What's left of the WWII fleet?

An interesting question that you guys might find very surprising.

WHO HAS THE 2ND LARGEST NAVAL FLEET IN THE WORLD?

Give up?

The United States of course.

Not only do we have the largest naval force but if you were to put to sea every WW2 museum ship that the US has, it would be the 2nd largest naval force.

Think about that for a moment. 4-6 aircraft carriers, at least 8 BB's and countless subs and destroyers, not to mention a couple of cruisers too.

Pretty awesome.

Just wanted to share.

I've been lucky enough to visit the USS Codd SS-??, USS North Carolina BB-55, and USS Texas BB-35.  Thank you to the individuals who volunteer their time to keep these great pieces of history accessable to the public. 

As far as the USCG and USN thing....  The Coast Guard kept up with us Jar-heads in the Bar, which the air force and the navy never did.  However, the navy was always good for a ride, even though the air force rides were faster.

I come from a USMC/USCG family.  Durring Thanksgiving we all complain about the navy.  Why is it every naval officer thinks he's tom cruise, even if he's OIC of toilet paper?   

Semper Fidelis / Semper Paratus

Chris   

All in Fun

Favorite bumper sticker: "USCG Support Search and Rescue, GET LOST"

Okay, before this forum gets too far off-topic . . .

The USS Pampanito, a Gato-class sub, is still moored at Pier 39 in the San Francisco Bay; I took an after-hours tour of her way back in the '80's, just after she arrived in San Francisco.

There's also the USS Hornet, a WWII aircraft carrier, anchored in the SF Bay; my Boy Scout Troop is supposed to go spend the night on-board sometime this year.

Gasp...such unfounded aspersions being passed off as truth. Apparently you young whippersnappers are apostles of the "New" Navy...the old Navy never referred to us Coasties as "Puddle Pirates" rather we were frequently called "the HOOLIGAN NAVY". I once asked a tin can sailor why he referred to us in such a manner and he didn't know why...upon doing some historical research I learned that during the fast build up of the USCG during Prohibition the service would take anyone, from anywhere, no questions asked. Many of the recruits that manned the Coast Guard 4 piper destroyers were foreign nationals that spoke little English...and many were wanted by their home country's police for certain "indiscretions". At that time folks who strayed from the law were referred to as "Hooligans" hence the nautical moniker. There were even cases of "ANCHOR CLANKERS" jumping their cushy battleships and enlisting in the Puddle,err, Hooligan Navy, as they wanted to WALK ON WATER too!

Semper Paratus!

grandadjohn wrote:

Ain't hard to walk on water when it's only a puddle(that's why coastie's are called puddle pirates)   Note: Just in fun

Oooh! Grandadjohn, that was a deep cut. I was about to accept Mike's rebuke until I read your comment. I always wondered how they did that trick, thanks for setting us all straight.

Ain't hard to walk on water when it's only a puddle(that's why coastie's are called puddle pirates)

Note: Just in fun

To Mister SUBFIXER, I'm taken aback by your comment that we Coasties operate so close to the coast that we can wade ashore. This is an old "sea story" tale spread by un-informed  naval personnel . Any enlightened "salt" knows that Coasties WALK on water not wade... Somewhat on topic... during gun shoots in 1970 we used 50.cal ammo manufactured in 1942..the 50's kept jamming so we traded out the old WWII ammo for newer 50.cal rounds from 1957, worked like a charm... sent many a flaming oil drum to the bottom... 

Regards

Mike "Sure shot" Maynard

mikepowers wrote:

subfixer, that is awesome. They hold historical significance in there own right. Like the Uboat pens in Europe, it woul be worth a trip to visit these locations.

You are right about that, Mike. Like the inverted Dahlgren guns that are used for bollards at that drydock (Drydock 1) and Drydock 2 and the old perimeter wall with Civil War era sally ports that have been bricked up. I realize that this stuff isn't ancient like the places in England and Europe, but for the USA, it is pretty old. The only problem is, they are in restricted areas.

My last ship was the Lexington (CV-16) that saw action in the Pacific from 1943 until the end of the war. She was finally decommed in 1992 I believe. The Navy can get some mileage out of their old boats, too.  Daggone Coasties, they don't have to worry if their boats sink, they can just wade to shore!

subfixer, that is awesome.

They hold historical significance in there own right.

Like the Uboat pens in Europe, it woul be worth a trip to visit these locations.

Hello all stations

I remember my pre WWII cutter, the USCGC BIBB being moored outboard of the VULCAN in 1971 at GITMO Cuba.

As CG BOB(Hi Bob hows retirement treating you) stated, the USCG operated a number of ships and cutters long after the hostilities ended. On Feb. 8 2007 the WWII cutter STORIS(1942) was de-commissioned in a ceremony in Alaska. It's status of "Queen of the Fleet" was transferred to the WWII cutter ACUSHNET(1944) which celebrated it's 63rd birthday on Feb. 5th, 2007. The ACUSHNET participated in salvage operation at Midway,Eniwetok, Guam, Saipan,and Japan. The ship earned 3 battle stars and has participated in Coast Guard operations like the Cuban boatlift in 1980. It always amazed me how Naval ships grab the publics attention but the taxpayers get their moneys worth with the Coast Guards use of old ships performing their duties on a daily basis without any fanfair. Can you imagine the Navy sailing Gato class subs in 2007 or the USAF flying C-47s as front line units? Most of the cutters I sailed on were "floating museums" in the 1970's built in the 1930's, they too all saw active service in WWII as sub busters and convoy escorts. The CGC INGHAM is a WWII cutter on display in Charlston, I believe as is the cutter MOHAWK down in Key West.

 My last ship in the early 1990's was a cargo lighter stationed in the Med in WWII. SEMPER PARATUS!

Regards

 MJM

WhileI beleive you are correct in saying the IOWA Battleships are maintained in a sort of 'reserve' status I dont think that applies to most museum ships.

 For instance We have BB 35 USS Texas here in Houston and while its very well preserved  and is still afloat on its own, she will never see action again.

Most moving parts, engines....turrets....etce are frozen by time and its hard to imagine an emergency that would require her being put back together.

For me thats okay.  As the worlds last surviving Drednought, I think two World Wars are enough for her.

dnatech wrote:

If I remember correctly, any museum ship must be maintained so that they could be recalled to the fleet if needed. I know that is the case with the USS Midway, USS Missouri and the rest of the IOWA's. Not sure about the Lexington, Hornet, and Yorktown. These are WWII ships that continued in service and still exist. Steve

AndrewGorman wrote:

Not really my area of minimal knowledge, but there is not much left.  The last floating survivor of Pearl Harbor was sunk by the British in the Falklands war, but at least two WWII US submarines are still being used in Taiwan as "targets" for training destroyer crews.  Here's a link to an interesting visit to those boats: http://www.maritime.org/taiwan/index.htm Andrew

That is not entirely true, the tug YT146 Hoga was at Pearl Harbor it helped fight fires for 72 hours during and after the attack, it remained in service as a fire boat until 1989, in 2005 it was signed over to become a museum ship in Little Rock Arkansas.

"Hoga was built by Consolidated Shipbuilders, Morris Heights, New York. The vessel was launched 31 December 1940, and placed into service 22 May 1941.

Coming under attack in Pearl Harbor on the morning of 7 December 1941, Hoga saved several ships caught in the harbor. The vessel pulled the damaged repair ship USS Vestal (AR-4) away from the burning USS Arizona (BB-39), and fought fires aboard Arizona. Hoga pushed the minelayer USS Oglala (CM-4) to a nearby dock, and assisted the burning USS Nevada (BB-36) by fighting fires and pushing the sinking vessel aground. This prevented Nevada from sinking in the channel and blocking the fleet's access to the open sea. For its actions, Hoga received a commendation from Adm. Chester A. Nimitz in February 1942.

Hoga was designated a National Historic Landmark by the US Department of the Interior in June 1989. After serving as a firefighting tug for 45 years on San Francisco Bay, the vessel was retired in 1993 and returned to Navy custody. Hoga was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 12 July 1996. Hoga is the last remaining Naval vessel afloat that saw action in Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941. The creation of the Hoga museum and memorial in North Little Rock will allow future generations to share and commemorate its rich history."

If I remember correctly, any museum ship must be maintained so that they could be recalled to the fleet if needed. I know that is the case with the USS Midway, USS Missouri and the rest of the IOWA's. Not sure about the Lexington, Hornet, and Yorktown. These are WWII ships that continued in service and still exist.

Steve

Not really my area of minimal knowledge, but there is not much left.  The last floating survivor of Pearl Harbor was sunk by the British in the Falklands war, but at least two WWII US submarines are still being used in Taiwan as "targets" for training destroyer crews.  Here's a link to an interesting visit to those boats:

http://www.maritime.org/taiwan/index.htm

Andrew