To those who sleep in the sea.
“Russians Incoming”
The orders for our sailors and airmen in the Pacific during WWII was “Attack, Attack, Attack!”. We should’ve and should be following those orders no matter what.
The Merchant Marine got a bad rap during WW II. Some of that was because Merchant Marine crews were paid more than regular Navy sailors. So there was resentment.
However, it’s also true that during WW II the Merchant Marine suffered a higher casualty rate than any of the armed services.
https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/merchant-marine-worst-losses-wwii/
More Sailors died at Guadalcanal than the Marines and Army ashore.
One might also remember all the thousands of Commercial Fishermen lost at sea to feed everyone.
The surface navy is the last place I’d want to be when the shtf.
That’s why we needed the Abomb 🤪
Amen, Brother!
Submarine service had the highest death rate of any distinct military unit during WWII.
The dangers faced by submariners during World War II are apparent in the high attrition rates. According to one estimate, 1,280 submarines were lost in action or by accident during the Second World War.8 In the U.S. submarine service, about 16,000 officers and enlisted men made war patrols; from among these 3,406 died in action. This amounted to 22% of the force, the highest death rate of any branch of the American armed services.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0843871420904529