USS Ranger leaving Puget Sound for Texas scrap yard

KOMO TV (Seattle) News ^ | 3/4/2015 | Jon Humbert

[llevrok]

Smooth sailing on your last mission, Ranger.

[knarf]

I'm an Army vet, but I never "had" anything that became attached to me

I can only guess what a sailor or airman must think / feel .. when they are re-united with something that actually sat in or slept in

Logic would say scrap her, my heart might want to hold a funeral with a 3 day wake or something

[brivette]

I was on board the Ranger while waiting for nuclear power training school.

[faithhopecharity]

I’ve always wondered...
these ships are very expensive, and many of them look like they could still be useful, if only in rear guard assignments, in event of need

might it not be wiser for us to keep many of these ships in working order... (at some expense, of course, but still..) just in case that need develops?

perhaps some of them could be used in commerce or even tourism...if revenue is needed? or maybe not, but still keep them...??? such a huge investment, and certainly there must be good uses for these?

same for some old airplanes...the Berlin airlift could be repeated today (there or elsewhere) with older planes, not EVERY airplane has to be the very latest and fastest flyer in order to be useful

ok I don’t know what I’m talking about so I will sign off.
best,
fhc

[cripplecreek]

Unfortunately we can't preserve them all. The USS Edson was a museum ship that went into storage which would have likely led to it being scrapped. Fortunately enough people showed an interest in saving it and it ended up on the Saginaw River in Michigan.

[fidelis]

Launched in 1957, the year I was born. Next thing you know, they’ll be taking me down to Texas to get scrapped.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Why don’t they just sink it in a very deep part of the Pacific? Is it worth that much as scrap?

[cripplecreek]

It was cool seeing the USS Missouri fighting aliens in the “Battleship” movie.

[Undecided 2012]

I’m actually shocked they didn’t just sail it to China. I mean that’s where it’s going anyways right?

[Nowhere Man]

same for some old airplanes...the Berlin airlift could be repeated today (there or elsewhere) with older planes, not EVERY airplane has to be the very latest and fastest flyer in order to be useful

True, that's my take. I still see every once in a while, old piston planes still flying. One time I saw an old Super Constellation fly into Pittsburgh in the wee hours of the morning. Beautiful plane. I once said if I hit the powerball for some obscene amount, I'd try to start an airline of my own using the old piston-engined planes such as the DC-4 thru 7 and the Super Constellation. I'd have the stewardesses wear mini skirts and Jackie-O style hats. My father said the planes of today cannot compare to the comfort of the Super Constellation.

Digressing, yeah, there might be a time we may have to do what you said. I once read a post apocalyptic book where after an atomic war, the U.S. government, what's left of it, brought back the old piston engined cargo planes to supply troops and carry supplies around, We are doing this to a limited extent now, I read we had to bring back a B-57 that hasn't flown since 1969 or so to be used in Afghanistan. I think it is used for recon.

[buffaloguy]

I suspect she will be warmly greeted by a large group of Texas Navy people and many others who want to give her a good send off.

[Secret Agent Man]

Refitting costs more than new I’d imagine. Too much stuff to rip out and replace, and the old design doesn’t match up with the latest designs. Plus this one can’t get through the panama canal.

[Undecided 2012]

I agree. I’m a navy vet and could never understand all those ships mothballed at the Philly Naval base. As expensive that ship building is, I’m surprised they’re not kept as a secondary defense. It’s not like they made a profit $1.

[Secret Agent Man]

Well it is sad it can’t be preserved, but scrap is melted down and re-used in new ships, so that truly is one way it lives on and in useful service.

[hosepipe]

With a traitor in the White House and additional traitors to follow.,.... mostly likely..

Soon the Statue of Liberty could be SCRAPPED...
And Mt. Rushmore could become a Ski Lodge.. for prominent Communists.. to chill out..

[Undecided 2012]

That’s true but a used aircraft, ship, sub, army equipment is better than nothing. I really worry about Obama’s downsizing.

[The Citizen Soldier]

I proudly served aboard the USS Ranger (CV-61) in 1971; in the Tonken Gulf, off the coast of Viet Nam.

RIP old gal, you served your country well!!

[microgood]

I will bet there is are tons and tons of copper on that ship. All those t-400 cables, bus bars, generators, etc.

[al baby]

Homeless drug addict bastards would have it stripped by dawn