Saw quite a bit of her while in Bremerton for an overhaul of an SSBN. Even had plans to tag her with a set of dolphins which is a popular tradition for sub sailors. After visiting, the reason to tag her just sort of didn't make sense anymore. I'm glad we changed our minds. Oh and about riding the waves during a storm;try it at periscope depth it's quite the experience. YES she is a Grand Lady well worth the visit if you get the chance.
Those big gray things....and small ones were all targets to me. Lol
there were only 4 made Big MO the NJ, Wesconsin, and the Iowa they are all considered Iowa class the Missouri signifies the end of WWII thats why its in Pearl because the Arizona signifies the start of the war. If you I been on the MO and also the NJ (I live in NJ and its stationed there) We actually had fire support from the NJ in Vietnam. when they were done the landscape looked like the moon. If you would like to know more about these ships let me know
Toured this ship while in Honolulu on vacation. We were to young to be affected by the war, however, it still created "chills" as we listened to the tour guide. A must do addition if you ever visit Pearl Harbor, which also lead to "chills".
Madman
Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA
I've enjoyed this thread very much, the sea stories, the historical significance of the ship - all captivating.
These battle wagons were incredible ships. I have never seen the Missouri, but I have been aboard the Iowa. I have never seen a ship so perfectly maintained as she. Her decks were spotless, paint and brasswork perfect. I've served on the Nimitz and the Forrestal, they were certainly shipshape, but the Iowa looked like she had just been built.
Great shot of the P-3 also, lot of experience with that great aircraft as well.
JCam
Loc: MD Eastern Shore
Loved reading your stories, and Thanks to all of you that served; I was am Army Officer a long time ago--early Vite-Nam era.
Jim
Yes, it is something to see. Here it is a little closer.
Bob Yankle wrote:
By the time I'd gotten in, we were riding frigates instead of DE's, but yep, been through a number of hurricanes as well. In one of them, I had to conn a cruiser broadside to the seas as I brought her around with hard rudder to comb the track for a reputed man overboard from the "bird farm" (Aircraft Carrier for you landlubbers). They later learned he was onboard the whole time, and I had to repeat the maneuver to get back on station. And then, because we'd gotten so far behind, I had to speed the ship up until we were "out of step" with the wave sets, and plunged the bow headlong into a breaking wave. It was the first time in my life I have ever seen green water passing by the storm windows on the bridge of a naval vessel. Makes for GREAT sea-stories though.
And my friends wonder why I have no desire whatsoever to go on a long sea cruise .......
By the time I'd gotten in, we were riding frigates... (
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:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
When I was in 'Nam one of our duties was to escort the USS Missouri on a firing mission. We were about a mile off her stern at the time. Over the 1MC (speaker system) an announcement came over that anybody who was not on duty could go topside and see a once in a lifetime event.
When we got on deck the first thing we could see was this HUGE ship not very far ahead of us. The Captain said standby. A few seconds later the Missouri shot a broadside. I swear, it looked like box cars were coming out of the barrels followed by a ring of fire. The noise got to us a few seconds later. Seeing that made me very happy I was not on the receiving end of that delivery...
Ron Schulz wrote:
When I was in 'Nam one of our duties was to escort the USS Missouri on a firing mission. We were about a mile off her stern at the time. Over the 1MC (speaker system) an announcement came over that anybody who was not on duty could go topside and see a once in a lifetime event.
When we got on deck the first thing we could see was this HUGE ship not very far ahead of us. The Captain said standby. A few seconds later the Missouri shot a broadside. I swear, it looked like box cars were coming out of the barrels followed by a ring of fire. The noise got to us a few seconds later. Seeing that made me very happy I was not on the receiving end of that delivery...
When I was in 'Nam one of our duties was to escort... (
show quote)
That is what''''''s known as "shuttle diplomacy"
Had 3 of my grandkids on board of her in August. The older two were in awe of the Missouri's history all the way through Kuwait. My grandson, age 11, is now doing a history report on her starting with President Truman's daughter in 1944.
JCam
Loc: MD Eastern Shore
We were aboard the Wisconsin in Norfolk, VA a fer years ago. She was big, but looking at Jim's picture, I don't think she was that big! Nice photo!
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