Yorktown II in Danger

[witpqs]

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmoral/articles/20091026.aspx

Carrier Going Down In A Sea Of Red Ink

October 26, 2009: The U.S. Navy has long been willing to donate old ships to groups that were willing to maintain the retired vessels as museum ships. But the navy attaches some very expensive strings. That is, the navy expects the ship to be kept in decent shape. This is a problem with many old metal ships, as they rust. And eventually they rust so much that the hull is breached, and ultimately will collapse. For example, one museum ship, the World War II era, Essex class carrier USS Intrepid, in New York City, recently returned to its display berth after a two year refurbishment, costing $120 million. The entire hull was examined, in dry dock, for decay, and over a hundred square meters of hull had to be replaced. A sister ship of the Intrepid, the Yorktown, requires a similar refurbishment. Since 1975, the Yorktown has been on display in Charleston, South Carolina, with several other museum ships. The Yorktown, which entered service four months before the Intrepid, needs the same kind of work. The navy is insisting on it, with the alternatives being sending the ship to the breakers (to be broken up for scrap) or a lawsuit. The naval museum in South Carolina is in a bad situation, as $120 million is hard to find, even when the economy (and wealthy donors) are doing well. The big donors are much harder to find these days.

But even sending the ship to the scrap yard is not a viable alternative. For a long time, unneeded ships were "sent to the breakers" (a shipyard that broke the ship up for scrap and reusable parts). However, this is now considered environmentally harmful if done the old fashioned way (as it is still done in countries like India), and too expensive if it is done in an environmentally (and politically) acceptable way. In other words, it could cost more scrap the Yorktown than to repair her.

So what's to be done? A popular option these days is to use old ships for target practice. For example, of 31 recently decommissioned Spruance class destroyers, 22 were used for target practice. Some old warships are sunk closer to the shore, to provide reefs for fish and scuba divers.

But the museum would rather not lose the Yorktown, to the breakers, scuba divers or friendly fire. But unless the money can be found, the Yorktown will go down.

[castor troy]

if they care about scrapping her environmentally and politically correct and this would cost more than 120 mio, is just sinking her cheaper? Environmentally friendlier? I doub it...

If everything is as expensive then why not just repair her?

[Nikademus]

who gets the bill?

[bspeer]

I read this yesterday.  It really ticks me off, she is a beautiful vessel and also houses the Medal of Honor Museum.

[ckk]

If IRC private donations and state money paid, when the bottom fell out of the Texas

[John Lansford]

My wife and I are going to Charleston tomorrow for a well deserved birthday vacation for me.  We'll be going to visit Yorktown while we're there and I'll see if I can find someone to talk to about this.  It would truly be a shame to lose another WWII veteran to the forces of decay.  I wonder if an option similar to what Texas did with their BB could be used?  IIRC they encased Texas in concrete to avoid the problem of her hull rusting through.

[Skyros]

I hope you enjoy your visit John. Make sure you stop at Reds ICe House for some good food and Beer.

[wdolson]

I believe the Queen Mary is encased in concrete to prevent the hull falling apart too.

Bill

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

I believe the Queen Mary is encased in concrete to prevent the hull falling apart too.

Bill

If so, it's below the water line. Now that she's a hotel I've stayed there many times, and it appears she's only encircled by a breakwater. Hell of a romantic evening if you have the opportunity to take your girlfriend there.

[bspeer]

"If IRC private donations and state money paid, when the bottom fell out of the Texas"

You are correct, I was involved in that effort.  School kids all over Texas raised pennies to raise the Texas.  It was a grand effort and she is now a beauty.  Only problem is that the San Jacinto folks do not want here there.  They want to restore the battlefield to its original condition.

[NightFlyer]

I vacationed with my wife in Charleston several years ago. The Yorktown was an Essex Class carrier and it was HUGE. The hanger deck shows off various aircraft and even a Mercury space capsule when I was there. My wife didn't like walking throughout all the ship for hours hehe, but I did go on the Charleston Ghost & Graveyard Tour which she liked and gives you a flavor of the history of the town. It would be a shame to lose the Yorktown for lack of funding, I believe we should preserve her for future generations.

[Nikademus]

I visited the Texas in 1999. Even then, after a recent full refit, the sense of age of the old girl was oppressive and impressive. It highlights the ongoing challenge that museums will face trying to preserve these relics of a past time. Preserving a wooden man of war seems easier in comparison. I still recall inspecting one of Texas's recipricating engines. The decay and rust were very evident. Saw similar inside a gun turret. Time and the elements eventually have their way with metal. Problem isnt' just below the waterline.

[bspeer]

I was able to take a hard hat tour deep into the bowels of the Texas about 10 years ago.  Boy, if a hull could talk!  She served in both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns in WWII.  Was hit by a German shell off Normandy.

[TOMLABEL]

From 2006......

This could almost be as big a tradegy as losing CV6. Not only the ship, but the artifacts contained inside spread to the wind....

[TOMLABEL]

.

[TOMLABEL]

.

[TOMLABEL]

.

[TOMLABEL]

.

[TOMLABEL]

.

[TOMLABEL]

.