Community Forums

markandkim · 02-20-2017, 07:36 AM

Soon after that, I saw the coral sea in philly with the island cut off laying on its side on the flight deck. Maybe to become a target or for scrapping. Had to be right around 88-90 timeframe.

Eyephoto · 02-20-2017, 11:06 AM

USS Chicago, Worlds Most Powerful Guided Missile Cruiser, weapons guys thought it was because of the Talos, Tartar, Asroc, 5in 38 guns, and Torpedoes it carried. Engineering thought it was the 2 engine rooms, 4 boiler rooms, and 4 screws. Deck thought it was the 6in armor belt, paint scrapers and needle guns that was keeping the ship nice and shiny.
Me....I took photos of it all! PH-2

Traildust · 02-20-2017, 03:07 PM

Do not say needle guns! I learned to hate those things, seemed like someone with a needle gun was always going at it near my berthing space.

Bill

Russtj60 · 02-20-2017, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exgman

My DDG spent some time "plane guarding" for the Connie back in 72 or 73.
Never did see the the Big E, but the name has been part of the Navy for a long time. It would be great if one of the new carriers coming down the line would take the name again.

Many a mid watch spent in plane guard station. Hours of boredom highlighted by moments of sheer terror! Never knew what that carrier was going to do!

Russtj60 · 02-20-2017, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inlineskater

I followed her around on a destroyer in the early 70's. We ran on JP-5 and refueled from her. It was amazing to come along side.

I didn't think anyone ran around on JP-5. It required special atomizers in the burner barrels. Quite a feat on 1200 psi boilers. I was Cheng on two ships with those boilers. Thanks for sharing!

capecodbob · 02-26-2017, 07:32 AM

Got to tour the "BIG E" when she came to Boston around '60-'61 , I was 14 and BIL,( LT.USN) took me and a friend. Got in the bridge which was closed to public at the time. She anchored out as to big for Boston or they didn't want to bother. I remember pulling up beside her in the Navy launch that was like coming up next to this huge wall coming up out of the water. Never sailed on her as I was a tin can sailor !

Presently parked @ Hanscom AFB FamCamp

Bert-63 · 03-06-2017, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traildust

Come on guys, you don't know nothing about speed until you've been on an old carrier. I made three cruises on good old CVA 34 Oriskany 26 knts and a bent screw, shaking and blowing stack gas like crazy. I was on Coral Sea CV43 during the Libyan problem with Gaddafi during Operation El Dorado Canyon. We were operating just west of Naples Italy when we got the word to get down to the Gulf of Sidra asap. We made a constant 28 knots for about a day and a half I think. Ran right through the Straits of Messina at top speed with two escorts out in front of us and a Russian Heavy Cruiser trailing us the whole way. 28 knots doesn't sound like much in comparison to today's Navy but it was pretty good for that old lady, I was and still am proud of her. Coral Sea also had a bent screw. My berthing compartment was just to the starboard side underneath the number three wire and man o man lots of shaking and vibrating going on. That was back in April of 1986.
Bill

Wow. Was on Saratoga in 85 when all the Libya stuff first kicked off - we took care of the Achille Lauro hijackers during that same cruise.

Small world.

markandkim · 03-07-2017, 04:34 PM

Known to us engineers as the suckin sixty from dixie.

Ever hear that one?

Sad moment when she left newport for Brownsville a couple of years ago. Was invloved in the failed attempt to make it a musuem at quansett point.

skypilot_1 · 03-17-2017, 08:58 AM

Mark,
Didn't know QP was trying to get her also. JAX had a "Save Our Sara" civic action fund program in 1993, but chose to rebuild the city stadium for $130m to get NFL Jags. Use to deliverer AOG parts to Sara and Rosy boat (CV-42) back in 60's. Miss those days...

markandkim · 03-17-2017, 10:15 AM

Yea, her and the forestall sat in Newport for 12 years. Now we are shaving with them.

Traildust · 03-20-2017, 01:29 AM

They made a man made reef out of the Oriskany, sank her in the Gulf Of Mexico somewhere. I watched the video and it really hurt to see that ship in such sad shape. I am not sure what has become of the Coral Sea or the Kitty Hawk, Ranger, Eisenhower and all the rest of the stack gas blowing beauties.
Bill

skypilot_1 · 03-20-2017, 07:32 AM

After a very expensive tax payer funded battle with the EPA the O boat was scuttled off Pensacola in 210 ft of water. Great dive location as the island is only at 70 ft. Known today as "The Great Carrier Reef"....like aussie great barrier reef...get it....

Coral Sea was scapped. Kittyhawk is sitting at Puget Sound NS as will as other CV's at Brownsville awaiting there fate.

skypilot_1 · 03-20-2017, 11:14 AM

Bill,
Our chat spurred me to check Google Earth maps for PSNS and Brownsville. Current view shows 6 carriers at PSNS and 3 at Brownsville. Which is were the decommissioned boats should be....

Russtj60 · 03-20-2017, 12:00 PM

I was part of the team that did Coral Sea's last engineering inspections on her returning from deployment. It was time to go. I think SECNAV flew onboard and gave the crew a Navy Com medal for taking her through her last deployment. They deserved the recognition.