And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Dropped a fine pocketknife down into a floating drydock as our sub was being maneuvered into proper position. Was fortunate enough to be able to retrieve it once the dock was pumped dry.
The battleship Texas (decommissioned in 1948) has been out of the water in drydock since last August, a major restoration. Lots of interesting information and videos here, chronicling the work. There are shipyard tours scheduled through the end of April.
https://battleshiptexas.org/battleship-updates/
Before emergency measures were taken, the ship was taking on 2,000 gallons of water per minute.
Great way to haul out. Blocks high enough to work the hull and so the propeller and rudder clear the deck. The front walkway is open in this pic. When closed, allows access between the wing walls. Hauling is so easy, close the valves and pump till the waterline lifts. She’s on the blocks and while still supported by water, set the deck cables. Pump out till the dock deck clears. All of the hull can be serviced with scaffolds. The dock itself is in contact with salt on both sides of its plateing. When the sun is on the wing walls the interior passes the thickest rain forest. As always, rust never sleeps.
The floating drydocks were built in sections for towing and would be joined together at their destination. There is a picture around of a section transiting the Panama Canal. The section was too long and wide to fit the locks, so it was tipped on its side (it must have been with some intricate water ballast shifting) until it was floating on one sidewall and towering over the locks.
Thank heaven we don't need it, because we couldn't build a ship like this again. The steel mills, the forges, things I saw as a young boy are all gone, forever. I'm glad I lived to see it.
And by only its 100th anniversary, small children will look upon it and its sisters, and like the pyramids, castles, and cathedrals, wonder how on earth mere mortals could ever have constructed such structures with primitive technology.
And will never equal nor surpass such achievements in their own lifetimes. More's the pity.
Before too much longer, the USD will not be the world reserve currency. IMHO the rest of the world was OK with not rocking the boat too much, but when the Nord Stream pipeline was blowed the eff up - all fingers pointed at the degenerate that occupies the office at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And that is what likely pushed things over the edge in terms of the dramatic shift in the global order of things that we are now watching unfold.
Fellow Boomers - we grew up in the Golden Age of the American Empire. Our kids and grand kids have to deal with something else entirely.
The Wisconsin (I had to look it up. BB 64). Great shot.
ReplyDeleteThe photo is post-war as the AFDB designation (on right side wall) replaced the wartime ABSD in 1946.
ReplyDeleteDropped a fine pocketknife down into a floating drydock as our sub was being maneuvered into proper position. Was fortunate enough to be able to retrieve it once the dock was pumped dry.
ReplyDeleteTL-29?
DeleteAt first I didn't notice the people at the bottom. Amazing what you can do with a little sheet metal.
ReplyDeleteThe battleship Texas (decommissioned in 1948) has been out of the water in drydock since last August, a major restoration. Lots of interesting information and videos here, chronicling the work. There are shipyard tours scheduled through the end of April.
ReplyDeletehttps://battleshiptexas.org/battleship-updates/
Before emergency measures were taken, the ship was taking on 2,000 gallons of water per minute.
I could tell it was a (very sexy) US fast battleship brow even before I saw the flag.
ReplyDeleteGreat way to haul out. Blocks high enough to work the hull and so the propeller and rudder clear the deck. The front walkway is open in this pic. When closed, allows access between the wing walls. Hauling is so easy, close the valves and pump till the waterline lifts. She’s on the blocks and while still supported by water, set the deck cables. Pump out till the dock deck clears. All of the hull can be serviced with scaffolds. The dock itself is in contact with salt on both sides of its plateing. When the sun is on the wing walls the interior passes the thickest rain forest. As always, rust never sleeps.
ReplyDeleteI have a Danforth on my windowsill.
ReplyDeleteNice boat ya got there squids.
ReplyDeleteThe floating drydocks were built in sections for towing and would be joined together at their destination. There is a picture around of a section transiting the Panama Canal. The section was too long and wide to fit the locks, so it was tipped on its side (it must have been with some intricate water ballast shifting) until it was floating on one sidewall and towering over the locks.
ReplyDeleteThank heaven we don't need it, because we couldn't build a ship like this again. The steel mills, the forges, things I saw as a young boy are all gone, forever. I'm glad I lived to see it.
ReplyDeleteAnd by only its 100th anniversary, small children will look upon it and its sisters, and like the pyramids, castles, and cathedrals, wonder how on earth mere mortals could ever have constructed such structures with primitive technology.
ReplyDeleteAnd will never equal nor surpass such achievements in their own lifetimes.
More's the pity.
The "West" is not likely to rise again.
Deletehttps://voxday.net/2023/04/03/the-inevitable-math/
Before too much longer, the USD will not be the world reserve currency. IMHO the rest of the world was OK with not rocking the boat too much, but when the Nord Stream pipeline was blowed the eff up - all fingers pointed at the degenerate that occupies the office at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And that is what likely pushed things over the edge in terms of the dramatic shift in the global order of things that we are now watching unfold.
Fellow Boomers - we grew up in the Golden Age of the American Empire. Our kids and grand kids have to deal with something else entirely.