Thread: Big old Battleship

Love the photo's of the "Mighty Mo" at the start of the thread, it is a pity the giant Japanese battleships Yamanato and Musashi (18" guns) did not survive WW2.They would have caused a sensation today!!!!

Originally Posted by LRPV

I distinctly remember at least a dozen or so US Marines standing guard with M16s on the upper decks. No chance of anyone souveniring a 16inch gun or two

Stuart

Hello Stuart, I went on board the USS Carl Vinson (I think) when it was parked there later on. At the top of the gangway was a marine with an automatic shotgun and a bandolier of rounds; watching every single person come up the gangway. there were also armed marines on each deck.

Watched some armourers doing the timing on an aircraft cannon using a 10ft crowbar!

I remember seeing the MO when she was in Sydney and we drove past it.
The thing that sticks in my mind is the fact that as we were approaching the line of the keel she just got wider and wider. When looking straight down her length from the bow she is HUGE in the beam.
Very impressive, it is a pity that we don't treasure our history as much as the yanks do.
England boasts the longest serving commissioned warship in the HMS Victory but she has been in dry dock for many many years, the yanks have the longest serving commissioned ship (sorry, Frigate) afloat in the USS Constitution, She can still put to sea.

Originally Posted by Landy110

England boasts the longest serving commissioned warship in the HMS Victory but she has been in dry dock for many many years, the yanks have the longest serving commissioned ship (sorry, Frigate) afloat in the USS Constitution, She can still put to sea.

Victory is a great ship, one of her sail is also the worlds oldest textile to exists as well. It is still riddled with shot and cannon holes from Trafalgar.

Got to look around it in 08.


Easo

I remember seeing the Mo parked at Garden Island dock.......half of it was still hanging out in the harbour...that was one big boat....traffic was an absolute nightmare that day

Originally Posted by willem

Apparently the Iowa class battleships were able to withstand a nuclear strike to within a distance of 1000 yards. Parts of them were protected by armour plating 14 inches thick. Amazing to see one retire after 67 years of service.

Does anyone know what has happened to the other three?

Willem

I don't find it that amazing, the Ark Royal I served on had 12" armour plate. The problem with the older ships is that when hit they usually sank quickly and had a huge loss of life. The more modern naval ships have very thin plating and are designed for missiles to pass through. Old ships when hit lost hundreds with a few poor souls saved, modern ships lose a few with most OK. I know which I'd rather be on.

Originally Posted by Landy110

England boasts the longest serving commissioned warship in the HMS Victory but she has been in dry dock for many many years, the yanks have the longest serving commissioned ship (sorry, Frigate) afloat in the USS Constitution, She can still put to sea.

Sorry to disappoint you but having worked at Pompey Dockyards for a number of years on different ships I can definitely confirm the Victory is not the originally commissioned Lord Nelson flagship. A small part of of her may be original but she's mostly reproduction modern now.

Originally Posted by easo

Victory is a great ship, one of her sail is also the worlds oldest textile to exists as well. It is still riddled with shot and cannon holes from Trafalgar.


Easo

I find that a bit hard to believe. What about the Turin Shroud that's linen and suppsedly dates from JC's time ?