Episode 356 - The American Suicide Fleet of WWI

GET YOUR LIVE SHOW TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lions-led-by-donkeys-podcast-live-in-london-11th-april-2025-tickets-1266997737339?aff=oddtdtcreator LIVE STREAM TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/livestream-lions-led-by-donkeys-podcast-live-in-london-11th-april-2025-tickets-1266999251869?aff=oddtdtcreator SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys When America entered WWI they found their Navy seriously lacking. To fill the gap, FDR bought a bunch of yachts from his rich friends and tried to turn them into subchasers. It did no go well. Sources: https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2015/june/gilded-men-and-suicide-fleet https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2011/january/when-frank-jack-met-maggie https://airmail.news/issues/2024-8-24/the-new-york-yacht-club-goes-to-war https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1973/june/eagle-boats-world-war-i https://www.navsource.org/archives/12/170527.htm