Mississippi Vying to Sink Aircraft Carrier as Reef

WLOX (Biloxi, MS) ^ | 12/13/03 | AP

[bourbon]

Mississippi is one of five states that has proposed a site in a competition to become the watery grave for an aircraft carrier. The 888-foot USS Oriskany is a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars.

It will be the largest vessel deliberately sunk as an artificial reef in the United States, probably in August or September 2004.

The Oriskany will be the first to go down in a new Navy program to get rid of obsolete warships by sinking them as a cheaper alternative to the scrap yard.

Mississippi is competing with Florida and Texas for the site, along with South Carolina and Georgia, which have proposed a joint site in the Atlantic Ocean off their shared border.

The Gulf Coast states see the Oriskany as an economic magnet attracting divers and anglers. The Atlantic site, however, would be a marine sanctuary, with diving and bottom fishing banned, to restore over-stressed species such as the snowy grouper.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[bourbon]

See also, Texas Battles to Win Aircraft Carrier for Use as Reef.

[bourbon]

(((MS PING)))

[Jim Cane]

Why don't they turn it into a casino?

[SpinyNorman]

Put Howard Dean or Kerry in a flight suit, put them on the ship, and tell them this will be an opportunity to counter the President's flight to the Abraham Lincoln. Then let them bloviatee, which should surely sink it. Solves two problems at once.

[joesnuffy]

SCUBA diving banned to protect a grouper.....sheesh....how lame

[gridlock]

The Atlantic site, however, would be a marine sanctuary, with diving and bottom fishing banned, to restore over-stressed species such as the snowy grouper.

Heaven forfend anybody actually have any fun... Gotta protect that snowy grouper...

[Tallguy]

Groupers are tasty...

[LoneConservative]

Anyone here remember "The Bridges at Toko-Ri"??
Most of the flight deck scenes were filmed on Oriskany.

[WKB]

We as a State must be willing to sacrifice for the snowy grouper.

[IGOTMINE]

What an insult to a fine ship.

[Fester Chugabrew]

"Put Howard Dean or Kerry in a flight suit . . ."

LOL! A diving suit would be more apropos. Let them land on the deck of a sunken ship.

[aomagrat]

Navy pilot Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Denny Earl, with both legs shattered by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire, successfully lands his A-4 "Skyhawk" attack plane aboard the Oriskany in the Gulf of Tonkin, 20 October 1967. The nylon emergency barrier assures the wounded pilot that he will not have to make more than one attempt to land his plane.

[deport]

The USS Oriskany as she sits today

Texas battles to win aircraft carrier for use as reef

Click for additional pictures

Click for additional pictures

[DustyMoment]

That photo just broke my heart. I'm an old Navy airedale and, even though I never served aboard a Navy ship, the carriers, in particular, are near and dear to my heart. I hate seeing a great old ship like the Oriskany looking like an unkempt derelict, she deserves better.

If no one wants to keep her in some kind of reputable condition, go ahead and sink her so that she is still serving in some capacity. Better that, than to remain looking like the derelict she currently appears or to be relegated to the worst waste of tax payer money, the US Naval Ship Reserve Fleet. This is a collection of old, retired ships that are being maintained in a boneyard just in case they are needed for a future war. The cost to update and outfit just one of them would be greater than the cost to build and outfit a new ship. Scrap'em all, or sink them with dignity in a way that lets them continue to serve the sea.

[Zaxis]

Would someone please call Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's office and have them check her calendar for any military visits next year ? That would be an ignominious way to leave this cruel world....

[TomB]

If the can't get the Oriskany, they can bid on this one:

I hear the French don't have much use for the DeGualle.

[BlueLancer]

Why not bid on the French aircraft carrier?

It's not being used anyway...

[BlueLancer]

No fair!!! No fair!!! You cheated!

[dixiechick2000]

I hope MS gets the Oriskany. That would make one heck of a fishing hole.
It's sad to see the shape she's in now.