OT: Oahu trip photos

[Nikademus]

view of waters looking out over the Arizona on the bow (south) side of the memorial. To the right you can see the edge of the ship's hull just under the surface of the water.

[Nikademus]

View from memorial, looking south towards the front end of Battleship Row where the Missouri is now moored.

[Nikademus]

View of stud-muffin and GF unit mark I. Behind us is the Arizona's stern. Far behind that you can make out the recently built land-bridge that now connects Ford Island to Oahu. Now one doesn't have to take boat over. Civilian access to the island is done by bus-trolley, all other traffic restricted to military personel.

Beefy!

[Nikademus]

Leaving the memorial.

[Nikademus]

We got lucky and scored a special tour of Pearl Habor by boat on this day, only offered a few times each year. As such, I got to get a close look at Pearl Harbor's often forgotten second memorial wreck, the USS Utah.

This is a view the ship's remains as seen from the boat. left of photo to right of photo = bow to stern. The ship was only partially rightened in similar fashion to USS Oklahoma. However due IIRC to the loose silt of the bottom, instead of righting completely the winches ended up dragging the ship closer to the shore, hence further attempts to righten the ship were abandoned.

Visible above the water is the ship's starboard side superstructure. To the right you can just make out the funnel remains.

[Nikademus]

View of the memorial structure for the Utah. Access to the memorial is still restricted and can only be accessed by appointment.

In the forground you can just make out the starboard edge of the hull forward of the superstructure and approximately flush with where barbette #2 would be.

[Erik Rutins]

Phenomenal pics, Nik. Thanks!

[Nikademus]

my pleasure Erik [:)]

Here is a closer view of Utah's remaining superstructure, looking from the bow-ward angle.

[Nikademus]

Now within spitting distance of the wreck. We are practically passing over the ship.

[Nikademus]

View looking from the stern-ward angle. To the right you can make out a foundation of a small AA gun mount, installed during the ship's time as a training ship/target ship.

[Nikademus]

View looking east from the east loc of the harbor (Battleship row side), looking towards the shipyards. Photos in this direction are prohibited. Unfortunately my GF unit has defective hearing corrected partially by hearing aids, the pair of which help her little in the face of a load launch motor.

If you looked, I'm afraid i'll have to kill you now.... [:'(]

[Nikademus]

Carriers-schmariers. Here's a man's warship. View of Missouri at South (Front) end of Battleship row from position where California was tied. Missouri occupies the space where USS Maryland and Oklahoma were tied.

[Nikademus]

Coming up alongside the Missouri. To the right you can make out the Arizona memorial.

[Nikademus]

My unique solution to morning commuter traffic problems. All i need is a helmut.

(View of number three 16inch gun turret, USS Missouri)

[Nikademus]

View looking from the bow towards the bridge, along with Gun turrets #1 and #2.

boo ya!

[Nikademus]

Pearl Harbor also features a very nice submarine museum containing numerous historical items, including a mostly intact Kaiten. (sorry Brady..no pic)

Also featured at the museum is the USS Bowfin, a Balao class WWII Fleet boat. Here we see yours truely puting the deck gun through her paces. It was interesting exploring this old gal, perhaps the most interesting part was getting to see the ship's real hull underneath the false deck seen below.

[Nikademus]

Historical consultant.

[Nikademus]

Suspected Axis Fanboy.

[Nikademus]

Stupid cat.

(free to a good home)

[TheElf]

Uhh...where's the shot of GF unit MkI in a bikini on Waikiki?