The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Monday, August 18, 2014

USS Wisconsin vs. USS Eaton, May 8, 1956-- Part 2

The Eaton was 376 feet long with a 39.8-foot beam.  The Wisconsin was 887 feet long with a 108.2-foot beam.

The Eaton suffered serious damage.  It was git on its starboard side forward of the bridge and broke its keel.  It was only saved by the actions of its first lieutenant who had the bow and stern secured together by its anchor chain and personally closed the water tight doors by his room.

Fortunately, there were no deaths aboard the Eaton despite the cook being knocked unconscious.

The Eaton's commander, Richard Varley, was court martialed and found negligent.

The ship was back in service by 1957 and was decommissioned in 1969 and sunk as a target off Norfolk, Va., in 1970.

--Cooter

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