Ever seen an aircraft carrier sink?

[stevenpensacola]

Last week, the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany was sunk 22 miles offshore from Pensacola, Florida. To see some incredible photos of the sinking:

http://www.irishmansoftware.com/Oriskany.htm

photos follow the story...just scroll down after the page loads.

 

[Brutie]

Well it seems a shame they couldnt open the carrier up as a museum so people could visit it, but then it didnt look like it was in all that good of shape.

I didnt read the story, only looked at the pics, but a lot of them look like they have been airbrushed or something, they dont really look real.

Thank you for sharing though, interesting viewing.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Well it seems a shame they couldnt open the carrier up as a museum so people could visit it, but then it didnt look like it was in all that good of shape.

I didnt read the story, only looked at the pics, but a lot of them look like they have been airbrushed or something, they dont really look real.

Thank you for sharing though, interesting viewing.

the pictures are quite real.

Word is the carrier was in too much disrepair to be used as a museum.

 

[mrsv98]

That was cool!

 

[stevenpensacola]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12836731/

NBC news video of the sinking.

 

[John VN]

Saw the sinking on the news a couple of days ago.

What's the story with the boat on the deck.

Maybe it was Myth Busters proving again that no matter how big a boat is you will not get sucked down when the big boat goes down.

 

[Virgo10]

Awesome photos! The Oriskany was named in honor of a US Revolutionary War battle which was eventually won by the forces under Benedict Arnold. Go figure.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Maybe it was Myth Busters proving again that no matter how big a boat is you will not get sucked down when the big boat goes down.

Love that show too...

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Saw the sinking on the news a couple of days ago.

What's the story with the boat on the deck.

Maybe it was Myth Busters proving again that no matter how big a boat is you will not get sucked down when the big boat goes down.

this is from the website linked above.

The SMALL BOAT on the deck of carrier contains a generator and electronics to set off the explosions. It was designed so this small boat would float free after the carrier sunk!

Cool pictures

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Awesome photos! The Oriskany was named in honor of a US Revolutionary War battle which was eventually won by the forces under Benedict Arnold. Go figure.

While Benedict Arnold was nearby he was not at the Battle of Oriskany.

I've never figured out how the Americans can claim it as a victory with the fact that the relief column was wiped out (only 150 of 800 rebel soldiers survived without serious injury) and the officer commanding died of his wounds 11 days after the battle.

Curiously enough, we Loyalists claim the Battle of Oriskany as a victory too. It is a lovely part of New York State -- truly a shame that so much blood of so many brothers was shed there.

 

[bananiem]

Edit- My s-l-o-w computer finally opened the window and i found my answer.
I think making an artificial reef is a good idea.

 

[Brutie]

I was wondering about that small boat too. I think thats one of the reasons I didnt think the pics were real, as they left that little boat on there...lol

Mythbusters... My hubby loves to watch them, and I certainly wouldnt put it past those 2 crazee guys.

 

[hercamore]

Since DD is moving to Pensacola in a few weeks, I've been reading your local paper with interest.

herc.

 

[blowinbubbles]

I wish I could've seen this in person! Just a little too far out to take our boat, although it looks like the gulf was very calm that day.

I think it's a great move to make the artificial reef in the Gulf. It will bring more scuba-diving tourist dollars, just as sinking the Speigel Grove did in S. Florida.

 

[flatline]

we've got yet another dive site.

 

[GeorgeG]

While the artificial reef concept is sound, those who served aboard this ship would definitely feel great sadness at this sinking. It's amazing the attachment a sailor can get to a ship, even after only a few years.

It's a shame this ship could not be saved as a museum, but things like this do tend too come down to a dollar mentality.

The carrier I served on, USS Ranger is in limbo right now in Bremerton, Washington. It was decommissioned in 1993 and former crewmates are fighting to save it as a museum. The Oriskany was on "Yankee Station" with us back in 1966. I watched the video of this sinking, but I know I could never watch the Ranger being sunk without becoming a blubbering idiot. When ships like that go to the bottom they take a piece of every sailor who served on them.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Many of the vets who served aboard the Mighty O were interviewed by the local news. Most were really saddened to see her go down, but were happy that she would not now ever be forgotten. All did not want to see her sold for scrap.

Word is that either Discovery or National Geographic (or both) filmed the preparation for sinking, and the actual sinking for a documentary to be shown at a later date. Also read that they had camera's mounted on the ship to document the sinking. Can't wait to see this.