Manila Bay
Just remembered that 2 May was the Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish American War. "You may fire when ready Gridley". The Olympia is bearthed in Philidelphia, Pa and had some problems last year sprining leaks. I guess that a 100+ year old ship that depends on volunteers and donations should have some problems. Just mentioning this for all to remember.
I didn't know the Olympia was still around. There's quite a few WWII ships around, but I wonder what older ones are still out there. I know of the Constitution (Boston), Constellation (Baltimore), and Cairo. (Vicksburg),
Yes Olympia is in Philadelphia. She had problems with leaks last year b ut haven't heard anything after that.
Hope she didn't sink then.Originally Posted by Capt P
TGhey put a temporary plate that stopped the leaks and are hoping to get her to a drydock for proper repairs but it takes a lot of money. I have to see if they are taking donations and how to do so. Also willing to give to such causes.
Maybe they ought to have an event like this that's held onboard the Texas:
http://texasbroadside.webs.com/
That's great fund raiser for the Texas Bobby. If I was in the US I would make the effort to attend sounds like a wonderful event.
Another old time ship HMVS Cerberus currently rusting away in Melbourne
HMVS Cerberus (Her Majesty's Victorian Ship) is a breastwork monitor that served in the Victoria Naval Forces, the Commonwealth Naval Forces (CNF), and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) between 1871 and 1924.
Built for the colony of Victoria, Cerberus was completed in 1870, and arrived in Port Phillip in 1871, where she spent the rest of her career. The monitor was absorbed into the CNF following Federation in 1901, and was renamed HMAS Cerberus when the navy became the RAN in 1911. By World War I, Cerberus' weapons and boilers were inoperable; the ship was retasked as a guardship and munitions store, while carrying the personnel of the fledgling Royal Australian Naval College on her paybooks. In 1921, the ship was renamed HMAS Platypus II, and tasked as a submarine tender for the RAN's six J class submarines.
In 1924, the monitor was sold for scrap, and was sunk as a breakwater off Half Moon Bay. The wreck became a popular site for scuba diving and picnics over the years, but there was a structural collapse in 1993. There have been several campaigns to preserve the ship (one of which is ongoing), as she is one of the last monitors, the only surviving ship of the Australian colonial navies, and one of only two surviving ships in the world with Coles turrets
They should find some way of preserving what is left of her as a tribute to the men who served on her and what she was built for. Most people these day don't care about history or what others did for us today in the years past.
The problem with that is the trade off in funding it. The government has written them off, they have more important things to fund. So it is up to the citizenry to come up with the gold. And it is getting harder and harder to come up with the funds, the longer they rust, the more funds needed and soon there will be nothing but rusticals and iron oxide dust. Remember rule one of politicians. Think about it, wait awhile, and soon the problem will solve itself.
What they thing is important and what we think is important are two different things. I don't care how fast a shrimp can run on a tread mill and that costs about 1 Million dollars.
Bob I've seen that footage of the shrimp on the treadmill very funny and quite absurd
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