Chris Sams
@jerijerod14.bsky.social
3.2K followers 350 following 610 posts
World War 1 & 2 Naval historian, also likes RAF bombers & the Luftwaffe between 1935-45. Working on Bristol Beauforts & WW1 U-boats. https://linktr.ee/jerijerod14
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Reposted by Chris Sams
navyrecords.bsky.social
Why did the Ark Royal Sink? – The Navy Records Society Members' Blog

On 14th nov 1941, Britain’s first modern fleet carrier was sunk after a torpedo attack by the German submarine U-81. Our member Paul Harrison explores records of the sinking.

#navyrecords #navalhistory #ww2
Why did the Ark Royal Sink? – The Navy Records Society
On 14th November 1941 HMS Ark Royal,  Britain’s first modern fleet carrier, sank after a torpedo attack by the German submarine U-81. The following year, acclaimed war correspondent Sir Herbert…
buff.ly
jerijerod14.bsky.social
The losses were a shock for little gain but not as horrendous as they could have been
jerijerod14.bsky.social
Finished my first ghost tour at Chatham Dockyard, taking people around some of the lesser used buildings and telling stories of spooky goings on…
jerijerod14.bsky.social
Something like that… “could have been better” 🤣
jerijerod14.bsky.social
This week’s free to read:

On 3 September 1939 the RAF’ first bombing raid was on standby to attack the Kriegsmarine in port on the first day of #ww2, but how did it go?

jerijerod14.substack.com/p/bombing-th...

#history #navalhistory
Bombing the Fleet
The RAF's first bombing sortie of World War Two
jerijerod14.substack.com
jerijerod14.bsky.social
As a maritime/naval historian I can say that flying flags from lampposts around the towns has 0 to do with “our maritime past” and you can quote me on that 😉
jerijerod14.bsky.social
I’ve decided to give the German navies (Imperial and Kriegsmarine) a rest for a bit - I’m pretty sure you’re all bored of me talking about Kreuzerkrieg and U-boats.

This week I’m looking further afield
a flag with a red circle on it
ALT: a flag with a red circle on it
media.tenor.com
jerijerod14.bsky.social
Also HMS CC1 and CC2 the first two Canadian submarines were acquired
Reposted by Chris Sams
rnshiplosses.bsky.social
The squadron off San Domingo lost four further vessels during the hurricane: 74-gun HMS Thunderer, 20-gun HMS Scarborough, 14-gun HMS Victor and 12-gun HMS Barbadoes. All disappeared during 4-5 October, with no survivors. (Image of HMS Phoenix sinking from the National Maritime Museum) [3/3]
Reposted by Chris Sams
rnshiplosses.bsky.social
64-gun HMS Stirling Castle was wrecked off Cap Haïtien after her squadron off San Domingo was scattered by the hurricane. Most of the crew reached the shore but 20 were swept out to sea on a piece of the wreck. By the time they were rescued several days later only 5 remained alive. [2/3]
Reposted by Chris Sams
rnshiplosses.bsky.social
4 Oct 1780 // 5th-rate 44-gun ship HMS Phoenix was off Jamaica when a hurricane struck. Blown across to Cuba, she went aground near Cape Cruz with 20 men lost. Stores and guns were removed and the wreck was burnt. Phoenix was one of several vessels lost by the #RoyalNavy in this hurricane. [1/3]
Engraving, 'The wreck of the Phoenix of 44 guns' (undated, c1780). National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, via Wikimedia Commons. An engraving of a sailing warship with wrecked masts and rigging being overwhelmed by a stormy sea.
Reposted by Chris Sams
forgottenwarpod.bsky.social
Lambert’s mission was a success. After leading the Chinese 5th Army to safety,he was summoned to Chongqing. There, this unsung hero of the retreat was personally awarded the equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order by Chiang Kai-shek. Pic here in Kohima in the 90s w/ 1 of his former secretaries
jerijerod14.bsky.social
This week’s somewhat rushed (and thusly) free feature is on the cruise of SMS Leipzig along the West Coast of the US and Mexico.

jerijerod14.substack.com/p/prowling-t...

How Canada reacts and the invasion scare

#ww1 #navalhistory
Prowling the West coast
SMS Leipzig and the Canada invasion scare
jerijerod14.substack.com
Reposted by Chris Sams
brookenewman.bsky.social
It’s 2025: ideal conditions don’t exist. Just do your thing like your life depends on it. ✍️
A quote from E.B. White about the importance of writing, whatever the conditions.
jerijerod14.bsky.social
Erm… that was mine and my ex wife’s song… 😳
jerijerod14.bsky.social
I might give it a miss then 😉
jerijerod14.bsky.social
I’m sure Krupps have some plans lying around 😉
jerijerod14.bsky.social
The construction of battleships as part of a modern war fleet is, in my opinion, a daft idea and makes no strategic sense.

At the same time though…
jerijerod14.bsky.social
I think Raeder was working on a longer time scale for War than the rest of Europe. As part of a complete Plan Z maybe a carrier would have been a useful addition but…

With hindsight absolutely a waste, maybe at the time I’d be sceptical too but in the 30s I can see why it was considered as an idea
jerijerod14.bsky.social
You’d need a bigger carrier and runway but by 1944 (43 if really optimistic) they would have failed as the RN would have caught and sunk the carrier from under the jets fairly easily
jerijerod14.bsky.social
I’m going to be honest and say I don’t know, I’d not heard of it but I’m no expert. It wouldn’t surprisedme if the idea was thrown around by mid war but I think Luftwaffe priorities were elsewhere by then
jerijerod14.bsky.social
As I continue to answer the questions no one asked so you don’t have to…

Ever wondered what aircraft the proposed German aircraft carrier in #ww2 would have carried?

Look no further…

jerijerod14.substack.com/p/tragerflug...

#navalhistory
Trägerflugzeuge
Germany's proposed Carrier aircraft
jerijerod14.substack.com