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.
Showing posts with label oil tankers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oil tankers. Show all posts
Monday, May 13, 2019
USS Jaguar (IX-120)-- Part 1: Launched By the California Shipbuilding Corporation
In my last post, I talked with a WW II veteran who served on this ship. I;d never heard of the hip, so good ol' Wikipedia.
Was an Armadillo-class tanker designated an unclassified miscellaneous ship She was the only ship in the U.S. Navy ever to have this name. The keel was laid down as the Charles T. Yerkes under Maritime Commission contract by the California Shipbuilding Corporation in San Pedro, California.
She was launched on 20 November 1943 and acquired by the Navy December 15 and commissioned that day with Lieutenant Commander T.E. Hammond in command. It was 441 feet long with a 57-foot beam and a complement of 70 officers and enlisted.
After a shakedown cruise, it departed 19 January 1944 for duty as a floating storage ship in the Pacific Theater.
--GreGen
The WW II Veteran in Menards: Served On the USS Jaguar
Friday, while in the Fox Lake Menard's store, I met an elderly man wearing a World War II veteran hat so I thanked him for his service. I then inquired about his service.
He served in the Pacific Theater of the war and on a tanker ship named the USS Jaguar. It told him that had to have been very scary, all those Japanese submarines with their torpedoes lurking out there. He said he was just 17 at the time and really didn't much think about it or care. It was all a great adventure. His ship had a flatter hull bottom so it could get in closer to shore.
I have recently been writing about the Palmyra Atoll/Island in the Pacific which had an airbase midway across the ocean that was a frequent stop for planes going across it and asked if he had ever been there, He didn't remember specifically, but said he had delivered fuel to many U.S. bases so might have.
Whenever you see a WW II vet, thank them, talk to them.
Always An Interesting Story. --GreGen
Monday, October 6, 2014
USS Pennsylvania's Guns Still Around-- Part 2
There already is a stone and shrubbery outline of the Pennsylvania's 612-foot long hull and, in addition the museum has the ship's bell and other artifacts. The 14-inch guns will be the crown jewel of the exhibit.
The 14-inch guns of the Pennsylvania were once the world's largest until the 16-inch guns (referring to shell diameter) guns came out for battleships and land defenses.
The Pennsylvania fired 6,854 14-inch shells in Pacific action during the remainder of the war.
The battleship was launched in 1915 and was the B-38. It missed out on World War I because the ship burned oil (while previous battleships burned coal). No oil tankers could be spared to carry oil to England for the Pennsylvania..
--GreGen
The 14-inch guns of the Pennsylvania were once the world's largest until the 16-inch guns (referring to shell diameter) guns came out for battleships and land defenses.
The Pennsylvania fired 6,854 14-inch shells in Pacific action during the remainder of the war.
The battleship was launched in 1915 and was the B-38. It missed out on World War I because the ship burned oil (while previous battleships burned coal). No oil tankers could be spared to carry oil to England for the Pennsylvania..
--GreGen
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sunken World War II Ships Off Florida's Coast-- Part 1
From the July 31, 2011, Palm Beach (Fl) Post "Divers to examine safety of sunken WWII ships off Florida's coast" by Eliot Kleinberg.
On February 22, 1942, crewmember Frank Leonard Terry went to the stern of the SS W.D. Anderson for coffee. A torpedo slammed into the engine room. The 500-foot, 10,277 tons oil tanker was heading north, 12 miles off Jupiter, Florida. The first months of 1942 were prime time for German U-boats operating off the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States.
The Anderson was completely on fire in seconds according to the U-boats commander, Fritz Poske. He fired off a second torpedo which also struck its target.
Terry was now in the oily water where he bobbed for hours. It was cold and soon he couldn't feel his legs, thinking that maybe sharks had bitten them off. He was the only survivor and recalled, "It was my first trip to Florida. I didn't like the experience."
More to Come. --GreGen
On February 22, 1942, crewmember Frank Leonard Terry went to the stern of the SS W.D. Anderson for coffee. A torpedo slammed into the engine room. The 500-foot, 10,277 tons oil tanker was heading north, 12 miles off Jupiter, Florida. The first months of 1942 were prime time for German U-boats operating off the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States.
The Anderson was completely on fire in seconds according to the U-boats commander, Fritz Poske. He fired off a second torpedo which also struck its target.
Terry was now in the oily water where he bobbed for hours. It was cold and soon he couldn't feel his legs, thinking that maybe sharks had bitten them off. He was the only survivor and recalled, "It was my first trip to Florida. I didn't like the experience."
More to Come. --GreGen
Monday, August 20, 2012
Sunken World War II Oil Tanker Threatens California Coast
From August, 2010.
The SS Montebello, launched in 1921, was a 450-foot-long oil tanker discovered about 15 years ago, 900 feet deep about six miles off the Central California coast near Morro Bay. It was sunk by a Japanese submarine Dece,ber 23, 1941, and still has 3 million gallons of crude oil in its hull.
The problem is that it has started to rust through after all these years.
Sonar images were taken about ten weeks ago and this fall authorities intend to drill into the ship to determine what should be done.
Old Problems. --GreGen
The SS Montebello, launched in 1921, was a 450-foot-long oil tanker discovered about 15 years ago, 900 feet deep about six miles off the Central California coast near Morro Bay. It was sunk by a Japanese submarine Dece,ber 23, 1941, and still has 3 million gallons of crude oil in its hull.
The problem is that it has started to rust through after all these years.
Sonar images were taken about ten weeks ago and this fall authorities intend to drill into the ship to determine what should be done.
Old Problems. --GreGen
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