Ship Photo of the Day

[Randy Daytona]

USS Reno (CL-96) was one of the Oakland derivatives of the Atlanta class light cruisers. The biggest difference was the removal of the twin 5”/38 turrets to reduce topweight. These were formidable AA ships, able to bring 12 (6x2) 5”/38’s to either beam as well as mounting substantial 40mm Bofors.

Interesting sidenote on wikipedia. The ship’s bell and flag are on display at City Hall in Reno, Nevada.


USS Reno, November 1944, down by the stern two days after being torpedoed (2 torpedoes hit, but fortunately 1 did not explode)


Reno underway off California in January 1944


Reno coming alongside USS Princeton to assist with fighting fires on 24 November 1944

 

[number9]

Is it just me, or is that 2nd photo of the Reno showing it in dazzle camouflage?

 

[Griz882]

Is it just me, or is that 2nd photo of the Reno showing it in dazzle camouflage?

Dazzling, isn’t it?

 

[Randy Daytona]

USS Franklin Delano Roosevelt CVB-42, CVA-42, CV-42 was the second of three Midway class carriers. Known as “Rosie”, she was the first aircraft carrier to be named after a president. Laid down on 01 December 1945, she was commissioned less than 2 years later on 27 October 1945. She was the first carrier to operate an all jet aircraft, a McDonnell XFD-1 Phantom in July 1946. Of note was the massive AA armament of 18x1 5”/54 dual purpose guns and 84 (21x4) Bofors 40mm

From 1954-1956, she underwent a major refit, receiving an angled flight deck while losing her 3,200 ton armor belt. After service in Vietnam, she was decommissioned on 01 October 1977.


USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945

Good view of the heavy AA armament of 18 5”/54 caliber guns


USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1971




Fleet AdmiralChester W. Nimitz, Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, President Harry S. Truman, and Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher on the bridge of USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) during maneuvers off the Virginia Capes, 24 April 1946.


Aerial oblique stern-on view of USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42), 24 April 1946.


USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42) launches a Lockheed P2V "Neptune" bomber with "JATO" assist, during a Task Force 21 cruise, 2 July 1951.

 

[VMO4]

My father did a Med cruise on the “fruity roo” during the Korean War. That is his patch from that cruise in my avatar. She was originally going to be the Coral Sea, but Roosevelt died during construction so the name switched. During the Med cruise my father was ship’s company in the newly growing CIC, they had two SNJ’s aboard for ships company people like him to get their minimum monthly hours to still draw flight pay. I have that whole year of his logbooks , with each month “4.0. FCLP”

 

[Randy Daytona]

My father did a Med cruise on the “fruity roo” during the Korean War. That is his patch from that cruise in my avatar. She was originally going to be the Coral Sea, but Roosevelt died during construction so the name switched. During the Med cruise my father was ship’s company in the newly growing CIC, they had two SNJ’s aboard for ships company people like him to get their minimum monthly hours to still draw flight pay. I have that whole year of his logbooks , with each month “4.0. FCLP”

Do you have any photos from that Med cruise that you could put in Ship Photo of the Day?

 

[VMO4]

Sadly no, he was not much into taking pictures, he was more likely to keep his scorecards from the numerous rounds of golf he played that cruise.

 

[Randy Daytona]

The first shots of WW2 were fired by SMS Schleswig-Holstein, a Deutschland class pre-dreadnought. Obsolete upon completion, it happened to arrive at the same time as the revolutionary HMS Dreadnought, commissioning 6 July 1908.

It did fight at Jutland and survived WW1, but was considered so obsolete that the Victors of WW1 allowed Germany to keep it as a training ship.

In August 1939, the ship paid a ceremonial visit to the port of Danzig. At roughly 4:45 am on the morning of September 1st, 1939, SMS Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish ammunition depot at Westerplatte. The ship was eventually sunk by British bombers in 1944, but the ship’s bell was saved and is on display at the military history museum in Dresden.


Schleswig-Holstein in the late 1930s



Plan and profile drawing of the Deutschland class


Schleswig-Holstein transiting the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal in 1932



Schleswig-Holstein shelling Polish positions in Westerplatte, September 1939


Schleswig-Holstein off the coast of Denmark during Operation Weserübung, 9 April 1940

 

[Griz882]

For a bit of history, I give you the S.S. Columbia Eagle…victim of the last (and only) mutiny on a U.S. ship in 150 years.



The Columbia Eagle was commissioned in 1945 as the Pierre Victory, a typical Victory Class cargo ship. Rushed to the South Pacific, the Pierre Victory survived three kamikaze attacks before the war ended. After the war the ship became a “cowboy” freighter carrying hundreds of horses to Eastern European nations. She also saw service in the Korean War carrying munitions to Korea. After Korea the Pierre Victory was decommissioned and sold to Columbia Shipping Corporation where she was renamed the Columbia Eagle and contracted right back to the Military Sea Transportation Service for the purpose of hauling supplies and ammunition to Southeast Asian ports in South Vietnam and Thailand during the Vietnam War.



In March, 1970 the Columbia Eagle was carrying a load of napalm to Thailand for USAF use. Two crewmen, both claiming to be dedicated communists and true pacifists slipped a pistol on board and used it to force the captain to order the crew to abandon ship. This was done immediately after the daily check radio position check - an act that kept one crewman from later facing attempted murder charges. The two men took the ship to Cambodia, turning it over to the anti-American government and requesting asylum. However, a coup disposed that government and a pro-US government tossed the men in prison and returned the ship and cargo. One of the men, Clyde McKay, escaped and joined the Khmer Rouge where he was later killed. The second, Alvin Glatkowski, was released and asked for asylum at both the Soviet and Chinese embassy’s but was turned away. He then turned himself in to the U.S. embassy in Cambodia.

Back in L.A. Glatowski was sentenced to 10 years for mutiny (a lesser sentence since he apparently wanted the castaway crew rescued) and served eight. Today he still lives in California and remains active as an anti-war protester.

Once the search for the missing vessel was launched, elements of VP-1, the USS Denver, USCGC Mellon, and the famous USS Turner Joy tracked the Columbia Eagle until it entered Cambodian waters.


The Turner Joy


The Denver, later sunk in RIMPAC 22.


USCGC Mellon

 

[ea6bflyr]

For a bit of history, I give you the S.S. Columbia Eagle…victim of the last (and only) mutiny on a U.S. ship in 150 years.

View attachment 42369

The Columbia Eagle was commissioned in 1945 as the Pierre Victory, a typical Victory Class cargo ship. Rushed to the South Pacific, the Pierre Victory survived three kamikaze attacks before the war ended. After the war the ship became a “cowboy” freighter carrying hundreds of horses to Eastern European nations. She also saw service in the Korean War carrying munitions to Korea. After Korea the Pierre Victory was decommissioned and sold to Columbia Shipping Corporation where she was renamed the Columbia Eagle and contracted right back to the Military Sea Transportation Service for the purpose of hauling supplies and ammunition to Southeast Asian ports in South Vietnam and Thailand during the Vietnam War.

View attachment 42370

In March, 1970 the Columbia Eagle was carrying a load of napalm to Thailand for USAF use. Two crewmen, both claiming to be dedicated communists and true pacifists slipped a pistol on board and used it to force the captain to order the crew to abandon ship. This was done immediately after the daily check radio position check - an act that kept one crewman from later facing attempted murder charges. The two men took the ship to Cambodia, turning it over to the anti-American government and requesting asylum. However, a coup disposed that government and a pro-US government tossed the men in prison and returned the ship and cargo. One of the men, Clyde McKay, escaped and joined the Khmer Rouge where he was later killed. The second, Alvin Glatkowski, was released and asked for asylum at both the Soviet and Chinese embassy’s but was turned away. He then turned himself in to the U.S. embassy in Cambodia.

Back in L.A. Glatowski was sentenced to 10 years for mutiny (a lesser sentence since he apparently wanted the castaway crew rescued) and served eight. Today he still lives in California and remains active as an anti-war protester.

Once the search for the missing vessel was launched, elements of VP-1, the USS Denver, USCGC Mellon, and the famous USS Turner Joy tracked the Columbia Eagle until it entered Cambodian waters.

View attachment 42372
The Turner Joy

View attachment 42373
The Denver, later sunk in RIMPAC 22.

View attachment 42374
USCGC Mellon

Al's Podcast on the subject: https://couragetoresist.org/podcast-al-glatkowski/

 

[Randy Daytona]

U-977 was a Type VIIc submarine that escaped Germany at the end of WW2 by snorkeling for 66 days to Argentina. Unfortunately for the crew, Argentina handed the crew and the submarine over to the US.


U-977 moored at Mar del Plata naval base

Good videos:

 

[AllAmerican75]

I think you mean Wing of Gold.

View attachment 42202

I really think the Navy missed a golden opportunity to revive some Naval history when they didn't revive the LTA wings for drone operations.

 

[Brett327]

I really think the Navy missed a golden opportunity to revive some Naval history when they didn't revive the LTA wings for drone operations.

I just saw orders for our first RW rated Sailor. Fun fact, the most excitement our C/UAS team gets is when the CO flies his drone to opcheck the Ninja system. 😀

 

[Randy Daytona]

While watching Hotel Transylvania 2 with the family tonight, noticed the actor who played Dracula’s father Vlad was none other than the legendary, and still alive at 98, comedian Mel Brooks. Had to look up Mr Brooks and noted he was combat engineer in the 78th Division fighting at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.

One of the ships that Mel Brooks was ferried overseas on (either over or more likely back) was SS Sea Owl, a C3-S-A2 cargo ship commissioned in June 1944. 492 feet in length and a beam of almost 70 feet, she maxed out at 10,700 tons and could make 18 knots on 2 screws. Troop capacity was just over 2,100.

SS Sea Owl was sold in 1947 and continued in civilian service until being scrapped in 1971.

And yes, the movie was funny: Adam Sandler as Dracula and Kevin James as Frankenstein is a great combination.


Sea Owl in November 1944


C3-S-A2 troop transports were designed to carry roughly 2,100 troops. Here 1,958 arrive in Boston from Europe on 26 July 1945


A Type C3-S-A2 troop transport with similar mast configuration