Why New Zealand Cruiser Was Lost At Kolombangara — “Long Lance” Torpedoes Hit скачать в хорошем качестве

Why New Zealand Cruiser Was Lost At Kolombangara — “Long Lance” Torpedoes Hit

In July 1943, the night waters around Kolombangara erupted into one of the most lethal torpedo battles of the entire Pacific War. Under the cover of darkness, U.S., Australian, and New Zealand cruisers steamed into the central Solomons to intercept a Japanese reinforcement run—unaware they were sailing directly into the path of the most dangerous torpedo weapon ever built. Within minutes, Japan’s Type 93 “Long Lance” torpedoes tore through the Allied formation with brutal precision, crippling ships that never even saw their attackers. Among the hardest hit was the New Zealand light cruiser HMNZS Leander, struck by a massive Long Lance warhead that nearly tore the ship in half and removed her from the war in a single blow. The Allied force, part of the “Solomon Island Slot” battles that defined 1943, believed radar superiority and coordinated gunfire would dominate the engagement. Instead, the Japanese destroyer force unleashed a perfectly timed torpedo spread that dropped entire ships out of the fight before Allied guns could even track them. What unfolded was a demonstration of Japanese night-fighting mastery—and a devastating lesson in the power of torpedoes that traveled farther, faster, and deadlier than any weapon the Allies possessed. This meticulously researched documentary reveals: • Why HMNZS Leander was assigned to intercept the Tokyo Express, and how her crew prepared for another high-risk night action in the Solomons • How the Japanese destroyer screen executed a flawless Long Lance torpedo ambush, launching spreads that ran over 20,000 yards unseen • Why Allied commanders underestimated the range and speed of Japan’s Type 93 torpedoes, leading cruisers directly into deadly paths • The exact moment Leander was struck, the explosion that ripped open her starboard side, and how her crew fought to keep her afloat • How the U.S. cruiser USS Gwin was also lost, and why the battle showcased the catastrophic effectiveness of Japanese night tactics • Why Long Lance torpedoes were so advanced, using pure oxygen propulsion that gave them unmatched power and invisibility • What the loss of Leander meant for New Zealand’s naval forces, and how her damaged hull became a symbol of the brutal Solomon Islands campaign • Firsthand accounts from sailors who survived the blast, describing the shockwave, flooding, fires, and desperate damage-control efforts that saved the ship from sinking outright Based on U.S. Navy action reports, Royal New Zealand Navy damage assessments, Japanese destroyer logs, radar tracking data, post-action intelligence studies, and eyewitness testimonies from cruisermen who endured the torpedo impacts that changed the course of the battle. From the radar contact that signaled the start of the engagement… to the silent approach of the Long Lance torpedoes racing underwater… to the violent explosion that knocked HMNZS Leander out of the war—this is the story of the night when Japanese torpedo crews proved once again why the Type 93 was the most feared weapon in the Pacific, and how one devastating hit reshaped the balance of naval power in the Solomon Islands. 🔴 Subscribe:    / @witness1944   🔔 Turn on notifications for more Pacific War & WWII naval combat documentaries 📋 Sources listed below ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This video is for educational and historical purposes only. It presents documented events from World War II and does not glorify violence. All visuals are included respectfully and follow YouTube’s guidelines for historical content. 📚 SOURCES: • U.S. Navy — Battle of Kolombangara Action Reports (1943) • Royal New Zealand Navy — HMNZS Leander Damage Control Logs • Japanese Destroyer Squadron 2 — Torpedo Firing Records • National Archives — Solomon Islands Operational Summaries • Australian War Memorial — Naval Engagements in the Solomons • Samuel Eliot Morison — History of U.S. Naval Operations in WWII, Vol. 6 • Combined Fleet — Type 93 Torpedo Doctrine & Launch Data • Office of Naval Intelligence — Night Combat Analysis Reports #WW2History #Kolombangara #HMNZSLeander #LongLance #Type93Torpedo #PacificWar #SolomonIslands #TokyoExpress #USNavy #RNZN #WW2Battles #Witness1944