Admiral Christie and the MK 14

[cj95]

Working my way through Blair's phenomenal SILENT VICTORY and am just shaking my head at the stubbornness of BuOrd in general and Admiral Christie...father of the magnetic exploder in specific.


Even when Nimitz himself ordered the deactivation of the magnetic exploder Christie went his own way and kept the Fremantle boats using the old crappy setup.


I'm wondering :: In later life did Christie ever admit to his failings, or have a comment on the general failure of the early war Mk14, or did he maintain to his deathbed his contention it was all the skippers fault?

I cant find anything either way on the net.

Just wondering.

[Rockin Robbins]

Christie was not one to question his decisions. He made them and they stood. There was no reason for him ever to comment on them again. They were done and that was it.

Christie was a very closed minded individual and should not have been promoted to his position. That was a grievous error in management.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by cj95

Working my way through Blair's phenomenal SILENT VICTORY and am just shaking my head at the stubbornness of BuOrd in general and Admiral Christie...father of the magnetic exploder in specific.


Even when Nimitz himself ordered the deactivation of the magnetic exploder Christie went his own way and kept the Fremantle boats using the old crappy setup.


I'm wondering :: In later life did Christie ever admit to his failings, or have a comment on the general failure of the early war Mk14, or did he maintain to his deathbed his contention it was all the skippers fault?

I cant find anything either way on the net.

Just wondering.

Honestly, sounds like Christie was a nightmare to work for and his stubborn behavior on the magnetic detonator issue tells a lot about personality/ character flaws he had.

I've never read anything where he looked back and admitted he was wrong etc.

[max-peck]

Same here

I must have read at least a dozen books about the Pacific Naval War, and have never heard of any evidence that Christie admitted he was in the wrong

Of course I am aware that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

PS
As you have said cj95, Silent Victory is a phenomenally good book
I have been interested in the US Submarine force's contribution to WW2 since I first played Silent Service 2 back in the 90's
Cannot believe it took me until this year to read Silent Victory
I would recommend it to anyone with any interest in the Pacific Submarine War

[Rockin Robbins]

I've owned Silent Victory since 2010 and haven't read it or even looked to see if it's autographed! THAT's dereliction of duty....

[max-peck]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

I've owned Silent Victory since 2010 and haven't read it or even looked to see if it's autographed! THAT's dereliction of duty....

OMG RR

Read it NOW or I will throw you overboard

[max-peck]

[s7rikeback]

Originally Posted by max-peck

OMG RR

Read it NOW or I will throw you overboard

Just ordered from Amazon Uk.