Friday, August 22, 2008

A SHIP LIKE NO OTHER


For all you Ex Navy Rates I suspect you have never seen a vessel quite like this Hi-Tech. Stealth technology Anti-Terrorist Ship.

USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center .

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include 20 special operations against terrorists.

It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there.

'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.' Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.'

'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.' The ship's motto? 'Never Forget'

Dave Israel

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember in the second World War when the Navy made a small ship that carried two torpedoes, several machine guns, and a small crew. They were very fast and were able to patrol the area around the larger ships. They played havoc with the enemy air force. This one, now, is bigger, and probably cannot travel as fast as the patrol boats in WWII, but they do have a larger crew and are in a much more protected boat. They should do well. I bet any swabby would love it.

Topper said...

That is wonderful. Dave, do you know how long it actually took to complete the ship? I thought it would take years to build a ship like that. Good from bad, bless all involved.

capt john said...

THANK YOU, DAVE - GO NAVY !!!

ps: anon - I would LOVE to serve on THIS ship / I am a "RIVER RAT" (PBR sailor - think "APOCALYPSE, NOW") from NAM (and, "other places") but I would give ..... to sail on "NEW YORK" !!!

pps: Dave, I was on a proto-type in Bahrain during "STORM"

UCO President said...

Hi Chris,

Total construction time is three years.

Built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, USS New York is 684 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet, a navigational draft of 23 feet and displaces approximately 24,900 tons.

Four turbo-charged diesels power the ship to sustained speeds of 24 knots.

Upon commissioning in 2009, USS New York will be homeported in Norfolk, Va., as a part of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

Dave Israel

Topper said...

Very impressive. The people that got this done just amaze me. What knowledge, what talent, what dedication.

Is Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding part of Grumman that use to be in Bethpage, New York?

elaineb said...

My grandchildren would like to comment on the new ship, using Facebook language from both east and west coasts. Before you gasp I will tell you that ALL these words mean “awesome” = “Epic, beast, dirty, sick, Gr8,” kids!! Would you believe based on their SATs they may design future ships.

Topper said...

Elaine, your grandkids are keeping you young! You're blessed to have them.

elaineb said...

Do you realize that is the first grandchildren brag on the blog, how have we avoided it for 9 months!

Topper said...

Elaine, I don't think it should be avoided. Someone should start a new post about great stories concerning their grandkids. I think it would be nice.

Anonymous said...

To all Children,Grandchildren, yes
to keep those states who need Defense Contracts the Gov. keeps
building, Ships of Destruction,
why not other ones ex. ships with
a RED CROSS ON ITS BOW and
again call it HOPE! It's a very
Short Journey we are in,or as Sinatra sang the AUTUMN of OUR YEARS,before we can smell the Roses again we must get by the dreadful, and harsh
Winters of the North,maybe a bit
morbid, but Children what I print
can only be Understood by those who
have Known, seen, or smelled the
Stench of Death and Destruction, and never ever must foget those
who gave it All,and if they are
seeing the people, of the hating
and dispicing each other,on this
Planet called Earth,maybe they are the Fortunated ONES to have died
with HONOR, and not to be of all
this sensless behavior of HUMANITY!