Low Cost Submarines

By 1939, the state of the US Navy’s readiness was in question. The treaties of the past twenty years and the economic conditions had stunted the growth of the force that was realizing the threat of a two ocean war. The war in Europe had not reached its peak yet but the shadows of the […]

The Tanaka Memorial – Real or Imagined? Part 2

Part Two: Admiral Taussig. Yes, Senator. Shall I proceed with my statement? The Chairman. Proceed. Admiral Taussig. In spite of our desires to remain aloof from international problems, we cannot do so. The world has shrunk too much. Can we look on a development in the Far East such as out lined above with detached interest, as a matter of no immediate concern to us as […]

The Tanaka Memorial – Real or Imagined?

This story will be done in two parts. In 1940, Rear Admiral Joseph Taussig was called to testify to Congress about the ship building program and the perceived threats that were emerging in the Far East. This controversial testimony placed him at odds with an old nemesis – the former Assistant Secretary of the Navy […]

Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead… But Captain we are out of toilet paper… ALL STOP!!!

It’s amazing to me that the smartest planners in the world did not see the need for toilet paper as they planned for the defense of the free world. Okay, that might be a bit exaggerated, but the need to supply the ships and airplanes that would end up fighting totalitarianism was not evident in […]

The Tripartite Pact of 1940 – Prelude to War

In September of 1940, the fate of world peace was sealed with the signing of the Tripartite Pact.. The Tripartite Pact was directed primarily at the United States. Its practical effects were limited since the Italo-German and Japanese operational theatres were on opposite sides of the world, and the high contracting powers had disparate strategic […]

The “Down Express” – Tambor Class Warriors

The “Down Express” – Tambor Class Warriors I have a page on Facebook called War in the Pacific 1941-1946 which can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/WarInThePacific19411946 My original intent was to do a daily diary for the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the second war. Funny how time flies. It’s been four years and I […]

2 Days

As we approach the end of the first year of the Biden “presidency” Its not a bad idea to examine why things are as horribly bad as they are. For one thing, they told us up front what they were going to do. Its all in black and white and there should be no surprise […]

3 Days

Taking things easy this morning. The TV has been mostly off with the exception of watching a few documentaries. One of them was about the real reason the Titanic sank. Anyone who is above the age of thirty has probably seen one version or another of the sinking of this unsinkable ship. When you look […]

6 Days

Who you gonna call? Law enforcement has seen some pretty challenging times over the course of my lifetime. While the fifties were relatively quiet, the sixties set in motion a sea change in how the police were viewed that has resulted in the current crisis. To be fair, the things that caused the changes are […]

10 Days

Ten days before the last Presidential Election, I took time to reflect on what this country was. In the ensuing fouteen months since the election, I have watched those freedoms being gradually erased. Mandates, restriction of commerce and trade, failed strategies in foreign relations, addiction to globalism, and the rise of China and Russia as […]