Wreck of Famed WWII Destroyer USS Johnston (DD-557) May Have Been Found

U.S. Naval Institute News ^ | October 30, 2019 | Ben Werner

[Cuttnhorse]

“We’re luring them into 40mm range!!!”

LOL! That sounds about right.

[jmacusa]

The Battle of Iron Bottom Sound. That's where the Japs got their revenge for Midway. It's also the action where the five Sullivan brothers , serving aboard the cruiser U.S.S Juneau were all lost. It also made the US Navy forever after prohibit family members from serving together on a ship.

[kearnyirish2]

The Japanese initially were firing far over the US ships because they thought they were big ships further away (instead of small ships closer to them); that really says it all in terms of the matchup. An incredible display of guts by the US sailors.

[Constitution Day]

Likewise! I have been extremely busy at work this year. We are implementing a new ERP system and I also have a lot of new responsibilities.

Hope all is well in the Slim household.

[TexasTransplant]

*** “Were you WestPac?” ***

Yes

[wildbill]

That book about the Tin Can Sailors was made into a gripping documentary. I have seen it numerous times and it still gives an emotional surge of admiration merged with grief for those brave sailors.

[Pelham]

‘The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors’ bump.

“The Extraordinary WWII Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour” by James Hornfischer

This is maybe the most thrilling story of heroism in war that you could read.

The captain of the USS Johnston was American Indian from Oklahoma, and he was absolutely fearless in attacking a vastly superior Japanese battle fleet.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001L83PM0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

[Pelham]

This was “The Battle Off Samar”, the center fight of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf

[Pelham]

That’s a good book. Ian Toll’s books on the Pacific War are also excellent.

Marc Mitscher is the admiral who perfected the tactics that made the Fast Carrier Task Force an immensely powerful weapon that could move at will as it hunted down the Imperial Navy. The original drive-by killer. He and McCain’s grandfather swapped command of the Fast Carriers as Halsey and Nimitz alternated command.

[Pelham]

“There are many instances where destroyer captains brought their ships perilously close in and supported the troops with accurate 5” gunfire “

Including Normandy. One captain took his destroyer in so close to Omaha Beach he scraped bottom. Used his guns to blast German hard points and kept that landing from being an even bigger slaughter.