Video
A Question of Getting Them There - Landing Ships & Amphibious Warfare Part 2(iv)
Amphibious LogisticsAmphibious WarfareCommand And ControlFighter DirectionLanding ShipsMaintenance And RepairPacific WarRoyal NavyWorld War II
Study A Question of Getting Them There - Landing Ships & Amphibious Warfare Part 2(iv), a Dr. Alex Clarke video from 12 May 2020, with 10 time notes. Topics include Amphibious Logistics, Amphibious Warfare, Command And…
Time notes
- 1:31Headquarters ships as floating command centresChapter
Major amphibious operations needed ships packed with maps, radio, radar, intelligence, and joint-service staffs.
- 2:50HMS Lothian's conversion exposed habitability and discipline risksNotable Point
HMS Lothian's improvised headquarters conversion combined tropical habitability problems with a serious armed mutiny.
- 5:33Bulolo and the headquarters ships across theatersNotable Point
The careers of Bulolo, Largs, Hilary, and Scylla trace amphibious command work from Torch and Husky through Normandy to the Far East.
- 7:46Captain-class frigates converted for landing commandChapter
The Captain-class headquarters frigates built for Normandy gained compact command spaces, while HMS Lawford's disputed loss exposed their vulnerability.
- 11:10Fighter-direction tenders for Normandy air controlChapter
Converted LSTs brought carrier-style fighter control to the Normandy beaches without exposing carriers offshore.
- 14:02HMS Boxer as a larger fighter-direction shipNotable Point
HMS Boxer's greater power and internal space made her a more capable fighter-direction ship than the smaller Normandy tenders.
- 15:48Landing ship engineering and forward repairChapter
Mobile repair ships became essential when Pacific distances made returning damaged landing craft to industry impractical.
- 19:12Why Pacific distance transformed amphibious logisticsChapter
The short Channel crossing and the distances of Pacific island hopping demanded different landing ships and mobile support.
- 22:25Landing-ship designs adapted for the PacificNotable Point
Range and transport demands pushed British landing-ship and landing-craft planning toward Pacific-oriented designs.
- 24:42Mass production made landing craft families highly variableNotable Point
Thousands of craft built by many yards, nations, and services produced wide variation within named landing-craft types.