The Sinking of the Oriskiny... (Page 2/2)
82-T/A [At Work] DEC 11, 02:48 PM

quote
Originally posted by rinselberg:

Is this in honor of Boondawg? It's like you're trying to impersonate him.





Haha... no, I didn't even think about that. I know he would randomly post some interesting facts. But no, I am a Battleship aficionado... not to suggest I have any great knowledge of them, just that I really like them. I've been on the USS Missouri, the USS Wisconsin, the USS North Carolina, the USS Texas, the USS Alabama, USS Arizona Memorial, and about a dozen destroyers and submarines, and also the USS Enterprise in Norfolk when I was a kid. One day I would like to go visit the USS Olympus I think it is??? The last of the Great White Fleet I think...

The history of US Naval warfare has just always impressed me. Much like a 1978 Cadillac Eldorado... the Iowa Class battleships scream American dominance. When I went to visit the Missouri in Pearl Harbor, the second I got on deck I asked the old dude who was standing up there if I had permission to board, and he was so excited that I even asked. He could tell I was beaming from excitement, and he said... (hahah) "I didn't know you kids were still excited about things like this..." (I think I was already in my 30s, but the man was probably in his 70s). I am a huge fan of NAVY ships. I've never served in the NAVY, but my grandfather was in the NAVY.



quote
Originally posted by randye:

There are commercial recreational dive boats that also take tourists out to the site and their dive masters try to keep control over their untrained divers but I understand that's always a battle.




I used to snorkle ALL the time in South Florida and even in the keys. But never have I gone actual scuba-diving. I've always wanted to... just never got around to doing it. Now that I'm moving back to Florida, I'm going to try to make it my goal to get certified.



quote
Originally posted by maryjane:

There is a full 'room' devoted to Oriskany on board USS Lexington in Corpus.




Planning on checking it out early this year before I move... definitely want to see them. I'm going to Galveston in a couple of weeks... but won't be there long enough to visit this trip.



quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

Two things.....Number one; The Oriskany was the first Carrier I was ever on (1967 Age 7)...Even rode the bow elevator up......(Later I was stationed on the USS Coral Sea (Sadly, she was cut up for scrap in 1999)




That's pretty cool! Do you have any pictures by any chance? Would be cool to see some from back in the day...
maryjane DEC 11, 04:15 PM
There's another battleship, a wreck near Pensacola. BB2 USS Massachusetts right outside the pass .

We used to fish near it at high tide. At low tide, part of the hull is above water.
Location:
82-T/A [At Work] DEC 11, 05:05 PM

quote
Originally posted by maryjane:

There's another battleship, a wreck near Pensacola. BB2 USS Massachusetts right outside the pass .

We used to fish near it at high tide. At low tide, part of the hull is above water.
Location:




It's just like the Great White Fleet ships!!!





Ah man... that kills me. I know we can't keep every single huge ship that we build... but at least keep one of each!
cvxjet DEC 11, 07:26 PM

quote
Originally posted by Hank is Here:


Shadow Divers. It is a great book!




That is the one....Now I gotta wait until my local Library opens and I can re-read it...Thanks!

MJ...I was on the Coral Sea from 1979-1982, so they still had BTs back then.

I also did fire watch during ships rehab....Went down in a JP-5 tank, 30 feet vertical- the ladder was rusted- one wrung was GONE! When I got down there the welder told me to "Pull the pin on your extinguisher" I told him "Not unless we have a fire because then I have to lug it to the far end of the ship to be recharged!" He said "OK..." kind of funny-like, and then started welding...sparks flying- hitting the water in the bottom edge of the tank...Flick-flick-flick....Amazing how fast you can pull a pin! (They had flushed the tank but there was residue...I kept looking up at that rusted ladder.....)
Hudini DEC 11, 09:20 PM
You can visit the USS Pueblo. It’s sitting in the middle of North Korea.
maryjane DEC 11, 10:24 PM

quote
It's just like the Great White Fleet ships!!!



Not exactly. This ship, and it's sister ships of the time predate the ships of that white fleet, and were designated from design as coastal defense ships because of how low their hulls lay in the water.
The late 1800s and very early 1900s the US had not yet built it's fleet up to counter threats from Europe. They were countering threats from South American nations of Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
The predecessor to the Indiana class was built in the early 1890s and included America's very first battleship. USS Texas, tho not the one that is presently at San Jacinto. After the Indiana class was designed and laid down, the class of ships the original Texas was in was redesignated Protected Cruisers. That Texas was renamed San Marcos late in her career so the Texas name could be given to BB35.
https://www.history.navy.mi...land-collection.html


The paint scheme was pretty common in the day and was one of several variations of what was called 'buff paint scheme'.
USS Texas that predates the BB designation.


Texas/San Marcos after being used as gunnery targetout of Chesapeak bay, where she still sits in the mud.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 12-12-2020).]

cvxjet DEC 12, 12:15 AM
It is sad to see so many ships....scrapped; I know we can't keep every ship, but each one holds a special place in someone's memories and heart....I will never forget the time I spent on the Coral Sea- nor the ride on the Oriskany's forward elevator.....