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SHIPWRECK
FLA. KEYS SEA HERITAGE JOURNAL | Nov 12,2013 | CAPT. HILARY CRUSOE

Posted on 11/12/2013 3:34:37 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER

On an October morning back in 1973 I looked out across Salt Run and Conch Island and saw the superstructure of a ship towering over all.

The beach in that area was quickly closed to the public but I was driving my 57 VW Beetle and made a run up the west side of Conch Island where I found a sand dune to perch on.

The old Beetle ran oversize tires and I'd installed the cooling shroud and fan from a VW bus, the rig would go just about anywhere.

I watched the salvage operation as much as could, never believed they could pull it off, but they surprised me. The power of the tugboat was amazing!

 photo DOMIMAGE_zps107ce887.jpg

 photo DOM5_zps9136fc82.jpg


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: domburgh; shipwreck
http://keywestmaritime.org/journal/v14-2_2003-winter.pdf

http://keywestmaritime.org/journal/v14-3_2004-spring.pdf

http://keywestmaritime.org/journal/v14-4_2004-summer.pdf

1 posted on 11/12/2013 3:34:38 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

http://keywestmaritime.org/journal/v14-2_2003-winter.pdf

http://keywestmaritime.org/journal/v14-3_2004-spring.pdf

http://keywestmaritime.org/journal/v14-4_2004-summer.pdf


2 posted on 11/12/2013 3:35:43 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER
Very impressive! Thanks for the links, I am going to read through them later in depth...

I have always been interested in salvage operations, what we did at Pearl Harbor was damned impressive, but for a really interesting salvage with political connotations and even some humorous (though embarrassing for the US Navy) I always found the grounding of the USS Missouri fascinating.

Grounding of the USS Missouri in 1950


3 posted on 11/12/2013 3:46:42 AM PST by rlmorel ("A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral." A. Hamilton)
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To: rlmorel
 photo DOMB_zps7be60f8a.jpg
4 posted on 11/12/2013 3:52:19 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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To: MarineMom613

BFL


5 posted on 11/12/2013 3:55:48 AM PST by MarineMom613 (RIP Sandra Sue, my fur baby 12/31/1999 ~ 7/2/2010 - See you on the other side!)
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To: rlmorel

RADM Homer Wallin was the officer in charge of the USS Missouri salvage. He is the same officer that lead the salvage operations in Pearl Harbor after the Japanese attack.


6 posted on 11/12/2013 4:06:50 AM PST by X Fretensis
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To: X Fretensis

I did some research on the CABLE, she was ARS-19, had an impressive history with the Navy.


7 posted on 11/12/2013 4:26:27 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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To: rlmorel

Fascinating story about the Missouri. Skipper with a serious case of recto-cranial inversion IMO....


8 posted on 11/12/2013 5:28:16 AM PST by Notary Sojac (Mi tio es enfermo, pero la carretera es verde!)
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To: rlmorel

On one of television’s documentaries about either the Missouri or Wisconsin years ago they had a guy on who said that he was at the helm of the Missouri when thee Captain give the order to change course[I can’t recall the degrees or whether it was right or left] . He said he responded with,” Sir, there are shoals there” The Captain replied, “I have given you an order and I expect you to carry it out.” Aye, Aye Sir and over the wheel went. We were making 20 knots.


9 posted on 11/12/2013 5:40:26 AM PST by sport
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To: Notary Sojac; sport

There was a whole book written about it, and it went into gory detail...yes...recto-cranial inversion is right on. The helmsman, who was familiar with the area, knew they were going on the wrong side of the buoy, tried to warn him once, got icy silence in return, waited a little longer, tried again and got slapped down.

Dumb ass Captain got what he deserved.


10 posted on 11/12/2013 6:55:16 AM PST by rlmorel ("A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral." A. Hamilton)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

Very cool...I looked it up. For some reason, I looked at her and said “I’ll bet she served in the Pacific...”

I don’t know why, but given how many ships were there, I had a better than average chance of being correct.

In any case, very interesting stuff.


11 posted on 11/12/2013 7:00:57 AM PST by rlmorel ("A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral." A. Hamilton)
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To: Notary Sojac; sport

The shoal they ran on was gooey, slick mud on a very, very gentle grade.

When they hit that at 15-20 knots, they had no idea they were going aground. There was no shudder, no grinding, no noise, they didn’t even decelerate where anyone could tell the ship was slowing down.

The first indication they had was the condenser intakes got blocked with mud, and the screws were throwing up mud.

Then they stopped, and were stuck fast.

Amazing.


12 posted on 11/12/2013 7:04:52 AM PST by rlmorel ("A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral." A. Hamilton)
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To: X Fretensis

I understand there is a book out somewhere about him...I have to try to find it.


13 posted on 11/12/2013 7:06:25 AM PST by rlmorel ("A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral." A. Hamilton)
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