Ghost Fleets of the United States

In the news recently from the Associated Press is an account of the terrible condition USS OLYMPIA (C-6) is in. She is at risk of sinking at her moorings along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or being sold for scrap or scuttled to create an aritificial reef. Any of these would be ignominius ends for this beautiful – though aging – ship.  

Follow the link below for a picture of Olympia. When I saw the picture I knew immediately that Olympia had served in the Spanish American War in 1898. The white hull and the bow sweeping back (instead of forward) from the waterline are unmistakable attributes of this iconic ship.

Olympia served as the Flagship of the Asiatic Squadron under Commodore Dewey and led the American Fleet to its decisive defeat of the Spanish Navy in Manila Bay, Philippines, during the Spanish American War in 1898.  

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100906/ap_on_re_us/us_endangered_warship

USS OLYMPIA (C-6) is a key component of the Independence Seaport Museum. Website: http://www.phillyseaport.org/ships_olympia.shtml

If you are interested in helping save the OLYMPIA, contact the Museum. Consider urging your Representative and Senators to urge / help the Pennsylvania and Washington State delegations save the OLYMPIA, a National Historic Landmark.

Before I discuss some of the ships comprising the Ghost Fleets of the United States, I want to mention:

USS CONSTITUTION – “Old Ironsides” – moored in Boston Harbor. The oldest commissioned ship in the United States and the world. In 1988 or 1989 I was stationed in Connecticut, and travelled to Boston to visit USS CONSTITUTION. It was awe-inspiring to walk the decks of this beautiful, historic ship!

http://www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution/

Here are some ships – no longer commissioned – which might be said to comprise Ghost Fleets of the United States.

USS MISSOURI (BB-63) moored in Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i near the Arizona Memorial. “Mighty Mo” – anchored in Tokyo Bay – was the location for Japan’s surrender ceremony on September 2, 1945 ending World War II. Now a museum. Website for the Battleship MISSOURI Memorial: http://www.ussmissouri.com/visitor-information

USS BOWFIN (SS-287) moored in Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i. Museum. Website for USS BOWFIN Submarine Museum and Park: http://www.bowfin.org/

USS INTREPID (CV-11) moored in New York City Harbor. A museum. Website for the INTREPID Sea, Air and Space Museum: http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/

USS ALABAMA (BB-60) moored in Mobile Bay, Alabama. Museum. Website for Battleship ALABAMA Memorial Park: http://www.ussalabama.com/about.php Includes USS DRUM (SS-228).

These ships – including USS OLYMPIA – are physical links to our history: not only our naval history, but to our history as a nation and a people.

“Whatever the names of things I can assure you that as long as there is a United States of America there will be a United States Navy and a United States Marine Corps. These Services remain inextricably linked.

“Sailors and Marines will be in harm’s way or will be prepared to go in harm’s way immediately.

“I know that loved ones will wait anxiously for their Sailors and Marines to return safely to homeport.”

Quote from my piece The Names of Things. Andrew S. McBride, proud Navy Veteran.