Breaking News in Navy History: Dives on USS Yorktown, IJN Akagi, and IJN Kaga 

Was it just me or was Ryan super excited tonight? Three cheers to our Curator 😊😊😊

Ryan sounds like a giddy schoolgirl. It amazing how much passion he has not only for the new Jersey but anything todo with Naval history. I wish I had a history teacher like him when I was at school.

Yorktown’s damage control was effective enough that the Japanese believed they disabled two different carriers, and as all US carriers at Midway were of the same class, they thought they were doing much better than reality.

Titantic was found on the DL by Ballard when funded by the US Navy to find two nuclear subs Thresher and Scorpion. He had spare time afterwards and was allowed to use it as he wanted.

Bless you Ryan, you're the first person on Earth In the last 50 years to finally use the term ROV without smugly explaining what each letter means to insult the pleb's intelligence

We need to see a collab with you and Drach reviewing all the footage together!

Ryan mentioned how these wrecks are the only thing we can see of the naval battles. I had visited a few Civil War battlefields so was excited when as a young sailor I learned my should would be passing through the San Bernadino Straights. Other than a time to reflect on what had happened there about 25 years before there was nothing but water, water with some islands in the distance. No statues, no cannon as monuments, no cemetery. Just water. So what Ryan said is absolutely true these videos will serve as monuments to those sailors.

No crosses mark the ocean waves; No monuments of stone. No roses grow on sailor's graves, The Sailor rests alone His tributes are the sea gulls' sweeps, Forever wild and free . . . And teardrops that his sweetheart weeps To mingle with the sea

Other kids: watching Winnie the Pooh Ryan: taking notes on how to sink a German battleship

I really want to see Surcouf found, that would be an incredible wreck.

Both IJN Akagi and IJN Kaga participated in the bombing raid on Darwin, Australia after the Pearl Harbour raid. What a lot of people don’t know is that more planes and bombs were used on the Darwin raid than what was used at Pearl Harbour. The Darwin raid is a significant historical event for Australia. It was the first time that the country had ever come under attack from the enemy. It also plays in another historical event as a Japanese pilot was taken as a POW who was a main player in instigating the largest POW escape ever at a POW camp in Cowra Australia.

The ship is the museum. It tells you allot just by looking at her. It shows how she fought, it shows you the damaged she sustained, and it shows you just how proudly she represents American effort at a very critical time during WWII.

The Yorktown CV-5 is a hero of the US Navy! I had no idea they went down again! I’m currently in the midst of making a mini doc about her. Thanks for sharing Ryan

Something about seeing someone who is passionate about something bursting with excitement and Joy talk about learning new things is just wonderful seeing Ryan giddy about the live stream is priceless

Ryan, your enthusiasm and love for the New Jersey and naval history in general is inspiring. I have always been more interested in land warfare, but you are winning me over. Unfortunate we have lost most of our brothers who fought in in these battles, so it’s people like you who have to carry on their legacy and message and you’re doing an awesome job!

This is on CBS news right NOW!!! And CBS news showed a pic of the 'new' Yorktown, with the angled deck!

I didn't catch the Nautilus live-stream, but I did watch the video linked from a news website later. Incredible.

The excerpt from the Gettysburg address got me at the end. I'm 22 by the way, and I can recognize the Gettysburg address from the first line.

Battleship (discovery channel 1997) here on RU-vid was my first documentary that made me fall in love with uss new Jersey and introduced me to all the great museum battleships

Thank you for keeping this alive Ryan, love seeing this history, especially having a Grandfather who served in the Pacific theater.

I saw the footage and caught part of the live stream. They approached the vessels with both reverence and respect to what these vessels represent.

Great review! FYI, parkerizing is not a finish that can melt. It's not a paint but more like a version of rust, like bluing. You can get it hot as can be and it should still be there.

Ryan, you your enthusiasm is contagious. Yes, these wrecks are memorials to the sailors on both sides who gave their lives for their country. It is so sad to me that some countries are allowing other historical shipwrecks to be cut up for scrap. Shame on them!

Thrilled to see it live. It even changed the history books a little when it appeared one of the near misses on Akagi actually hit one of the rudders. At least the tomb robbers won't disturb that battlefield.

Ryan, your enthusiasm is thrilling and makes me excited to go watch the footage. I served on several ships while I was in the navy, and we had fires on board while underway. Once one of our generators caught fire and the smoke was going through a lot of the ship. So I can relate to what happened during those battles. It's not a good feeling when your ship is on fire.

I got into these ships because my grandpa had at his home, in a large wooden frame, a 40mm bofors round. When I was a kid he explained which ship he was on and what he did with those quads.

I really hope they find the Shinano. She didn't burn or explode and sank fairly slowly. There is a good chance she could be amazingly intact. It would be awesome to see a Yamato class hull all in one piece.

Only now getting to see this. Ryan is a BADASS. It's freakin awesome to see someone who is so passionate about directing people to other sources, websites, channels, and stuff that's not even related to New Jersey other than just also being "naval". Keep it up sir, it's highly infectious :)

USS Oklahoma is still out there somewhere. she wouldn't be much to look at after being stripped down, but to find her would be an amazing find.

Honestly, i am hoping they explore some of the Ships at the Bikini atoll if possible. Maybe the Yamato if she is still there and scrappers haven't tried to get her.

Nice touch adding the passage from the Gettysburg Address at the end.

I hope we can find Zuikaku and Shokaku soon.

My grandparents had National Geographic magazines. Those magazines inspired me to visit Egypt.

Me to Ryan also I watch the Victory at Sea every single episode.

Heh, i was just watching the Nautilus channel wondering if Ryan saw. :) A collab with their channel would be super awesome, their ship is no battlecruiser, but it's impressive none the less. Also, their streams are amazing. The bottom of the ocean floor might as well be an alien landscape, highly recommended channel!!!

I am currently reading Shattered Sword, by John Parshall and Anthony Tulley, so this comes right on time. I'm really looking forward to watching the video from the dives.

I'd like to see them survey the two British ships (Prince of Wales and Repulse I think) that sank in the Pacific and apparently have been the victim of illegal salvaging

This was the very best video you have ever done. You were so animated, you just couldn't hardly sit still. Thank you for all of your enthusiasm.

Victory at Sea on VHS in the 90s in Grandma's living room on a Sunday afternoon brought me here. Love it, let's go find Shinano.

I loved those nat geo specials as well. I had a laser disc player back then and would play them on a big screen tv. The one about iron bottom sound was my favorite, as I had no idea what a close thing the Guadalcanal campaign was.

I became interested in navy warships mainly from WW 2 way back in the 1960's when I was about 9 years old. My father was it seems always away on a carrier somewhere. Because of his 30 year career in the US navy from 1943 - 1973 I began reading about warships in WW2 and building models of those warships. I started building models in the 1/700 scale models back in the 1970's to the 1980's. I choose the 1/700 scale because they had almost every class of warship from all the major navies from WW2. At one point I had about 230 1/700 model ships built with the vast majority being US navy & the Japanese navy from WW2. Plus the main capital warships from the other nations. Sadly every model that I had built was all lost when we bought a new home and moved back in 1989. I follow your channel because you cover so many great subjects and it is a joy to watch your channel. PJ

Yorktowns damage control teams deserved recognition. They almost saved that ship despite incredible damage and immense challenges. I so wish they had been able to save her.

It would be so cool to see Robert Ballard on the New Jersey!

This video is great. Ryan’s passion is infectious and his excitement is so genuine and delightful. Thanks for creating it :)

It's really cool to see how excited and animated Ryan got through this episode. It's easy to see why though. This is really cool stuff

Shame no one has found IJN Souryuu and IJN Hiryuu as those 2 are still not been found

Great video, Ryan (and team). Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm with us.

Would love for them to find the battleships New York and Pennsylvania wrecks or go explore the kirishima wreck

THANKS RYAN,, WHAT A AWSOME VIDEO !!! YOUR UP BEAT OF TEACHING US VIEWERS ABOUT THESE SHIPS GET US SO EXCITED AND WANT TO LEARN MORE .. MY SON MAX 8 YR.S OLD LOOKS UP TO YOU TO LEARN ABOUT THE OLDER SHIPS AND NOW THE BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY,, AND WHAT IS GOING TO GO ON SOON WITH THE GREAT DRY DOCKING.. WE HAVE LEARNED DRY DOCKING ON THE TEXAS..LOTS OF WORK AHEAD,,... THANK YOU MUCH!!!!

Yorktown’s discovery (I believe in 1998 - I still have the NatGeo magazine on it) was what got me hooked on naval history; that and Bismarck. As to what wreck they should find next - I’d love to see more photos released of Hornet and Lexington. The air group alone for the latter was an amazing find. Some folks report that the USN authorized the outfit that raised all the Michigan lake wrecks to explore raising the wildcat and a few of the TBD, since they aren’t considered graves (pushed over the side/blown over the side during battle and not part of the sinking).

That's just a beautiful video, love the excitement and passion in your voice. Great work Ryan 👏 👍

I hope they’re able to do a video like this for the ships that sunk in iron bottom sound. In particular I hope it goes over the Ayanami and the Laffey.

I would love to see the wrecks of the other Japanese fleet carriers located and mapped: Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku

Your excitement is infectious Ryan, this is awesome

thank you for the Heads up been watching the surveys alot of the ships found cant wait to get to these TY again

Great video Ryan .. I hope one day they will take a look at HMS Barham

We did know that Yorktown kept her .50 cal AA guns before this. I recently read “Battle Stations: How the USS Yorktown Helped Turn the Tide at Coral Sea and Midway” by Stephen L. Moore and they talk a lot about the .50 cals including the POV of one of the gunners in both battles. He talks about how at one point he blew the water hose off the cooling jacket overheating it at Coral Sea

Ryan just casually name dropping Frank from R/V Petrel.

Awesome video. Great content, and I'm going to have to go look at their 10 minute video now!

I found out after the fact but I always thought Ballard's Yorktown book and video left a ton of footage out and have wanted to see a return to Yorktown for so long and it happened!!!

Fascinating analysis, thanks Ryan.

Brian! Nice haircut! Congrats!

I would like to see a dEtailed survey of the Fuso and the IJN Shinino

Great discussion, Ryan! Thanks! As a point of order, while such vessels are graves, any trace of the bodies is long gone. Any of the fleshy attributes of bodies are simply food for the organisms found at the bottom depths and large chunks of meat (human and otherwise) are rare in these areas. The deep sea in these regions is aerobic and has a lot of scavengers, some of which will come from miles to consume the remains. These consumers may be anything from large sharks (Greenland sharks, particularly) to various crustaceans, sea stars and anything else that can move to food. Once all the juicy stuff is removed, bacteria and many smaller scavenger organisms (from protozoans to bacteria) will colonise and consume the remaining goodies. The soft parts will be totally gone in a few months to a couple of years. The bones will dissolve under the pressures of the depths these wrecks are at, the calcium phosphate comprising vertebrate bones dissolves relatively rapidly. In addition, the bones are also consumed, eaten by "bone-eating" polychaete (aka "bristle") worms and some other creatures. This is not a really fast process - the water at this depth is cold - typically 2 deg C or less, and metabolism is really slow at those temperatures, and pressures. Nonetheless, it will occur. Large pieces of food are rare in the deep sea, and nothing goes to waste.

The one id like to see found is USS Salt Lake City, and of course her sister USS Pensacola. Very significant ships in thier own right.

I’ve had the EV Nautilus quad stream up in our office for the past few weeks. We missed most of the wreck discovery but their surveying is mesmerizing to watch.

Jacques Cousteau had an amazing special about exploring the wrecks in Truk Lagoon, and I was the same way with that as you were with Ballard's explorations!!

Another cool thing about Yorktown’s wreck, and this is something they didn’t notice at first, is that one point while looking in the hanger you can see a wing sitting up against the opposite wall with the roundel visible. Looked like a TBD wing, and there was one still on the hanger that wasn’t able to be jettisoned when she sank.

Oh great, now I have to modify the YORKTOWN, KAGA and AKAGI in your collection! 😄

Amazing thing to see. I have been following this.

Like to see the rest of the Monitor and the Merrimack.

I'd love to hear Ryan's thoughts on the expedition that found the wrecks of Taffy 3 at Samar. By far my favorite story of the ridiculous fortitude of the American sailor

Thank you! There is indeed almost a categorical difference between vanity diving and scholastic or archaeological diving.

The M2 Water Cooled machine guns (or possibly M1921A1, it's unclear what Yorktown had) both use a very thin barrel in order to transfer heat more quickly to the water, which keeps the barrel temperature under 212F/100C, and it's a major problem if the water jacket boils away without being replenish as the barrels tend to melt very quickly. The water cooled models have been out of the US inventory since the end of WWII. Because it's surrounded by water, the blueing of the barrel actually stays intact, so the mess they look like today is almost certainly due to having much less steel to start with; while the air cooled M2HB and the Oerlikon both have significantly more steel in the barrels in order to resist the heat during operation and are much more intact as a result. The ship itself is of course painted, which resists corrosion even more than blueing.

Great video and appreciate your enthusiasm. As you said, first and foremost these are war graves. DrIves me crazy when expeditions remove artifacts or leave memorials behind. Just leave them alone. Do whatever study is needed from close range, but other than that just leave the wrecks alone.

I hope this renews interest to visit the Bismarck. It has been 20 years since anyone has seen it and I am very curious on it's condition.

Ryan Szymanski would make an awesome teacher or professor.

Wasn't it I-168 that sank Hammond and delivered the final blow to Yorktown? I seem to recall that from studying Midway as a teen. My great uncle was aboard Hornet during the battle of Midway.

I would like to see someone locate the Shinano. Her two older battleship sisters blew themselves apart as they went down, but Shinano might be relatively intact. Probably the best hope of looking at a complete Yamato-class hull.

I became interested as a child playing on HMCS Haida, aka the Heidi in Toronto harbour, the pier on York St. Often only a six and eight year old aboard. We ran every inch of the ship and never saw another person, or found a door we couldn't open. My brother and I kept the world safe from submarine attacks in Lake Ontario. We even brought lunch and ate it in the ward room.

This video is a good example why I consider New Jersey and her team to be at the very forefront of 'modern' naval museum practices; despite not being affiliate with the Nautilus expedition, they still promote the work being done because it's in service of the field of naval history. Ryan and his team are always doing this, either to help the plight of The Sullivans or doing their part to help USS Texas' fund raising, to highlighting lesser-known museum ships to helping other museum ships with engaging with the internet audience. And for someone like me in the UK, seeing the research into New Jersey herself, showing off the artefacts that are being found and showing how the ship worked is something that not so long ago would have been impossible. So to Ryan, his team and the Black Dragon herself, thank you for all the work you do (Well, New Jersey just sits there looking majestic, but she's earned her retiree status).

Hiryu, Soryu, Hammans, and the Japanese cruiser Mikuma! All of them.

Long live the fight lady USS Yorktown CV-5

Yorktown CV-5 is my favorite ship. Damn shame that she did not survive the battle. If only the acoustics were better so that the destroyers could have detected that sub, or a few planes on ASW patrol...

Thanks for sharing Ryan!

I saw the video about Akagi and read the comments there, and oh boy, there were lots of criticism there, especially about the lady "spouting" Hawaiian philosophical mumbo-jumbo, and then there's a bunch of chauvinistic fellas who said the dead Japanese sailors and aviators doesn't deserve the moment of silence. Although I agree about the comments about the lady, the comments by those chauvinists... its disrespectful.

I have only sean James's Cameron titanic one

Thanks, Ryan, always great information. Could you please do a video on the shipwrecks that are being stolen to harvest the pre-atomic steel?

A new Halloween game, "Bobbing for aircraft carriers".

Hey, there’s NOTHING WRONG with watching Winnie-the-Poo! I did, but I ALSO watched history and military videos as well! 😀

Have you seen the deep dive videos in search of IJN Musashi's wreck in the Philippines a few years ago? National Geographic produced a documentary about it. It was quite the discovery and was on our local news. It was very difficult to find since it was deep at bottom of the Sibuyan Sea.

Would like to see Hornet, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma. Also New York.

One really interesting thing they found out about Kaga is that it looked like the guns in the aft casemates were removed at some point

They .50 calibers likely corroded because .caliber ammunition had corrosive primers. Guns probably rotted from the inside out.

Someone get that man a cheeseburger to match that grin. Man yeah i watched some of the video and it sparked a new interest.. watched commander ballard dive titanic bismark. Watched sea quest.. huge fan. Thanks ryan.

I know I won't be the first to correct him, but despite how much I love the video I have to tell him that it was I-168 that sank Yorktown.

I still have the National Geographic issue from 1999 on the Yorktown search

Nice touch to put that quote from the Gettysburg Address at the end of the video.

Didn't they LiveStream Musahi's wreck exploration?

The next ships that need to be found: Langley. Lissome Bay. Shinano. and Oklahoma