USS Drum visit.

[Bubblehead1980]

Saturday night out turned into a field trip of sorts lol to Mobile. Sunday morning after breakfast, and coffee, friend and I ended up at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, AL. Love the Alabama but the Drum is my favorite par of course. Impressed with the hard work they have done in restoring her, but is still a work in progress. Each time I visit it renews my appreciation for what these men endured long ago. Spending 30, 60+ days at a time at sea living and fighting in a self propelled metal tube that can sink itself.Really hit me as I laid in one of the crew racks and the Captain's rack. Captain's rack was tolerable I suppose(can see why Fluckey had an innerspring mattress installed) , the crew racks, often hot bunking etc, rough stuff to say the least.

Later, standing in the conning tower, with just my friend and I, it was already stuffy on fairly cool morning for the South and with AC running. Imagine being 60 feet under water, 8-10 men cramped in there, breathing, talking, trying to work in for an attack. Then spending hours under water, AC off, enduring depth charges. All these years later, the smells still linger in the boat.

Unfortunately this time did not get to go up on the bridge, which is a great view.Last time I visited I obtained permission to go up from volunteers who were in there.No one was around so obeyed the sign, reluctantly.

I have a few pics on my phone I will post later but did not take many as my phone died from lack of charging during the visit.

I have always loved having such a treasure just 50 miles from my home town and visit every so often. I believe it had been a couple years since my last visit. Ever in the area, check her out and the Alabama battleship is a great ship to tour as well.

[propbeanie]

Been a while since we were there. Very nice setup there. I also like Charlestown, SC and Patriots Point. Haven't been on others, but like you say, the boats link tiny, especially compared to the BB and CV...