JULY ANCHOR AUGUST SEPTEMBER WATCH 2007 The Quarterly Journal of the Historic Naval Ships Association www.hnsa.org HIGH & DRY: INTREPID 2 ANCHOR WATCH H.N.S.A. STAFF H.N.S.A. OFFICERS President CAPT Frank W. Montesano, U.S.N. (Ret.), Executive Director U.S.S. LEXINGTON CDR Jeffrey S. Nilsson, U.S.N.R. (Ret.) Vice President Executive Director Emeritus William N.Tunnell, Jr., U.S.S. ALABAMA CAPT Channing M. Zucker, U.S.N. (Ret.) Secretary Executive Secretary LCDR Sherry Richardson, H.M.C.S. SACKVILLE James W. Cheevers Treasurer Individual Member Program Manager James B. Sergeant, U.S.S. ALBACORE CDR Jeffrey S. Nilsson, U.S.N.R. (Ret.) Anchor Watch Immediate Past President Editors David R. Scheu, Sr., U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA D. Douglas Buchanan, Jr. Scott D. Kodger HONORARY DIRECTORS Webmaster Admiral Thad W. Allen, U.S. Coast Guard Richard S. Pekelney Sean Connaughton, MARAD European Coordinator Admiral Michael G. Mullen, U.S. Navy CAPT Cornelis D. José, R.N.L.N. (Ret.) Larry Ostola, Parks Canada Vice Admiral Drew Robertson, Royal Canadian Navy DIRECTORS AT LARGE H.N.S.A. COMMITTEE David P. Burnette CHAIRPERSONS Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum COL Pat Cunningham Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park Annual Conference Brad King H.M.S. BELFAST John P. (Mac) McLaughlin, U.S.S. MIDWAY Awards Maury Drummond James W. Cheevers U.S.S. KIDD United States Naval Academy Museum Karen Cronin Communications Independence Seaport Museum Dr. John C. Fakan, U.S.S. COD Alyce N. Guthrie Curatorial PT Boats, Inc. Dr. Norman M. Cary, Jr. Education RADM John P. McLaughlin, U.S.N. (Ret.) San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum Karin Hill, The Navy Museum Insurance Terry Miller COL Patrick J. Cunningham Tin Can Sailors, Inc. Associate Member Representative Buffalo Naval Park Marketing Richard S. Pekelney Paul C. Farace, U.S.S. COD Individual Member Representative Membership Timothy C. Rizzuto CDR Jeffrey S. Nilsson, U.S.N.R. (Ret.) U.S.S. SLATER Preservation CAPT David R. Scheu, Sr., U.S.N. (Ret.) Joseph W. Lombardi U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA Battleship Memorial Ocean Technical Services Submarines CAPT Michael J. Schneider S.S. JOHN W. BROWN William N. Tunnell, Jr. U.S.S. DRUM Bruce H.Smith Port Columbus National Civil War Naval Museum Matt Woods INTREPID Sea-Air-Space Museum ANCHOR WATCH 3 THE ANCHOR WATCH TEAM JULY - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007 Executive Editor JEFFREY S. NILSSON CONTENTS FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, Jeffrey Nilsson...4 Publisher ROBERT D. BOARD NEWS FROM THE FLEET...5 U.S.S. INTREPID, David Falkenstein...5 Editor D. DOUGLAS BUCHANAN, JR. U.S.S. TEXAS, Rusty Bloxom...7 5015 Brooksview Circle New Albany, Ohio 43054 U.S.A. U.S.S. CASSIN YOUNG, Stephen P. Carlson...7 Tel: 740-739-7850 [email protected] T121 SPICA, Lennart Tornberg...9 U.S.S. SLATER, Tim Rizzuto...9 Anchor Watch Editors Emeritus ROBERT A.WILLSON U.S.S. LST-325, Susan Bloom...11 ANNE E. McCARTHY H.N.S.A. NEWS & VIEWS, Jeffrey Nilsson...12 Proofreader NEW H.N.S.A. MEMBERS...14 JEFFREY S. CARY JEFFREY S. NILSSON LIGHTSHIP OVERFALLS, David Bernheisel...14 SUSAN M. NILSSON TRIVIA CHALLENGE, Jeffrey Cary...15 Contributing Writers DAVID BERHNEISEL SUSAN BLOOM THE COVER RUSTY BLOXOM STEPHEN P. CARLSON INTREPID is out of the water for the JEFFREY S. CARY first time since 1977. The ESSEX- JAN MICHAELIS class aircraft carrier temporarily JEFF NILSSON closed for renovation of her pier, TIM RIZZUTO repair of her hull, and update of LENNART TORNBERG exhibits in November 2006. She is expected to reopen in November 2008. INTREPID won fame in the DISCLAIMER Pacific in World War II as the Articles represent the views of the authors “Fighting I.” She survived numerous and do not necessarily reflect the opinion kamikaze and bomb hits. New York of the Historic Naval Ships Association City is her permanent home. Photo (H.N.S.A.) courtesy of the INTREPID Sea, Air & Space Museum. 4 ANCHOR WATCH frames, the other concern is that the loss of FLOTSAM AND JETSAM weight caused by the destruction of the heavy BY JEFFREY NILSSON timbers on the decks may lead to further twisting of the ironwork, which was always supported the many tons of wood resting above it. CUTTY SARK was made mostly of teak, a tropical hardwood now in very short supply and certainly in the amounts needed for replacement. The main deck was scheduled to be replaced because it was leaking in many areas. We wish our shipmates aboard CUTTY SARK fair winds and following seas as they begin their ay 21, 2007, will be remembered by the new voyage of restoration. citizens of London and the historic maritime world with sadness. On that Mday, CUTTY SARK, our newest Fleet Member, was severely damaged by a spectacular fire that Jeff Nilsson broke out in the early hours of the morning. CUTTY SARK is an icon known around the EDITOR’S NOTE world for her graceful lines and beauty and for her history-making voyages. As of the writing of Donations are now being accepted to assist in the restoration of CUTTY SARK. Details of how to this article, the police were still investigating the make a donation are available on the cause of the fire. Mr. Richard Doughty and CUTTY SARK website at: CUTTY SARK staff and officials are cautiously optimistic that they will be able to rebuild her to http://www.cuttysark.org.uk her former glory. Donations may be mailed to: CUTTY SARK is probably the most famous ship The CUTTY SARK Trust in the world, having made her mark in maritime 2 Greenwich Church Street history and as the only tea clipper in existence Greenwich SE10 9BG today. The ship has been visited by over fifteen United Kingdom million people. Fortunately, at the time that the fire broke out, more than half of the ship had been removed in conjunction with the 25 million pound renovation and restoration program currently underway. The mast, rigging, deck houses. the master salon, significant amounts of planking and other such removable items had all been put into safe storage. The damage was largely confined to the ship’s hull and its timber decking. Apart from the fear of heat damage to the iron ANCHOR WATCH 5 NEWS FROM THE FLEET H.N.S.A. FLEET MEMBER IN THE SPOTLIGHT U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11) INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM New York City, New York, U.S.A. By David Falkenstein Manager, Public Relations & Communications n Wednesday, June 6 – D-Day – the by PPG Protective and Marine Coatings. U.S.S. INTREPID, the centerpiece of the INTREPID Sea, Air & Space Using ultra-sonic technology, INTREPID’s OMuseum in New York, began the second phase hull thickness was gauged at more than 2,500 of her journey toward restoration and locations, and approximately 1,000 square feet refurbishment. of the hull’s structural steel was replaced. The hull was judged to be in remarkably good After a 58-day stay at Bayonne Dry Dock & condition, given the ship’s age of nearly 65 Repair Corp., INTREPID was towed under years. power of four McAllister tug boats to Staten Island’s Homeport Pier. The four tugs, which Additionally, INTREPID’s four bronze in aggregate possessed approximately 16,000 propellers, which dug into the mud and horsepower, moved INTREPID from her slip prevented INTREPID from leaving New York just after 8:00 AM. By 10:30 AM, the mile- last November, were removed. The ship’s two long trip was complete, and INTREPID was outboard propellers measure 14-feet, six inches secure at Homeport. in diameter, and weigh 27,000 pounds. INTREPID’s two inboard propellers are twelve Shortly after INTREPID’s arrival, a ceremony feet in diameter, and weigh 24,339 pounds. was held honoring all those who gave their lives on D-Day. The program featured Of the four propellers, two will be on display remarks by INTREPID Museum President, on Pier 86 – INTREPID’s home – when the Bill White and several members of Staten Museum reopens. The other two will be Island’s political delegation. There was a placed at iconic locations along the Eastern performance by a school band and a reading of Seaboard. an excerpt of former President Bill Clinton’s speech delivered on the 50th anniversary of D- While in Staten Island, INTREPID will Day. The program concluded with a wreath undergo a $8 million interior renovation. Of laying and the securing of a ceremonial line by that, $4.5 million has been raised -- $3.5 former INTREPID crewmembers. million is yet to be procured. Never-before- Before moving into dry dock on April 10, INTREPID was berthed at the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal, at a slip generously donated FLAGS OF THE H.N.S.A. FLEET by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. (Top to bottom, in alphabetical order) Australia, Canada, France, Greece, Israel, While in dry dock, INTREPID’s hull was the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Russia, ultra-high-pressure water washed, primed and Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and repainted, using some 5,600 gallons of paint. the United States of America. The paint used on the flight deck was donated 6 ANCHOR WATCH seen areas of the ship including the fo’c’sle (commonly known as the anchor chain room), general berthing quarters and the ship’s machine shop will be opened to the public for the first time. The approximately 40,000 square foot hangar deck will feature an all new layout and design and two fully renovated halls.