Is there a ship or ships you really like not because of how good their engineered or designed, not because of their service history but because you just like them for just looking good or a personal liking for no particular reason?
More destroyers please Could you feature HMS Laforey G99 there’s lots of material including film footage at IWM taken by its captain (inc it’s involvement with the loss of Ark Royal) additionally there’s a book by one of its survivors
If someone was to create a task force consisting of Texas (last WWI-era battleship), Haida (last Tribal), Mikasa (last predreadnought), Aurora (last protected cruiser), Salem (last heavy cruiser), Sackville (last corvette) and Georges Averoff (last armoured cruiser), what would be the most modern naval task force it would be able to take on?
During the Yangtze Incident HMS London and Black Swan tried to rescue HMS Amethyst, yet were driven off by Chinese field guns, but why was London driven off, i could understand a Frigate or a Destroyer being driven off by field gun, but i would have thought a cruiser's armour could at worst tank the hits long enough to help, esspessially against field guns so what am i missing?
7:40 RCN ships have the maple leaf to show they are friendly and Canadian. RAN ships have a Kangaroo on their funnels, to show that if you annoy them they will punch you in the face.
What applies to the Kangaroo (RAN) also applies to the rotund, long beaked flightless bird [Kiwi] (RNZN), and both will assist each other in the punching if needs be 🤜🤛
Which is funny, because the Tribals in the RCN had the reputation for being blood thirsty, so much so that British Squadron Commanders assigned Canadian Tribals would request their reassignment. Canadians may be polite and friendly, but when at war, you won't be hearing 'sorry', that's for sure.
The code flags are CGJD which is the ships radio call sign. C for Canadian, G for destroyer and JD to refer to Haida specifically. The crew would fly CGJD while entering or leaving port to help identify the ship. From 1943 to 1946 the call sign was CGDK.
The world’s greatest warship ever! Yes, I’m a Canuck. And her commander, Harry DeWolf was a distant cousin. I first saw Haida just after she was saved from the razor blade factory and was docked in Toronto harbour. To an eight year old farm kid, she was mind blowing. I had never seen anything that big which could move! I thought she was a battleship.
Canada's, yes. World's, not even close. In WWII it was probably the Enterprise. But there have been a lot of great warships. The Korean Turtle boats. The USS Constitution. The Enterprise of course. HMS Dreadnaught. SMS Emden. HMS Warspite. USS Washington (the only one-on-one battleship kill in WWII). Even the USS Iowa deserves a spot on the list because, after recommissioning, it served all the way through the first gulf war.
In 2002 the Haida was moved across Lake Ontario from Her berth in Toronto to dry docking at Port Weller Dry Docks (PWDD) in St Catharines. I was one of the welders working at PWDD at that time. The yard's project was to install a water tight steel cladding below Her waterline. I found this to be odd as usually the old and rusty steel gets removed but hey, as I said, I'm the welder and who am I to question the experts.
I'm sure cost had bearing on it. They barely want to keep the thing from the scrap yard as is the cost of upkeep; let alone repair it 100% properly. It's not like the thing needs to be seaworthy anytime soon, just keep it afloat.
@@EdisonDiesel One of the things I have learned in life is that cutting corner usually comes back to bite you in the proverbial ass. I also found out that slapping unpainted steel on top of unpainted rusty steel rarely ends well if the goal is to keep the water out. Heddle Marine was required to bring Her to dry dock in 2016 for repairs. Not sure why but I can only speculate what required the need under the waterline repairs. Keep in mind that all sea chests are blanked off. Meh, I'm retired so it's not my circus and most definitely not my monkeys.
@@EdisonDiesel it is definately cheaper doubling the hull, rough shaping and easy welding, no need to worry about framing. Conservation methods and repair of steel hulls will get better cheaper and faster. Just waiting for a 3D printing hull technology on her old bones.
It never ceases to amaze me, that a Navy based in the North Atlantic would put open bridges on so many of their ships. That had to be a HELLISH job in winter, and no fun at all in a storm... Conversely, sailing in the tropics under a blazing sun would also be extremely unpleasant.
I last climbed her decks four decades ago when she was berthed athwart a pedestal-perched tribute to Bomber Command, and I appreciate the efforts of 'the Crew'. Shout-out the the Preservers who have cleaned, scraped and painted Haida. Respect
It's completely false that engineer Mathers has forgotten more about the ship than anyone else knows. She has not forgotten a thing! Great to see you visiting Canada.
Interviewing her was the high point of the video, I do wish you had wired her for sound, her voice doesn't come through as well as it could. when I visit a museum ship I always imagine how much more visitors would learn if as much of the equipment as possible could be demonstrated. It would be great if a generator could be online every now and then.
Thank you so much for this. My father, Richard Musgrave, served on HMAS Arunta, an Australian Tribal sister of HMCS Haida. He joined her as an electrician as she was being fitted up at Cockatoo Island in Sydney, served as a Leading Seaman in the commissioning torpedo party (so I loved your lingering attention on the torpedo tubes), and stayed with the Arunta til the end of the war, including the Battle of Surigao Strait, where Arunta, despite her meagre 4 tubes, lead a squadron of US destroyers on a torpedo run against the Japanese battleships. I vaguely remember Arunta sitting sadly in Sydney Harbour before she was lead off to the breakers in Japan (a fate she escaped by "mysteriously" scuttling herself under tow, sinking off the Australian coast before she could be dishonoured). Your view of Haida is a precious link for me back to my father's WWII experience.
HMCS Haida is a proper bucket-list item for me. I hope at some point I'll be able to visit Canada and see her. Haida for me is right up there with those unique ships like Texas, Olympia, Victory, Warrior; she's not just representing her own history, but that of her entire class or type and that makes her so much more important to preserve, so I salute the people and institutions that work to keep her safe in her well-earned retirement. I love the idea that all she needs is someone to pop her funnel caps open, stick some fuel oil in and off she could trot under her own power for whatever high jinks an 80 year-old destroyer would want to get up to... There's something extra special about a museum ship that is theoretically capable of steaming under it's own power. Not to say permanently static ships aren't special, but the idea of "Stick some fuel in an she'd be off to the races" is extra special.
Thanks Drach - I’m going to download this one and share it widely. I would also hasten to comment that while many around the world see us as friendly and polite…not everyone down through history has shared that view. To see why, just revisit Drach’s excellent piece on the adventures of HMCS Oakville.
As an Austrian who has never been to Canada and doesn't personally know any Canadians, I can tell you one thing: whenever you talk with your friends or family about foreign countries you may want to visit, one sentence always comes up, and that's "yeah, Canada is pretty great" (despite the fact that nobody I know has ever been to Canada either) 😂😂 I'd say being viewed as an objectively nice country is a pretty impressive feat.
@@michaelkovacic2608 I know a lot of Australian skiers who head to Canada for the northern hemisphere winter, far more than people who go to Europe or the USA. I'm not sure why, but the safe and friendly atmosphere may be one reason?
I bet that’s one of the parts. But we also have some fantastic skiing. Whistler mountain and the interior of British Columbia is absolutely breathtaking which great snow. We are also a little more laidback…… and weed is legal (skiers dream)
Sucked badly, and ice removal duty was constant. I have seen various photos of some of the ships covered in ice in different books and archive collections. As a west coast sailor who sailed off season in conditions that were bad enough but nothing like what sailors saw in the convoys, I feel that no matter how bad it looks in a photo, it is nowhere near what it was really like out on the water. Photographs never really capture the feeling of the sea state. The Imperial War Museum web site has some good images of iced up ships in the Arctic, just do a Google search for Imperial War Museum Arctic Convoy photos. Also the HMCS Sackville web site has some good images in its photo pages.
Icing on the upper works, masts, antennae, etc. was a great safety hazard as they became so top heavy that they were in danger of foundering from time to time on the North Atlantic. The generation of destroyers that Canada built to replace those ships looked like worn bars of soap and they shed ice (and nuclear fall out) because of their shape.
We had the same catwalk over the old forward torpedo tube location which were removed earlier in the ships life on HMS Diamond (D35) Daring class destroyer, and it was used when the sea was too rough, with the upper deck not safe to use. This provided a safe access way from forward to the after areas of the ship, through various hatches at the walkway level. There was a small deck hatch situated near aft 4.5 inch, X turret, which took you down to the turret barbette area which included the aft galley, crew accommodation, Heads (bathrooms), sick bay and also a hatchway down to B engine room. Much respect for a fellow stoker in Ms. Mathers, Thank you for the interesting and well-presented tour.
@@DrunkenGrognard Like father like son. Trudeau's old man was the PM who got rid of it if my memory serves me correct. Junior has the same attitude to the armed forces.
This is awesome to see, I pass by Haida several times a month and have walked her decks many times from when she was docked in Toronto to now when she is docked in Hamilton. It’s a wonderful tribute to the men and woman who served our country in WWII and subsequent conflicts. Thank you for showcasing this beautiful and storied vessel
Such love and dedication by the staff that maintains HMCS Haida. I think I have found a new lady to visit and I could spend a month walking her decks. Hell,. give me a bucket and a swab.
I took my 8 year old daughter to see her last week and she was absolutely stoked to have seen her. The staff is amazing as well, they love seeing kids interested in her and as a bonus, if you tell the gate staff what your favourite part of the ship was (hers was the gun turrets!) they get a very nice comic book that tells the story of the Haida rescuing the sailors from the HMCS Athabaskan after she was sunk.
Fantastic video. 13:20 Exhausted or no, I daresay the opportunity to manually train a Tribal forward gun mount was one of the happiest moments in Dr Clarke's life.
I read about Tribal Class destroyers but have never seen pictures of one, so to see a real Tribal really puts things in perspective. Many, Many Thanks to everyone for preserving this wonderful ship!
YES!!!!! This is in my hometown!!! Thank You! ❤ from Hamilton, Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 😊 I hope you were able to visit the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum while you were here?
@@bkjeong4302 I live on the "mountain" (its not really a mountain, but referred as such locally, lol) and I get to see the Lancaster, B-25 (Hot Gen), DC-3 and all the other flying ac from the museum throughout the summer as they fly over my house almost daily 😀
I'm in hamilton as well and I work at the airport, I usually hop into the CWHM for lunch occasionally they get some vintage aircraft that visit from waterloo/kitchener as well and it's really neat!
Drach, I live about 4 hours away and got to visit Haida with my 8 year old son a few years ago. He recieved an absolutely wonderful tour from Marg. Glad she was there to show you around.. what a special person.
Lovely. I have been fortunate to have visited her many, many times over the decades. The first time was in 1973 at age 9, when she was moored at Ontario Place in Toronto, and carried the pennant number G63, and I still have my souvenir Haida Cap. Now she is in Hamilton, and I have visited her there many times with my son. We usually do Haida and Canadian Warplane Heritage together so… Thanks for this.
I really love the ward room. The photos are very cool , and I always remember that checkerboard floor. Seeing how people lived while onboard is always interesting. The fact that Haida survived is a gift, and a history lesson in courage.
I visited HMCS Haida in Toronto in the 90s and it was wonderful. I had read about the Tribals for years, and had no idea one was still in existence AND on this side of the Atlantic, so it was a real treat to discover her. As always Drach, a terrific and informative video. Thank you!
Minor correction: The battle damage on the starboard side (that you mention at 6:10) did not occur in the Bay of Biscay action, when Leading Seaman Roy Betts and Able Seaman Gordon Rowe were killed. It actually occurred April 26, 1944, in an encounter between four Tribals (HMCS Haida, Athabaskan, Huron, and HMS Ashanti) and three Elbing class ships (T-24, T-27, and T-29) in which T-29 was sunk. Supposedly, some of it was friendly fire, caused by cross fire as the Haida and Ashanti fired at the stricken T-29 from either side of the ship. Apparently some of these British bullets shot the heads off of Captain De Wolfe's golf clubs, much to his chagrin. From: Barry Gough - HMCS Haida Battle Ensign Flying
Randomly bumped into this from seeing you comment over on Tod's Workshop. Dad was XO on HMCS Athabaskan 282. Fond memories of going on sail arounds, sitting strapped in, in the big chair on the bridge during some big waves, watching the bow go underwater, then up in the sky, then back underwater..... and having a bowl of Dad's favourite pea soup. And Santa Claus coming down the hatch. :)
I appreciated your discussion from 19:30 on about the Tribal class naming scheme. It reminded me of how the US Army has named their helicopters, with one of the most "martial" Native nations who were conquered over the course of our history becoming the namesake for the Army's best attack helicopter, the Apache.
A friend of mine worked in the dry dock where her hull was repaired. A unique experience being able to tour the interior and also walk under her. Some of the plates were so thin at time of restoration that a hammer would have punched a hole in her.
I lived in Toronto in the early 90's and visited the Haida many times when it was in Ontario Place. It was always a great experience. I had 2 uncles who served in the RCN, one on the HMCS Skeena which was wrecked off Iceland. He never spoke of his experiences. The other was on the HMCS Bonaventure, which I visited with him. A great experience for a teenager.
So way back in my days in Toronto (1998-1009) I took my then 6yr olde son to Ontario Place, where the ''Fightingest Ship in the Royal Canadian Navy'' was and had a great tour with the curator of the this grande olde lady. What surprised me is when I made a comment about the decking and bulkheads. He told me and those with us, that this ship had 27 different gauges (thickness) depending on where in the ship you were. Such as where we were standing (maybe 5cms or 2''s). Then she was taken to Port Weller and eventually to her new home.
A tangent that might be interesting would be a look at the Haida's sistership the HMCS Athabaskan which is the exact opposite of the Haida's career to the point she was nicknamed the 'unlucky lady' or 'unluckiest ship afloat'. A short list of things that went wrong would be :One of the first ships hit by the Hs 293 glide bomb, the aforementioned glide bomb actually failed to detonate but punched through and splashed beside the ship and then detonated, being exposed to several cases of friendly fire, being hit by one of the luckiest torpedo strikes of all time and one of the few times a torpedo worked PAST its operational limit, and when it was sinking it broke in half and the survivors claimed they heard the ship's piano fall through the ship before doing a comical piano smash as it hit the water. Oh and while it was sinking it got hit by another torpedo which might have been friendly since when it was lit up by the first torpedo explosion several ships thought it was one of the German DDs on fire but nobody really knows. Maybe Neptune just decided screw that ship in particular and made it spontaneously combust.
Always glad to see a notification from you Drach, your work is some of the best on TH-cam. One day I hope to travel to Canada Land to visit this fantastic ship. Can't wait till you visit the Kidd in Louisiana.
I didn't know Kidd was in LA. On my next trip to TX, I'll have to make a stop. Galveston is not far from from LA, relatively. Texas may be parked in that area after her restoration. I saw her about 10 years ago and it was a treat.
It was a beautiful day and getting to meet Drach was really neat. I cannot recommend visiting this ship enough. Beautiful ship with a friendly staff who will take the time to explain how things work - and there's so much to see that you should plan on spending a full day there. To say that the admission price is reasonable is an understatement. Adult admission is only $4.25 - less than the price of a coffee and a doughnut.
It was amazing visiting the HMCS Haida. The highlight of my visit was the gentleman maning the radio room preaching the value of vacuum tubes! It has also been a few years since I visited, and they have really improved the warf fore of the shp.
I've toured this ship when it was berthed in Toronto. It was one of the attractions of the now defunct ONTARIO PLACE. However, I was too young to appreciate the history. I'm glad it's still around, and fairly close to where I live, so I can see it again.
Really great video. My Uncle Lt Cmd. Harry Taylor (Bunji) served on the Haida, and was the last surviving officer. He mentioned that there had been notches carved in the Bridge woodwork,, to represent the ships it had sank. The Haida had the greatest number of battle victories, of any ship in any WW2 navy.
I toured the HAIDA many years ago when she was based in Toronto and due to be moved to another city, and I was delighted to see that that she remains well preserved and open to the public.
Thanks for the great video; a fitting tribute to a key piece of Canada's naval heritage. In case you didn't get a chance to tour HMCS Star, the adjacent shore station, the ship's bell from HMS Ramillies (07) is preserved inside, complementing the Ram's 15-inch gun mounted outside the Imperial War Museum.
My dad was a signalman on HMCS Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Huntsville. He always said that ton for ton the Tribal Class DD's were one of the best weapon systems in WW2.
I lived on this ship in the late 80s for 2 weeks ,slept in hammocks just above the hatch for the main magazine, with the sea cadets from the UK brilliant times
It's excellent that the vessel has been preserved and more so since it was manufactured fairly early in WW2. Not many vessels from the initial shockwave of that cataclysm exist for obvious reasons.
As for your whole "approaching at the water line makes the ship look larger" thing, I recently visited USS Hornet, which is in a similar situation, the ship looks absolutely massive from the outside, and is quite large inside, but still felt smaller than it looked from the outside!
Most ships and boats look bigger when you are outside, and smaller when you are inside. Eg. a canoe on your car looks big, but tiny when you are in it. Only the Tardis is bigger on the inside.
To me, the flags say "You are a landlubber that can't read flag signals!" Wonderful video, thank you Drach, and to all who has preserved the ship in such a fine state!
I love your ship museum videos. It seems that you got some great help from the museum crew. I was reminded of when I took my kids to the HMAS Vampire Museum in Sydney. I served on her sister ship, Vendetta in 1977. Our tour guide was a beaut bloke but but in his tour he was getting a bunch of things wrong. I took him aside quietly gave him a few corrections as we walked along. He was so appreciative. The museum guys are heroes for keeping naval history alive. Mate, consider doing a trip to Sydney, unless, I missed a previous vid, because as well as Vampire, they also have the submarine HMAS Onslow, patrol boat HMAS Advance as well as a bunch of other stuff. Great work and thanks.
Thanks for posting this video I enjoyed a walkthrough of the ship HMCS Haida. My Dad had served on a RCN Tribal Class destroyer during the Korean War the HMCS Cayuga. I've often wondered what the ship looked like so now I have a good idea. He was a radio operator, and possibly have been on the bridge working the morse code keys like shown in your tour video. Your videos are interesting keep up the good work!
Drach I'm really loving these extended history videos on specific ships, especially the ones that saw action! I saw you came to visit us recently and see a lot of the fantastic museum ships over here in the States. I think the closest boat to me is the USS Cobia in Manitowoc; didn't exactly expect you to get up there lol. Anyway, great videos to listen to during my long work shifts; keep up the fantastic work!
The way you talk about presentation is so true. I will never forget when I reported to the USS Iowa. She was in Norfolk and had a full combat load so she sat much lower in the water than I expected. I remember feeling disappointed thinking that she was a lot smaller than I imagined.
I had the joy of visiting Haida this past year in the fall. I spent the whole day there and it was not long enough since there is so much to see, especially if you stop to talk with the wonderful volunteers and staff at the site. I look forward to visiting her again some day. Thanks for the wonderful tour video! Ps: thanks also for the literature recommendations on the Canadian Navy a while back. I truly appreciate your help and great content
My first museum ship when she was tied up near downtown Toronto in the late 60’s. Later she was moved to then Ontario Place near the CNE, and eventually to her current space in Hamilton. An absolute jewel, and the standard which I judge all museum ships. Due to the proximity to Buffalo you can compare and contrast Tribal v Fletcher Class destroyers in the same day. Can’t wait to go aboard again!
Thanks for the excellent video. As a youngster, a friend and I visited the ship when it was at the foot of York St in Toronto (mid/late 1960's) . It was a great adventure -we were probably 11 or 12 years old and we travelled from our homes in the suburbs alone, (buses to Eglinton station, to northern terminus of the subway, then downtown ) during the mid-week. I recall at least one custodian on the vessel but basically we were alone and had freedom to roam over the entire ship. Today our parents would probably be accused of child abuse and the ship's owners would be freaking-out over the potential liability but those were simpler times. Despite our best efforts the Royal York Hotel was not destroyed by shell fire 😀. Four of my uncles had served in the military during WW2, based on the east coast, in support of or on convoy escort duty during the Battle of the Atlantic, so the visit was an intriguing exploration of an adult world that had otherwise been "glimpsed" through the child-friendly version stories they told.
I remember exploring this ship at the CNE when i was a kid. I also remember it was foggy day and it was impossible to even see the ship until you were right up against it. It was really scary to a young kid like myself.
Well done, Drach! I live about 30 miles from this great warship. We visit often. The Hamilton area also has a world class Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum with one of the last operational 4 engine Lancaster bombers!
Thanks for that look arround. It was educational to see the engine room as my grandfather was a Stoker Petty Officer on HMS Nubian in WW2. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his actions in saving the ship after she struck a mine during the Battle of Crete.
Visited this ship more than once as a kid in the 70's and early 80's when it was berthed at Ontario Place. I recall the forward guns were used whenever the Toronto Symphony Orchestra played the 1812 Overture at the Ontario Place forum. Good times!
flags i think are: Charlie - Affirmative Golf - I require a pilot Juliet - Keep clear, I have dangerous cargo on board Delta - Keep clear, I am maneuvering with difficulty
The signal guys I knew called the box structure at 12:09 a flag bag. Always liked watching them work. Usually... Very serious business. 😅. Sometimes tho.....
It was great to see you in Hamilton, Drach! It was also my first time seeing the Haida, and I wish I had more time to look more closely at it as I was running late making it there. Also, I'm mad impressed with the methods you were using to make this. It really shows here how important your Patreons are for making this a reality. I hope to see you back here eventually! I also can't wait to see some of the other footage you took while in Hamilton. My photo of Dr. Clark is probably one of my own personal highlights. 😅
Pinned post for Q&A :)
Is there a ship or ships you really like not because of how good their engineered or designed, not because of their service history but because you just like them for just looking good or a personal liking for no particular reason?
What would be the easiest way to improve the structural integrity and open ocean stability of the nurnberg and Koenigsberg class cruisers?
More destroyers please Could you feature HMS Laforey G99 there’s lots of material including film footage at IWM taken by its captain (inc it’s involvement with the loss of Ark Royal) additionally there’s a book by one of its survivors
If someone was to create a task force consisting of Texas (last WWI-era battleship), Haida (last Tribal), Mikasa (last predreadnought), Aurora (last protected cruiser), Salem (last heavy cruiser), Sackville (last corvette) and Georges Averoff (last armoured cruiser), what would be the most modern naval task force it would be able to take on?
During the Yangtze Incident HMS London and Black Swan tried to rescue HMS Amethyst, yet were driven off by Chinese field guns, but why was London driven off, i could understand a Frigate or a Destroyer being driven off by field gun, but i would have thought a cruiser's armour could at worst tank the hits long enough to help, esspessially against field guns so what am i missing?
That engine room is immaculate, and a credit to the volunteers who look after it.
7:40 RCN ships have the maple leaf to show they are friendly and Canadian. RAN ships have a Kangaroo on their funnels, to show that if you annoy them they will punch you in the face.
What applies to the Kangaroo (RAN) also applies to the rotund, long beaked flightless bird [Kiwi] (RNZN), and both will assist each other in the punching if needs be 🤜🤛
Which is funny, because the Tribals in the RCN had the reputation for being blood thirsty, so much so that British Squadron Commanders assigned Canadian Tribals would request their reassignment. Canadians may be polite and friendly, but when at war, you won't be hearing 'sorry', that's for sure.
😂😂😂😂👍🇦🇺🦘
They probably just said it under their breath in French...
This Canadian gives a big thumbs up for his Aussie and Kiwi cousins. F’n good on ya. We’re tips of the spear.
The code flags are CGJD which is the ships radio call sign. C for Canadian, G for destroyer and JD to refer to Haida specifically. The crew would fly CGJD while entering or leaving port to help identify the ship.
From 1943 to 1946 the call sign was CGDK.
My USN minesweeper radio call sign was NEWV.
in the eastgermany Navy we set our Number as a flagsignal for leaving or entering the port
I worked out the code letters but no idea what they were intended to indicate, thank you.
And the so-called "pride" flag? What is that for?
@@ElectroAtletico I noticed it as well. Ridiculous.
The world’s greatest warship ever!
Yes, I’m a Canuck. And her commander, Harry DeWolf was a distant cousin.
I first saw Haida just after she was saved from the razor blade factory and was docked in Toronto harbour. To an eight year old farm kid, she was mind blowing. I had never seen anything that big which could move! I thought she was a battleship.
Canada's, yes. World's, not even close. In WWII it was probably the Enterprise. But there have been a lot of great warships. The Korean Turtle boats. The USS Constitution. The Enterprise of course. HMS Dreadnaught. SMS Emden. HMS Warspite. USS Washington (the only one-on-one battleship kill in WWII). Even the USS Iowa deserves a spot on the list because, after recommissioning, it served all the way through the first gulf war.
Don't forget he has a class of ship named after him, as well.
@@Draconisrex1 Ugh... There's always one isn't there...
@@Roche_Furman
Yep. And have you looked at the specs on those babies? Nobody else builds patrol ships like we do!
@@Draconisrex1
Was wondering who I’d trigger.
In 2002 the Haida was moved across Lake Ontario from Her berth in Toronto to dry docking at Port Weller Dry Docks (PWDD) in St Catharines. I was one of the welders working at PWDD at that time. The yard's project was to install a water tight steel cladding below Her waterline. I found this to be odd as usually the old and rusty steel gets removed but hey, as I said, I'm the welder and who am I to question the experts.
I'm sure cost had bearing on it. They barely want to keep the thing from the scrap yard as is the cost of upkeep; let alone repair it 100% properly. It's not like the thing needs to be seaworthy anytime soon, just keep it afloat.
@@EdisonDiesel One of the things I have learned in life is that cutting corner usually comes back to bite you in the proverbial ass. I also found out that slapping unpainted steel on top of unpainted rusty steel rarely ends well if the goal is to keep the water out.
Heddle Marine was required to bring Her to dry dock in 2016 for repairs. Not sure why but I can only speculate what required the need under the waterline repairs. Keep in mind that all sea chests are blanked off.
Meh, I'm retired so it's not my circus and most definitely not my monkeys.
@@EdisonDiesel it is definately cheaper doubling the hull, rough shaping and easy welding, no need to worry about framing. Conservation methods and repair of steel hulls will get better cheaper and faster. Just waiting for a 3D printing hull technology on her old bones.
Welders kick ass
Just got done running beads of E7018 all day 🍻
It never ceases to amaze me, that a Navy based in the North Atlantic would put open bridges on so many of their ships. That had to be a HELLISH job in winter, and no fun at all in a storm... Conversely, sailing in the tropics under a blazing sun would also be extremely unpleasant.
Ah, Canada’s most fightingest ship and honorary Texan, always glad to see more about her
I last climbed her decks four decades ago when she was berthed athwart a pedestal-perched tribute to Bomber Command, and I appreciate the efforts of 'the Crew'. Shout-out the the Preservers who have cleaned, scraped and painted Haida. Respect
It's completely false that engineer Mathers has forgotten more about the ship than anyone else knows. She has not forgotten a thing! Great to see you visiting Canada.
I sure hope, that she has an apprentice, or two.
Interviewing her was the high point of the video, I do wish you had wired her for sound, her voice doesn't come through as well as it could. when I visit a museum ship I always imagine how much more visitors would learn if as much of the equipment as possible could be demonstrated. It would be great if a generator could be online every now and then.
Given that those who served aboard it in the 40's and 50's didn't have half the time to get to know the ship as she has - I would say you're spot on.
Thank you so much for this. My father, Richard Musgrave, served on HMAS Arunta, an Australian Tribal sister of HMCS Haida. He joined her as an electrician as she was being fitted up at Cockatoo Island in Sydney, served as a Leading Seaman in the commissioning torpedo party (so I loved your lingering attention on the torpedo tubes), and stayed with the Arunta til the end of the war, including the Battle of Surigao Strait, where Arunta, despite her meagre 4 tubes, lead a squadron of US destroyers on a torpedo run against the Japanese battleships. I vaguely remember Arunta sitting sadly in Sydney Harbour before she was lead off to the breakers in Japan (a fate she escaped by "mysteriously" scuttling herself under tow, sinking off the Australian coast before she could be dishonoured). Your view of Haida is a precious link for me back to my father's WWII experience.
HMCS Haida is a proper bucket-list item for me. I hope at some point I'll be able to visit Canada and see her.
Haida for me is right up there with those unique ships like Texas, Olympia, Victory, Warrior; she's not just representing her own history, but that of her entire class or type and that makes her so much more important to preserve, so I salute the people and institutions that work to keep her safe in her well-earned retirement.
I love the idea that all she needs is someone to pop her funnel caps open, stick some fuel oil in and off she could trot under her own power for whatever high jinks an 80 year-old destroyer would want to get up to... There's something extra special about a museum ship that is theoretically capable of steaming under it's own power. Not to say permanently static ships aren't special, but the idea of "Stick some fuel in an she'd be off to the races" is extra special.
Thanks for including Ms. Mathers. She's great.
Thanks Drach - I’m going to download this one and share it widely.
I would also hasten to comment that while many around the world see us as friendly and polite…not everyone down through history has shared that view. To see why, just revisit Drach’s excellent piece on the adventures of HMCS Oakville.
As an Austrian who has never been to Canada and doesn't personally know any Canadians, I can tell you one thing: whenever you talk with your friends or family about foreign countries you may want to visit, one sentence always comes up, and that's "yeah, Canada is pretty great" (despite the fact that nobody I know has ever been to Canada either) 😂😂 I'd say being viewed as an objectively nice country is a pretty impressive feat.
@@michaelkovacic2608 I know a lot of Australian skiers who head to Canada for the northern hemisphere winter, far more than people who go to Europe or the USA. I'm not sure why, but the safe and friendly atmosphere may be one reason?
I bet that’s one of the parts. But we also have some fantastic skiing. Whistler mountain and the interior of British Columbia is absolutely breathtaking which great snow. We are also a little more laidback…… and weed is legal (skiers dream)
I hadn't realized how open to the elements all those stations on a destroyer are. That must have sucked in North Atlantic Winter.
Good thing, Canada is a near tropical country.
In the winter. Half of us are down there.
Sucked badly, and ice removal duty was constant. I have seen various photos of some of the ships covered in ice in different books and archive collections. As a west coast sailor who sailed off season in conditions that were bad enough but nothing like what sailors saw in the convoys, I feel that no matter how bad it looks in a photo, it is nowhere near what it was really like out on the water. Photographs never really capture the feeling of the sea state. The Imperial War Museum web site has some good images of iced up ships in the Arctic, just do a Google search for Imperial War Museum Arctic Convoy photos. Also the HMCS Sackville web site has some good images in its photo pages.
Icing on the upper works, masts, antennae, etc. was a great safety hazard as they became so top heavy that they were in danger of foundering from time to time on the North Atlantic. The generation of destroyers that Canada built to replace those ships looked like worn bars of soap and they shed ice (and nuclear fall out) because of their shape.
🏳️🌈
We had the same catwalk over the old forward torpedo tube location which were removed earlier in the ships life on HMS Diamond (D35) Daring class destroyer, and it was used when the sea was too rough, with the upper deck not safe to use. This provided a safe access way from forward to the after areas of the ship, through various hatches at the walkway level. There was a small deck hatch situated near aft 4.5 inch, X turret, which took you down to the turret barbette area which included the aft galley, crew accommodation, Heads (bathrooms), sick bay and also a hatchway down to B engine room. Much respect for a fellow stoker in Ms. Mathers, Thank you for the interesting and well-presented tour.
The Engineer is a treasure as well as the ship.
That engine room is imacculate, I think the trem "thank you for your service" certainly applies to this amazing lady.
Kudos to Mrs Mathers for her work.
Beautiful ship. As a Canadian I love hearing about our Naval History. Could you do a story on our Aircraft Carriers? Sad we stopped replacing them.
Bonaventure was a 5 minutes guide some time ago.
@@mlefebvre007 Thank you for your response. I missed that. I'll check it out.
@@mikeyboy3054 th-cam.com/video/jvn98bFwSks/w-d-xo.html
What happened to the Bonnie was a fsking crime
@@DrunkenGrognard Like father like son. Trudeau's old man was the PM who got rid of it if my memory serves me correct. Junior has the same attitude to the armed forces.
This is awesome to see, I pass by Haida several times a month and have walked her decks many times from when she was docked in Toronto to now when she is docked in Hamilton. It’s a wonderful tribute to the men and woman who served our country in WWII and subsequent conflicts. Thank you for showcasing this beautiful and storied vessel
A visit video with Drach and there is no rain or wind? Now thats a treat.
Such love and dedication by the staff that maintains HMCS Haida. I think I have found a new lady to visit and I could spend a month walking her decks. Hell,. give me a bucket and a swab.
I took my 8 year old daughter to see her last week and she was absolutely stoked to have seen her. The staff is amazing as well, they love seeing kids interested in her and as a bonus, if you tell the gate staff what your favourite part of the ship was (hers was the gun turrets!) they get a very nice comic book that tells the story of the Haida rescuing the sailors from the HMCS Athabaskan after she was sunk.
I have visited ORP Błyskawica in Gdynia several times. I wish I visit Haida sometime. They fought together.
Fantastic video.
13:20 Exhausted or no, I daresay the opportunity to manually train a Tribal forward gun mount was one of the happiest moments in Dr Clarke's life.
I read about Tribal Class destroyers but have never seen pictures of one, so to see a real Tribal really puts things in perspective. Many, Many Thanks to everyone for preserving this wonderful ship!
YES!!!!! This is in my hometown!!! Thank You!
❤ from Hamilton, Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 😊
I hope you were able to visit the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum while you were here?
He did. (I’ve been there twice as well).
I did indeed :)
@@bkjeong4302 I live on the "mountain" (its not really a mountain, but referred as such locally, lol) and I get to see the Lancaster, B-25 (Hot Gen), DC-3 and all the other flying ac from the museum throughout the summer as they fly over my house almost daily 😀
@@Kitzkrieg
Seen the Lancaster take off on my first visit there.
I'm in hamilton as well and I work at the airport, I usually hop into the CWHM for lunch occasionally they get some vintage aircraft that visit from waterloo/kitchener as well and it's really neat!
Drach, I live about 4 hours away and got to visit Haida with my 8 year old son a few years ago. He recieved an absolutely wonderful tour from Marg. Glad she was there to show you around.. what a special person.
Marg is a legend. Yay Stokers!
Lovely. I have been fortunate to have visited her many, many times over the decades. The first time was in 1973 at age 9, when she was moored at Ontario Place in Toronto, and carried the pennant number G63, and I still have my souvenir Haida Cap. Now she is in Hamilton, and I have visited her there many times with my son. We usually do Haida and Canadian Warplane Heritage together so… Thanks for this.
I really love the ward room. The photos are very cool , and I always remember that checkerboard floor. Seeing how people lived while onboard is always interesting. The fact that Haida survived is a gift, and a history lesson in courage.
Oh man, I always LOVED talking to people like her. Remember doing that at airshows, talking to a WWII Bomber crew for hours. I was 10 or 12 or so.
I visited HMCS Haida in Toronto in the 90s and it was wonderful. I had read about the Tribals for years, and had no idea one was still in existence AND on this side of the Atlantic, so it was a real treat to discover her.
As always Drach, a terrific and informative video. Thank you!
Minor correction: The battle damage on the starboard side (that you mention at 6:10) did not occur in the Bay of Biscay action, when Leading Seaman Roy Betts and Able Seaman Gordon Rowe were killed.
It actually occurred April 26, 1944, in an encounter between four Tribals (HMCS Haida, Athabaskan, Huron, and HMS Ashanti) and three Elbing class ships (T-24, T-27, and T-29) in which T-29 was sunk. Supposedly, some of it was friendly fire, caused by cross fire as the Haida and Ashanti fired at the stricken T-29 from either side of the ship. Apparently some of these British bullets shot the heads off of Captain De Wolfe's golf clubs, much to his chagrin.
From: Barry Gough - HMCS Haida Battle Ensign Flying
Randomly bumped into this from seeing you comment over on Tod's Workshop. Dad was XO on HMCS Athabaskan 282. Fond memories of going on sail arounds, sitting strapped in, in the big chair on the bridge during some big waves, watching the bow go underwater, then up in the sky, then back underwater..... and having a bowl of Dad's favourite pea soup. And Santa Claus coming down the hatch. :)
I appreciated your discussion from 19:30 on about the Tribal class naming scheme. It reminded me of how the US Army has named their helicopters, with one of the most "martial" Native nations who were conquered over the course of our history becoming the namesake for the Army's best attack helicopter, the Apache.
What an awesome video, her engine room,she is awesome, knows her stuff,God bless Mrs. Mathers.
I can see myself in the background a few times lol, it was a great experience getting to meet you definitely will never forget!
A friend of mine worked in the dry dock where her hull was repaired. A unique experience being able to tour the interior and also walk under her. Some of the plates were so thin at time of restoration that a hammer would have punched a hole in her.
As a child I had a model of HMS Cossack. It was a beautiful ship
I lived in Toronto in the early 90's and visited the Haida many times when it was in Ontario Place. It was always a great experience. I had 2 uncles who served in the RCN, one on the HMCS Skeena which was wrecked off Iceland. He never spoke of his experiences. The other was on the HMCS Bonaventure, which I visited with him. A great experience for a teenager.
We need a video with more conversation with the wonderful stoker.
Wonderful lines on this lady.
So way back in my days in Toronto (1998-1009) I took my then 6yr olde son to Ontario Place, where the ''Fightingest Ship in the Royal Canadian Navy'' was and had a great tour with the curator of the this grande olde lady. What surprised me is when I made a comment about the decking and bulkheads. He told me and those with us, that this ship had 27 different gauges (thickness) depending on where in the ship you were. Such as where we were standing (maybe 5cms or 2''s). Then she was taken to Port Weller and eventually to her new home.
A tangent that might be interesting would be a look at the Haida's sistership the HMCS Athabaskan which is the exact opposite of the Haida's career to the point she was nicknamed the 'unlucky lady' or 'unluckiest ship afloat'.
A short list of things that went wrong would be :One of the first ships hit by the Hs 293 glide bomb, the aforementioned glide bomb actually failed to detonate but punched through and splashed beside the ship and then detonated, being exposed to several cases of friendly fire, being hit by one of the luckiest torpedo strikes of all time and one of the few times a torpedo worked PAST its operational limit, and when it was sinking it broke in half and the survivors claimed they heard the ship's piano fall through the ship before doing a comical piano smash as it hit the water.
Oh and while it was sinking it got hit by another torpedo which might have been friendly since when it was lit up by the first torpedo explosion several ships thought it was one of the German DDs on fire but nobody really knows. Maybe Neptune just decided screw that ship in particular and made it spontaneously combust.
The signal flags flying from the mast are the ship's 4-letter call sign, "CGJD." This call sign was also used for radio communications.
There is an active Ham club operating out of her old Radio Room.
A delightful visit without leaving my couch. Thank you.
Always glad to see a notification from you Drach, your work is some of the best on TH-cam. One day I hope to travel to Canada Land to visit this fantastic ship.
Can't wait till you visit the Kidd in Louisiana.
I didn't know Kidd was in LA. On my next trip to TX, I'll have to make a stop.
Galveston is not far from from LA, relatively. Texas may be parked in that area after her restoration. I saw her about 10 years ago and it was a treat.
@@cambellschunky704 she is in Baton Rouge, right on the river. She is one of the finest muesem ships on display.
@@admiraltiberius1989 The Kidd is now on dry land due to the river drying up unless that has changed.
@cambellschunky704 Make sure to visit the Galveston naval museum!
@@wyndo1492 I didn't know about that one either - it's going on the list for sure!
I live an 18 minute drive from this ship and have visited her twice, once here in Hamilton and many years ago in Toronto. Time for another visit.
It was a beautiful day and getting to meet Drach was really neat. I cannot recommend visiting this ship enough. Beautiful ship with a friendly staff who will take the time to explain how things work - and there's so much to see that you should plan on spending a full day there. To say that the admission price is reasonable is an understatement. Adult admission is only $4.25 - less than the price of a coffee and a doughnut.
It was amazing visiting the HMCS Haida. The highlight of my visit was the gentleman maning the radio room preaching the value of vacuum tubes! It has also been a few years since I visited, and they have really improved the warf fore of the shp.
Warf.... Lore.???
I've toured this ship when it was berthed in Toronto. It was one of the attractions of the now defunct ONTARIO PLACE. However, I was too young to appreciate the history. I'm glad it's still around, and fairly close to where I live, so I can see it again.
Such tough and hard-driven ships!. It would be a treat to have a comparison between the Tribals and the american DDs, the Fletchers!!!
The Tribals are beautiful ships. I'm glad Canada saved at one and saved a Flower Class Corvette too. Thanks Drach.
Been looking forward to this since reading Dr. Clarke's book!
It's a good read, isn't it?
Really great video. My Uncle Lt Cmd. Harry Taylor (Bunji) served on the Haida, and was the last surviving officer. He mentioned that there had been notches carved in the Bridge woodwork,, to represent the ships it had sank. The Haida had the greatest number of battle victories, of any ship in any WW2 navy.
Great video! My Grandfather served on board the Haida during WWII
Down the rabbit hole of your naval tour.
I toured the HAIDA many years ago when she was based in Toronto and due to be moved to another city, and I was delighted to see that that she remains well preserved and open to the public.
When the ship was moored in Toronto, that working gun mount used to be used to fire blanks when the 1812 overture was being performed in Ontario Place
Thanks for the great video; a fitting tribute to a key piece of Canada's naval heritage. In case you didn't get a chance to tour HMCS Star, the adjacent shore station, the ship's bell from HMS Ramillies (07) is preserved inside, complementing the Ram's 15-inch gun mounted outside the Imperial War Museum.
My dad was a signalman on HMCS Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Huntsville. He always said that ton for ton the Tribal Class DD's were one of the best weapon systems in WW2.
It was great to met you and Dr. Clark that day, really happy you got this video posted.
Hopefully you are able to visit again in the near future.
I lived on this ship in the late 80s for 2 weeks ,slept in hammocks just above the hatch for the main magazine, with the sea cadets from the UK brilliant times
It's excellent that the vessel has been preserved and more so since it was manufactured fairly early in WW2. Not many vessels from the initial shockwave of that cataclysm exist for obvious reasons.
It's so great to see the people who work there talk about it. Thanks for posting this.
As for your whole "approaching at the water line makes the ship look larger" thing, I recently visited USS Hornet, which is in a similar situation, the ship looks absolutely massive from the outside, and is quite large inside, but still felt smaller than it looked from the outside!
Most ships and boats look bigger when you are outside, and smaller when you are inside. Eg. a canoe on your car looks big, but tiny when you are in it. Only the Tardis is bigger on the inside.
Going to see The Haida is a childhood memory, and i took my kids to see her last year and they loved it
To me, the flags say "You are a landlubber that can't read flag signals!" Wonderful video, thank you Drach, and to all who has preserved the ship in such a fine state!
Thank you for this video. My grandfather served aboard the Haida during WWII, it's a wonderful ship to visit!
I love your ship museum videos. It seems that you got some great help from the museum crew. I was reminded of when I took my kids to the HMAS Vampire Museum in Sydney. I served on her sister ship, Vendetta in 1977. Our tour guide was a beaut bloke but but in his tour he was getting a bunch of things wrong. I took him aside quietly gave him a few corrections as we walked along. He was so appreciative. The museum guys are heroes for keeping naval history alive. Mate, consider doing a trip to Sydney, unless, I missed a previous vid, because as well as Vampire, they also have the submarine HMAS Onslow, patrol boat HMAS Advance as well as a bunch of other stuff.
Great work and thanks.
The Lady at the end was a Gem. A real life version of Scotty from Star Trek! 🙂
Thanks for posting this video I enjoyed a walkthrough of the ship HMCS Haida. My Dad had served on a RCN Tribal Class destroyer during the Korean War the HMCS Cayuga. I've often wondered what the ship looked like so now I have a good idea. He was a radio operator, and possibly have been on the bridge working the morse code keys like shown in your tour video. Your videos are interesting keep up the good work!
Drach I'm really loving these extended history videos on specific ships, especially the ones that saw action!
I saw you came to visit us recently and see a lot of the fantastic museum ships over here in the States. I think the closest boat to me is the USS Cobia in Manitowoc; didn't exactly expect you to get up there lol. Anyway, great videos to listen to during my long work shifts; keep up the fantastic work!
Thanks for featuring our Fightingest Ship. I been on board many times. Love your channel!
glad you used World of Warhsips. I have Haida and Huron.
The way you talk about presentation is so true. I will never forget when I reported to the USS Iowa. She was in Norfolk and had a full combat load so she sat much lower in the water than I expected. I remember feeling disappointed thinking that she was a lot smaller than I imagined.
Going to see her this summer - can't wait. I have to go to a wedding so I figure I may as well get some enjoyment out of the trip...
I had the joy of visiting Haida this past year in the fall. I spent the whole day there and it was not long enough since there is so much to see, especially if you stop to talk with the wonderful volunteers and staff at the site. I look forward to visiting her again some day.
Thanks for the wonderful tour video!
Ps: thanks also for the literature recommendations on the Canadian Navy a while back. I truly appreciate your help and great content
I went aboard her in Toronto in July 1985. I still have the t-shirt I bought. It still fits, too.
My first museum ship when she was tied up near downtown Toronto in the late 60’s. Later she was moved to then Ontario Place near the CNE, and eventually to her current space in Hamilton. An absolute jewel, and the standard which I judge all museum ships. Due to the proximity to Buffalo you can compare and contrast Tribal v Fletcher Class destroyers in the same day. Can’t wait to go aboard again!
I will say it again you have a great channel, thanks for showing our destroyer with your British build. Blessings from you can figure, 🇨🇦.
Thanks for the excellent video. As a youngster, a friend and I visited the ship when it was at the foot of York St in Toronto (mid/late 1960's) . It was a great adventure -we were probably 11 or 12 years old and we travelled from our homes in the suburbs alone, (buses to Eglinton station, to northern terminus of the subway, then downtown ) during the mid-week. I recall at least one custodian on the vessel but basically we were alone and had freedom to roam over the entire ship. Today our parents would probably be accused of child abuse and the ship's owners would be freaking-out over the potential liability but those were simpler times. Despite our best efforts the Royal York Hotel was not destroyed by shell fire 😀. Four of my uncles had served in the military during WW2, based on the east coast, in support of or on convoy escort duty during the Battle of the Atlantic, so the visit was an intriguing exploration of an adult world that had otherwise been "glimpsed" through the child-friendly version stories they told.
Thank you for the wonderful tour of a great ship.
Yaaaaaaay! A angry Canadian ship at last!
Perfect timing, Drach. I've just received the 700 scale tribal, namely HMS Zulu. So I'll be listening to a story about trials while painting one.
Great video! Would love to see the HMCS Haida once back in Ontario! My great uncle was on the sister ship HMCS Athabaskan G07 in 1944.
I remember exploring this ship at the CNE when i was a kid. I also remember it was foggy day and it was impossible to even see the ship until you were right up against it. It was really scary to a young kid like myself.
Well done, Drach! I live about 30 miles from this great warship. We visit often. The Hamilton area also has a world class Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum with one of the last operational 4 engine Lancaster bombers!
CWHM is a Hamilton must see.
Thanks for that look arround. It was educational to see the engine room as my grandfather was a Stoker Petty Officer on HMS Nubian in WW2. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his actions in saving the ship after she struck a mine during the Battle of Crete.
I have fond childhood memories of visiting this beautiful old ship while she still lived in Toronto.
27:26 The flags are the letters CGJD is Haidas international radio callsign.
Fascinating, informative tour of a wonderful ship. Terrific work Drach, thank you for everything you do for your outstanding channel.
As a Canadian, Thank you for this. She's a beautiful ship I'll need to visit again when she opens.
Visited this ship more than once as a kid in the 70's and early 80's when it was berthed at Ontario Place. I recall the forward guns were used whenever the Toronto Symphony Orchestra played the 1812 Overture at the Ontario Place forum. Good times!
Nice tour mate. She's the nicest Stoker you'll ever meet too. I never thought I'd hear you refer to a compartment's deckhead as the roof!
flags i think are:
Charlie - Affirmative
Golf - I require a pilot
Juliet - Keep clear, I have dangerous cargo on board
Delta - Keep clear, I am maneuvering with difficulty
That is the ships call sign
some one's got a sense of humour
The signal guys I knew called the box structure at 12:09 a flag bag. Always liked watching them work. Usually... Very serious business. 😅. Sometimes tho.....
Beat me to it.
CGJD was Haida's radio callsign.
It was great to see you in Hamilton, Drach! It was also my first time seeing the Haida, and I wish I had more time to look more closely at it as I was running late making it there.
Also, I'm mad impressed with the methods you were using to make this. It really shows here how important your Patreons are for making this a reality.
I hope to see you back here eventually! I also can't wait to see some of the other footage you took while in Hamilton. My photo of Dr. Clark is probably one of my own personal highlights. 😅
Good to see the last example of one of the most effective WW2 ships of a type that was a stalwart of the Commonwealth navies.
Glad you covered the old girl, thanks.
I was lucky enough to tour this ship many years ago when she was still docked in Toronto.
And I almost killed myself going down a ladder.