Posted on 01/17/2015 4:34:18 AM PST by 2dogjoe
The USS Constellation, at the end of its journey from WashingtonState to International Shipbreaking Ltd. at the Port of Brownsville,Texas made its grand entrance into the BrazosSantiagoPass a few hours later than anticipated, finally clearing the jetties a few minutes after 10 a.m. on Friday.
(Excerpt) Read more at themonitor.com ...
Oh what I would give to own a carrier and have the ability to at least move it around.
One would think that such a mighty ship could be turned in to a floating disaster relief haven. Docked in the hurricane zone and ready to take on helicopter flights of medical personnel and storm victims - plus have the food, fuel, and other needed supplies sitting right there on board.
Seems a shame to cut her apart...but I guess that’s what happens...
I have friends who served on the Connie. We did 3 month TDYs out of the PI. If someone was drinking way too much, he was a favorite to go out on what we called “a ship det” for three months to dry out. Sad to see the Connie go.
I remember when she was built ( I am getting old). I think she was the last carrier built in the old Brooklyn Navy Yard and it was a tough squeeze under the bridge when she sailed.
They better hurry up the cutting before Barry donates it to ISIS.
What is the deal with the anchor chain being extended into the water in the direction it is being pushed? Is it connected to submarine, lol. Did anyone else catch this or have an explanation?
Sad, but necessary I guess.
As BCW noted, it would be nice to see some organization take it over and turn it into an international quick response mobile disaster relief asset.
Possibly a positive job for the UN.
Whoa.....the UN does not do positive....I just hate to see historical ships such as this scraped...but I understand the cost in maintaining it as well....seems sad that so many that served on her prize her as a second home....
It’s a good question why they are not doing to the Constellation what they did to the Oriskany, that is, turn it into an artificial reef.
Granted, at first the Oriskany was going to be scrapped, but because of endless delays, it just sat idle for years until they repurposed it. Importantly, artificial reefs like this contribute strongly not just to marine life, but they act like recruiting sites for the US Navy.
That is, they not only stimulate fishing, but scuba diving, both of which feed already skilled people into the Navy. And they also can be used for underwater training for special purpose forces.
In any event, hopefully the Constellation will sit idle for a while, and then they will decide to repurpose it as well.
“the UN does not do positive....”
True/ I guess I got a little carried away.
I had the opportunity about 10 years ago to board the Connie and go about 75 miles off the coast of SoCal to watch 3-4 hours of flight ops. Greatest show on earth.
Just out of curiosity, why did they have to move it around the horn of South America? Too big for the Panama canal?
Never give your enemy a weapon.
I was on a ship in Connie’s Battle Group during her next-to-last deployment. Departure date was delayed for several days because one of her two rudders fell off at the pier in North Island. During deployment, only 3 of her 4 shafts worked. Shed was a tired old gal.
The headline had me believing the Constellation had left the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. Oh, THAT Constellation!
A fire during her construction in Brooklyn in 1960 killed 50 workers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/nyregion/21nyc.html?_r=0
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