Alpha Centauri 2

Community => Recreation Commons => Topic started by: Geo on January 30, 2015, 09:29:24 AM

Title: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on January 30, 2015, 09:29:24 AM

More to come later, but as an appetizer: (http://alphacentauri2.info/Smileys/sisko/salute3.gif)

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on January 31, 2015, 03:20:31 AM

Awesome! The Harry Truman yacht!

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on January 31, 2015, 05:53:20 AM

Quote from: Rusty Edge on January 31, 2015, 03:20:31 AM

Awesome! The Harry Truman yacht!

Funny you say that. ;)

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on January 31, 2015, 07:40:59 AM

Let's start with the silent service...

1) The USS Bowfin.
2) This is where the heavy hauling was done: the forward torpedo room. Probably the most open space in the whole boat.
3) The 'lesser hauling' section. The aft torpedo room. I *think* it looked more cramped.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on January 31, 2015, 08:22:51 AM

Slow, slower, slowest upload speed.

Let's try some more...

1) Hotbunking section. Rumour is this part of the boat wasn't even empty during action stations.
2) I believe coffee was here served in the finest Navy tradition... for the ratings, that is. Couldn't find enough space to take pictures in the officer section. Not with the other visitors milling around.
3) IIRC, this is where the boat was steered. We weren't allowed in the section above it. The combat center I think, where the periscope stands.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on January 31, 2015, 08:36:21 AM

And the engineering spaces.

Diesel generator, electric propulsion, and there's a switch compartment between the two propulsion options after that, but it was too cramped to make it worthwhile taking a picture.
And to close up on the Bowfin, the deck.

Title: Welcome to USS Missouri
Post by: Geo on January 31, 2015, 08:50:33 AM

1) Now, which Missouri was it again?
2) This one? BB 11?
3) Or the latest BB of this name? BB 63?

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on January 31, 2015, 09:02:24 AM

I'll quit for the night. Transfer to the northshore tomorrow, and I'd like to get there sooner rather then later during the day.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 02, 2015, 02:44:41 PM

Some pictures of the interior.

1) Officer mess/lounge. I didn't see the captain's quarters, but the XO could invite his/her spouse over. At least, the bed was queen-sized. Funny to see how the size/position of an officer cabin was related to its position on the deck. The chaplain's cabin was kinda fun.
2) NCO's mess.
3) And the ratings' mess. This one at least was painted in eighties' style (blue) and fifties' style (white).

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 02, 2015, 04:36:13 PM

It's nice to see these pictures. I've never been to Hawaii.

I have been aboard the USS Pampanito in San Francisco, which is similar, and the USS Massachusetts, in Fall river Mass., which was the previous class. The battleship didn't see duty after WWII, so it  didn't undergo modernization, and it wasn't as well maintained, but the interior spaces appear similar in size.

The model of the earlier Missouri was a pleasant surprise. For better and worse, those pre-dreadnought Maine class battleships ( and their contemporary cruisers ) are what made the USA a world power.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 03, 2015, 02:01:53 AM

Ah, the time of the Great White Fleet. ;)
I have a weakness for these kind of ships as well.

Sorry about not showing more pictures yet, but uploading through hostel routers is a real pain. Should go better once I'm back home.

Talking about pain: the navy dentist office.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Buster's Uncle on February 03, 2015, 02:07:45 AM

Not as much pain as the soldiers my dad worked on in Korea in the army, I bet.  Daddy could only see out of one eye at a time, was only a medic with no college, and I can attest that he did not have a gentle touch...

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 03, 2015, 04:38:00 AM

Don't worry, it can wait. I just wanted you to know that I appreciated seeing your pictures.
These guys in the Missouri still had it better than seeing the WWII dentist.


Japan beat Russia to become a world power with their fleet in the Pre-dreadnaught era, too.
The Mikasa survives in Yokosuka http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Mikasa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Mikasa)

The USS Olympia (Dewey's flagship from Manilla Bay ) is the oldest steel warship afloat, and you can see it in Philadelphia.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 03, 2015, 05:10:40 AM

 ;santi;

Quote from: Rusty Edge on February 03, 2015, 04:38:00 AM

Don't worry, it can wait. I just wanted you to know that I appreciated seeing your pictures.
These guys in the Missouri still had it better than seeing the WWII dentist.


Japan beat Russia to become a world power with their fleet in the Pre-dreadnaught era, too.
The Mikasa survives in Yokosuka http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Mikasa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Mikasa)

The USS Olympia (Dewey's flagship from Manilla Bay ) is the oldest steel warship afloat, and you can see it in Philadelphia.

Ah, first thing I hear about a still existing pre-dreadnought. And in Japan of all places!
I first thought of the HMS Warrior, but that one is iron-hulled. (http://alphacentauri2.info/Smileys/sisko/relief2.gif)

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 03, 2015, 05:31:43 AM

I think the HMS Warrior is a wooden ship with iron plating, but I could be wrong.

And to be fair, I think they had to pull the Olympia out because they couldn't afford to repair and restore it to keep it afloat, so it probably lost that distinction.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 03, 2015, 06:07:28 AM

Quote from: Rusty Edge on February 03, 2015, 05:31:43 AM

I think the HMS Warrior is a wooden ship with iron plating, but I could be wrong.

It's the French Gloire that was wooden-hulled, ironclad. The Warrior was iron-hulled.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 03, 2015, 05:52:30 PM

Aha! I stand corrected. Have you seen The Warrior ?

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 03, 2015, 06:32:59 PM

From a distance, about 20 years ago. ;)
(Hey, HMS Mary Rose and Victory sits in the same museum at Portsmouth, and a day only has so many hours :-[ ).

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 03, 2015, 07:15:59 PM

I might not have made it beyond the Victory myself ( if I had the opportunity ), but I've not yet been to England, and I thought that the chances were pretty good that you had, living so much closer.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 03, 2015, 08:13:32 PM

I should return to Porthsmouth, but the world is soooo big. :-\

Perhaps I should muster on the boat below (a destroyer was leaving Pearl Harbor while I was on the Memorial).

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 05, 2015, 05:49:25 AM

Quote from: BatUncle on February 03, 2015, 02:07:45 AM

Not as much pain as the soldiers my dad worked on in Korea in the army, I bet.  Daddy could only see out of one eye at a time, was only a medic with no college, and I can attest that he did not have a gentle touch...

Ouch. Did he pull your teeth instead of your leg? :o

Since wifi here seems more reliable, let's talk guns...

1) The main (16"/406 mm) battery of the Iowa class.
2) Secondary battery. 5"/150 mm I believe. Used both in a heavy anti-air -and light anti-ship (at least the smaller fast ships)  role.
3) Old anti-air in the foreground, with an advanced WWII  version in the background.
(just pulling your leg, Rusty ;) )
4) 'Battle center' section of the ship in the super structure. I was impressed by the armor, and locking system.
5) Transfer 'tube' for 5" granates I believe. Runs right through one of the berthing compartments. But those (the berths) are literally in every nook and cranny of the ship.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 05, 2015, 06:21:15 AM

1) Passageway just below the main deck, aft third of the ship. I hope no Commonwealth sailors were on board. Do I use the left or right hatch to go through? *SLAM*
2) Some sort of informatics class room. I *suppose* at the time of Missouri's decommissioning Apple was it. I saw some type of computers there I used during my desktop publishing education back in the late eighties.
3) Standard berthing 'packs'. Stacked two high. The most used type was three high. I think that was a petty officer compartment. Will check tomorrow on the USS Midway.
4) navigation room IIRC. Or at least, the armored version for during battles. Situated just after that armored comparymeng I showed earlier.
5) Open air navigation bridge. Somewhere at the higher levels of the super structure.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 05, 2015, 06:35:54 AM

Rusty, these are most of my Missouri pictures. I could attach at least 5 more tomorrow if you want to see them (getting late here). Or I could move on to the next vessel. Your choice. ;)

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 05, 2015, 07:01:11 PM

I guess I'd like to see more of the Missouri. It's all pretty much the same as the Massachusetts, but modernized. In it the bunks were mostly triples, too, but if IIRC they were hanging from chains, pipe frames with wire grid springs, and a thin mattress.

The class room is a reminder that training wins wars. With all of the attrition, there is a constant need of new men, preferably experienced/veteran  ones, to man the replacement machines. By spending their off-duty hours on combat patrols studying and learning to get certifications and promotions, the officers and crew not only better themselves, but better the navy.

Being the best American pilot in WWI, like Eddie Rickenbacker , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Rickenbacker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Rickenbacker) , or the best American submarine officer, like Dick O'Kane    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O'Kane, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O'Kane,) weren't their greatest contributions, in my opinion. More significant was their big picture thinking that resulted in their dedication to training their men in the tactics and techniques gained from years of dangerous experience. They put the war effort above personal glory.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 06, 2015, 03:34:18 AM

Quote from: Rusty Edge on February 05, 2015, 07:01:11 PM

I guess I'd like to see more of the Missouri. It's all pretty much the same as the Massachusetts, but modernized. In it the bunks were mostly triples, too, but if IIRC they were hanging from chains, pipe frames with wire grid springs, and a thin mattress.

I saw sugh a bunk room as you described, but that picture failed.

Let's see...

1) Sideview of the superstructure.
2) Chained to the quay.
3) Bristling with disabled guns.
4) The main guns schematic.
5) The medium guns schematic.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 06, 2015, 03:52:55 AM

Next lot.

1) Flags galore. I was surprised at the Hawaiian state flag. The British ensign is well represented in it.
2) Some sort of bridge.
3) View of the main tower.
4) Some instruments near the bridge deck.
5) View of the Arizona Memorial from the bridge deck.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 06, 2015, 04:05:30 AM

Final lot.

1) A type of machinegun. Didn't see further description, so don't know if this was a typical WWII anti-air gun or not.
2) One of the later installed missile silos. I assume a tomahawk cruise missile. Four in each emplacement.
3) Forward view over the main deck.
4) A bit more sideway view of the superstructure.
5) I envy the men who've sworn to salute every single American flag they come across...

That concludes the USS Missouri.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 06, 2015, 06:32:01 AM

 8)!

The things that look like R2D2 are the Phalanx radar controlled 20 mm cannons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS)   that fire 75 rounds /second and make the cloud of shells converge with the approaching missile or aircraft automatically. They used them to replace all of the Bofors guns, and some of the 5" and  .50 cal machine guns  they relied on in WW II.

 That reduced crew requirements and made space for the Tomahawk launchers. It's the key concept of the Iowa Class refit... making the Battleship better defended and giving it more offensive capability.  Well, they removed some of the 5" turrets to make room for the Harpoon missiles, too. To be honest, I wouldn't know a Tomahawk Launcher from a Harpoon Launcher without reading the stencils on the side.

They were able to modernize the Iowa class for less than the cost of a new anti-sub frigate , each.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 06, 2015, 05:33:27 PM

Wow. Never realized the half-domed tube was a weapon.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 06, 2015, 06:42:17 PM

I'm guessing final lot, 1) is a display of the phalanx system's gun. That's what it would look like, but I never got anywhere near one myself. Thanks for the pictures!

I have a Hawaiian shirt that depicts the ships Missouri, the Bowfin, The Hornet, and the airplanes  P-40B War Hawk, a P-36A Hawk, a PBY and B-25 Mitchell taking off from the Hornet to represent the Doolittle raid.

Since we're talking about Phalanx weapon systems and the USS Missouri - here's a wiki clip I came across while looking for something else. It happened during desert storm-

During the campaign, Missouri was involved in a friendly fire incident with the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate Jarrett. According to the official report, on 25 February, Jarrett '​s Phalanx engaged the chaff fired by Missouri as a countermeasure against enemy missiles, and stray rounds from the firing struck Missouri, one penetrating through a bulkhead and becoming embedded in an interior passageway of the ship. Another round struck the ship on the forward funnel, passing completely through it. One sailor aboard Missouri was struck in the neck by flying shrapnel and suffered minor injuries. Those familiar with the incident are skeptical of this account, however, as Jarrett was reportedly over 2 mi (3.2 km) away at the time and the characteristics of chaff are such that a Phalanx would not normally regard it as a threat and engage it.[33] There is no dispute that the rounds that struck Missouri did come from Jarrett, and that it was an accident. The suspicion is that a Phalanx operator on Jarrett may have accidentally fired off a few rounds manually, although there is no evidence to support this.[34][35]

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 06, 2015, 07:11:00 PM

Quote from: Rusty Edge on February 06, 2015, 06:42:17 PM

II have a Hawaiian shirt that depicts the ships Missouri, the Bowfin, The Hornet, and the airplanes  P-40B War Hawk, a P-36A Hawk, a PBY and B-25 Mitchell taking off from the Hornet to represent the Doolittle raid.

You know, I have visited the Pacific Aviation Museum at Ford Island. Just in case you're interested in aircraft pics... ;)

About that Phalanx accident, the best armoured ship in the fleet, and mere anti-air rounds come through?

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 06, 2015, 08:53:16 PM

Yeah. The armor isn't everywhere, and the funnels aren't armored or it would be top heavy, but you raise a valid point!

It was the best armored ship in the fleet, and it was all steel, unlike modern warships. It makes me think that frigates and destroyers could sink each other with these guns when they got close enough. Getting within a couple of miles of a hostile warship in war time with a surface ship is the hard part, though.

Feel free to post your other military historical pictures in my thread. I won't get to see everything in person in my lifetime, especially since my wife gets bored. For example, she hung out in the gift shop while I toured the fortress at San Juan.  So I don't get to see as many ships/battlefields/ museums as I'd like when I travel.

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Lord Avalon on February 07, 2015, 05:58:26 PM

Separate vacations! :doitnow!:




 ;)

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Geo on February 07, 2015, 08:09:35 PM

Quote from: Lord Avalon on February 07, 2015, 05:58:26 PM

Separate vacations! :doitnow!:




 ;)

That simply won't do. They're irreseparate by now. :-[

Title: Re: In the Navy...
Post by: Rusty Edge on February 08, 2015, 04:08:29 AM

Quote from: Geo on February 07, 2015, 08:09:35 PM

Quote from: Lord Avalon on February 07, 2015, 05:58:26 PM

Separate vacations! :doitnow!:
 ;)

That simply won't do. They're irreseparate by now. :-[

That's pretty true, we are rarely apart, mostly for doctor's visits.