Make it a LA homeless shelter.
Posted on 03/03/2005 3:02:55 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Navy to Sink USS America, Explosive Final Service That Saddens Former Crew By John J. Lumpkin Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Navy plans to send the retired carrier USS America to the bottom of the Atlantic in explosive tests this spring, an end that is difficult to swallow for some who served on board.
The Navy says the effort, which will cost $22 million, will provide valuable data for the next generation of aircraft carriers, which are now in development. No warship this size or larger has ever been sunk, so there is a dearth of hard information on how well a supercarrier can survive battle damage, said Pat Dolan, a spokeswoman for Naval Sea Systems Command.
The Navy's plan raises mixed emotions in Ed Pelletier, who served on the America as a helicopter crewman when the ship cruised the Mediterranean shortly after its commissioning in 1965.
He said he was "unhappy that a ship with that name is going to meet that fate, but happy she'll be going down still serving the country." Pelletier, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., is a trustee of an association of veterans who served on the America.
Issues surrounding a vessel bearing the name of its country are often more sensitive than for other ships. In 1939, Adolf Hitler, fearful of a loss of morale among his people should Germany's namesake ship be sunk, ordered the pocket battleship Deutschland renamed for a long-dead Prussian commander.
Since its decommissioning in 1996, the America has been moored with dozens of other inactive warships at a Navy yard in Philadelphia. The Navy's plan is to tow it to sea on April 11 - possibly stopping at Norfolk, Va. - before heading to the deep ocean, 300 miles off the Atlantic coast, for the tests, Dolan said.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.tbo.com ...
The Norfolk one I saw. That was a fun tour.
The grammar schools that are local to these carriers should make them a part of their history classes.
Well, Kerry ran his aground.
And Kennedy got his sunk: it was cut in half by a "stealth" Japanese destroyer.
One 48 didn't sink (immediately, at least) even the 15,000 ton Bushnell.
Even without a crew onboard, and wih all the W/T hatches and tanks open, the first damaged her, but didn't come close to sinking it.
The second, which hit her anchor chain (that had broken loose from the shock) put her under about 30 minutes later.
Think of it this way, at least she'll die with her boots on.
Plus, we REALLY do need to know how much punishment a super carrier can take if we were to get into a tangle with, say, China.
During the Viet Nam War I served on the US Harold E. Holt (DE-1074). It was only recently that I learned that a few years ago it was used for target practice and sunk in the Pacific.
I found the pictures on the Internet of its’ demise. A very strange sensation came over me when I saw the pictures. Almost made me sick to my stomach.
Guess what I’m saying is that I know how you guys feel.
Make it a LA homeless shelter.
I'm 100% against sinking her.
I totally doubt my voice means anything.
But I just sent up my words of concern.
We have plenty of ports. This carrier should be made a museum.
The list of museums that was posted don't have the traffic they need because the locales don't promote them.
Any school within stomping distance should have these carriers as part of history lessons.
We have an American Legion that JUST received a helicopter for display.
Every time I drive by there are always kids with their faces pressed against the fence wanting a closer look.
So kids are interested in these attractions.
The communities that host these vehicles need to be held accountable for teaching them.
Otherwise, they shouldn't receive federal funds.
Communities usually don't realize how much it costs to maintain these floating museums (and nor do the citizens who must fund it).
These things are necessary, it helps to save lives.
Yes. Hence my point in making them a part of the educational process.
If they are IN the community, they need to be a part of the curriculum.
I think that's a great idea! I wonder if anybody is inquiring?!
Well, Kerry ran his aground.
And Kennedy got his sunk: it was cut in half by a "stealth" Japanese destroyer.
A noteworthy accomplishment, since Kennedy's PT Boat was twice as fast as the Japanese destroyer.
Hmmmmm. Train them in damage control first. If they save the ship, we get a good test of procedures and they live.
If not, well...
The USS Midway museum in San Diego has been up for a little while now and the times I have been down there is has been quite busy.
http://www.midway.org
Interestingly enough, the Forrestal took a beating when they had their accident. They cooked off something like 10 1000lb bombs, that is a LOT of energy. Granted, they didn't have the bombs penetrating below decks and going off, but they were still able to steam at 20 something knots after the accident.
Actually, the Taiho (Japanese navy's largest and most modern carrier in WWII) sank after taking one torpedo. Apparently, her crew didn't realize the danger they were in and kept steaming right along at full speed. The fumes from a ruptured avgas tank were sucked throughout the ship, and it became one, giant fuel/air bomb. The invevitable spark destroyed her, and she sank with three quarters of her crew (sunk by the submarine USS Cavalla)
Talk about an outstanding scuba diving attraction!
And for the environmentalists, it would establish a new artificial reef.
I've been to the Lexington several times, and I live 160 miles away in San Antonio. To top it off I'm ex Army not Navy.
I have also been to see the Texas, Alabama and Intrepid.
All well worth the trip, and time spent on them.
Thanks for the ping!
I agree why not turn it into a museum of war history why sink it ? If they do sink it they should change the name first !
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