Jump to content

Grey Lady Down


Nate

Recommended Posts

the historic aircraft carrier USS Forrestal sold for a penny

 

So with the budget crisis and all, I might have asked for a dollar, but hell...

 

The USS Forrestal holds a special place in Navy history. Most of you would have no idea about this sort of Naval history. This is history that isn't written down,  but a history that only exists in the stories among fleet sailors...

 

The USS Forrestal had an accident in the late 60s that caught the ship on fire in one of the worst accidents at sea in modern naval history.

 

It was still in commission as a reservist training ship when I was in 25 years ago. Orders to the Forrestal were like getting handed a 4 year sentence from a judge, Nobody wanted to be ships company on that boat

 

The ship's nickname in the fleet was the "Forest Fire"

 

The training film we all had to watch in boot camp was full of footage from the Forrestal and was called "Learn or Burn"

 

It caught on fire a few more times, too, just not so bad that it had to be made public

 

So right there with the "Sinking Sara" (the USS Saratoga has chronic hull integrity problems and is always taking on water) and the "Tiltin' Hilton"  (USS Midway's flight deck was extended to accomodate jets, and afterward the ship listed to one side)

 

this ship who had one of the best nicknames in the fleet is being sold for scrap

 

so long old girl, we'll be shaving with you soon

Link to comment
Share on other sites

that much of it, yea, you'd think

 

probably falls under the Cash for Clunkers program

 

they say the price was based on the estimated cost of towing it from Philly to Texas and then dismanteling it versus the market value of the metal

 

I say Obammy must need to buy some votes in Texas

Link to comment
Share on other sites

that's probably why they set the price at a penny. A nominal price so they could close the books

 

we'll be shaving with the Forest Fire when they turn her in to razor blades

 

its like horses and the glue factory

 

old ships get turned in to razor blades

 

that reminds me, I forgot to shave this morning

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it's anything like some of the other navy vessels, no one would pay that much for it.  The ship would have to be thoroughly cleaned before the metal can be recycled, and that would cost far more than what you would get for the metal as scrap or recycling.

 

Can't you just melt that metal down to liquid and burn off whatever is on it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the thing is that steel is a mixture of iron and carbon, so when you melt down painted, dirty, oily metal you get a bunch of crap and dross in your final product which will be some sort of alloy, but it probably won't be good steel

 

that's why they basically take the metal, clean it up and cut it into razor blades

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The USS Forrestal had an accident in the late 60s that caught the ship on fire in one of the worst accidents at sea in modern naval history.

 

I was working at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard at the time.  After she returned to Norfolk Naval Base, many of us were sent to assess the damage and repair.  We rode the ship from the Base to the Shipyard.  At this time, most of the carnage had been removed, but the damage to the flight deck and the decks below was tremendous.  An ever-present stench still dominated the air.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

FTA: It's perhaps best known for a 1967 incident in which stray voltage triggered an accidental explosion that struck a plane on the flight deck whose cockpit was occupied by a young John McCain.

 

So not only did McCain crash 6 jets in Viet Nam he took out a US aircraft carrier as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...