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OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 11:17 pm
by NigelKentarus
This months Fleet Reserve magazine had an interesting article about carriers in the Great Lakes during the war. Here's some forgotten info.

https://militaryhistorynow.com/2016/08/ ... -carriers/


RE: OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 11:45 pm
by pbiggar
Very cool. I had no idea about these ships. Thanks for posting.

RE: OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 1:03 am
by BBfanboy
Someone posted that about four years ago. I knew about the paddlewheel carriers from spec books I had on the US and other fleets, but it was interesting reading about the experiences of the pilots and crews.

With no hangar deck, the flight deck was that much closer to the water and the Great Lakes can get very choppy in shallow waters. Winters were probably no fun either.

RE: OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 7:05 am
by btd64
Nice article. Good information. Thanks for sharing....GP

RE: OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:31 am
by Jorge_Stanbury
and apparently lake Michigan is full of airplanes lost on training mishaps

RE: OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:33 am
by BBfanboy
ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

and apparently lake Michigan is full of airplanes lost on training mishaps
Probably covered in zebra mussels by now!

RE: OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 10:33 pm
by geofflambert
ORIGINAL: BBfanboy


Probably covered in zebra mussels by now!

How did football referees and their physiques get into this discussion?

RE: OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:29 pm
by NigelKentarus
I've heard that there are some wrecked aircraft on the bottom of Lake Michigan, now I know how they got there. The Great Lakes are always choppy, I grew up not far from Lake Erie, went to boot camp at Great Lakes, and lived in Chicago for awhile. The Great Lakes are never calm (like the South Pacific).

RE: OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 8:47 am
by Mundy
ORIGINAL: NigelKentarus

I've heard that there are some wrecked aircraft on the bottom of Lake Michigan, now I know how they got there. The Great Lakes are always choppy, I grew up not far from Lake Erie, went to boot camp at Great Lakes, and lived in Chicago for awhile. The Great Lakes are never calm (like the South Pacific).

Yep. I lived by Lake Superior for awhile. At times the waves could be absolutely deafening with the noise.

RE: OT: Freshwater Flattops

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 9:30 am
by RangerJoe
The wreck of the Edmund Fitgerald . . .

From what I understand, the storms on those lakes can be worse than the storms on the ocean.