Ship Photo of the Day

[Flash]

Not quite a picture but an 'outline', and it led to a picture.

 

[Randy Daytona]

One of the most decorated ships of WW2 was USS San Diego CL-53, an Atlanta class light cruiser optimized for anti-aircraft defense. Not having the traditional 6” guns of light cruisers, instead she had 16 (8x2) dual 5”/38’s and was able to put up a larger broadside fleet defense barrage than any battleship. She was also the first ship to enter Tokyo Bay after the surrender of Japan.


USS San Diego, 8 March 1944

San Diego arrives at Yokosuka Naval Base, 30 August 1945


USS San Diego (CL 53) Off San Francisco, California, 1 January 1944.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph

 

[Randy Daytona]

USS Monadnock BM-3 was a large Amphitrite class monitor, notable for crossing the Pacific to fight in the Spanish American War. Evidently, one crossing in this ship was enough as it never returned to the US, staying on station in China and the Philippines until the end of her career.

After 22 years of construction the Monadnock (BM-3) is commissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard on 20 February 1896.

Monadnock (BM-3) is seen off Mare Island Navy Yard, CA, June 1898, ready for her voyage to the Philippines.



At sea between San Francisco, CA, and Manila, Philippine Islands, circa June-August 1898. Photographed from Nero(1898-1922), her escort on the trans-Pacific voyage.


Hand to hand practice with swords in front of the main 2 dual 10" turret of the Monadnock (BM-3), circa 1900 - 1904.

 

[taxi1]

Looks like our first semi-submersible

 

[Randy Daytona]

HMS Ark Royal Pennant 91 was the first British carrier built with the hangars and flight deck integrated as part of the ship. It participated in numerous engagements early in WW2, most prominently the battle with Bismarck.

Ark Royal was sunk in November 1941 by a single torpedo from U-81 after which the Captain was court marshalled. However, lessons were learned to add both compartmentalization and diesel generators which would serve well later classes of Royal Navy carriers.



HMS Ark Royal in 1939, conducting flying operations with Swordfishbiplanes


HMS Ark Royal in 1939, with Swordfish of 820 Naval Air Squadron passing overhead

 

[Randy Daytona]

USS Hazard AM-240 was 1 of the 123 Admiral class minesweepers built during WW2. In addition to minesweeping, she was also capable of anti-submarine, patrol and convoy escort duties. The only surviving member of her class, she is now a museum in Omaha, Nebraska.

Interesting that these ships were steel hulled, but the follow-on classes were wooden hulled.

Length: 184’, beam: 33’, draft: 530 tons

2 diesels of 1,700 hp each gave 15 knots

Armament: 1 3”/50 cal cannon, 4 (2x2) Bofors 40mm, 6 single Oerkilon 20 mm, 2 depth charge tracks.


USS Hazard at Freedom Park in Omaha, Nebraska




August 1945
Buckner Bay, Okinawa

 

[Gatordev]

Even back then, I'm sure the CO was relieved for running her that hard aground.