Posted on 10/04/2004 7:57:07 PM PDT by LaDivaLoca
That sound you're hearing is my head swelling up.
Yeah, sure we know!!
Are you really blocked or are you being a Block Head??
Good morning, Valin!
Hey, beachie, it's 46F at my house now.
Today's classic warship, USS Baltimore (C-3)
Baltimore class protected cruiser
Displacement. 4,413 t.
Lenght. 336'
Beam. 48'8"
Draft. 20'6"
Speed. 20.1 k.
Complement. 383
Armament. 4 8", 6 6", 4 6pdr, 2 3pdr, 2 1pdr
The USS Baltimore (Cruiser No. 3) was launched 6 October 1888 by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Co., Philadelphia, Pa.; sponsored by Mrs. Theodore D. Wilson, wife of Chief Constructor Wilson; and commissioned 7 January 1880, Captain W. S. Schley in command.
Baltimore became flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron 24 May 1890 and during 15-23 August conveyed the remains of the late Captain John Ericsson from New York to Stockholm, Sweden. After cruising in European and Mediterranean waters, she arrived at Valparaiso, Chile, 7 April 1891 to join the South Pacific Station. She protected American citizens during the Chilean revolution, landing men at Valparaiso 28 August. Arriving at Mare Island Navy Yard 5 January 1892, she cruised on the west coast of the United States until 7 October and then returned to the Atlantic. She took part in the naval rendezvous and review in Hampton Roads during March and April 1893. Proceeding via the Suez Canal, she cruised as flagship of the Asiatic Station, 22 December 1893-3 December 1895, protecting American interests. Returning to Mare Island 21 January 1896, she went out of commission 17 February 1896.
Recommissioned 12 October 1897, Baltimore sailed on 20 October for the Hawaiian Islands and remained there between 7 November 1897 and 25 March 1898. She then joined Commodore George Dewey's squadron at Hong Kong, 22 April 1898. The squadron sailed from Mirs Bay, China, 27 April for the Philippines and on the morning of 1 May entered Manila Bay and destroyed the Spanish fleet stationed there.
Baltimore remained on the Asiatic Station convoying transports and protecting American interests until 23 May 1900, when she sailed for the United States, via the Suez Canal, arriving at New York 8 September 1900.
Between 27 September 1900 and 6 May 1903 Baltimore was out of commission at New York Navy Yard. From 5 August to 23 December 1903 she served with the Caribbean Squadron, North Atlantic Fleet, taking part in summer maneuvers off the coast of Maine, in the Presidential Review at Oyster Bay, N. Y. (15-17 August), and in Santo Domingo waters. Between 28 May and 26 August 1904 she was attached to the European Squadron and cruised in the Mediterranean. On 26 September she sailed from Genoa, Italy, for the Asiatic Station and spent the next two years cruising in Asiatic, Philippine, and Australian waters.
Baltimore returned to New York 24 April 1907 and went out of commission at New York Navy Yard 15 May 1907. On 20 January 1911 she was placed in commission in reserve and served as a receiving ship at Charleston Navy Yard (30 January 1911-20 September 1912). During 1913-14 she was converted to a minelayer at Charleston Navy Yard and recommissioned 8 March 1915. During 1915-18 she carried out mining experiments and operations in Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic coast.
At American entry into World War I, Baltimore was training personnel. Early in March 1918 she was detailed to assist in laying a deep mine field off the north coast of Ireland in the North Channel. She arrived at the Clyde on 8 March and between 13 April and 2 May laid approximately 900 mines in the North Channel. On 2 June she joined Mine Squadron 1 at Inverness, Scotland, and for four months participated in laying the Northern Mine Barrage.
On 28 September 1918 Baltimore sailed from Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, for the United States. She carried out mining experiments in the vicinity of the Virgin Islands until the end of the year.
In September 1919 she joined the Pacific Fleet. In July 1920, as the Navy implemented its system of ship hull numbers, she was designated CM-1. The old minelayer went to Pearl Harbor early in 1921 and decommissioned there in September 1922. For nearly two decades, Baltimore was inactive at that base, serving for part of the time as a storage hulk. She was present, though in derelict condition, during the devastating Japanese air raid that opened the Pacific War on 7 December 1941. Sold in February 1942, the partially-scrapped ship was finally scuttled at sea on 22 September 1944.
Good morning, Spotsy!!
Mine!!!!!
Mine!!!!!
Mine
Mine
Sarge is checking in from the armory this morning, after a long planning session with the others on the Recruiting Staff. There's a lot to do, to get me up to speed on the mission - classes, orientations, introductions ot the decision-makers, and learning about the office politics that follow every unit around since the invention of the crossbow.
The classes are on job-related stuff: communications, public speaking, and interviewing - in other words, more yawn-time for Sarge. But, at least most of the classes are local, or within a sane drive.
It feels kind of odd, really - showing up each day, to The Haunted Armory I see only on the weekend drills, but which is now my duty home for a while to come. You can move into a place very quickly, or not at all. Well, home away from home for a bit.
Now, onto the Personals:
DIVALOCA/TONKIN: And the Canteen lights are on, the coffee's hot, and the company's cool! Thanks for the thread, youtwo...
USVET/KJFINE/ARROWHEAD Present for duty, Gentlemen!
WAKEUPANDVOTE: Understand you had a flame job from our southern kinfolk - what was THAT all about? (Hee hee)
STAR/TRUSSELL: Here's hoping you tow are feeling a little better today...
BENTFEATHER: "Something shining on my shoulder?" Whatever are you talking about?
TOMKOW: BEHAVE YOURSELF!
Sarge will be in the area all day, so Let's Have Fun!
SARGE
DISCLAIMER: If you'd like to be on/off Sarge's Canteen Roll Call, FReepmail with details!
Good morning, Old Sarge. how's it going?
Morning, EG. Looks like I'm getting a laptop personally assigned to me, for the duration. I'm even MORE dangerous than Darkwing!
So good to see you today!!
Will you be here long?
Easy deduction. See his post #136 and you'll know it's not being BLOCKED at work!
Another addition from the Spotsybelle line! Yummy!
But, MAXINE??!!??
Well, I see I missed Draculette - AGAIN...
Yes, my deduction as well beachn! LOL
Kidding around eh, Tom!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.