Smithsonian's "Hell Below"

Well, that episode was kind of a let down.  While decent, she sank four other destroyers on her 5th patrol,  and that is what supposedly got the Japanese fleet moving, fearing a huge wolfpack.  Never even touched on it.  Just one can on her fourth and one on the fifth.

Trailer for next week looks like Tang's circular runner.

I have four shows taped, but only watched the first one about the wolfpacks. Very interesting about Otto Kretschmer.

It was, and losing three of their "aces" in a week or so period.

I grew up on the west coast and got interested in WWII reading "The Big E", so had more of an interest in the PTO. Never had much interest in the ETO, as it was clear across the world then.  Add to that Mom was Asst. Superintendant of Mail in Alameda during the war.  Virtually most of the mail going to the services in the Pacific Theater went through there. 

Really got interested in the sub side after reading a book that had the histories of several boats, ( Perch, Growler, Harder, Wahoo, Tang, Darter among them), and some of the recollecions of those that were lost by the surviors.  Can't remember the name of it now, but was a super read at the time.

This sound like a really fantastic show! I hope it comes out on Netflix at some point.

All in all, not bad at all.  Either may show up on NF later or someone could burn a disc for you.  I would, gladly, but don't have a recorder.

goldhammer

It was, and losing three of their "aces" in a week or so period.

I grew up on the west coast and got interested in WWII reading "The Big E", so had more of an interest in the PTO. Never had much interest in the ETO, as it was clear across the world then.  Add to that Mom was Asst. Superintendant of Mail in Alameda during the war.  Virtually most of the mail going to the services in the Pacific Theater went through there. 

Really got interested in the sub side after reading a book that had the histories of several boats, ( Perch, Growler, Harder, Wahoo, Tang, Darter among them), and some of the recollecions of those that were lost by the surviors.  Can't remember the name of it now, but was a super read at the time.

 

I'd like to read the book you mentioned. I found one on Amazon called "United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. The First Forty Years."

Think that might be it?

Very much doubt it.  The book was a paperback, and was out in the mid 60's, at least.  I went over to Amazon and looked through 14 pages of books dealing with WWII boats and didn't see anything that jogged the memory.  As I remember it would have only been around a couple hundred pages or so, doubt over 300.   Put together kind of like a group of short stories.

What channel is this show on?

I found ep 1 on YouTube and started it. So far that's all that's on there.

BigJim

What channel is this show on?

 

Smithsonian channel.  Probably on your cable system.  Out here I get it on Comcast/Xfinity and channel 270.

Nice Program .

 The only thing is this . Why does the underwater shots ( graphics ) always show an almost Bow on ( " down the throat " ) shot. Still interestings graphics . T.B.       P.S. good amount of history.

Those shots look identical to the movie U-557. I wonder if they used some of those clips. Great depth charge graphics in that movie.

You Know ;

   Now that I think of it , I believe you may be right on that .  T.B.

For those of you who are interested the operations of U.S. Submarine or Destroyers in WW 2 should check out Theodore Roscoe's Books on those subjects.

The first one was published in 1949 and was titled "U.S. Submarine Operations in WW 2",   and the second was published in1953 and titled "U.S. Destroyer Operations in WW2.  

Both books appear to be available from several places on the web for under 20 dollars and are loaded with pics. (Note, both books were released as paperbacks in the late 1950's under the titles of "Pigboats, The operations of U.S. submarines in WW II" and "Tincans, The operations of U.S. destroyers in WW II") 

Amazing that he took her to 600 ft. and change, to see how deep he could go to avoid depth charges, before she started to blow seals and such.  Beautiful construction for a war driven build (mid '43).  Hats off to the builders and designers of the Gato/Balao class boats.  Granted the Balao's had 7/8" HS steel instead of the Gato's 9/16" 27 lb steel, but still impressive for the time, and in the much smaller U-Boat depth class (heard of some going to 600 or better).

I finally watched a few of the episodes, and Mush Morton was a bad a$$! I have two episodes left to watch, I really like this series. Now I want a Gato class and U-boat to build! Lol

Bruce, You can always add one to the GB.

Steve,

I may do that, I'll let you know. 

qmiester

For those of you who are interested the operations of U.S. Submarine or Destroyers in WW 2 should check out Theodore Roscoe's Books on those subjects. The first one was published in 1949 and was titled "U.S. Submarine Operations in WW 2", 

Thanks for the heads up. This sounds like fun.

hogfanfs

I finally watched a few of the episodes, and Mush Morton was a bad a$$! I have two episodes left to watch, I really like this series. Now I want a Gato class and U-boat to build! Lol

 

Morton was born to command a boat.  Not only was he agressive when he needed to be, he was one smart cookie.  Add to that he could keep the evolving plot in his head, and no wonder he and Wahoo were so sucessful.  He mentored and molded O'Kane in his image, and O'Kane turned out the same.  Looked like the only major difference was O'Kane kept control of the scope.  Dealy and Harder were the same.

Either of the 1/144 Trumpy kits are good ones, and in 1/350 the AFV entries are good.  1/144 = about 24 inches and the 1/350's are just under 12 inches.

Good White Ensign PE kit for the 1/144.

I have the 1/144 Trumpeter 1941 kit. It's a big model.

It has the EB mod.1 fair water, with the fairing over the shears. After all it's meant to be the SS 212 Gato.

That takes s little modification to be an early Mare Island boat, my project.

The PE set is nice, but mostly has a lot of parts for the exposed periscope shears on later boats, deck stanchions and railings, and prop guards.

Out of all of that I will be using the prop guards only, and radar. Happy to give away the other stuff.

Hopefully the '41 kit has the indentations for the guards.  The PE I have is the temp saddles and guards.  I know Wahoo had her guards yet in Jan. '43 (removed during the overhaul, May-July).  And her shears plating was removed prior to the third patrol as well, but her bridge coaming was never cut down from what I can find.  The Trumpeter '44 version is the starting point, and not messing with the fairwater.  Since her guards would have been buried in the wash, that isn't a big deal with the surface dio.

BTW - Nautilus makes a nice resin gun set for the kit, includes all the deck guns used during the war, as well as a 20mm single and a 40mm twin mount.  Goes for around $25 IIRC.

Yes and I picked up the WEM 3"/50.

Compared to my (nearly completed) Type XXI, the Gato is a BIG boat!

GMorrison

Compared to my (nearly completed) Type XXI, the Gato is a BIG boat!

 

Boy thats a nice looking boat. I'm forgetting - is that an exposed kit or did you "open" something up?

BTW I'm watching the Hell Below series - I wanna be a sub-mariner!

Looks like there won't be any more in the series.  Sunday night in that time slot is a show on Yellowstone.

GM-  Nice job on the U-boat, looking good.  I almost ran out of rubber bands holding the hull together on the Gato.  Biggest issue so far is the deck casing to hull fit.  Might see if a bevel on the edge will get a tighter fit.  I didn't think of that til just now and have some fill to do.