Mystery Ship: Next Carrier on Ebay?

Schöneboom · 02-25-11, 09:40 PM

This morning I sighted this ship heading under the Bay Bridge, presumably either down the Peninsula or to the East Bay. She's seen better days, but perhaps it was just the bleak wet weather and all the work on deck that gave that impression.

I still have not been able to ID her. Here's a close-up of the island, in case that helps:

JSLTIGER · 02-25-11, 10:29 PM

Looks like an Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ship to me...

TLAM Strike · 02-25-11, 10:32 PM

She is the USS Tripoli. Now a trials ship for launches of Scud type missiles.

JSLTIGER · 02-25-11, 10:39 PM

Just figured that out...yep, ex-Tripoli!

Schöneboom · 02-25-11, 11:21 PM

Well done, TLAM, I had a feeling you'd know the answer!

I had ruled out amphibious carriers because of the lack of a ramp at the stern. But I missed the Iwo Jima class!

Man, a launching platform... well, better than the scrapyard, I guess.

TLAM Strike · 02-25-11, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schöneboom

I had ruled out amphibious carriers because of the lack of a ramp at the stern. But I missed the Iwo Jima class!

The Iwo Jimas were the only ones with out them (off the top of my head at least). They were from a time before the LCAC and the Heli was the fastest way to get troops ashore. But any heavy gear would have to come in on a LST or a standard landing craft.

Quote:

Man, a launching platform... well, better than the scrapyard, I guess

Yea, its part of the BMD program. They launch Scuds at that test range in Hawaii.

Oberon · 02-26-11, 07:23 AM

Interesting use for an assault carrier, better than being turned into razor blades though. Would have thought it would be cheaper to use an old oiler though...

TLAM Strike · 02-26-11, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Interesting use for an assault carrier, better than being turned into razor blades though. Would have thought it would be cheaper to use an old oiler though...

The USN has a history of using carriers to launch ballistic missiles...
http://www.midwaysailor.com/midway1940/opsandy.html
http://cv41.org/photos/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=17451

Those were just tests, there were real plans to install Regulus and latter Polaris missiles on Carriers and Cruisers. Yes the USN very nearly had CVBN and DLGBNs.

Oberon · 02-26-11, 11:07 AM

Well, I'll be, I never knew that. I know they did contemplate cruise missiles on carriers for a while, but it was the Russians that went more into that than the USN, but I never knew they did TBM tests back that far.

TLAM Strike · 02-26-11, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Well, I'll be, I never knew that. I know they did contemplate cruise missiles on carriers for a while, but it was the Russians that went more into that than the USN, but I never knew they did TBM tests back that far.

More info on it

Tchocky · 02-26-11, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Those were just tests, there were real plans to install Regulus and latter Polaris missiles on Carriers and Cruisers. Yes the USN very nearly had CVBN and DLGBNs.

Compared to subs that don't make much sense. But they would have looked pretty cool

TLAM Strike · 02-26-11, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tchocky

Compared to subs that don't make much sense. But they would have looked pretty cool

In hindsight yes but when they were thinking this stuff up and someone mentioned "launching missiles from submarines" THIS:

was as advanced as it got...

02-25-11, 09:40 PM	#1
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Mystery Ship: Next Carrier on Ebay? This morning I sighted this ship heading under the Bay Bridge, presumably either down the Peninsula or to the East Bay. She's seen better days, but perhaps it was just the bleak wet weather and all the work on deck that gave that impression. I still have not been able to ID her. Here's a close-up of the island, in case that helps: __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher."

02-25-11, 10:29 PM	#2
JSLTIGER The Old Man Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Parkland, FL, USA Posts: 1,437 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Looks like an Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ship to me... __________________ Thor: Intel Core i7 4770K\|ASUS Z87Pro\|32GB DDR3 RAM\|11GB EVGA GeForce RTX 2080Ti Black\|256GB Crucial M4 SSD+2TB WD HDD\|4X LG BD-RE\|32" Acer Predator Z321QU 165Hz G-Sync (2540x1440)\|Logitech Z-323 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Pro Explorer (MSI GL63 8RE-629 Laptop): Intel Core i7 8750H\|16GB DDR4 RAM\|6GB GeForce GTX 1060\|128GB SSD+1TB HDD\|15.6" Widescreen (1920x1080)\|Logitech R-20 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Home

02-25-11, 10:32 PM	#3
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	She is the USS Tripoli. Now a trials ship for launches of Scud type missiles. __________________

02-25-11, 10:39 PM	#4
JSLTIGER The Old Man Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Parkland, FL, USA Posts: 1,437 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Just figured that out...yep, ex-Tripoli! __________________ Thor: Intel Core i7 4770K\|ASUS Z87Pro\|32GB DDR3 RAM\|11GB EVGA GeForce RTX 2080Ti Black\|256GB Crucial M4 SSD+2TB WD HDD\|4X LG BD-RE\|32" Acer Predator Z321QU 165Hz G-Sync (2540x1440)\|Logitech Z-323 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Pro Explorer (MSI GL63 8RE-629 Laptop): Intel Core i7 8750H\|16GB DDR4 RAM\|6GB GeForce GTX 1060\|128GB SSD+1TB HDD\|15.6" Widescreen (1920x1080)\|Logitech R-20 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Home

02-25-11, 11:21 PM	#5
Schöneboom Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 651 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Well done, TLAM, I had a feeling you'd know the answer! I had ruled out amphibious carriers because of the lack of a ramp at the stern. But I missed the Iwo Jima class! Man, a launching platform... well, better than the scrapyard, I guess. __________________ Dietrich Schöneboom, U-431 "Es wird klappen, Herr Kaleun. Ganz sicher."

02-26-11, 07:23 AM	#7
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Interesting use for an assault carrier, better than being turned into razor blades though. Would have thought it would be cheaper to use an old oiler though...

02-26-11, 11:07 AM	#9
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Well, I'll be, I never knew that. I know they did contemplate cruise missiles on carriers for a while, but it was the Russians that went more into that than the USN, but I never knew they did TBM tests back that far.