A veteran of two wars, ship surrenders to sea (High Graffics Warning)

US Navy ^ | 05/18/06 | Larry Wheeler

[Robe]

The ex-Oriskany, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, was sunk 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., on May 17 to form an artificial reef. The 888-foot ship took about 37 minutes to sink below the surface.

U.S. Navy photos

[Robe]

Farewell to a fine Gray Lady of the Sea

[Yo-Yo]

Proud to the very end.

[RexBeach]

What class was the Oriskany?

[theDentist]

How about that little ship on the Lady? Were those the explosives crew?

[theDentist]

another ping for you

[synbad600]

What's the deal w/ artificial reefs? Are there not enough places for the fish? Seems to me the greenies would be pitching a fit.

Don't laugh, I've always wondered about this.

[Prince Caspian]

I noticed that too. Seems like that could be risky business getting that little boat off the deck if the carrier didn't sink quite the way they expected.

[Hydroshock]

Essex class

[RexBeach]

I didn't know that class was that big!

Thanks!

[RexBeach]

I didn't know that class was that big!

Thanks!

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Ticonderoga Class

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-o/cv34.htm

[Fudd]

I read (elsewhere) that a a company had set up cameras to film the sinking for a Discovery channel program. My speculation is that this is the (unmanned) camera boat...

[Cementjungle]

What's the deal w/ artificial reefs? Are there not enough places for the fish? Seems to me the greenies would be pitching a fit.

I guess it's either this or dump it into some landfill somewhere. It's a rather large thing to dispose of.

[RexBeach]

Ah, that's what I thought. Thanks.

[Eagle Eye]

The floor of the Gulf is flat and desolate like a sandy desert.

This gives the fish a place to hang out.

[ContemptofCourt]

Sinking these ships make awesome artifical reefs. Great for diving and fishing. This thing will be covered with sealife almost immediately.

[oxcart]

I have Taps playing in my head, so long U.S.S. ORISKANY
CVA-34.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

And it probably has lots of asbestos and other nasty substances aboard that were used during her construction in 1944.

[Smokin' Joe]

What's the deal w/ artificial reefs? Are there not enough places for the fish?

There are lots of them in the Gulf of Mexico--they are called production platforms, you even get oil out of them (and not in the water, if it is done right).

Fish love 'em so much, the crews are not allowed to fish off of them.

But you can't have one of those within 200 miles of the Florida coast, so they have to sink ships, instead.

Maybe that will change after the Cubans start drilling.

[Yo-Yo]

There's quite a market for scrap steel.