Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford Disaster Favours the Daring: Shipwreck at Honda Point
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Aug 29, 2025 Dive into the gripping tale of the 1923 naval disaster at Honda Point, where Captain Dolly Hunter's squadron faced a deadly maritime catastrophe. Discover the tensions between traditional navigation and emerging technologies that shaped crucial decisions. Feel the chaos as thick fog leads to ship collisions, showcasing overconfidence and miscommunication among leaders. Amidst survival struggles on the USS Young, witness extraordinary bravery and camaraderie among sailors as they battle life-threatening conditions.
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The Renowned Navigator Dolly Hunter
- Captain Donald "Dolly" Hunter led Destroyer Squadron 11 on a high-speed navigation trial down the California coast.
- He was famed for navigating by dead reckoning and teaching navigation at the Naval Academy.
Radio Bearings Are Ambiguous
- Radio direction finding gives a bearing line but not the direction along that line, causing a north/south ambiguity.
- Captain Hunter distrusted the new radio tech and preferred traditional navigation.
Navigating By Dead Reckoning In Fog
- Fog and failing instruments left Captain Hunter reliant on dead reckoning rather than sun sights or soundings.
- The squadron pressed on at speed to complete the trial despite worsening uncertainty.
