dude those things were deathtarps! I thought they gave up on them coz everyone kept crashing them spectacularly (made awesome vids though ahah) :D
They're still in service today because they spent so much damn money on them that they're trying to find some kind of redeeming value for them.
Uh, no. They're in service today because they freaking rock. The Marines think they're the best thing since sliced bread. (Like I said, my wife worked on them. I've heard things.)
They had some accidents in the prototype phases. The things that led to those accidents have been fixed.
I'm still trying to figure out why they call these ships amphibious... they can't go on land... so wtf?
they are not calling the ships amphibious. the ships are amphibious assault ships. \"amphibs\" as they are known in the Navy come in all shapes and sizes. this was mine when I served in the Navy in the 70's - 80's she carried a detachment of 2000 Marines and 40 helicopters and Harrier jets and also had a floodable welldeck in her stern to launch landing craft including the air cushion type.
and this was her fate July of last year when the Navy used her as a Target ships
it has long been a Navy tradition to do such things, back in WW2 5 brothers served onboard a ship together (before it was banned for this reason)all 5 were killed when the ship was attacked and sunk, the Navy named a ship after those brothers calling it the U.S.S. The Sullivans. http://www.sullivans.navy.mil/home.html
so I think its a great idea the we \"Never forget\" 911 and name this ship the U.S.S. New York and use that metal to connect it to the city as a memorial
They also used some metal from the WTC to build the mars rovers. And there's Mobi's sculpture. Makes me wonder how many other places WTC wreckage has been \"reincarnated.\"
That picture you posted sure looks like USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3). . . If it is I helped build LHA 3 at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula Mississippi. The LHA stands for "Landing Helicopter Assault" As time has gone by the fact that LHA 3 carried "Amphibious" equipment allowed the term for the ship to "morph" into "Amphibious Assault Ship".
With all the "hype" on "recycling", "conservation of materials", what a waste that this ship ended up as it did.
Spooky: I just missed being a Plank owner on Belleau Wood by 3 months, she had just arrived in San Diego when I was stationed on her, I served as her lead Helmsman for the 4 years I was on board. I'm still ticked at the Navy for sinking her
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Sunken ships do occasionally have interesting environmental benefits.
Despite its controversial safety record, there's no doubt that the Osprey is a marvel of modern aviation. It's the only aircraft of its kind and it does something plenty of people probably deemed impossible. Yes, it cost a huge fortune to develop, but it is a damn ambitious piece of work.
< USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3)
If it is I helped build LHA 3 at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula Mississippi. The LHA stands for "Landing Helicopter Assault" As time has gone by the fact that LHA 3 carried "Amphibious" equipment allowed the term for the ship to "morph" into "Amphibious Assault Ship".
