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Thursday, October 9, 2014

HITLER'S DEADLY RADIO-GUIDED BOMB

If you happen to indulge in reading about WW II and the many 'war-tools' that was introduced by Japan & Germany, this article maybe of interest to you.

Along about September of 1943 the Allies couldn't  quite wrap their minds around "why" there was a sudden rise in warship losses

Well there was a new "tool" that the enemy was not putting on the neon war billboard.
They (the enemy) was saying silently to whomever....we are introducing you to 
 FRITZ X
If you care to give this a going over, I think you'll find it most interesting.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

TREATY CRUISERS


Controversial from the day their keels were laid, the thin-hulled so-called "Treaty"-class cruisers fought valiantly in the Pacific War.
I think when you read about these "Tin-Clads"....You'll soon come to realize that they fought hard...and performed far more than the expectations of there designers and builders.  Seven of the 35 cruisers were sunk and an equal number damaged.

If you click HERE this will get you to the article
Hope you find interesting























Saturday, July 12, 2014

CAPTAIN GRANT MARSH


Unknown
Riverboat
Hero 
of
Custer's Last Stand          
I don't know about y'all but I've always enjoyed a darn good River Boat story.....I guess you could say "anything connected with water and it floats....I'm interested."
Well here is a guy that, in my opinion, was one hell of a river boat captain, and not to many are aware the part of how he got involved, and came out a hero of Custers Last Stand

HERE is his story

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

HUNTING THE HUNTERS: Q-SHIPS OF WWI


Q-SHIPS OF WWI
If you've been somewhat abreast of WW II I'm sure you have come across the term "Q-Ships".  Well that term actually referred to a somewhat unique type of freighter that got introduced around 1917 or so.
You see the German U-boats were driving the British nuts around this time and so something had to be done to take care of these nasty buggers.
So....this is how the Q-Ships were more or less introduced

If you wish to give this a go...just click HERE

Sunday, July 6, 2014

MAKIN ISLAND RAID

Two submarines, the Nautilus (SS-168), and the Argonaut (SS-166), slipped away from Pearl on the 8th of August of 1942, which was not unusual for subs to do this, but these two carried "special cargo"....
Oh yea....there were 222 Marines crammed aboard these two subs...this was a foray unique in American Naval history.

This is an interesting story....so if you wish to let your eyes dance over the words....just click HERE. 

Saturday, April 12, 2014

SOME EXCELLENT SHIP PHOTO'S

Due to my writing of nautical articles I have several good friends that send me items from time to time.

I received a collection of ship pictures from a reader whom happens to be a computer friend as well.  So after viewing I decided to share these on this  blog....

Just HERE to get to the link

Friday, March 21, 2014

KING OF THE RIVERBOATMEN

Many of the readers that live or have lived in western Canada, and have dabbled in Canada's history may have read about John Irving.  Mr. Irving made and lost several fortunes on Canada's rivers in and around the late 1800's, and he was most successful at it.

John worked on and in his fathers business....which entailed stern-wheeler ships, of which was involved in the shipping of miners and supplies to the rich goldfields of Barkerville.

This is a reasonably short article...but it is interesting to know about this interesting man along with the history of stern-wheelers in this era of Canada in the late 1800's.

If you do decide to "give it a go" just click on this title: JOHN IRVING KING OF THE RIVERBOATMEN
and it will take you directly to the document.




Wednesday, March 19, 2014

"LET THEM EAT SALMON!"

This article is about the "light" side of the WW II, but also it entails a info about a group of individuals that worked in getting info to the proper people....  They mainly work in hiding ...they were referred to as the "Coast Watchers".
Coast Watchers was hunted by the Japanese as a passion, and if caught, most generally was "beheaded" on the spot.
This article provides some insight in getting some "Coast Watchers" out of harms way 
If you wish to let you eyes dance over the words of this short article just click on:


Saturday, February 22, 2014

SS EDWARD P. COSTIGAN

The SS Edward P. Costigan was a 'Liberty Ship' freighter and was named after somewhat of a famous lawyer, at least he was thought of highly in the state of Colorado.
A lawyer that caught the eye of others, including the President Woodrow Wilson.  Well one thing led to another and he got involved with supporting a bill that was fairly significant in our history.
So it was only right that his name be submitted to be place on a 'Liberty Ship'.
So here is the story of what Costigan the Lawyer achieved as well as what involvement the ship named after him got involved in.

If you'd care to give this short story a read just click 

Thursday, February 20, 2014

TWO STORIES OF INTEREST: ZUMWALT & FERRY DISASTER

Well Y'all I'm an old Navy man from way back.....actually an old Navy Diver from way back, and I'll have to tell you I just don't like the looks of this 'New' multi-mission destroyer, but I'm an old sea dog coming from the "old school".

Anyway I've wrote a small piece of my displeasure if you wish to give it a go.

Now I also threw some words together about a 'Ferry Disaster' that took place not so long ago.  Even with a few years back you got to wonder how this really could have taken place.  This has always fogged up my brain on how 4000 people lost their lives in this one event....I mean this was bad....and most due to a corrupt Ship Lines.
If you wish to give these two stories a going over just click HERE

Sunday, February 16, 2014

LETS TALK: WORLDS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

Now I can set here and provide Y'all with a run-down on the history of Aircraft Carriers, but that is not what this article is all about.

Right at first I do give a very short run down on the carrier history...believe me it is very brief.  What I wanted to do is provide to the reader somewhat of a "ball-park" picture of what other countries are coming up with, and believe me it is pretty darn interesting.

So where does the design go from this point?  The "fixed wing" aircraft is changing by the week....and the choppers are right behind them....this may or may not have a "direct" impact on the "next century" of world carriers.
If you'd care to give this one a read....and make a comment....please do.  You can read by clicking on WORLD'S AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

Friday, January 24, 2014

SS EDWARD N. WESTCOTT [LIBERTY SHIP]

A man and his posthumously published book David Harum actually lead to a Liberty Ship named after him.  Mr. Edward Noyes Westcott was actually a banker....and remained in the banking field for many years....but it was the "book" that made his name very well known.  And his name was submitted to the naming committee on naming Liberty Ships
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The SS Edward N. Westcott was built in Oregon in 1943, was in many convoys but she really did not get into any real problems until 1945.
If you wish to read the rest of her short history you can click: HERE

Hope you enjoy this short history.