MovieChat Forums > Pearl Harbor (2001) Discussion > USS Arizona

USS Arizona

posted 8 years ago by ronaldt49
6 replies | jump to latest

Would it have been better for the superstructure of the Arizona to be left in place rather than be removed to the deck? This would have more of an effect on visitors. They would see what the servicemen endured at the attack. The Superstructure would have to be reinforced for safety purposes as sea water would eventually eat away at its support, though.

Titanic has 29 years head start on rusting away. Eventually both will be no more. A pile of rust under the memorial visitor platform.

I know the Memorial was years into the future.

[–] CGSailor 8 years ago

The original plan was not to leave Arizona in place at all. Too far gone for salvage and recovery, she was still originally planed for removal and disposal. Cutting away rhe above water superstructure was just the first step in that plan. Then as efforts were concentrated on recovery of those vessels that could be salvaged and return to fighting took precedence, and as shipbuilding took off and Pearl bexame less of a home port for ships and more of a twmporary stopover to points further west.... the need to remove Arizona took less precedence. After the war, the decision was made to leave her as a memorial. But the superstructure was already gone at that point, removed early on during the initial recovery efforst after the attack.

While a few pieces of the structure are on display at various location in Arizona (like the State Capitol) Most of it lies as a rusting hulk unceremoniously dumped on Navy grounds at the Waipio penninsula (Western side of the Pearl Harbor entrance channel, below the Middle Loch)

It still remains there today.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

[–] ronaldt49 8 years ago

Thanks!
I knew there had to be a reason.
I had read that some of Arizona's weaponry had been recycled and put in service elsewhere. That makes sense.

CGS: You're a wealth of knowledge. It would be interesting just to meet you and spend an afternoon just talking. I was not in the military. High number in draft lottery in 1969 I flunked the physical. Most of my friends/associates had similar stories. I knew one person who died in Vietnam. Upperclassman in my school. We would have known each other only as much as schoolkids three years grade difference would know each other.

Brief flashback there.

Looking forward to reading more of your posts!

[–] CGSailor 8 years ago

I was but a baby, born during the Vietnam War. Desert Storm was my war.

Both my Father and Uncle joined the Navy during Vietnam, Uncle served as an Aviation Ordinanceman aboard Forestall, Dad was medically unfit during bootcamp due to a childhood injury involving a horse and a fence gate post.

Myself, I only served 4 years,and thanks to the vagaries of being in a critically overmanned rating combined with being in during a time of extreme cutbacks, was only ever a junior enlisted (E-3).
Most of my Military knowledge does not come from a lifetime serving, but from combining my limited firsthand knowledge with the vast knowledge of others who served, and a detailed study of the subject matter and the ability to separate bs for fact.

Many tend to mistake me for someone who served for many years in a long career in the Navy.
Not true, but I take that as a complement to my studies and knowledge.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

[–] BiffGG 8 years ago

I would add that I had read that the superstructure would have been removed at some point once the decision was made to leave Arizona where it was. It would have been too unstable relative to having an above water arch over the ship. I saw a special back in 2001 that stated that the super structure and masts that CG Sailor references are off limits to the general public.

[–] CGSailor 8 years ago

They are off limits to the general public.
But not because of themselves being off limits, but the location where they are dumped is off limits.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

[–] ronaldt49 8 years ago

PBS is running specials on both Arizona and Oklahoma using remote camera for Arizona and discussion info of why Oklahoma was only ship to capsize during the attack.

Check your local listings for viewing times.
My schedule shows multiple viewings over the next couple of weeks.

May be repeats but still interesting.