Wharf Rat's Home - A Shipmate Who Never Made it to Sea.

'It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.'

Preserving a piece of US Maritime History - invaluable

The USS Olympia is a cruiser that fought in the Spanish American War in 1898 and has been preserved in Philadelphia. She's a one of a kind ship, a national historic monument, and in danger. She needs approximately $10-15 million in repairs to keep her a viable museum for years to come. If you have the resources, or connections to those resources, please consider helping. (full disclosure - there is no financial benefit to me to ask the question - we need to save this ship for posterity). Please contact me at 612-599-1935 or bdskon@fedex.com if you have additional questions.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Stern dock U-turn for US amphibious ships (they mean well deck)

'The design of the America-class amphibious assault ship is to be amended to include a stern dock in the third-of-class and subsequent vessels, a senior US Navy official told Congress on 16 March. Sean J Stackley, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, told the House Armed Services subcommittee for Seapower and Expeditionary Forces that the service intends to "return to a well deck" in its amphibious flat-tops'.