Has anyone toured any ships? or Naval bases/yards.

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RCR_Raider
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Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Has anyone toured any ships? or Naval bases/yards.

#1

Post by RCR_Raider » 07 Aug 2002, 22:02

I bring this up because there seems to be a few ship enthusiasts here. Living near the largest port in Canada has led me to tour many-a-warship. American, Canadian, Australian and even Soviet!

Here are the ships Ive had the pleasure of being aboard. In order of my enjoyment.

9. USS Tarawa, an amphibious landing ship/ helicopter carrier. I toured it as a civilian, and it was pretty impressive. A small carrier, but a carrier nonetheless.There was a 4 person peace demonstration outside the ship. With a sign saying "This ship is used to kill people" I laughed at it then, but have since awoken to the fact it is true, and indeed sad.

8. HMCS Restigouche, a 1970s era Canadian River class destroyer , the tour was very detailed.

7. HMAS ??? An Oberon class submarine of the Royal Australian Navy, my first sub. It was CRAMPED, as the Oberoin class, or O-boats, are very small patrol subs, about the size of a large, late-war U boat.

6. HMCS Ojibwa, another Oberon class boat, although in Canada its called the Ojibwa class (native Indian tribe). still very cramped, I like it better cuz its Canadian :roll:

5.Russian Foxtrot class sub. Very cool, a 1960's era Soviet Sub. Cramped and with ancient looking machinery. When I saw K-19 Widowmaker, I was brought back to the sights this Russian boat.

4. HMCS Vancouver. One the Canadian Navy's brand new Halifax class fast attack frigates. The tour was very detailed. The ship looked very modern, and I got too see almost all of it.

3. HMCS Haida---Docked in Toronto ,a rusty, smelly, cramped old WW2 Tribal Class Destroyer. What made this old and decrepid ship #3? The sheer history of this ship. HMCS Haida was the deadliest destoyer in all the commonwelalth navies of ww2, and killed more U-boats, than any other single ship of the war. The crew was noted for being exceptionally ruthless. (mostly out of fear) During the sweep of the English Channel before D-Day, the ship sank a few German patrol ships. The captain bombarded these ships constantly because destoying them and setting them ablaze was not enough, he had to see them sink. The British condemned the Captain for wasting time and ammo.

2. USS Constellation---a MASSIVE US aircraft carrier. It was anchored in Vancouver harbour. I toured this ship in uniform as an air cadet, it was very impressive, the sailors were friendly, and taught me how to cheat when polishing my boots. I saw F-14 s F-18s the works, and I picked up a squadron patch to remember her by.


and #1

the biggest baddest hugest warship in the entire world, the flagship of the United States Navy the USS Nimitz. I had the pleasure of touring this floating city in uniform. I had to salute the quarterdeck and ask permission to board, because I was in air cadet uniform and it was tradition. I saw the airwing, the anchor chain( huge) the flightdeck, the nuclear reactor, and the mess, the flight briefing room. I remember everything. The Nimitz was docked at Bremerton Naval Shipyard in Seattle for refueling. (It takes 2 years to refuel a nuke ship) The Captain spoke to our squadron, and asked that we stay in order to teach the US Navy how to march. NO JOKE. We didnt laugh though, you cant laugh whilst standing at attention.

At Bremerton I also saw the USS New Jersey, with her turrets in these "cocoon" like covers. Unfortunately I only saw the ship, and did not tour it.

It has been so long since I have toured a ship. Since the early stages of the post-cold war era, not so many US ships come to visit. Although the Russian Sub is a permanent attraction, and many cities have a Soviet Foxtrot sub.

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Erik E
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#2

Post by Erik E » 15 Aug 2002, 23:02

As I live close to the NATO hq north Europe, I have been to several ships too. Every time NATO has exercises in the North-sea, our harbour is filled with various ships. There are ofcourse some strange rules here: Norway doesn`t allow any ships with nuclear reactors to enter our harbours.....

Some of the ships I have been to is the USS Wasp, USS John Hancook, and numerous frigates, minesweepers, subs +++ from all NATO members

These days the entire harbour are sealed when US ships enters (they even have escort from Norwegian coast guard).
I don`t think they do tours onboard anymore......

EE


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AirborneAllTheWay
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#3

Post by AirborneAllTheWay » 15 Aug 2002, 23:03

H.M.S Belfast, she is moored on the river Thames in cenral london.

Logan Hartke
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#4

Post by Logan Hartke » 23 Aug 2002, 01:30

Since I live in the Midwest, I don't see many large ships, but I have been on the USS Alabama and the U505. For those who haven't been on the U505 I strongly encourage you to check it out. It has been very nicely preserved. Here is some more info on it...
U505 at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Illinois

Logan Hartke

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David C. Clarke
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Location: U.S. of A.

USS Missouri

#5

Post by David C. Clarke » 23 Aug 2002, 02:59

Hi Guys, I was aboard the USS Missouri last April. Saw the plaque commemorating the Japanese Surrender in 1945. I didn't think they let
us tourists see enough of the ship though. And, frankly, it wasn't the friendliest experience I've had. Cheers, David

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Zachary
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#6

Post by Zachary » 23 Aug 2002, 03:16

I passed the Enterprise or the own that's docked in NYC. That doesn't count though. :wink:
Zach

Logan Hartke
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Location: Illinois, USA

#7

Post by Logan Hartke » 23 Aug 2002, 03:40

As for Naval Bases, I've toured Pensacola NAS, Great Lakes NAS, and a few others.

Logan Hartke

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T.R.Searle
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Location: Canada

#8

Post by T.R.Searle » 23 Aug 2002, 14:44

I Toured the Canadian Frigate HMS St.John's, a nice ship but the only armaments that were still left out due to all the people touring it were the either AA missiles or Anti-missile ones and the 57mm cannon.

T.R.Searle :)

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Erich
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Location: OR

#9

Post by Erich » 24 Aug 2002, 03:05

Yes, Bremerton, Washington with my father in law. Brought quite a bit of memories to him with his service on a "Tin-can" in the Pacific which we did tour. Visited and wlaked through the Battleship Missouri where the signing of the Japenese surrender took place......pretty wild !

E

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Zapfenstreich
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Ship Tours

#10

Post by Zapfenstreich » 04 Sep 2002, 21:50

I've been on board the carrier USS Yorktown at Patriot's Point, South Carolina. Very impressive. I 've been on the battleship USS Alabama at Mobile, Alabama. Believe me Gang, battleships are awesome. I received permission to visit the destroyer USS Storms while she was in dry dock at Norfolk, Virginia and was still in commission. The crew quarters were very tight and close. I don't know if this counts or not but I also was on board the USS Frigate, Constellation in Baltimore Harbor. If I had lived back then, the only way I'd have gone to sea was via being shanghaied. I was on board a WWII sub at patriot's Point but I don't remember its name. I have a feeling that on board that boat in war time, the smaller you were the happier you'd be.

Z

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