Goodbye USS RANGER

[buck1032]

For some reason this sort of makes me sad. My first two deployments were onboard her, 87 and 89. She was a great old ship and has always been my favorite, even if we sometimes struggled making water. LOL By the time I transferred I had over a year and a half of sea time on her, and that's just being on her Airwing.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/12/25/final-voyage-navy-pays-one-cent-to-scrap-aircraft-carrier/?intcmp=latestnews

[Dolomite_supafly]

And they are giving it away. If they are going to let it be given away give it to one of our allies or sell it to the highest bidder. It is sickening to know that somewhere, someone is making a lot of money on this.

[btq96r]

I disagree with scraping ships like that.  If we aren't going to convert it into any kind of training vessel or museum, it needs to be towed out to the South China Sea where we can put on a display of how many ways we can simultaneously put ordinance on target as a demonstration to the region.

[Peace]

Buck, thank you for your service.  It makes me sad as well, but I know decisions have to be made.  It was kept for a long time with a group trying to raise millions to turn it into a museum.  I think ~$100k was raised.  

 

As far as giving it away or blowing it to kindgom come... we need to keep those metals in country.  We can put smaller ships on the bottom if we so desire.  It is certainly not being "given away".  It has to be towed around the southern point of the americas and back into the gulf to be broken.  That will not be a cheap trip - not by a long shot.  It will then cost a fortune to break this ship, and those putting that capitol at risk to break it will (hopefully) make a nice return on their investment.

[bersaguy]

I spent time on the Ranger 3 different times while serving in Nam. It is and was a great ship. Sorry to see it go. As to the steel and expenses. Since I don't really trust anyone that can purchase one of our Naval vessels and only pay a penny for it, Makes me wonder if China is not providing the funds necessary to do the tow and already bought the steel................jmho

 

Thank you very much for your service buck......... :usa:

[Peace]

?? could be.... don't know.

[Sam1]

Anytime they decommission a unit, ship, post etc... whatever, it always hits home with the people that served there.  It's a shame most of us don't realize the historical significance of these things until they're gone.

 

Here's where I was stationed in Germany just 10 years ago.  Now it's empty, overgrown and unkept and in the process of being knocked down so they can build something else.  It's pretty disheartening seeing everything trashed when you put so much effort into keeping it running.

 

All part of growing old I guess though.

 

[phiferran]

I was aboard the battleship Wisconsin in 1987 and I had several buddies that went to the Ranger. I remember they loved that ship. They always complained about breaking down, but there was just something about it. It is sad that it will be scrapped.


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[2.ooohhh]

I believe the Ranger was the first carrier I ever saw(first I remember at least), out in Hawaii when I was younger visiting my relatives stationed there. Speaking of decommissioned sites, my office mate was telling me of his years spent in Adak, AL and I found some recent pics online, apparently it's changed a good bit since it was decommissioned. :/

[runco]

Time devours all things. 

 

I understand the cost of keeping something old running, but I also don't understand this is an asset.  In times of war, all assets should be available.  I wish they just add this to the mothball fleet.

[Peace]

Time devours all things. 

 

I understand the cost of keeping something old running, but I also don't understand this is an asset.  In times of war, all assets should be available.  I wish they just add this to the mothball fleet.

 

I generally agree.  It sounds like its days as a beloved "asset" had passed.  In times of war, it certainly could've been a vessel,... whether or not it would be an asset or liability might be in question.  Still emotional for those who love her and still sad to see it go.

 

Maybe with it being gone the case for a replacement will be bolstered, and maybe that replacement will come sooner rather than if it had been mothballed.  ?? 

[bersaguy]

I generally agree.  It sounds like its days as a beloved "asset" had passed.  In times of war, it certainly could've been a vessel,... whether or not it would be an asset or liability might be in question.  Still emotional for those who love her and still sad to see it go.

 

Maybe with it being gone the case for a replacement will be bolstered, and maybe that replacement will come sooner rather than if it had been mothballed.  ?? 

 

To the best of my knowledge the next Carrier to come out is the USS Ford to be completed in 2016 and will have 4000 person crew which is about 800 less them most other carriers because of new higher technology being implemented.

[wewoapsiak]

The Stennis would have "volunteer" cleaning days aboard this and some of the other mothballed ships in Bremerton, these things were rusty pieces of junk who had been cut on and scavenged for various parts and pieces; good riddance.

[buck1032]

I made two deployments on the Stennis in later years. It doesn't even compare to quality of life on the Ranger. Hated the Stennis and the Vinson.

[gun sane]

For some reason this sort of makes me sad. My first two deployments were onboard her, 87 and 89. She was a great old ship and has always been my favorite, even if we sometimes struggled making water. LOL By the time I transferred I had over a year and a half of sea time on her, and that's just being on her Airwing.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/12/25/final-voyage-navy-pays-one-cent-to-scrap-aircraft-carrier/?intcmp=latestnews

 

From about the fall of '67 to the spring of '69, I was a snipe stationed in Ranger's No. 2 Auxillary Room turning sea water into fresh.  When I transferred to No. 4 Main Machinery Room to drive one the ship's propellers, everything from the boilers to the sailors had plenty of good water to use.  Did you late '80s guys spend too much time in the showers?  :grouchy:

 

But thanks for keeping 'em in the air, Buck.....Top Gun, bar none.

Edited December 26, 2014 by gun sane

[buck1032]

From my understanding it was mechanical issues they had with the evaps. Maybe poor snipes working on it? Don't know as I stayed topside. :) We did take Navy Showers. Sometimes it was only cold water, sometimes it was steam. You had to bounce the steam off the shower stall to get it cool enough to get wet by. LOL