Salute to the Arizona

[danzig]

And all those who died and the other ships sunk. Probably one of the top defining moment in US history. Some pretty interesting photos at http://www.navsource.org/Naval/arph.htm and http://history1900s.about.com/librar...indexpearl.htm.

The huge old battleship age is something I wished I lived thru just something so fascinating about the era of naval battles before the missile era.

[imb39]

Visited Pearl Harbour a few years ago. It was a very moving experience. Very sobering.

The battleship is more... 'romantic.' The ships were, on the whole, very elegant designs. The Hood, Richelieu, Bismark and Iowa were all very beautiful designs. That is quite unusual for the French! The Dunkerque BC were also very beautiful. They must have been designed by a Briton.

[Kanaric]

I hear the ship is falling apart, hopefully that is untrue but I wouldn't doubt it being that its been in salt water, which rusts. I definately want to see it before that happens.

[danzig]

I hear the ship is falling apart, hopefully that is untrue but I wouldn't doubt it being that its been in salt water, which rusts. I definately want to see it before that happens.

Yeah the condition of it is slowly decaying more and more and ironically may cause an enviromental concern since supposely atleast 500,000 gallons of oil/fuel is still inside the ship. It is definately a place worth seeing once in your lifetime.

The battleship is more... 'romantic.' The ships were, on the whole, very elegant designs. The Hood, Richelieu, Bismark and Iowa were all very beautiful designs. That is quite unusual for the French! The Dunkerque BC were also very beautiful. They must have been designed by a Briton.

Heh yeah definately a more 'romantic' aura to them and the entire era. The ships themselves are awe inspiring to see combine with the nature of the combat which is usually cat and mouse before the actual battle...just a great era (though obviously bloody) of human history.

[imb39]

It this country's shame that she did not preserve HMS Warspite. This grand vessel fought at Jutland (indeed, at one point was underfire from the German High Seas Fleet as her steering had jammed [Windy Corner] and she inflicted more damage than she received).

She was involved in Narvik and sunk a large proportion of the German destroyer fleet, she was involved in many battles in the Med. At one stage she held the world record for the longest ranged hit when she hit an Italian battleship.

At the Battle of Calabria on 9 July 1940 she hit the Italian flagship, Guilio Cesare, at the amazing range of 21 kilometres.

The Italians did not engage... She was also involved in the Battle of Cape Matapan and the Normandy Landings. She was also involved in the landings at Brest, Le Havre and Walcheren Island in 1944.

In addition to this she was present at the surrender of the Italian Fleet at Malta on 10 September 1943.

Great history - not matched by any other ship in the world at the time... Stupid politicians.

Off topic I know, but she is my favourite RN vessel. Not much can live up to her record.

[danzig]

Guess part of the reason is ships tend to have their own identity/personality to alot of us (freaks) unlike a tank or a plane (though specific models of a tank or plane have that). To politicans its just a hunk of metal like any other military equipment despite the fact these incredible machines achieved so much.

[imb39]

Yes... But the history that that ship went through. The HISTORY... Oh, I'm feeling weak at the thought that politicians could be so soulless. Having said that, they're politicians, so shouldn't expect too much.

[Francisco Montana]

[Legio XX Valeria Victrix]

On the topic of Pearl Harbor, I was sitting at work today, and the History Channel runs this program about how many historians think that FDR knew about the coming attack and let it happen. If you ask me, they could run that on any other day BUT today...I personally think it's complete and utter :wub:, but that's just my take. I find it somewhat offensive that they would suggest that 4,000 Americans were killed by the intentional negligence of their president, on the anniversary of the event.

Anyways, I agree with Danzig, a pivotal event in 20th Century US history, and one that should always be remembered.