USS Iowa G2G - San Pedro, CA
#46
10-18-2012, 01:20 PM
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You forgot to mention the "low overhead" in areas that are open for tours. I found this out when I banged my head in Admiral Halsey's cabin on the USS Missouri (BB-63), sister ship to the USS Iowa (BB-61) now located in Pearl Harbor.
When touring these ships, if one is over 6' tall, one has to keep their peepers glued to the overhead as there are all sorts of projections hanging down.
At a GTG of USS Iowa volunteer Tour Guides held the Wardroom, I watched as several winced when they banged their heads on low hanging projections.
btw: Original bumper stickers (5 bucks each) sold at the USS Iowa outreach center in downtown San Pedro show a turret with 3 16" guns pointing at you captioned "Go Ahead, Make My Day."
I had one a these on the F150, now transfered to the Escape as the F150 went bye bye last Monday.
btw, part II: Located just to the west of the USS Iowa (berth 87) is the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, and further west is Ports of Call. In the same vicinity is the SS Lane Victory.
USS Iowa parking lot is entered thru the Cruise Ship Terminal, which is just east of the Iowa. Bear right along the chain link fence till you reach the parking area.
There is a fee for parking, but I dunno what it is as volunteers don't have to pay.
When touring these ships, if one is over 6' tall, one has to keep their peepers glued to the overhead as there are all sorts of projections hanging down.
At a GTG of USS Iowa volunteer Tour Guides held the Wardroom, I watched as several winced when they banged their heads on low hanging projections.
btw: Original bumper stickers (5 bucks each) sold at the USS Iowa outreach center in downtown San Pedro show a turret with 3 16" guns pointing at you captioned "Go Ahead, Make My Day."
I had one a these on the F150, now transfered to the Escape as the F150 went bye bye last Monday.
btw, part II: Located just to the west of the USS Iowa (berth 87) is the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, and further west is Ports of Call. In the same vicinity is the SS Lane Victory.
USS Iowa parking lot is entered thru the Cruise Ship Terminal, which is just east of the Iowa. Bear right along the chain link fence till you reach the parking area.
There is a fee for parking, but I dunno what it is as volunteers don't have to pay.
0900 at Christy's works for me that would be actually 2 Bells Forenoon
Navy FAQ: Bell, Telling time by
#47
10-18-2012, 02:22 PM
Which way is Catalina, south? USS Iowa bow is pointing kinda west towards Catalina.
It would be nice if you "know someone" that can arrange a private tour, but very little of the interior of the ship is open to the public and to us volunteers alike.
The ship was moored in Suisun Bay neglected and unwanted with the rest of the "reserve fleet" for over 20 years.
Rust everywhere, lead paint chips dropping into the bay, covered with bird poop, teak decks have rotted badly. Do-gooder left wing pols have petitioned the USN to get rid of all the ships.
When donated to the Pacific Battleship Center, USS Iowa was towed to Richmond, mainly to "spruce up" the exterior, but little was done to the interior or the rotted teak decks.
And btw, there are four Iowa Class battleships and all are museum ships: USS Missouri (BB63) located in Pearl Harbor where the battleship USS Maryland was moored 7 December 1941.
USS New Jersey (BB62) located in Camden, USS Wisconsin (BB64) located in Newport News VA
#48
10-18-2012, 04:10 PM
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Yes it is quite sad how the Ships (huge pieces of Our US History) are being neglected.. although the Missouri is in pretty good shape by comparison... I guess it was the most used hence the most maintained. Besides it has that very famous spot where the unconditional surrender was signed!
Yes tree hugging left leaning would love to get rid of all signs of a military... that is a given.. They don't respect history, or their fore fathers which is sad... September 2 1945 was a huge part of history, it was the ending of hostilities, and a new beginning, which has been lost on the younger generations. We need to keep these kids informed...War is not cool.. nor is violence!
Yes Bill as to your question Catalina is mostly south of the Palos Verde/ San Pedro area.. good call on that.. a compass heading of 190 deg... Most think of it as being west, well it is if you are in San Clemente I have made that mistake too! Not a good pilot error!
Finally My Friend Mike will not be able to give us a private tour..... he will not be around this weekend due to prior family commitments. So we are on our own... he said he could arrange a private behind the scenes tour on a weekday only!
Yes tree hugging left leaning would love to get rid of all signs of a military... that is a given.. They don't respect history, or their fore fathers which is sad... September 2 1945 was a huge part of history, it was the ending of hostilities, and a new beginning, which has been lost on the younger generations. We need to keep these kids informed...War is not cool.. nor is violence!
Yes Bill as to your question Catalina is mostly south of the Palos Verde/ San Pedro area.. good call on that.. a compass heading of 190 deg... Most think of it as being west, well it is if you are in San Clemente I have made that mistake too! Not a good pilot error!
Finally My Friend Mike will not be able to give us a private tour..... he will not be around this weekend due to prior family commitments. So we are on our own... he said he could arrange a private behind the scenes tour on a weekday only!
#49
10-18-2012, 08:33 PM
October 2010: USS Missouri entered a drydock in Pearl Harbor for hull repair and to have her teak deck restored.
Hull was rusted out at waterline forward of armor belt, plainly visable to all. Teak deck was rough as a cob in some locations, but in far better shape than the Iowa's.
USS Missouri is moored "the wrong way" as her bow is pointed north, stern to the entrance of PH.
Battleships steamed into PH, sailed around the west side of Ford Island, then moored along east side of Ford Island.
When I first looked at the Iowa at berth 87, it's moored correctly. Hurray!
Hull was rusted out at waterline forward of armor belt, plainly visable to all. Teak deck was rough as a cob in some locations, but in far better shape than the Iowa's.
USS Missouri is moored "the wrong way" as her bow is pointed north, stern to the entrance of PH.
Battleships steamed into PH, sailed around the west side of Ford Island, then moored along east side of Ford Island.
When I first looked at the Iowa at berth 87, it's moored correctly. Hurray!
#50
10-18-2012, 08:42 PM
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The Missouri is Moored correctly per the request of the US government to have her in salute to and Guarding The USS Arizona memorial! Ever Vigilant, besides putting her stern to the Arizona would have been considered an insult!
Google Image Result for http://cbi-theater-5.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-5/victory/symbolic.jpg
Google Image Result for http://cbi-theater-5.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-5/victory/symbolic.jpg
#51
10-18-2012, 08:50 PM
Bows pointed southward, from north to south, east side of Ford Island, 7 December 1941.
USS Nevada.
USS Arizona (inboard), USS Vestal (repair ship-outboard).
USS Tennessee (inboard), USS West Virginia (outboard).
USS Maryland (inboard), USS Oklahoma (outboard).
USS Neosho (oiler-at fuel depot).
USS California.
I don't care what the Gov't says, USS Missouri is moored the wrong way.
USS Nevada.
USS Arizona (inboard), USS Vestal (repair ship-outboard).
USS Tennessee (inboard), USS West Virginia (outboard).
USS Maryland (inboard), USS Oklahoma (outboard).
USS Neosho (oiler-at fuel depot).
USS California.
I don't care what the Gov't says, USS Missouri is moored the wrong way.
#52
10-18-2012, 09:33 PM
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I'll have Gail hang a parking ticket on Her next time we're at Pearl.
Thx Steve, needed that. Nice 'n dry. Just don't park next to this guy.
#54
10-18-2012, 10:49 PM
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Bows pointed southward, from north to south, east side of Ford Island, 7 December 1941.
USS Nevada
USS Arizona (inboard), USS Vestal (repair ship-outboard).
USS Tennessee (inboard), USS West Virginia (outboard).
USS Maryland (inboard), USS Oklahoma (outboard).
USS Neosho (oiler-at fuel depot).
USS California.
I don't care what the Gov't says, USS Missouri is moored the wrong way.
USS Nevada
USS Arizona (inboard), USS Vestal (repair ship-outboard).
USS Tennessee (inboard), USS West Virginia (outboard).
USS Maryland (inboard), USS Oklahoma (outboard).
USS Neosho (oiler-at fuel depot).
USS California.
I don't care what the Gov't says, USS Missouri is moored the wrong way.
#55
10-18-2012, 10:51 PM
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#56
10-18-2012, 10:52 PM
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#57
10-18-2012, 10:59 PM
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#58
10-18-2012, 11:38 PM
It has nothing to do with patriotism, IMO Missouri looks odd facing the wrong way.
I'm a WWII USN and Pearl Harbor Attack historian, and have been for over 50 years.
1943: All the superstructure, cage masts were cut off the Arizona, barged to a location not available to the public and AFAIK, are still there today.
In recent years, some locals have cut up some of the pieces and are selling them as souvenirs. Three of the four turrets were removed, two were mounted as shore batteries.
Nothing remains of these shore batteries today except the concrete bases. "A" turret is still located on the ship.
USS Pennsylvania (BB38), sister ship of USS Arizona (BB39) and flagship of the US Pacific Fleet was located in drydock. Survived the war, was A-bombed at Bikini.
Here's a trivia question for y'all: What was the last ship that was at PH 7 December 1941...to be torpedoed and sunk?
#59
10-18-2012, 11:43 PM
So we lost track of this GTG, What is actually suppose to happen for this
USS Iowa G2G - San Pedro, CA
Is it suppose to be touring the ships? Or making them all face in a certain direction? Are we suppose to wear bubble wrap baseball hats?
From the very beginning of this thread I have no clue as to what is suppose to happen on this day.
Hard to meet everyone while banging your head and pulling ships to face in the direction that pleases everyone. Hell I don't even own a tug boat, so I guess we pull ropes.
Let me know what's going on with this GTG.
Thanks
USS Iowa G2G - San Pedro, CA
Is it suppose to be touring the ships? Or making them all face in a certain direction? Are we suppose to wear bubble wrap baseball hats?
From the very beginning of this thread I have no clue as to what is suppose to happen on this day.
Hard to meet everyone while banging your head and pulling ships to face in the direction that pleases everyone. Hell I don't even own a tug boat, so I guess we pull ropes.
Let me know what's going on with this GTG.
Thanks
#60
10-19-2012, 12:01 AM
I kinda doubt you'll need a bubble wrapped baseball hat or a hard hat while walking thru spaces with low overheads (90% of the ships interior). I'm 6-5, need one, Sean is about my size as is Steve. How tall are you?
I dunno what the plan of the GTG is, but I just might lead the group as I'm a docent Tour Guide on the Iowa.
Pulled a hamstring Labor Day weekend (at the Reagan Library), hurts like sin, so haven't been aboard the Iowa recently.
I dunno what the plan of the GTG is, but I just might lead the group as I'm a docent Tour Guide on the Iowa.
Pulled a hamstring Labor Day weekend (at the Reagan Library), hurts like sin, so haven't been aboard the Iowa recently.