The Ocean Battlefields of World War II (2022 edition): Recent Episodes
Brett L. Walker
In the spring of 2022, a group of Montana State University students, in an online seminar setting, brainstormed, designed, researched, and recorded their own podcasts on the topic of "The Ocean Battlefields of World War II," under the direction of their professor, Brett L. Walker. The online seminar was designed to not only reassess the critical importance of the war on the oceans to the outcome of World War II, but also to reassess the traditional means by which historians communicate their stories, lessons, and analyses -- not by written papers or monographs, but by a podcast. Many of the students had never recorded podcasts before, so the emphasis was placed not on production value, but rather on the originality of the stories and the thoroughness of the research. Enjoy.
In this podcast, Leon McGuire explores the barroom brawl that was the naval battle of Guadalcanal. During the nighttime battle, the sailors of Task Group 67.4 accomplished their mission: they prevented the bombardment of Henderson field and the resupply of Japanese Forces on Guadalcanal. But they did so at a cost of six ships and 1,429 sailors, including two admirals. But during the course battle, the crew of the USS Fletcher proved the value of an entirely new way of using the new Sail George Radar System and using a team to detect, identify, track and destroying enemy targets, while tracking and coordinating with friendly forces. The individual credited with and go on to develop this new form of tactical battle management was Lieutenant Commander J.C. Wylie, and the system now familiar to many was called the Combat Information Center, or more commonly known as, the C.I.C.
In this podcast, Rosemary Szalay explores one of the most fascinating traditions of the US Navy, one that dates back to WW2. For the US Navy, no submarine is ever considered lost, rather these ships are considered to be still on patrol. This podcast will discuss the history, recovery, preservation and memory of the lost. Long may the Eternal Patrol sail. Semper Fortis.
Megan Swart welcomes you to Devil Dogs: The War Dogs of the Pacific. In this podcast, Megan provides a brief overview of the United State’s canine corp, specifically the USMC War Dog Platoons. Focusing on the Second and Third War Dog Platoons, this podcast explores the duties the dogs and their handlers performed, as well as the action they saw in the Pacific Theater of World War Two. From the formation of the Canine Corp and War Dog Platoons, to training, the invasion of Guam, and beyond, the Second and Third War Dog Platoons were some of the first in a powerful legacy of military working dog teams to come.
In this podcast, Robert Kremzner investigates the key role that destroyers played on the ocean battlefields of World War II. Between the American and Japanese navies, destroyers often played similar roles to one another, their officers and crews having trained in the same navy tactics. However, key differences between the destroyers' crews, technology, and tactics set the fleets apart, allowing for an interesting comparison over the course of the war.
In this podcast, Ian Thomas showcases the invaluable role that American submarines played during the Second World War. The most successful and prolific American submarine was the USS Tang. This podcast explores the USS Tang’s fascinating and tragic history, starting with its launch and ending with its sinking.
In this podcast, Seamus Andersen shows how, as World War II expanded, and nations rallied to fight one another in total war, the world's oceans became the most important battlegrounds. This is where Ernest Evans and his crew cemented their legacies in history as key players in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. In this podcast, the life and actions of Evans will be told, with the goal being to understand his important contribution to the Allies winning WWII.
In this podcast, Jack Murphy discusses some of the inner thoughts and feelings of his great grandfather, Jack, during World War II. Although many letters from him have been lost, the few that remain are treasured family heirlooms that he is privileged to share. They offer a glimpse into the feelings of a World War II veteran.
In this podcast, Aidan Quigley explores the life and career of Captain Hugh Mulzac of the Liberty Ship SS Booker T. Washington. Captain Mulzac was an accomplished sailor and the first person of color to command an integrated crew in WWII. Quigley discusses Captain Mulzac early life as a sailor, as well as his relentless pursuit of equality and an end to racism.
As Stone Sherman illustrates, by the end of World War II, battleships had fallen out of tactical fashion and were replaced by aircraft carriers. But why did this happen? Why was a class of ship that was so powerful so quickly replaced? Carriers possessed many advantages over battleships that saw them become the dominant ship on the seas during World War II.
In this podcast, Tanner Lawson takes a journey back in time to April 1, 1945, when one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific Theatre began, the Battle of Okinawa. This podcast takes the viewer on a journey to learn about the significance of this highly important battle, using excerpts from memoirs of soldiers on both the US and Japanese sides, as well as the first-hand accounts of two different Okinawan citizens who tell the story of their perilous journeys surviving the horrors on Okinawa between April and late June of 1945. The outcome of this battle was a major turning point in the war for the Americans, and changed the course of history forever. The brutal fighting on Okinawa painted a perilous picture of what a true mainland invasion of Japan would look like for the Americans, and paved the way for the use of the atomic bomb.
In this podcast, Benjamin Amelkin showcases the principal reason why Admiral Chester Nimitz was such a crucial actor in World War II -- his commitment to the use of submarines in warfare. This podcast provides a background into his life and examples that show what made him into such an important World War II icon. It focuses on his submarine tactics and strategies and how they were implemented in World War II, as well as how his innovative improvements to the submarine were used to increase their overall ability.
Bonnie McCallum's podcast is a brief overview of the U.S. Navy's newly created Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) and their training and assignments in the South Pacific while stationed in Hawaii from 1943 through 1945.