Free Republic

SPARKS AND STRIPES! Battleship Texas helped celebrate America's 250th birthday on July 3, 2026, with a drone show, fireworks, and multiple 14-inch gun salutes. The Battleship is currently undergoing restoration before moving to her new location across the harbor, where she will have a visitor center and welcome visitors on board.

Recent research into the famous wreck of the Danish-Norwegian ship Gribshunden has revealed new details about the artillery and armament of medieval seagoing vessels, according to a statement released by Lund University. Gribshunden was built in the 1480s and became the royal flagship of King Hans of Denmark and Norway. The monarch used the vessel much like a floating castle and personally sailed on it frequently -- not only for exploration but to solidify his grasp of his kingdom. The ship mysteriously sank in 1495 off the coast of Ronneby, Sweden. It is often considered the best-preserved wreck from the...