Episode 372 - The Siege of Petropavlovsk

·54 min·5 clips

British commander David Price shoots himself in the chest during the battle, leaving his fleet leaderless.

The episode begins with announcements for a live show in Glasgow and Patreon support. The hosts introduce the Siege of Petropavlovsk during the Crimean War, focusing on the remote Kamchatka Peninsula. They describe Russian colonization in Alaska and the Pacific, highlighting the Russian Pacific squadron's disrepair with only six outdated ships. Commander Vasily Zoyvko prepares Petropavlovsk's defenses by pressing 1,000 civilians into building earthworks. British commander David Price hunts the Russian ship Aurora but delays in Peru and Hawaii, getting lost in fog. Price accidentally finds Petropavlovsk, where the Aurora's guns have been added to coastal defenses. During the battle, Price commits suicide, causing command confusion. Allied landing parties face counterattacks from Russian soldiers and civilians. The Allies attempt a northern landing guided by American whalers but are thwarted by rebuilt batteries and Kamchatka's muddy, mosquito-infested terrain. The episode ends with the Allies returning a year later to find Petropavlovsk abandoned and burning it, while the Aurora survives. The hosts reflect on the battle's minor significance and answer a Patreon question about transferring items between Europe and the U.S.

As heard by us

Fog, barbecue, and cannon fire turn naval logistics into comic chaos.

This episode moves through a run of vivid, grounded touches: King Kamehameha III, lilikoi liquor, a blind-drunk ship tour, a stop in Hawaii, and the plan to send ships up and down the Californian coast under the British flag.

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Why you'd press play

You get fog, cannons, and a Hawaiian barbecue detour that goes sideways.

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