Posted on 04/05/2012 6:34:25 PM PDT by matt1234
The U.S. Coast Guard unleashed cannon fire Thursday at a Japanese vessel set adrift by last year's tsunami, stopping the ship's long, lonely voyage across the Pacific Ocean.
A Coast Guard cutter fired on the abandoned 164-foot Ryou-Un Maru in the waters of the Gulf of Alaska and more than 150 miles from land, spokesman Paul Webb said.
Soon after the cannon fire started, the ship burst into flames, began to take on water and list, Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow said.
About two hours later, the vessel hadn't sunk and the cutter resumed shelling, Lt. Veronica Colbath said.
The vessel poses a significant hazard and the Coast Guard has been warning mariners to stay away, Wadlow said. Aviation authorities are also advising pilots to steer clear of the area.
Officials decided to sink the ship rather than risk the chance of it running aground or endangering other vessels.
(Excerpt) Read more at mynorthwest.com ...
25mm and 50mm can sink a vessel that size....with hundreds of rounds. If I were the Skipper, I’d challenge my Gunners Mates...3 rounds, 5/54=3 days shore leave, no curfew; Chief, and, or Officer of the Deck carte blanche to provide bail IF THE SHIP IS SUNK!
It's actually harder to sink a ship than it looks. I've done this... I was a Coastie in a former life, many years ago. I got to personally put some holes in and sink a few things out there. Derelict vessels are not uncommon, and we'd routinely sink them to keep them from becoming hazards to navigation. That-- and it was just plain fun.
Ships are designed to float and they have lots of spaces that trap air... From watertight working compartments to various voids and tanks. A little bit of air has enough bouyancy to support an enormous amount of ship. Sinking a ship that large will mean poking lots of holes in lots of places. They're probably in no hurry either. May as well drag it out as long as possible and use it as a great gunnery exercise.
My ship had a 3" deck gun (big, big fun!) and a couple of 50's. It only took the tiniest excuse to tune up the guns and play a bit. "Gee, cap'n... That there looks like a hazard to navigation to me... What do you think...?". :-)
No photos? No Video?
Boooo!
Because expending munitions is more fun than salvaging.
Anoreth woulda sunk it on the first try...
Sinking it deep is the only option.
Towing is not an easy operation. It's a way to lose two ships instead of just one.
“Cost of salvage towing (manpower, fuel, etc) probably far exceeds scrap value.”
Scrap is going for at least $300/ton currently so it would be proftable to scrap it.
My Son’s Destroyer sank a drifting yacht after they retrieved the dead captain!
My Son’s Destroyer sank a drifting yacht after they retrieved the dead captain!
My Son’s Destroyer sank a drifting yacht after they retrieved the dead captain!
My Son’s Destroyer sank a drifting yacht after they retrieved the dead captain!
My Son’s Destroyer sank a drifting yacht after they retrieved the dead captain!
My Son’s Destroyer sank a drifting yacht after they retrieved the dead captain!
Oh sorry !
He stood down in 1974 and only after his commanding officer traveled to the remote island in the Philippines and gave the order in person. His last orders were to never surrender and do anything necessary to keep the enemy off the Island indefinitely, even without any communications as often happened in island warfare. He did just that and sabotaged the natives for 30 years by burning rice, destroying airfields and docks. When relieved of duty, he still had his uniform, the original rifle in working order and hundreds of rounds.
Upon returning to Japan, he wept after seeing so many traditional Japanese values lost in the modern culture...
LOL! Keyboard jam?
That’s pretty lame! LOL
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