Beyond the Breakers

Latest Episodes:

Episode 172 - Vasa ft. A Flatpack History of Sweden Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

We had the honor of recording with one of our favorite history podcasts, A Flatpack History of Sweden, to talk about one of the famous failures in maritime history - the Swedish royal warship Vasa.

**for this episode there is no difference between the Patreon and main feed versions; it's also available on the Flatpack feed!

Sources and further reading:

Adams, Jonathan. “Ships and Boats as Archaeological Source Material.” World Archaeology, vol. 32, no. 3, Feb 2001, pp. 292 - 310.

Afshar, R., N.P. van Dijk, I. Bjurhager, and E.K. Gamstedt. “Comparison of experimental testing and finite element modelling of a replica of a section of the Vasa warship to identify the behaviour of structural joints.” Engineering Structures, vol. 147, 2017, pp. 62 - 76.

Batchvarov, Kroum. “A Method for Documenting Hidden Structures on Shipwrecks: the case of Vasa and Warwick.” International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, vol. 49, no. 1, 2020, pp. 65 - 73.

Dedic, Dina, Tommy Iversen, and Monica Ek. “Cellulose degradation in the Vasa: The role of acids and rust.” Studies in Conservation, vol. 58, no. 4, Oct 2013, pp. 308 - 313.

Eldeeb, Omaima Ahmed. “Underwater Cultural Heritage and Maritime Museums - the Past and the Future.” Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress for Underwater Archaeology. Archaeopress, 2020.

Fors, Yvonne, Thomas Nilsson, Emiliana Daman Risberg, Magnus Sandström, and Peter Torssander. “Sulfur accumulation in pinewood (Pinus sylvestris) induced by bacteria in a simulated seabed environment: Implications for marine archaeological wood and fossil fuels.” International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, vol. 62, July 008, pp. 336 - 347.

Fors, Yvonne and V. Richards. “The Effects of Ammonia Neutralizing Treatment on Marine Archaeological Vasa Wood.” Studies in Conservation, vol. 55, no. 1, 2010, pp. 41 - 54.

Giorgi, R., D. Chelazzi, and P. Baglioni. “Conservation of acid waterlogged shipwrecks: nanotechnologies for de-acidification.” Applied Physics, vol. 83, 2006, pp. 567 - 571.

Hocker, Emma. “Maintaining a Stable Environment: Vasa’s New Climate-Control System.” The Journal of Preservation Technology, vol. 41, no. 2/3, 2010, pp. 3 - 9.

Kvarning, Lars-Åke and Bengt Ohrelius. The Vasa: The Royal Ship. Atlantis, 1998.

Kvarning, Lars-Åke. “Raising the Vasa.” Scientific American, vol. 269, no. 4, Oct 1993, pp. 84 - 91.

Laursen, Lucas. “Vasa’s Curious Imbalance.” Archaeology, vol. 65, no. 4, July/Aug 2012, pp. 42 - 45.

Vogel, Gretchen. “Sweden Launches a Desperate Bid to Save Famous Warship.” Science, vol. 301, no. 5639, Sep 2003, p. 1459.

https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/explore/vasa-history/disaster

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Episode 170 - SS Choctaw Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

We're back to the Great Lakes for the tale of the freighter SS Choctaw. Bit of a rambler, this one, but we get there in the end.

Sources:

https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/item/441161

https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/item/436779

https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/SOTON_Documents/Plimsoll/21249.pdf

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mshda/mshda_shpo_20180824_nrhp_choctaw_shipwreck_630928_7.pdf

https://www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com/histories-by-name/w/wahcondah

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/209545006/

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Episode 168.3 - Port Chicago, Pt. III Aug 09, 2026

Show notes

Here we conclude the series on the Port Chicago disaster and mutiny.

The Sameer Project

Sources:

https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/port-chicago/port-chicago-lessons-learned.html

Allen, Robert L. “The Port Chicago Disaster and Its Aftermath.” The Black Scholar, vol. 13, no. 2 / 3, Spring 1982, pp. 2 - 29.

Guttridge, Leonard F. Mutiny: A History of Naval Insurrection. Berkley, 1992.

Olwell, Russell. “The Mare Island Mutiny: Pressure to Desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces.” OAH Magazine of History, vol. 15, no. 2, Winter 2001, pp. 64 - 70.

Reddick, L.D. “The Negro in the United States Navy During World War II.” The Journal of Negro History, vol. 32, no. 2, Apr 1947, pp. 201 - 219.

Wollenberg, Charles. “Black vs. Navy Blue: The Mare Island Mutiny Court Martial.” California History, vol. 58, no. 1, Spring 1979, pp. 62 - 75.

https://portchicagoalliance.org/history.html - Port Chicago Alliance website

https://portchicagomemorial.org/2006/03/19/port-chicago-in-print-and-music/

Port Chicago Mutiny Jazz Suite

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Episode 169 - "Many Tribes of Different Colours": Canadian Sovereignty in the Arctic ft. Jessica Watkins Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

**Episode 168.3 will be coming out after 169 - we did not forget about Port Chicago Pt. 3

In this episode Jess (of Karluk series fame) returns to the show for a discussion largely focused on Canadian attempts to more firmly impose sovereignty on the far northern reaches of Canada's claimed territories. Featuring appearances from Stef, Captain Bartlett (???), polar polymath George Comer, and the dashing Dane Knud Rasmussen.

The Sameer Project

Sources:

Cavell, Janice and Jeff Noakes. Acts of Occupation: Canada and Arctic Sovereignty, 1918-25. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2010.

Levere, Trevor H. “Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the Continental Shelf, and a New Arctic Continent.” The British Journal for the History of Science, vol. 21, pp. 233 - 247.

Low, A.P. “Report on the Dominion Government Expedition to Hudson Bay and the Arctic Islands on board the D.G.S. Neptune 1903 - 1904.” https://www.gutenberg.org/files/55479/55479-h/55479-h.htm

Ross, W. Gillies. “Canadian Sovereignty in the Arctic: The Neptune Expedition of 1903 - 04.” Arctic: Journal of the Arctic Institute of North America, vol. 29, no. 2, 1976, pp. 87 - 105.

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Episode 168.2 - Port Chicago, Pt. II Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

In this THREE-part episode we delve into a disaster on the US home front during WWII and the subsequent work stoppage that contributed to the eventual desegregation of the US Navy.

Part I deals with the Port Chicago disaster itself, and Parts II and 3 will cover the details of the famous "mutiny" that took place in its aftermath.

Sources:

https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/port-chicago/port-chicago-lessons-learned.html

Allen, Robert L. “The Port Chicago Disaster and Its Aftermath.” The Black Scholar, vol. 13, no. 2 / 3, Spring 1982, pp. 2 - 29.

Guttridge, Leonard F. Mutiny: A History of Naval Insurrection. Berkley, 1992.

Olwell, Russell. “The Mare Island Mutiny: Pressure to Desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces.” OAH Magazine of History, vol. 15, no. 2, Winter 2001, pp. 64 - 70.

Reddick, L.D. “The Negro in the United States Navy During World War II.” The Journal of Negro History, vol. 32, no. 2, Apr 1947, pp. 201 - 219.

Wollenberg, Charles. “Black vs. Navy Blue: The Mare Island Mutiny Court Martial.” California History, vol. 58, no. 1, Spring 1979, pp. 62 - 75.

https://portchicagoalliance.org/history.html - Port Chicago Alliance website

https://portchicagomemorial.org/2006/03/19/port-chicago-in-print-and-music/

Port Chicago Mutiny Jazz Suite

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Episode 168.1 - Port Chicago, Pt. I Jun 13, 2026

Show notes

In this two-part episode we delve into a disaster on the US home front during WWII and the subsequent work stoppage that contributed to the eventual desegregation of the US Navy.

Part I deals with the Port Chicago disaster itself, and Part II will cover the details of the famous "mutiny" that took place in its aftermath.

Sources:

https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/port-chicago/port-chicago-lessons-learned.html

Allen, Robert L. “The Port Chicago Disaster and Its Aftermath.” The Black Scholar, vol. 13, no. 2 / 3, Spring 1982, pp. 2 - 29.

Guttridge, Leonard F. Mutiny: A History of Naval Insurrection. Berkley, 1992.

Olwell, Russell. “The Mare Island Mutiny: Pressure to Desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces.” OAH Magazine of History, vol. 15, no. 2, Winter 2001, pp. 64 - 70.

Reddick, L.D. “The Negro in the United States Navy During World War II.” The Journal of Negro History, vol. 32, no. 2, Apr 1947, pp. 201 - 219.

Wollenberg, Charles. “Black vs. Navy Blue: The Mare Island Mutiny Court Martial.” California History, vol. 58, no. 1, Spring 1979, pp. 62 - 75.

https://portchicagoalliance.org/history.html - Port Chicago Alliance website

https://portchicagomemorial.org/2006/03/19/port-chicago-in-print-and-music/

Port Chicago Mutiny Jazz Suite

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Episode 167 - HMS Hermes May 25, 2026

Show notes

In this episode we discuss HMS Hermes, the first vessel designed explicitly as an aircraft carrier.

The Sameer Project

Sources:

"Hermes". World War II Database. Osprey Publishing. https://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=160

"HMS Hermes I: Fleet Aircraft Carrier." Index of Naval Aircraft Carriers.

Symonds, Craig L. World War II at Sea: A Global History. Oxford University Press, 2018.

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Episode 166 - MV Rema May 06, 2026

Show notes

This week it's the story of the cargo vessel MV Rema, lost in the North Sea in April 1998.

The Sameer Project

Sources:

Flooding and sinking of dry cargo vessel Rema with loss of 4 lives. https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/flooding-and-sinking-of-dry-cargo-vessel-rema-off-whitby-england-with-loss-of-4-lives

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Episode 165 - SS Springfjord Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

This week we have the saga of the SS Springfjord, which survived World War Two unscathed but could not escape the wrath of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The Sameer Project

Sources:

Handy, Jim. Gift of the Devil: A History of Guatemala. South End Press, 1984.

Handy, Jim. Revolution in the Countryside: Rural Conflict and Agrarian Reform in Guatemala, 1944 - 1954. University of North Carolina Press, 1994.

Prados, John. The Ghosts of Langley: Into the CIA’s Heart of Darkness. The New Press, 2017.

https://web.archive.org/web/20101105080457/http://www.foia.cia.gov/docs/DOC_0000919986/DOC_0000919986.pdf

https://www.nytimes.com/1954/07/01/archives/the-text-of-dulles-speech-on-guatemalan-upset.html

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Episode 164 - Tullaghmurry Lass Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

This week it's the tale of the small fishing vessel Tullaghmurry Lass, lost in the Irish Sea on February 14th 2002.

The Sameer Project

Sources:

Andrews, Rachel and Liam O'Brien. "Tullaghmurry Lass." RTÉ Radio 1, March 2005. https://www.rte.ie/radio/doconone/646256-lass

"Kilkeel Harbour." eOceanic, https://eoceanic.com/sailing/harbours/113/kilkeel_harbour_county_down_ireland.

McDonald, Henry and Paul Harris. "Three generations lost in family fishing tragedy." The Guardian, 16 Feb 2002. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/feb/17/henrymcdonald.paulharris

“Report of investigation into sinking of FV Tullaghmurry Lass N246 with loss of three lives in the Irish Sea on 14 February 2002.” Marine Accident Investigation Branch, February 2003. https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/explosion-on-board-prawn-trawler-mussel-dredger-tullaghmurry-lass-resulting-in-vessel-sinking-off-kilkeel-northern-ireland-with-loss-of-3-lives

Tanney, Paul. "Wreck of missing NI trawler is located." The Irish Times, 23 Mar 2002. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/wreck-of-missing-ni-trawler-is-located-1.1054754

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