Battleship Cove

[Jeeves]

OK-- so I'll try doing this somewhat chronologically...first thing we see upon entering was a landing craft the boys encountered...

I took a shot from where the pilot would've been...

That's the boys running away....they ran everywhere...I didn't....where do they get all the energy?

Parked next to these was a Huey and a Cobra....my battery on the phone got low before I got shots of the Huey-- but maybe someone here might like these....

Couldn't get shots of the outside as they had it cordoned off...

And from afar when I had charged up again-- a Trojan...sorry- only shot I got-- we were there for ships don't you know

I'll post those separately...

 

[Hawkwrench]

That cobra is interesting. It looks like a G model with the old dual nose turret, but it has a newer style TSU on its nose with a sugar scoop exhaust. Never seen one of them before!
Maybe Centaur can help out on this one as I'm not much up on my Cobras.
Cool looking chopper nonetheless.


Tim

 

[Jeeves]

Then it was time to get all the gear to the bunks...my son's the smiley one...

You'll never guess which bunk I ended up with

Next up was the Lionfish-- I ended up taking pics there with Luke's phone so I didn't get many with my own...I also hadn't charged it up yet

We then toured the destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy Jr....where I got another shot of the sub and Big Mamie behind her

They also have an East German missile ship called the Hiddensee there that was very interesting....

After that- we got ready for dinner on the ship which happened right after the ship closed to the general public...we had 36 in our group, there was another 20 Scouts...and another group of Canadian scouts Food was excellent...and from 6-10pm we had free time to explore. I stayed with my son and the other three from when I was their den leader...but they were running around playing Manhunt...and I realized I was the only adult around as everyone else did their own thing. Hey-- I paid $65 to come here- I wasn't about to be babysitter....so I took off on my own

First off some shots from the bow--

While there- three of my boys came up so I grabbed a shot...

They then realized the 40mm mounts could be cranked around and up and down so they were busy for an hour or so Read up on my history-- Massachusetts saw some action at Casablanca for Torch...

They had this near the 40mm mount....

We were able to crawl inside one of the 5" and 12" gun mounts...tight quarters...

The top deck closed at sunset so I got up to the bridge area...Lucas beat me to the seat in the front with the view

And a shot of the bridge area with all the steering and compass instruments...

 

[Jeeves]

Then it was on to the lower decks-- saw sick bay, the armory area, and the powder magazine...this was deep in the barbettes...

I can't quite describe the feeling...as it was near 8 pm and I was all alone in the bowels of the ship- it was just so surreal thinking of the men all those months fighting in the Atlantic and Pacific...can't say it was like their ghosts were there since Big Mamie never lost a sailor in combat but it was just so cool...I was like a big kid.
Here's a shot of the dentist's area for Doc Steinman

Then- to my delight-- a deck entirely dedicated to models....hundreds of them...I spent an hour in here alone...and took only a handful- whatever really struck me...some didn't come out great as the lighting in some areas was not great.

I imagine these were done long before all the nifty new WWI tank kits came out

 

[Jeeves]

And a special section for my new interest- Main Battle Tanks

Loads of talent in the Fall River area- although I didn't see anything from our resident Bostonian Ken If only they knew the talent

Soon after all that it was lights out...and at floor level- well-- almost all lights out...

Between that, being near the door that led to the area where the head was (letting in arctic blasts of air), and about 7-10 people snoring, I didn't sleep well.

Next morning-- after breakfast- we did the group shot...

And I did a quick run through of the PT Boat house...look Saúl--

The Packard engine on these was a beaut!

And a nice little dio there to wrap it all up...

That's it- I had a blast and would recommend it to any and all who can make it there!

 

[lupanzer]

Fantastic stuff , Mike!...great photos ... thanks for sharing :drinks

Luiz.

 

[phantom II]

Nice Mike . Thanks for sharing the pictures

Cheers, Christian B)

 

[SA Dave]

Ohy man that looks like an awesome visit

 

[moon puppy]

Of all the photos of the PTs I've never seen the planking, I thought they were plywood sides and you didn't have the planking look.

Thanks for this Mike, looks like a fine time!

 

[Swordsman]

Glad You had Fun Mike, thanks for the great info & photos ... :captain

 

[Tojo72]

Very nice,would love to check that out,looks like all had a great time.

But I only could put the wife thru so much,last year was the USS Midway,we have done the New Jersey and the Intrepid in the past,she is real good about that stuff.

This year will be the Airforce Museum and the NFL Hall of Fame,so I cant push it.But must put this on the list.

 

[JSteinman]

Ultra modern dental facilities I see. Did you see where the Massachusetts was hit by a French shore battery?

 

[centaur567]

The Cobra is a Q model I think. Just past a G model. I would love to know what the tail numbers were. Gary

 

[Gator]

Very cool.

 

[Jeeves]

Ultra modern dental facilities I see. Did you see where the Massachusetts was hit by a French shore battery?

Hey John-- yeah- the pic under the boys at the anchor shows the shrapnel damage. They had the armor plate piece that was pierced by the Jean Bart on a stand right next to our bunks and I never took a pic :idonno

Gary-- I did get a partial tail shot and from what I can see, it might be 0-16088? Or maybe H6088? The tail rotor is partially concealing it...

 

[Hawkwrench]

Spending the night on a warship. Man, I bet that was some fun. I've never been on a ship before. According to mom, me and my brother went aboard a sub one time when we were kids, but I don't remember it.
That would be cool to do. :skipper

Tim

 

[Sherman 18]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[SA Dave]

I get seasick just looking at the cool pictures

Hope your boy had as much fun as you obviously had

 

[Rhino]

WOW! A sleep-over on a Battleship! How FUN!! I enjoy the "Grown-up Jungle Gym" that Navy Museum ships can be! Thank for the cool pictures!! :dude :salute

It's a pleasure to see some our young people get to experience An old Battle wagon! :skipper ldguy

Well Done!! :yipee

 

[ErnieS]

Cool pics, glad you had a good time. I did that trip a few years ago with my son and it was fun and educational. We slept in the little alcove compartment that was hit by the Jean Bart with the shrapnel dings in the floor. I drew the short straw and got the top bunk.....I slept (not well) with one arm wrapped around the chain as the thought of rolling out 6 feet up and landing on the 8 inch thick armored deck was not a pleasant one! The insides of the main turrents were cool as well, coulden't imagine what is was like inside there when a full salvo was fired!!!

The Cobra I believe used to fly with the Rhode Isand National Guard.