Shoulda given Donald a chance...
Posted on 04/05/2012 6:34:25 PM PDT by matt1234
The U.S. Coast Guard unleashed cannon fire Thursday at a Japanese vessel set adrift by last year's tsunami, stopping the ship's long, lonely voyage across the Pacific Ocean.
A Coast Guard cutter fired on the abandoned 164-foot Ryou-Un Maru in the waters of the Gulf of Alaska and more than 150 miles from land, spokesman Paul Webb said.
Soon after the cannon fire started, the ship burst into flames, began to take on water and list, Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow said.
About two hours later, the vessel hadn't sunk and the cutter resumed shelling, Lt. Veronica Colbath said.
The vessel poses a significant hazard and the Coast Guard has been warning mariners to stay away, Wadlow said. Aviation authorities are also advising pilots to steer clear of the area.
Officials decided to sink the ship rather than risk the chance of it running aground or endangering other vessels.
(Excerpt) Read more at mynorthwest.com ...
You don’t say!
There was a ship off Coos Bay Oregon that was hit with at least one Mk 48 and didn’t sink. Cant remember the name of it.
If that is the cutter on scene it looks like a 110 (110ft cutter). 110’s don’t have big deck guns. IIRC they have a 20mm on deck and some 50’s. That’s gonna mean lots and lots of little holes.
*snort* Boys and their toys!
The article says the derelict ship is 164 feet. The cutter looks comparable. What do you think?
No, there wasn’t anyone on the vessel when it was taken out to sea. It was in a yard, ready to be scrapped.
The New Carissa. If I remember correctly, after she was abandoned she was headed in around Tillamook, then towed out farther to sea with the idea that she would sink on her own, then the Navy or Coastguard was called to finish her off, and then she ended up on the North spit. It may have been even slightly more complicated than that. I was long gone by then (I’m originally from Coos County) but my Dad was one of the locals initially most involved on the ground after she hit.
I don’t make 164 feet on that ship. That looks like a 110 cutter to me. Probably the CGC Cuttyhunk, out of Port Angeles, WA or the CGC Orcas, out of Coos Bay, OR.
“It’s actually harder to sink a ship than it looks.”
So perhaps we could use this as the new motto for the Coast Guard. “This Job Is Harder Than It Looks - Go Coast Guard!”
That was my first thought too, then I thought it probably has a hold full of rotted fish.
That’s OK. You’re just a very proud Mom!
Shoulda given Donald a chance...
I’d take that. I’m pretty awesome on the 20 mm.
With a photon cannon.
Go to church!
“It looks a bit rusty, but I wonder why they didn’t board, tow, and salvage it?”
They actually stopped a Canadian fishing ship from salvaging it.
I’m guessing because it is radioactive.
BINGO! The New Carissa it was. Thanks for reminding me.
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