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kookbreaker · 14th August 2010, 04:08 PM

I'm a couple of days too late for this, but the date is set for the closing of the Olympia. A massive refit & repair bill along with a bad economy has meant the ship will no longer be open to the public, and in fact may be sunk.

I can understand this from an economy standpoint, although my frustration with the Philadelphia Maritime museum and city patronage looting center has greatly annoyed me. But why has the US Navy made no efforts in this direction? This ship is a very big part of their history, and there are almost no examples left.

Roadtoad · 14th August 2010, 06:28 PM

Remove the word "almost." I don't think there are any left at all.

I'm with you, this is a tragic waste.

theprestige · 14th August 2010, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by kookbreaker

I'm a couple of days too late for this, but the date is set for the closing of the Olympia. A massive refit & repair bill along with a bad economy has meant the ship will no longer be open to the public, and in fact may be sunk.

I can understand this from an economy standpoint, although my frustration with the Philadelphia Maritime museum and city patronage looting center has greatly annoyed me. But why has the US Navy made no efforts in this direction? This ship is a very big part of their history, and there are almost no examples left.

Bolding mine. You want to expand the Navy's budget to include not only maintenance of the current force and upgrades, but also provision for every museum ship dear to every historian's heart? By all means, please be my guest.

Ranb · 15th August 2010, 12:36 AM

If the Navy takes money from its budget to fix old ships that it no longer owns because it entrusted their care to the people they sold them to, then there is less money for the shipyard where I work.

Ranb

kookbreaker · 15th August 2010, 04:59 AM

The US Navy seems to have no trouble keeping the less relevant Barry afloat for their museum.

theprestige · 15th August 2010, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by kookbreaker

The US Navy seems to have no trouble keeping the less relevant Barry afloat for their museum.

Less relevant to you. I'm sure we could find a historian somewhere crying into his breakfast cereal about the lamentable state of funding for the Barry.

But in case you haven't noticed, the current Secretary of Defense is calling for $100 billion in budget cuts to the armed forces. I suspect the Navy isn't going to be very concerned about taking new museum-ship responsibilities any time soon.

kittynh · 15th August 2010, 12:30 PM

when the Navy gives a ship, they also make a commitment. For instance, the submarine at the Maritime Museum in Manitowoc Wisconsin has Navy Reservists that come and help fix it and do necessary work on it. It's a great way to do a reserve weekend, and skilled submarine reservists know what needs doing and how to do it safely.

I went on a tour of the Olympia. Beautiful ship. And a very important part of OUR history, not just the Navy history. With all we waste money on, keeping an important part of our history alive isn't a waste of money.

I remember reading that Grant's Tomb is near collapsing. However, Robert E. Lee's memorial and site is sitting pretty since Conferderacy buffs donate a ton of money. Not always from reputable groups (well White Supremist money is as good as any other I guess).

If you dont know our history, we are doomed to repeat it. And nothing makes history come alive so much as SEEING history. Reading about it in a book is all well and good, but SEEING a real battleship from the era, is priceless.

Roadtoad · 17th August 2010, 08:25 PM

Considering the amount of money spent on the B70 Valkyrie, to keep that damned thing in the public view, I would think any amount spent on the Olympia would be a drop in the bucket. And considering she's nearly the last of her breed, it would be well spent.

Fnord · 17th August 2010, 08:33 PM

Scrap it. The world needs more disposable razor blades.

Ranb · 19th August 2010, 02:02 PM

I wish the Navy would have saved the USS Triton or one of the Skate class nuclear boats in addition to the Nautilus. Shoehorning a nuclear power plant into a hull design (the Skates) intended as a diesel platform is interesting, and the Triton was a class all by itself. Unfortunately the most interesting parts of the tours (in my opinion) would be the engineering spaces which are still off limits to anyone except US citizens with a clearance and need to know.

Ranb

kookbreaker · 18th November 2010, 03:41 PM

She got a reprieve:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20...t_for_now.html

Roadtoad · 18th November 2010, 08:01 PM

What would be great is if someone like Newport News or someone else might take on the full restoration. This is a special vessel, and she deserves to be saved for future generations.

14th August 2010, 04:08 PM	#1
kookbreaker Evil Fokker Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,257	USS Olympia to close. Fate unknown I'm a couple of days too late for this, but the date is set for the closing of the Olympia. A massive refit & repair bill along with a bad economy has meant the ship will no longer be open to the public, and in fact may be sunk. I can understand this from an economy standpoint, although my frustration with the Philadelphia Maritime museum and city patronage looting center has greatly annoyed me. But why has the US Navy made no efforts in this direction? This ship is a very big part of their history, and there are almost no examples left.
kookbreaker Evil Fokker Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,257	__________________ Thanks for helping me win Best Children's Gifts and Best Toys in Philly Voter in 2011 & 2012! Spectrum Scientifics - My store - Google it people!

14th August 2010, 06:29 PM	#3
theprestige Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8,905	Originally Posted by kookbreaker I'm a couple of days too late for this, but the date is set for the closing of the Olympia. A massive refit & repair bill along with a bad economy has meant the ship will no longer be open to the public, and in fact may be sunk. I can understand this from an economy standpoint, although my frustration with the Philadelphia Maritime museum and city patronage looting center has greatly annoyed me. But why has the US Navy made no efforts in this direction? This ship is a very big part of their history, and there are almost no examples left. Bolding mine. You want to expand the Navy's budget to include not only maintenance of the current force and upgrades, but also provision for every museum ship dear to every historian's heart? By all means, please be my guest.
theprestige Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8,905

15th August 2010, 04:59 AM	#5
kookbreaker Evil Fokker Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,257	The US Navy seems to have no trouble keeping the less relevant Barry afloat for their museum.
kookbreaker Evil Fokker Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,257	__________________ Thanks for helping me win Best Children's Gifts and Best Toys in Philly Voter in 2011 & 2012! Spectrum Scientifics - My store - Google it people!

15th August 2010, 12:23 PM	#6
theprestige Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8,905	Originally Posted by kookbreaker The US Navy seems to have no trouble keeping the less relevant Barry afloat for their museum. Less relevant to you. I'm sure we could find a historian somewhere crying into his breakfast cereal about the lamentable state of funding for the Barry. But in case you haven't noticed, the current Secretary of Defense is calling for $100 billion in budget cuts to the armed forces. I suspect the Navy isn't going to be very concerned about taking new museum-ship responsibilities any time soon.
theprestige Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8,905

15th August 2010, 12:30 PM	#7
kittynh The Hupsu Detective auctioneer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: If I told the aliens could find me, and you know they read this forum Posts: 22,726	when the Navy gives a ship, they also make a commitment. For instance, the submarine at the Maritime Museum in Manitowoc Wisconsin has Navy Reservists that come and help fix it and do necessary work on it. It's a great way to do a reserve weekend, and skilled submarine reservists know what needs doing and how to do it safely. I went on a tour of the Olympia. Beautiful ship. And a very important part of OUR history, not just the Navy history. With all we waste money on, keeping an important part of our history alive isn't a waste of money. I remember reading that Grant's Tomb is near collapsing. However, Robert E. Lee's memorial and site is sitting pretty since Conferderacy buffs donate a ton of money. Not always from reputable groups (well White Supremist money is as good as any other I guess). If you dont know our history, we are doomed to repeat it. And nothing makes history come alive so much as SEEING history. Reading about it in a book is all well and good, but SEEING a real battleship from the era, is priceless.
	__________________ WWW.BADALIEN.ORG - not all the buttons work yet, and the science content is coming...but it's ALIVE!

14th August 2010, 06:28 PM	#2
Roadtoad Bufo Caminus Inedibilis Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Gone. Posts: 15,739	Remove the word "almost." I don't think there are any left at all. I'm with you, this is a tragic waste.

15th August 2010, 12:36 AM	#4
Ranb Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WA USA Posts: 4,207	If the Navy takes money from its budget to fix old ships that it no longer owns because it entrusted their care to the people they sold them to, then there is less money for the shipyard where I work. Ranb

17th August 2010, 08:25 PM	#8
Roadtoad Bufo Caminus Inedibilis Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Gone. Posts: 15,739	Considering the amount of money spent on the B70 Valkyrie, to keep that damned thing in the public view, I would think any amount spent on the Olympia would be a drop in the bucket. And considering she's nearly the last of her breed, it would be well spent.

17th August 2010, 08:33 PM	#9
Fnord Metasyntactic Variable Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6,633	Scrap it. The world needs more disposable razor blades.
	__________________ Belief is the subjective acceptance of a (valid or invalid) concept, opinion, or theory; Faith is the unreasoned belief in improvable things; *and Knowledge* is the reasoned belief in provable things. Belief itself proves nothing.**

19th August 2010, 02:02 PM	#10
Ranb Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WA USA Posts: 4,207	I wish the Navy would have saved the USS Triton or one of the Skate class nuclear boats in addition to the Nautilus. Shoehorning a nuclear power plant into a hull design (the Skates) intended as a diesel platform is interesting, and the Triton was a class all by itself. Unfortunately the most interesting parts of the tours (in my opinion) would be the engineering spaces which are still off limits to anyone except US citizens with a clearance and need to know. Ranb

18th November 2010, 03:41 PM	#11
kookbreaker Evil Fokker Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,257	She got a reprieve: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20...t_for_now.html
kookbreaker Evil Fokker Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 9,257	__________________ Thanks for helping me win Best Children's Gifts and Best Toys in Philly Voter in 2011 & 2012! Spectrum Scientifics - My store - Google it people!

18th November 2010, 08:01 PM	#12
Roadtoad Bufo Caminus Inedibilis Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Gone. Posts: 15,739	What would be great is if someone like Newport News or someone else might take on the full restoration. This is a special vessel, and she deserves to be saved for future generations.