Training Ship Encounter

[Subdeacon Joe]

"When USS Independence encountered a full-rigged ship in the Mediterranean in 1962, the carrier signaled to ask the sailing vessel to identify itself. “Training ship Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Navy,” was the response.“ The Independence reportedly signaled back, "You are the most beautiful ship in the world.” #SeaStorySaturday"

 

 

[Alpo]

"The Big I, the latest and the greatest". My father's last ship, before retiring. Med cruise in 1960.

[Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life]

My Masters License has the rare SAIL endorsement .I was able to participate in a few Tall Ship events. The USA utilizes the former German Gorch Fock (sp) which we won as a war reparation. One of my boot camp buddies Dad was a crewman on it when they sailed it to the US. He stayed!!  It is now the USCGC Eagle, the Coasties training vessel.

 

When I was the Central Region Sea Scout commodore, I was able to get summer training cruise berths for a few of my outstanding Seascouts. That was one of the highlights of their lives.

 

Many nations have tall ships. There's nothing like an international parade of magnificent  square rigged sailing vessels.

 

During some of my cruises off Mexico, Central and South America, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit some of the iron former German P Line square riggers. They ended their days carrying guano. I wonder if any of them still exist.

 

We still have a few left in the USA.

[Subdeacon Joe]

2 minutes ago, Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life said:

The USA utilizes the former German Gorch Fock (sp) which we won as a war reparation. One of my boot camp buddies Dad was a crewman on it when they sailed it to the US. He stayed!!  It is now the USCGC Eagle, the Coasties training vessel.

 

 

Thanks!  You made me look that up:
 

Quote

Eagle commenced its existence in Nazi Germany as Horst Wessel, a ship of the Gorch Fock class. Horst Wessel was an improvement on the original design. She was larger in dimension and her spars were all steel, unlike Gorch Fock's wooden yards. SSS Horst Wessel began life as Schiff ("ship") 508 at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, Germany in 1936.^[4] Her keel was laid on 15 February, she was launched on 13 June, completed on 16 September, and commissioned on 17 September. She was the second ship in the class to be built, following the class namesake Gorch Fock.

 

Proof that Blohm & Voss really can build things that don't look weird!

 

Quote

Class and type:	Gorch Fock–class barque
Displacement:	Full load: 1,784 long tons (1,813 t)
Length:	Overall: 295 ft (90 m) Waterline: 234 ft (71 m)
Beam:	39 ft (12 m)
Draft:	Full load: 17.5 ft (5.3 m)
Installed power:	2 × 320 kW (430 hp) Caterpillar 3406 generators
Propulsion:	1 × 1,200 hp (890 kW) MTU 8V 4000 diesel engine
Sail plan:	Foremast: 147.3 ft (44.9 m) Mainmast: 147.3 ft (44.9 m) Mizzenmast: 132.0 ft (40.2 m) Sail area: 22,280 sq ft (2,070 m2)
Speed:	Sail: 19 kn (35 km/h; 22 mph) Diesel: 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Range:	Sail: Unlimited Diesel: 5,450 nmi (10,093 km; 6,272 mi) at 7.5 kn (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph)
Complement:	Permanent: 7 officers, 50 crew When Deployed: 12 officers, 68 crew, and 150 trainees

 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

The big I is docked in Manhattan.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Had a civilian employee in out mess hall at Seal Beach Marine Barracks in 1974-1978, who had been a ABS on Old Ironsides.  Had the photos and paperwork to prove it.

 

She had been refitted and sent on a world friendship cruise sometime in the '50s.

[Church Key, SASS # 33713]

My dad's training ship was the Nantucket, pride of the Massachusetts Nautical School, now the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. It was originally the USS Ranger, an iron hulled gunboat built in 1880. It served in both WWI & WWII as an anti-sub patrol boat. My dad graduated in 1933.Here tis:    

[Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172]

Lady Washington, out of Aberdeen, Wa. 

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

17 hours ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

The big I is docked in Manhattan.

Do you mean the “Fighting I” (Intrepid) berthed at NYC? 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

7 minutes ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

Do you mean the “Fighting I” (Intrepid) berthed at NYC? 

Yes, I used Alpo’s misnomer. Should have known better.

[WOLFY]

Over 200 years ago, the original USS Independence was our navy’s first ship of the line.  

 

[Big Jake1001]

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves.
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs.
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads,
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Stand up me hearties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. 

 

Big (What's stole this from Disneyland) Jake # 1001

[DeaconKC]

Viking rule #1 "Pillage first, THEN burn."

[Blackwater 53393]

My cousin, Bobby Oliver, served on the Independence!!

 

He’s several years older than I am. He was one of those people who got me hooked on drag racing.

 

Bobby was on the Independence in 1962!!