I got up early this morning so I would have some time on the way to the airport so I could stop at the Philadelphia Naval Yard. It had been 30 years since I had been there-and I wanted to see how it had changed.
A long time ago in a galaxy far away, a younger, stronger, and thinner version of me stayed there with the other members of my beloved alma mater’s rowing team when we went up for the Head of Schuylkill regatta. Being only a club sport then-and thus not a “real sport” in the eyes of the college, we had to save as much money as possible. Our coach had an in with someone there, himself being an ex-Navy pilot, so we got to stay in the Transient Personnel Unit there for free. Now mind you, this was 1977 and the Navy in those days was much different than it is now-and many of the residents there were in the process of leaving the Navy. Some through their own choice-others were being shown the door by their erstwhile employer. It was also during the time when beer was available in vending machines in the barracks, so the combination of beer and conversation with drug addled Sailors was indeed an education for yours truly.
We also tried to walk up Broad Street to Central Philadelphia, probably not a smart idea even nowadays, but damn near suicidal in those days. We walked probably 10 blocks past the old “Vet” when we realized that it was probably not good for our health to be walking through South Philly at night. We caught a bus soon after. God looks out for fools and drunks and that night we were both.
My real fascination was to walk over to the piers to see the decommissioned ships, tied in groups to the piers. Back in the late 70’s Philly ship yard was pretty full, with mighty vessels of a bygone era:
Not sure when this picture was taken, but the front piers were full of cruisers and either the New Jersey or the Wisconsin was there. For someone who knew he was going to be going into the Navy-but not yet knowing whether I would be flying from ships or driving them, it was a motivational experience. There was history here. Plus, say what you will, the big gun ships had a beauty to them, that their modern counterparts just don’t match.
One of my professors at the time had Commanded this beauty while he was on active duty. That ship was there in Philly in 1977:
I tell you all this as background to the sad sight that I saw today. The mothball fleet that is currently in Philadelphia- is a sad commentary on the state of the Navy today:
Side by side, are Ticonderoga, an unknown Spruance class, Thomas S. Gates and Arthur Radford
( Spruance class). I do not know the name of the LPD across the way.
As someone who walked the piers of Naval Base Norfolk when this particular ship was new- I was really sad to see the ship looking like it does today:
That is the USS Ticonderoga, first of the AEGIS class cruisers. Hard to believe she is mothballed now-the ship is not that old as I believe she was commissioned in 1983. That’s only 25 years old. I am sure there are hull life issues etc-but I find it just hard to believe that there could not be some use for this and the other 4 Tico’s ( The first four ships of the class had rail launchers for missiles, the rest had vertical launch systems-so the first four ships became sort of unique).
Far cry from earlier days:
Like I said, with a fleet that is only 280 ships, its hard for me to believe that there is still not some place for these cruisers in the fleet. Anywhere but here.
Like I said, you sort of have to have been in the Navy or love the Navy to appreciate how really jarring it is to see that ship in mothballs. Happens to all of them someday-but I would submit these vessels were taken before their time.