What is better? 5 million in scrap steel, or 92 million a year in
economic benefits?

But I understand what you are saying. When they sunk my ship (USS
Samuel Gompers AD-37) you would have thought they would have removed
the 3 35,000 pound anchors.

Joe

Joe wrote:

What is better? 5 million in scrap steel, or 92 million a year in
economic benefits?


Yep... whatever the economic justification, it's more
fitting end for proud warship than to be melted down to make
razor blades.


One thing I wonder about, in 200 years will people be
touring the wreck, thinking that the U.S. had some kind of
major naval battle in the Gulf?

But I understand what you are saying. When they sunk my ship (USS
Samuel Gompers AD-37) you would have thought they would have removed
the 3 35,000 pound anchors.


Yeah, if you'd been able to scrounge up just one of those
anchors, take a sledgehammer and pound it out flat, you
could make two Red Clouds out of it!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

I spent many a hot day in the s. pacific chipping, priming and painting
those anchors. They were in good shape in the 80's. They were taken off
a WW II aircraft carrier. I'm sure some steel lobbiest had something to
do with it. We also had over 1300 ft of chain on each anchor. Each link
weighed in at 265 pounds. And the anchor windless was awesome! Nothing
like smacking a pelican hook and standing by 100,000 pounds of steel
racing by in a blur.

I do know the Navy took off the helm, binnacle, lee helm, and
chronometers, barometers ect from the wheelhouse. A friend is trying to
get them from the navy to start his own offical Sammy G museam. The
helm was 5 foot dia. Solid brass (no spokes)
and Mahogany knuckle groove trim, she was a pleasure to helm. One
complete turn to stbd, two turns to port, back to center could induce
about a 4 ft roll. Almost always gets the conning officer to run to the
rudder angle indicator just in time to see you on course, leaving him
scratching his head ;0)

Joe