regardless of Royal navy´s centuries of tradition on aggressive warfare. And regardless of age..
@@Ah01 Thank you for your response.
Much of what I know on this subject comes from George Weller's "The Story of Submarines" from the early 60s when I was much, much younger.
I I did not know their nickname was the "Live Bait Squadron", but if they were the live bait, they should have had some help.
I know the Cressy class cruisers were obsolete, and that were some objections in the Royal Navy to having them out on their own anyway. Why they did not have any back-up, I do not know. I just can't figure out why - other than political reasons - those three ships were out there without appropriate back-up.
As for the U-9, I always thought it was an obsolete boat that if memory serves, burned paraffin. To sink three cruisers like that, even obsolete ones, was quite an achievement.
Maybe my questions will be answered in Part II.
Again, thank you for your response.
Tim/
@@timothysullivan2997 There was rough weather and the covering destroyers sought harbour, then the weather improved and the sub showed up before the destroyers, hardly believing it's luck. And the brits thought at first having hit a mine field, thus staying there as sitting ducks.
@@Ah01 Thank you for the info!
“On my Command unleash Jackie Fisher!”......
"Do you think that's wise sir?"
You do not unleash Jackie Fisher, Jackie Fisher unleashes you...
Jackie Fisher unleashes himself all the time if he were somehow teleported to the death star he Will probably make Tarkan cry
Yell Darth Vader and then storm out. if Admiral Fisher animal Strauss they would yell at each other for 10 minutes straight until Strauss decided to get physical The guy definitely needed therapy
About the anecdote with lord kelvin, i'm amazed that the question "is this dangerous" was even asked by an officer who had time on wooden ships and should have fire safety deeply ingrained in him.
Very interesting 👍🤔
I believe Midshipman Fischer also makes an appearance in 1860 China in George Macdonald Fraser's Flashman and the Dragon
Good to know.
Of course Flashman met absolutely every eminent Victorian according to himself.
@@alanpennie8013
In the books the only Victorians Flashman is interested in meeting are willing Victorian ladies. Victorian men, especially politicos and soldiers usually results in Flashman being exposed to losing life or limb. With both comedic and historic results. IMO Flashy, while GMF lifted the basic character from Tom Brown's Schooldays he is more based on people such as Sir Richard Burton. Burton sure seems to have inspired Flashy's ability to blend into a culture and pick up languages. Unfortunately if GMF were still writing today none of Flashman's adventures would get published due to Flashy's Anglocentric, racist and sexist attitudes.
@@alanpennie8013
Also rather than reading the novels a better approach is to listen to them. It really gives you sense of Flashy "dining out" on his reminiscences. I still haven't been able to find library copies of all of the audio books. Plus I really mean to try the ones dealing with his "ancestors". In my reading interests I go through phases. Flashman and Jack Aubry are two recurring phases.
@@mpetersen6
My sense is that a lot of these reminiscences are "too good to be true" and that Flashman is inventing a great deal.
But of course it's all fiction really and there are obvious Doylist explanations for his going everywhere and meeting everyone.
I don't have this volume at hand. Was Fisher just mentioned in passing or did the author give an assessment of his character?
With regards to the authorship, Fraser always claimed that he merely "edited and arranged" these memoirs of Sir Harry Flashman VC.
24:36 So bassicly Admiral Fisher and his Freinds were geeks… now theirs an image, late 1800’s officers geeking over technology lol
You should do an Episode on Captain Stephen Decatur Jr. That man had an incredible life and career
Also John Paul Jones.
@@RCAvhstape john paul jones was a sham and an actually horrid man. Pedophile and overall dickhead who only got his ship cus he managed to charm some french noble ladies
@@RCAvhstape Stephen decatur Jr. blows his career out of the water in terms of competence, feats, cunning, and even morally by far. Decatur was an honorable person, a long shot better than John paul jones.
@@curioussavagery802 Should've stuck with your original post instead of deleting it. Tell us how you really feel.
@@RCAvhstape what? I never deleted a post, I just gave two replies? Dude XD
This discussion introduced me to Lord Charles Beresford. As an American, I find myself shocked to learn that it is (or was) possible for a serving officer to also hold elected office as a member of Parliament. In the US, any member of the military is answerable to the President as Commander-in-Chief, so for an officer or enlisted man to also hold a seat in Congress would create a huge separation of powers issue. There is also an incompatibility clause in Article 1, Section 6 that may prohibit serving military personnel from also holding a seat in Congress, but it's rarely been litigated and is mostly up to Congress to enforce itself.
How about Lord Cardigan?
Leading the Light Brigade cavalry at Balaclava
@@20chocsaday I'm not sure I see the relevance. The Earl of Cardigan is an inherited title, so he'd always have a seat in the House of Lords. What caught my attention was that Beresford was able to use his elected position in the Commons to make trouble for his rival in the Royal Navy hierarchy.
@@kemarisite Both were subject to the Monarch.
If you want out of the Commons you have to get the Monarch to pay you.
@@kemarisite
Separation of powers has never really been a thing on this side of The Pond where executive and legislative have always been closely intertwined despite occasional efforts to separate them.
In one of the videos, you said they flooded the powder room to prevent the powder from blowing up. Once that sea water got into to the powder bags, is the powder still useful after it is dried out or must it all be thrown away ?
Whatever explosive cargo arriving at a port, it would have to be isolated, I'd guess it would have had to be removed carefully, but surely it would be inert, because most of the Potassium Nitrate would be washed away as it dissolves very easily in water. I think seawater would render it useless.