Save the Yamato!

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by hyperion2206

That's really a sad picture! I hate it when beautiful ships go down (Hood,Bismarck,Yamato etc.).

I agree, but on the other hand the small ships - destroyers and cruisers - are the soldiers of the navy. The battleships are more like the ancient champions; Hector and Achilles come to mind, or Goliath or Samson. They are built to hopefully intimidate the enemy, and squash him if need be, but someone always dies, and big ships die horribly.

[hyperion2206]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I agree, but on the other hand the small ships - destroyers and cruisers - are the soldiers of the navy. The battleships are more like the ancient champions; Hector and Achilles come to mind, or Goliath or Samson. They are built to hopefully intimidate the enemy, and squash him if need be, but someone always dies, and big ships die horribly.

I agree that it is sad when destroyers or cruisers are destroyed, but they are the work horses of the fleet so there are many of them. Battleships on the other hand are rather rare and therefore more precious. Furthermore BBs are not only build to intimidate the enemy but also to impress others, so they're masterpieces of engineering.
To conclude: For me it's harder to see a big ship being destroyed then seeing a smaller vessel going to Davy Jones Locker.

[SteminDemon13]

Thanks for that info, thought they had found Musashi. Well, maybe Robert Ballard will take up the task of finding her. He found the Titanic along with numerous other things. One Wreck they need to find is the USS Indianapolis CA-35. I know they had done a search before but they need to hurry up and go on another one and find her this time.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by hyperion2206

Furthermore BBs are not only build to intimidate the enemy but also to impress others, so they're masterpieces of engineering.
To conclude: For me it's harder to see a big ship being destroyed then seeing a smaller vessel going to Davy Jones Locker.

I completely agree. I was just point out that when the big ships meet others of their kind, someone is going to be disappointed at the loss of another beautiful ship. It can't be helped.

[hyperion2206]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I completely agree. I was just point out that when the big ships meet others of their kind, someone is going to be disappointed at the loss of another beautiful ship. It can't be helped.

We have to be positive: They don't build such beauties anymore so we won't see such a big ship going down.
We might see some modern ships blowing up but that's not the same for me. Compared to the "old" ships from WWII modern ships seem to be "lifeless". Ok, I've never been on a modern warship, but the eletronic they are using now is somewhat disturbing. If you see all the documentaries you get the impression that this is not a ship/sub but a plane or the Enterprise (the Star Trek one).
I guess my mother was wright when she said that I was born as an old man.:rotfl:

[Torplexed]

I hate to see beautiful ships reduced to wrecks too. But which is worse? Going down fighting, or surrendering and being set up as a lab rat at Bikini Atoll? If the Yamato or Bismarck had survived that's likely where they would have ended up. As it was the Nagato and Prinz Eugen took their place, sadly along with a lot of veteran US ships no longer considered necessary.

Scrapping isn't pretty either. Always felt bad that the veteran US CV Enterprise which participated in every Pacific carrier battle save the Coral Sea, ended up going to the breakers in 1958 instead of being preserved as a memorial. Same for the tough old British battleship Warspite.

[hyperion2206]

I guess if a ship has to meet it's fate it is better going down fighting then being torn apart.

[SteminDemon13]

Speaking of going to the breakers, my first ship USS Seattle is going to the Breakers . It breaks my heart to see that ship go . She was in great shape when we pulled her in for the last time in December 2005. We outran those Gas Turbine AOE's (supply Class) with no problem. When we were on cruise it was great to hear the captain come over the 1MC saying to us all "unfortunaltely we have to slow down because the rest of the group can't keep up". (radio confirmed the transmission from the rest of the group so it was the real deal) It was great! I was on watch down the hole at that time when we got the bell to slow down. Hell, most of the cruise we had either full or a flank bell rung up. Hot as hell though, but it was all worth it . She was well taken care of, we should have went to the yards instead of Decomissioning. What a waste, she had so much more life in her.
Some Crazy @$$ in the FWD pit shut off the Cooling water to their Fuel oil service pump and put some crap in the lube oil sump and that pump burned the hell up. Nothing us Snipes couldn't handle though, they had the pump back up and running in about a day. For the suspect sailor, everyone kept a close eye on him and he wasn't allowed in our pit. Damn I miss you USS SEATTLE!!!

[Torplexed]

Yeah...the shipbreakers. Here's another poignant picture of the 1960s and 70s vintage guided missile cruisers Virginia, Texas, and Long Beach awaiting final disposal at the Puget Sound Naval Yard not far from where I live. Well on their way to becoming razorblades and beer cans. Kinda creepy how they shave off the superstructure and then let the hull sit for years. All the subs in the picture are being scrapped too. However, they did their duty and ya can't keep 'em around forever.

[SteminDemon13]

marine, where did you find her docked? Was this on your campaign?

[Torplexed]

That is one good-looking battleship.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Yeah...the shipbreakers. Here's another poignant picture of the 1960s and 70s vintage guided missile cruisers Virginia, Texas, and Long Beach awaiting final disposal at the Puget Sound Naval Yard not far from where I live. Well on their way to becoming razorblades and beer cans. Kinda creepy how they shave off the superstructure and then let the hull sit for years. All the subs in the picture are being scrapped too. However, they did their duty and ya can't keep 'em around forever.

whoa, I've been by there!