Posted on 05/17/2006 10:15:29 AM PDT by Michael Goldsberry
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO — Navy divers detonated explosives Wednesday aboard the USS Oriskany, sending the retired aircraft carrier on a 212-foot plunge to bottom of the Gulf of Mexico to create the world's largest intentional reef.
Hundreds of Korean and Vietnam War veterans on charter boats watched as the carrier slowly sank about 24 miles off Pensacola Beach.
The 888-foot-long ship, known as the "Mighty O," was commissioned in 1950 and was home to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., when he served in Vietnam. It was also among the ships used by President John F. Kennedy as a show of force during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
The Oriskany was decommissioned in 1976 and now becomes the first ship sunk for reefing under a new Navy program to dispose of old warships.
Clouds of brown and gray smoke rose in the sky after more than 500 pounds of plastic explosives went off about 11:30 a.m. EDT. The ship took about 45 minutes to go down.
The Environmental Protection Agency in February approved the sinking of the ship with chemical toxins in electrical cables, insulation and paint still aboard. EPA officials said the toxins will slowly leach out over the estimated 100 years it will take the carrier to rust away and should pose no danger to marine life.
Local leaders hope the carrier reef will bring a long-awaited economic infusion from sport divers and fishermen. A 2004 Florida State University study estimated Escambia County would see $92 million a year in economic benefits from an artificial reef.
Except for the fish that was caught. [grin]
That was a tribute to all the jets McCain splashed when he was a pilot on the carrier.
You're right. I guess that's why they call them "fish".
The best piece of advice I handed down to my son came from our mutual love of fishing. We had the usual talk about sex and then I told him that with the young ladies it's the same as in fishing conservation: "Catch and Release".
I served as Handler on IKE (CVN-69). It was always a sight to see the Whale land (looked like a sack of sh** when landing), but the Whale took a beautiful cat shot.
I always liked seeing the cat shot, because then I didn't have to worry about finding a spot in the hangar deck or on the flight deck for the enormous beast!
Learned to tank off a Whale, day & night refueling qual. Superb, stable platform for that mission. Better than hanging off the wing of an A-7 or under the roar of Intruder engines!
I think you are confused. The Brits sunk a light cruiser, the General Belgrano (former USS Phoenix).
Yea I'm confused, sorry
No need to apologize, brother!
I'm sorry if you don't like the image. You may wish to discuss its discrepancies with the site that created it. Here is the address.
http://www.divemiami.com/oriskany_main.htm
No reflection on you, it just freaked me out seeing the Miami sky-line in the background. Nashville, Tennessee is closer to the ship's location than Miami.
I guess they are trying to use it to drum up their diving business, but if you go to Miami and they're gonna take you to this fishing spot, it's going to be one really long boat-ride.
Say, how 'bout you airdales cluing us blackshoes in. What plane is the whale you are talking about.
Douglas A-3 Skyraider AKA the Whale. It was a big, honkin' twin engine attack aircraft from the late-50's or early-60's. In later reincarnations is was used as a tanker and an electronics warfare plane.
Skywarrior? No wonder. Now that was a huge plane. Not two engine though, don't know why non-sequitur says it had two engines.
I stand corrected. The Skyraider could carry a huge amount of ordanance I hear, 'bout as much as B-17.
I'm thinking that at one time, they thought they would get the ship for their project.
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