Navy's New Defense Is Small But Mighty

[Beachmaster]

There are three different "areas" where the Navy deals with "small boats".

First, you have the units that are protecting harbors.
Second, you have the new Riverine Squadrons. .
Finally, there are the Naval Special Warfare boats.

You are missing quite a few "areas" that deal with boats.

The largest area is the Amphibious Navy. In addition to the landing craft like LCVP (Higgins Boats) Mike 6, Mike 8, and LCUs, the Navy uses command and control boats, as well as salvage craft (including amphibious wheeled boats called LARCs)

The next area is salvage. Navy divers have a large assortment of boats that they use.

Then there is the Amphibious Construction battalions (Called PhibCBs) who use modified Landing craft as "pusher" boats and tugs to control causways and barges. and assist in building and salvage ops.

Of course, every ship has a "Motor Whale Boat" at the ready in case of a man overboard. These boats are mounted so they can be quickly lowered with a crew and rescue personel if needed. During Flight Ops, or other hazardous ops (like refueling at sea, or underway repleneshment) these boats are usually staffed and ready to drop into the water in just moments.

Most ships also have a Captains GIG (fancy boat) , which is used to transport the captain, or others from ship to ship, or ship to shore. In addition, larger vessels may also have an Admirals Barge (bigger fancy boat).

There are a lot of TUG BOATS in the Navy. While generally not regarded as "small boats" they are classed as boats, and not ships.

The other area is in Security. While stationed overseas, or in combat areas, at anchor, the Navy will deploy Security patrol boats that keep other boats or enemy divers away from the Navy ships. These boats could be the ships own (like a Gig or motor whale boat) loaded with some sailors and hand weapons, or could be more specialized boats like a RIB or Fast Craft and mounted weapons.

 

[280PLUS]

What's that? You say you need an engineer for a run in the motor whale boat?

I've got at LEAST a couple of good MWB / Captain's gig stories...

 

[Brrlgrrl]

Armoredman- I think you're right that riverboat marks the enterance to the museum here on the island. (If it is the boat that is painted like a shark). The only big ship left here is the USS Oriskany, which is scheduled to be sunk of the coast of Florida this month to act as a reef.

 

[280PLUS]

Funny you should mention the Oriskany...

Oriskany departs for final destination

By Troy Moon
Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal

The carrier Oriskany will be towed out to the Gulf of Mexico today — her final trip before being sunk 24 miles southeast of Pensacola on Wednesday.

“The Mighty O,” as the veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars was called, will serve as the world’s largest artificial reef.


The ship will leave Allegheny Pier at Pensacola Naval Air Station about 10 a.m. today, base spokesman Harry White said. At least three tugboats will navigate the 888-foot-long Oriskany away from the pier, but only one tugboat will haul the ship out to the Gulf. The trip from Pensacola Naval Air Station to the reefing site will take from 10 to 12 hours, White said.

Veterans and the public wanting to see the Oriskany depart can watch from the base seawall, White said.

But those hoping for a closer peek at the 32,000-ton ship are warned not to get too close.

No recreational or commercial vessels will be allowed within 500 feet of the ship during the towing process, said Capt. Brad Williams of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, which is coordinating state and federal agencies for the reefing process.

Once the ship arrives at the reefing site, boaters will have to stay at least one mile away from the Oriskany.

“This obviously is a big ship,” Williams said, “and the safety zones are necessary to keep everyone out of harm’s way. Keeping the public safe is paramount, and you also have to remember there are explosives on board the Oriskany.”

About 10 a.m. Wednesday, weather permitting, sailors from the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 6 Detachment-Panama City will detonate charges on pipes and valves in the bottom of the ship. The unit will use about 500 pounds of explosives to sink the ship, which is expected to come to rest under 212 feet of water.

The plan is for the explosives, once detonated, to fracture the valves and surrounding piping, causing the Oriskany to slowly flood. Estimates for how long the Oriskany will take to sink to the bottom range from two hours to seven hours. Navy officials said they doubt spectators will see any explosions, though they may hear them.

Navy, Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officials will be in vessels while the Oriskany is being towed to enforce the 500-foot zone during towing and will be stationed around the Oriskany once it reaches the sinking destination to keep boaters a mile away.

Although the ship is being sunk to become a diving destination, divers will have to wait at least 48 hours after the sinking before exploring the ship. Navy divers will inspect the ship once it is sunk.

“There will likely be floating debris following the sinking that will have to be picked up,” Williams said. “Not only that, the experts with the Navy say there will likely be some air released coming to the surface for a short period of time.”

Divers are excited about the new reef, which is expected to support a variety of marine wildlife.

If the sinking goes as planned, the first charters could head out to the Oriskany reef as soon as Saturday. Nearly 20 people already have signed up with Scuba Shack/Wet Dream Charters to dive the Oriskany on Saturday, said Eilene Beard, one of the company’s owners.

“It’s going to be an awesome wreck and add a new dimension to diving in Pensacola,” she said. “We’ve been getting phone calls from all over the world already. People can’t wait.”

 

[Brrlgrrl]

Wow 280- I must be wrong. This ship that I assumed was the USS Oriskany isn't near ready to leave the island. It's still full of PCBs, as well as other equipment I think they wouldn't abandon. Even though I see this ship everyday I will have to get a little closer, to find out who she is. It's the only one left at Mare Island. I just rechecked. It has to be her, she doesn't look ike she's going anywhere anytime soon. What the heck do I know?!?!?

 

[280PLUS]

No biggie. I was stationed at Mare Island for a while. Best chow hall ever...

What's the status on the America? Last I heard she was waiting to get blowed up for tests. Maybe it's her?

 

[Brrlgrrl]

Ok finally figured it out. It's the USS Tripoli. She was sold to the Army a few years ago, and will be involved in missle tracking experiments.
No more Navy here, this base was decommisioned.

 

[280PLUS]

The closed the Navy's best chow hall?

How long ago? I was in the last Nuke class to go through there and that was 1976.

 

[280PLUS]

Navy Ex-Aircraft Carrier Sunk, ‘Reefed’ off Pensacola
Story Number: NNS060517-05
Release Date: 5/17/2006 1:02:00 PM


From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The ex-Oriskany, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, became the largest ship intentionally sunk as an artificial reef May 17 when it was sunk approximately 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Fla.

After 25 years of service to the Navy in operations in Korea, Vietnam and the Mediterranean, ex-Oriskany will now benefit marine life, sport fishing and recreation diving off the coast of the Florida panhandle.

The 888-foot ship took about 37 minutes to sink below the surface after strategically placed explosives were detonated at 10:25 a.m. CDT. The Navy developed an engineered sink plan to place the 32,000 ton ship upright on the ocean floor in a north-south orientation at an existing artificial reef site at a depth of approximately 212 feet, as requested by the state of Florida.

“The Navy and Florida team performed flawlessly to execute today’s sinking. The Navy is thrilled that ex-Oriskany will continue to serve the United States as a tourist and diving attraction off the coast of Florida,” said Glen Clark, deputy program manager of the Navy’s Inactive Ships Program Office. “This is a fitting new beginning for this illustrious ship, and we are proud of the information she has provided us for the reefing of future Navy ships as artificial reefs."

The Navy has been working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Escambia County Marine Resources Division and the local Pensacola area community since 2003 and has conducted several scientific studies that demonstrated that ex-Oriskany would create an environmentally safe artificial reef.

The ex-Oriskany was the first ship to be environmentally prepared using the EPA’s “Best Management Practices for Preparing Vessels for Use as Artificial Reefs,” and is also the first ship to receive a risk-based Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) disposal approval from the EPA based on the agency’s findings that the reefing would not pose an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.

A few days before the scuttling event, a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team placed explosives and detonation equipment on 22 sea chest pipes and valves inside the ship, which were armed the morning of the sinking.

Ownership of the vessel transferred to the state of Florida as the ship landed on the ocean floor. A 2004 Florida State University study estimated Escambia County would see $92 million a year in economic benefits from an artificial reef.

The Navy will start to offer additional ships for artificial reefs later this year.

 

[Brrlgrrl]

Sadly, Mare Island closed its military doors in 1996. The city of Vallejo owns it, as well as US Army, Coast Guard and a private entity. The private entity is trying to make it a residential and commercial mecca. It has been pretty much a ghost town around here for the last few years, but it is starting to pick up.
I guess the island had it's own power plant for steam heat, and since no one is here to run it, we have no heat. We still have a post office on the island, but they don't fly a flag, and one would never even know it was there. It's funny you would say they had the best chow hall. There is no food out here. Nothing. No cafe, no drive-thru, not even a little store.
The cool thing for me is, my Grandpa worked out here when my Mom was born and now I do. The only really great part of working out here besides seeing some really interesting things go on, is it's a really short reverse commute for me.
I would rather the military hadn't closed the base. It was the first and largest in California, without it I feel we are less secure. I wonder what they are planning on doing with Concord Naval Weapons Station.