Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikeb213
I read that they were keeping the Missouri in a state where it could be activated again? Did they do that with with any of the other Battleships? Do they just not remove everything from the ship, and dock it and open it to the public in that case?
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Hello.. I just wandered in from the Dangerous Waters Forum and thought I could share some insight.
When the USN decides to put a ship in long term layup or mothballs, there are some specific things that have to be performed to preserve critical gear. The procedures are extensive and VERY comprehensive.
Obviously the things of main concern are propulsion,damage control, and weapon systems.
For the propulsion train, the screws are removed and the anodes are checked yearly. In the engineroom, all fluids are removed and protective chemicals are applied to prevent corrosion. The spaces are sealed and humidity controls are implemented to prevent a corrorsion friendly enviroment.
For the weapons system, external items are removed if possible to protect them. Every effort is made to protect and preseve the systems so that they can be re-activated. If there are corrosive, explosive, or other potentially dangerous items they are removed and re-located to a protected space.
Damage control wise, you have to make sure that the interior communications system is preseved, the door seals on watertight doors have to be maintained. Some pumps are left available to dewater compartments, others are removed and preservative chemicals applied.
Of course this is a small list of what it done. I have read the navshiptech manuals regarding the procedures and they are mindboggling.
A ship can be placed as a museum and still be able to be re-activated. Most museum ships like to show you 'how they lived'. They do no get into the bowels were the parts that need to be protected are. Sure, you might see a gun turrent, but insurance will prevent you from getting into the engineroom or other large spaces that house the critical gear needed to drive and fight the ship.