The last WW11 Heavy Crusier

[renovate7]

Hey Mike Seymor, my dad was a Plankholder on the St Paul. I have quite a bit of St Paul memorabilia from his "cruise". Hank in Florida

[Mike Seymour]

Hank, I think she fired the last naval gun shot against mainland Japan at the end of WW2...Was your Pop aboard then? What rating was he?

[petesilfven]

The Talos worked well, but the guidance radar was the big problem. They put all of the high power electronics inside the antenna enclosures because at the time, there were no reliable rotary waveguide joints that would handle the power radiated. They had a very low MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures), and were almost impossible to service at sea out in the salt air.

Talos was an air breathing ram jet powered missile with a solid fuel booster, and was both conventional and Nuclear capable. It could be fired as a beam rider or in a terminal homing mode. It could be used both as a ground to air or ground to ground weapon.

Talos was part of the Typhon missile system, which included Talos, Terrier, and Tartar.

I don't think they gave away any armament in the conversion, when you consider that the nuke warhead was probably equivalent to the Nagasaki bomb.

[renovate7]

Mike my dad stayed aboard until 1947. He enlisted in the Navy in 1944 when he was 17. He was involved with plotting the courses. I think has battle stations were on one of the deck guns. I wish he was still here as I have a million questions I'd like to ask him (also a grandfather who was on Patton's staff). The St Paul was credited with firing the "last shot" in WWII. I have a "souvenir" book that was put out in 46 showing the history of the ship up till that point including pictures of all the crew in their respective sections.. I think it went into China right after the war ended when the communists were taking over. My dad didn't have any good memories about that. The ship was in Tokyo Bay when the surrender was signed and I have a couple of commemorative envelopes that were available only on that day. He sent letters home to his parents in them.

[Mike Seymour]

Hank, He was probably a Quartmaster, which I guess you could call a ships navigator and helmsman ( whole different thing than a Army Quartermaster). She was a good ship and I'm sure your Dad was proud to have served on her.
I wish my Dad was still her too..He was a WW2 sailor

[John Neuenburg]

The USS Des Moines the last of the ww11 all gun 8" heavy crusiers was towed to Brownsville, Texas for scrapping Surely a home could have been found for this magnificent ship,there was alot of interest but the navy makes it very very hard to get.The navy dosen't give a rats ass about these old ships yet they make it almost impossiable for organizations to acquire one, I think this has to change the navy does not own these ships the US taxpayers do.I know you can't save every ship but this was the last of an era of all gun warships , there is only one Crusier that has been saved the USS Salem a museum ship at Quincy Mass ,surely there was room in this country for two

Amen. It's a crying shame. But for the record I think the Des Moines was built in 1948, and also for the record Mike Seymour's St. Paul was built in 1944 and was involved in the late war Pacific raids. Mike was probably not a plank holder....

[Mike Seymour]

John wrote:
"Mike was probably not a plank holder"

You're right John, I was just a gleam in my daddy's eye in '44. I wasn't built until '46

BTW, If you want to read about a ship with a great WW2 history, Google up the USS O'Bannon DD-450. I was aboard her for two years..different war though...

[AROOGA]

Did you guys catch the History Chan. presentataion where the USS Johnston (DD) takes on the Yamamoto + a number of othe Japanese Central Force ships, stinging them like a bee until it was blasted and sunk? The Skipper was awarde the CMH post. Those guys were some gutsy dudes.

Semper Fi,
T.

[42cckw]

Thanks John you are correct , about the ship being built after the war and I did know that My tile should have read The last WW11 Type Heavy Crusier

Thanks Jim 42cckw

[David M. Carpenter]

Aroogah:

There is a fantastic book LAST STAND OF THE TIN CAN SAILORS, about that particular engagement.

I have been involved with BB-55 for about 10 years. It has been a fine time, and a great honor to be associated with her and the crew.

[Newt]

petesilfven

Does the name Tom Cambel from NJ ring a bell from your Navy Days?

He's my neighbor

[petesilfven]

I checked, and Tom came aboard after I left. I was gone in Sept. 63.

[Newt]

Tom is a neighbor of mine and I new he was active with the reunions. Small world.

[acmack]

I just got back from a scenic train ride through Newport R.I. The train passes through the Naval base. I got a quick photo of the Forestal at anchor with my camera phone. Right next to it is the Saratoga.
The conductor/tour guide said the the Forestal is scheduled to be towed to Florida this summer for sinking as a reef barrier.
He said the Saratoga is being saved for a museum as about 12 million has been raised by volunteers for it's refit. He doesn't know if Newport will be the final location. David

[MUTT_KAHUNA ED]

Here's a pic of the USS Des Moines on her final journey