Best Imperial Navy Podcasts (2024)

1
The Battle off Cape Engano-Battle of Leyte Gulf with Jon Parshall-Episode 330 1:33:19

3d ago1:33:19

1:33:19

This week Seth, Bill and good buddy Jon Parshall wrap up the Battle of Leyte Gulf with the final carrier battle of World War II, the Battle off Cape Engano. Halsey takes the cheese and chases Ozawa's decoy carrier force north, away from San Bernadino Strait, to destroy what is left of the Imperial Japanese Navy's once mighty aircraft carrier task f…

1
223 - Landing Craft Infantry 52:35

4d ago52:35

52:35

In this podcast episode, I'm looking at the work of LCI's, Landing Craft Infantry. These are not the smaller Higgins Boats we see storming the Normandy beaches in Saving Private Ryan but large beaching craft intended to transport and deliver fighting troops, typically a company of infantry or marines, to a hostile shore once a beachhead was secured…

1
Captain Toti keyote speaker at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery Memorial Day Observance 0:50

5d ago0:50

0:50

Hey, folks, Captain Bill Toti here—and I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that I’m going to be keynote speaker at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery Memorial Day Observance, on May 27th 2024 at 10 am.By William toti

1
The Battle off Samar Part 2 with Jon Parshall-Episode 329 1:38:30

10d ago1:38:30

1:38:30

This week Seth, Bill and buddy Jon Parshall wrap up the epic clash off Samar during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The guys get deep into the weeds about the legendary destroyer charge of USS Johnston, USS Samuel B. Roberts, USS Hoel and USS Heerman as well as the other destroyer escorts of Taffy 3. The guys dispel a few of the myths about the battle an…

1
222 - The D-Day Scientists Who Changed Special Operations 47:52

11d ago47:52

47:52

Operation Jubilee, the Dieppe Raid on the coast of France, was a disaster in 1942. However, it did highlight the need for more reconnaissance before any other amphibious operations were mounted. In London, a small group of eccentric researchers, experimenting on themselves from inside pressure tanks in the middle of the London air raids, explored t…

1
The Battle off Samar Part 1 with Jon Parshall-Episode 328 1:24:36

17d ago1:24:36

1:24:36

This week Seth, Bill and good pal Jon Parshall get into the much anticipated Battle off Samar...Part1! The guys get into the background of the epic fight, the commanders on both sides, Ernest Evans, Ziggy Sprague, and others as they start to break down some of the myths surrounding one of the most well-known naval battles in all of history. The guy…

1
Submit your Questions for the end of Season 3! 3:29

23d ago3:29

3:29

We will be accepting questions by April 14, 2024 for recording the final episode of Season 3.By Seth Paridon, William toti

1
The Battle of Surigao Strait Part 2 with Jon Parshall and Tony Tully-Episode 327 1:13:07

25d ago1:13:07

1:13:07

This week Seth and Bill welcome back grat buddy Jon Parshall and Tony Tully to wrap up the conversation about the Battle of Surigao Strait during the Battle for Leyte Gulf. The foursome gets deep in the weeds discussing the destroyer action in the strait and, of course, the gunfire portion of the battle. American battleships West Virginia, Tennesse…

1
221 - Training the Indian Army 40:11

25d ago40:11

40:11

The Indian Army was the largest volunteer army during the Second World War. Indian Army divisions fought in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy - and went to make up the overwhelming majority of the troops in South East Asia. Over two million personnel served in the Indian Army. In this episode, I am joined by Dr Alan Jefferys to discuss how th…

1
The Battle of Surigao Strait Part 1- with Jon Parshall and Tony Tully-Episode 326 1:08:05

1M ago1:08:05

1:08:05

This week Seth and Bill are joined by great buddy Jon Parshall and Jon's co-author and new guest, Tony Tully! The foursome breaks down the early stages of the Battle of Surigao Strait during Leyte Gulf and get into the commanders, the ships and the PT attack before breaking for next week's showdown of the big guns. Tune in and get into the weeds wi…

1
220 - The Archer: Reversing to Victory 43:37

1M ago43:37

43:37

From late 1944, an ungainly piece of equipment was introduced into service in the British and Canadian armies. Referred to at the time as the ‘Valentine 17-pounder SP’, and later as the ‘Archer’, it was a tracked vehicle with an open compartment at the front and a large gun facing to the rear. Joining me to tell the story of the Archer's developmen…

1
The Battle of Leyte Gulf-Battle of the Sibuyan Sea with Jon Parshall-Episode 325 1:58:10

1M ago1:58:10

1:58:10

This week Seth, Bill and great pal Jon Parshall tackle the first "official" fight in the greater Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea. The first in our four-episode series on the largest naval battle in human history sees the trio taking a deep dive into the submarine actions of USS Darter and USS Dace, as well as some of Halsey's de…

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 9 1:11:27

1M ago1:11:27

1:11:27

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at the final episode of Masters of the Air Part 9. The guys go into the POW march to Moosburg, Gale "Buck" Cleven's escape, Johnny "Bucky" Egan's days as POW, Rosie Rosenthal's final mission, and much more. Join the team as they wrap the final episode and give their thoughts on the series as a whole.Image …

1
219 - D-Day Tourism 1:09:42

1M ago1:09:42

1:09:42

While at We Have Ways Fest, I caught Paul Woodadge, the host of WW2TV, giving an excellent talk on D-Day tourism. I thought I would ask him on the show to discuss tourism, how it has changed and what to see. Base in France, Paul has been a battlefield tour guide for over 20 years. More recently, he launched WW2TV and became a Second World War YouTu…

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 8 57:28

1M ago57:28

57:28

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Part 8. The team discusses the accuracy, tropes and history behind some of the scenes in the penultimate episode of the Apple TV series.Image courtesy Apple TV#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihist…

1
The Air Battle of Formosa-with Jon Parshall 1:59:21

2M ago1:59:21

1:59:21

This week Seth, Bill and great buddy Jon Parshall get together to discuss one of the more unknown events of the Pacific war, the Air Battle of Formosa. In early October 1944, Admiral William F, Halsey's Task Force 38 launched a series of devastating air strikes on the Japanese bastion of Formosa in preparation for the liberation of the Philippines …

1
Formosa or the Philippines-King versus MacArthur-Episode 323 1:24:37

2M ago1:24:37

1:24:37

This week Seth and Bill take a very deep dive into the decision to either invade Formosa or liberate the Philippines in the fall of 1944. The two options were both on the table for the JCS in 1944, and the favored option isn't the one you are thinking of. The team takes a look at the roots of the Philippine obsession by MacArthur and the desire to …

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 7 1:10:31

2M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

This week Seth, Bill, and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Part 7. The team dives into actual POW life in Europe during WWII, discuss the P-51 Mustang and its importance in the Allied aerial effort over Europe in 44 and 45 as well and dig into some of the personalities of the real men portrayed in the episode and even get into a few unknown …

1
218 - Target Hong Kong 44:30

2M ago44:30

44:30

In January 1945, Admiral Halsey, with the third Fleet, conducted a raid into the South China Sea. This was designated Operation Gratitude. The raid was to support the landings on Luzon, in the Philippines, with the aim of destroying the Japanese navy, supply convoys and any air assets in the area. As part of this operation, Hong Kong would be attac…

1
The Invasion of Peleliu Part 3 of 3-Operation STALEMATE II-with Dave Holland 1:50:14

2M ago1:50:14

1:50:14

This week Seth and Bill are rejoined by good friend Dave Holland to wrap up the bloody Operation STALEMATE II, the fight for Peleliu. This week the team gets into the stories of Eugene Sledge's K-3-5, the story of Medal of Honor recipient Arthur Jackson, more of the bloody fighting for Bloody Nose Ridge, and the tragic death of Sledge's company com…

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 6 1:08:18

2M ago1:08:18

1:08:18

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy discuss Masters of the Air Part 6. The guys get into the nuts and bolts of escape and evasion, the POW interrogations of John "Bucky" Egan and Allied prisoners, Flak Houses, and the emotional toll taken on the airmen of the 8th Air Force and others in the skies over Europe.Image courtesy Apple TV#wwii #wwiihistory #ww…

1
217 - How the Luftwaffe Lost the skies over Germany 54:19

2M ago54:19

54:19

Starting with small raids at the start of the war, the aerial offensive grew into a massive operation. Huge air armadas would eventually pulverise Germany, with the Mighty Eigth Airforce flying by day and the Lancasters of Bomber Command by night. This 24-hour campaign seriously damaged Germany’s ability to make war and killed hundreds of thousands…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 5 1:04:06

2M ago1:04:06

1:04:06

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 5. The trio breaks down the episode and get into the historical detail regarding the October 10, 1943 8th Air Force mission to Munster, Germany. The third in a row for the Mighty Eighth, Munster was the worst of them all for the 100th Bomb Group and a new emerging hero, Robert…

1
The Invasion of Peleliu Part 2 of 3-Operation STALEMATE II with guest Dave Holland 2:04:05

2M ago2:04:05

2:04:05

This week Seth and Bill welcome back an old friend from Season 1, Dave Holland to talk about the 1st Marine Division's tragic fight for Peleliu. The trio gets into the fight starting at D Plus 1 and goes through the bloodletting and destruction of the 1st Marines on Peleliu. Tune in and see what the boys have to say about the end of the fight for T…

1
216 - The Latvian Legion 43:46

2M ago43:46

43:46

'In Arctic blizzards between January and March 1945, the Latvian 15th SS Division - a core of Russian Front veterans but most raw teenage conscripts from Nazi-occupied Latvia - tried to stop the Red Army sweeping across Pomerania, now Poland. One in three died: the majority never returned home.' In this episode, I'm joined by Vincent Hunt, and we d…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 4 1:15:37

2M ago1:15:37

1:15:37

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 4. The team gets into the nuts and bolts of the episode diving into topics such as the ground crews, leave in London, the American Red Cross, morale within the 8th Air Force and the beginning of the infamous Black Week in October 1943.Image courtesy of Apple TV#wwii #wwiihisto…

1
Operation STALEMATE II-The Invasion of Peleliu Part 1 of 3 1:32:16

2M ago1:32:16

1:32:16

In this first of three episodes on Peleliu, Seth and Bill tackle the opening stages of the infamous invasion of Peleliu on September 15, 1944. The veteran 1st Marine Division is assigned to invade the coral bastion of Peleliu in what was promised by their commanding General to be a "tough quickie" of an operation. The fighting on the beaches and at…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 3 1:10:31

3M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

This week Seth, Bill, and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 3. The guys dive into the 100th Bomb Group's role in 8th Air Force Mission 84, the infamous Regensburg/Schweinfurt Double Strike of August 17, 1943. We look into the actual history of the mission, and the roles of Gale "Buck" Cleven, Curtis Biddick, Harry Crosby, and more.Ima…

1
Unauthorized Looks at Pacific War Books 1:08:14

3M ago1:08:14

1:08:14

This week Seth and Bill fulfill another viewership request as they sit down and give a list of some of their top WWII Pacific theater-related books. This list is not in any order, nor is it comprehensive, but off the top of our heads. Hopefully, this will help some of you guys fill up your libraries. Next week we get back to the war.Here is our lis…

1
215 - The Power of Japanese Propaganda 41:22

3M ago41:22

41:22

This episode will look at Japanese propaganda during the imperial era. With the rise of mass production of newspapers and magazines amidst the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese population became instilled in nationalism and militarism. Despite the era of demilitarisation and democratisation after the First World War, the Japanese Empire, once again,…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 2 54:28

3M ago54:28

54:28

Seth, Bill and Tommy are back to give their take on Masters of the AIr Episode 2. The guys discuss the Trondheim Mission and give their takes on the personalities depicted in this specific episode, including Curtis Biddick and Harry Crosby. The team also gives their breakdown of the combat scenes shown so far, specifically the flak and fighters in …

1
Unauthorized Picks for Pacific War Flicks 1:53:43

3M ago1:53:43

1:53:43

This week Seth and Bill take a step back from the battlefields to discuss an oft-requested topic, our picks for WWII Pacific-themed movies. Many of you have asked what our favorite, or in some cases not so favorite, films are that relate to the Pacific theater of WWII, well here you go. The team gives their go-to's, some known and some relatively u…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 1 55:12

3M ago55:12

55:12

Seth, Bill, and new crewman Tommy Lofton take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 1. The team breaks down the show, what was right, what was wrong, and how they liked it. As always, the crew throws in historical accuracy where needed and tells the real story of what happened to the real people at the right times. Tune in into this limited run seri…

1
The Invasion of Tinian with Jon Parshall 1:35:10

3M ago1:35:10

1:35:10

#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museumBy William Toti, Jon Parshall, Seth Paridon

1
Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast Special Announcement 8:06

3M ago8:06

8:06

Seth and Bill have a quick special announcement to make regarding an upcoming WWII miniseries. Masters of the Air, premiering January 26 on Apple TV+ will be a cinematic adventure that needs to be seen by all WWII aficionados. Seth, Bill and new guest historian Tommy Lofton will dissect each new episode of Masters of the AIr the Monday after it air…

1
The Liberation of Guam with Jon Parshall 2:00:05

3M ago2:00:05

2:00:05

This week Seth, Bill, and Jon tackle the liberation of Guam as part of our continuing coverage of the pivotal Operation FORAGER. Following the Saipan operation, the Marines of the 3rd Marine Division, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and the Army's exceptional 77th Infantry Division cast their eyes on the former American territory of Guam. Invaded a…

1
214 - Stan Hollis VC and the Green Howards on D-Day 49:42

3M ago49:42

49:42

The Green Howards landed in the first wave on D-Day. With them was Company Sergeant Major Stan Hollis, who had seen action in France in 1940, being evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk. He fought in North Africa and took part in the invasion of Sicily. It is fair to say Hollis was a seasoned soldier. He is also the only recipient of the Victoria C…

1
The Invasion of Biak 1:25:44

4M ago1:25:44

1:25:44

This week Seth and Bill take a step back from Operation FORAGER to look at the invasion of Biak which occurred in May 1944. In this little-known operation, the 41st Infantry Division was tasked with invading the island off the coast of New Guinea in an effort to capture airfields for further support of the upcoming FORAGER and the push toward the P…

1
Special Episode: Touring the National WWII Museum's Pacific Galleries 54:08

4M ago54:08

54:08

In this special episode, Seth takes you through the National WWII Museum's Road to Tokyo Pacific galleries. Seth was a chief historian at the WWII Museum for 15 years and was one of the key contributors to the construction of the WWII Museum's campus. In this special episode, he takes you on a quick 40,000 foot view of the Pacific side of the museu…

1
213 - The British Empire and Commonwealth’s War Against Imperial Japan 56:37

4M ago56:37

56:37

The war in Asia and the Pacific against Japan is often seen as an American affair. While the US did play a dominant role, the British and Commonwealth forces also made major contributions – on land, at sea and in the air – eventually involving over a million men and vast armadas of ships and aircraft. Joining me to discuss Britain and the Commonwea…

1
The Mission Beyond Darkness-Battle of the Philippine Sea with Jon Parshall 1:48:55

4M ago1:48:55

1:48:55

This week Seth, Bill and Jon Parshall tackle the second day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, also known as the Mission Beyond Darkness. On Jun e20, 1944 Admiral Marc Mitscher made the bold decision to launch his aviators in a risky, long-distanced duck strike. In an attempt to get the killing blows on Ozawa's carrier force Mitscher sent an enor…

1
212 - Invisible Generals 50:55

4M ago50:55

50:55

When President McKinley turned down Benjamin Oliver Davis for a place at West Point due to the colour of his skin, Davis joined the army as a private. Davis soon worked his way through the ranks to receive his second lieutenant commission in 1901. It would be over 30 years before another black officer would receive his commission, and that would be…

1
Battle of the Philippine Sea-The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot with Jon Parshall 2:10:40

4M ago2:10:40

2:10:40

This week Seth, Bill and wingman Jon Parshall take a very deep dive into the first day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 19, 1944, better known as The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. The trio looks at the Japanese plans, how they fell into American hands, and all the drama and intrigue between US Admirals as the largest Japanese fleet yet put …

1
211 - HG-76: Taking the Fight to Hitler's U-boats 55:04

4M ago55:04

55:04

The convoy HG-76 sailed from Gibraltar to Britain in December 1941. The Royal Navy commander in charge was 'Johnnie' Walker, an anti-submarine expert who had developed new, aggressive U-boat hunting tactics. Accompanying the escorts was HMS Audacity, the Royal Navy's first escort carrier - a new type of warship purpose-built to defend convoys from …

1
The Invasion of Saipan Part 3 of 3 with Jon Parshall 1:31:25

5M ago1:31:25

1:31:25

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall to complete the three-part discussion on the pivotal invasion of Saipan. The team goes into deep detail on the final Japanese martial act on Saipan, the infamous Gyokusai of July 7, 1944. During the Gyokusai, two regiments of the 27th Infantry Division's 105th Infantry Regiment are overru…

1
The Invasion of Saipan Part 2 of 3 with Jon Parshall 1:46:32

5M ago1:46:32

1:46:32

This week Seth and Bill are again joined by good pal Jon Parshall to discuss the evolving invasion of Saipan. After the Marines pushed off of the beachhead, the advance inland progressed nicely until the 27th Infantry Division ran into incredibly difficult terrain and vicious Japanese defense at Naftan Point and Death Valley. In the resulting mess …

1
210 - The Battle for Italy, 1943 47:06

5M ago47:06

47:06

Hot on the heels of victory in Sicily, the Allies crossed into Southern Italy in September 1943. They expected to drive the Axis forces north and be in Rome by Christmas. Although Italy surrendered, the German forces resisted fiercely, and the swift, hoped-for victory descended into one of the most brutal battles of the war. I am joined by James Ho…

1
The Invasion of Saipan Part 1 of 3 with Jon Parshall 1:37:49

5M ago1:37:49

1:37:49

This week Seth and Bill welcome great pal Jon Parshall back to the show for a 3 episode run on the invasion of Saipan as part of Operation FORAGER. In this episode, the team discusses the pre-invasion bombardment, the first large deployment of the UDTs (forerunners of today's Navy SEALS), Draper Kaufmann, the landings by the 2nd and 4th Marine Divi…

1
Preparation for Operation FORAGER 1:37:28

5M ago1:37:28

1:37:28

This week Seth and Bill dive into the preparation for Operation FORAGER, the American invasion of the Mariana Islands in June 1944. The team discusses the absolutely massive amount of materiel, men, ships and logistics involved as the largest amphibious operation mounted thus far in the Pacific, kicks off.…

1
209 - Hospital Trains of WWII 36:45

5M ago36:45

36:45

From the middle of the 19th century, the railways had an integral role in warfare. Trains brought food, ammunition and essential supplies. They also transported troops into the combat zone, and then trains would be used to bring men home. Hospital trains were not a new concept in WWII, but their development moved the carriages away from being ambul…

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