I really enjoy these Szimanski-style visits to other museum ships and talking not just about the history of the object but also the complexities of conservation and display.
I volunteer for the Bama's living history crew and I was so excited for our last drill that brought in workers and volunteers from other museum ships around the country for the HNSA yearly meeting. Almost fell out of my chair at the luau when they mentioned the New Jersey and the people who make their videos were there as well. Happy they did a video by the ole drum while they were down.
Im also grateful that they did a video here the last time I was on that beautiful sub was when I slept on the uss alabama in 2019 and they are both beautiful ships and I love being able to see them anytime I cross the bay
We went to Alabama for vacation this year and actually spent two days at the USS Alabama park. Absolutely AMAZING! To be able to freely walk these ships and just take it all in just totally blew us away! Thank you to all who work endlessly to make these beautiful ships available to those who want to see them.
I have this Greek mate who has been living in Australia for around 20 years. One day while driving to Melbourne we stopped off in Holbrook for a hambuger. As you may be aware Holbrook is a small inland town next to a creek, but has some history attached to submarines and torpedoes. While walking back to the car he noticed the Oberon class sub sitting in the middle of a park buried up to it's waterline. Of course it is only the outer hull and sail but in a green-grassed park, from a distance looks like a sub at sea. "How the bloody hell did that get here" he asked. I just couldn't help myself and replied, "well during the last big flood it came up the swollen creek to deliver goods and evacuate some of the towns people. And while there the flood receded and it's been stuck there ever since". He took the bait hook, line and sinker and now I fear that if he ever finds out the truth, he might kill me.
Now that's a pretty good yarn. There are a number of submarine displays like that on various navy bases, with just the superstructure and sail, and a concrete blob in the shape of the hull above the waterline. Looks great from a distance.
Hi there John. I went to the museum for the pacific in Fredericksburg Texas I think that’s the right town. Any way I was in such a hurry to get inside that I walked right past the conning tower there on the left side of the entrance. I thought that’s a nice display. On the way out and back to the car I saw the bow coming up out of the grass. I tried to find a place where I could see the whole thing. Very moving memorial to that service. Great museum everyone should try and see it if they can. Calm seas and fair winds.
@@CSltz Nev, just a bit of trivia. Around 35 years ago when the Oberon class boats were in service with the Australian navy, I had the privilege of attending a small cocktail party on board as a guest of the Commander. The boat was visiting Sembawang naval dock in Singapore at the time. I was also the guest of the Captain of the USS New Jersey during it's stopover in Singapore on return from the Middle East. I was shown around the ship, from top to bottom and will never forget the experience. Both vessels were operational at the time and therefore quite different to museum pieces.
@@gone547 well I wasn’t a guest of the Commander or anything like that. I bet you have stories. I did get to see and board the U.S.S. New Jersey on her way back to the U.S. from Viet-Nam. Didn’t get to go all through her but the things I got to see and hear have stayed with me for years this was around 1969. I remember the officer taking us around the ship where could. Probably the two highlights were the deck mounted high powered glasses. Outside of the bridge. I swear you could look across the bay at Subic and see very clearly the sailors walking on the deck of the other ships. The other one was that there were rings that were painted on the bottom of the ship under the main turrets. That “If you should happen to get caught down there and the alarm goes off. Don’t get in that circle “ If that’s true or not it’s still a good story for a young bunch of dependents. He signed our little information pamphlet. I sure wish that I could find that. But with all the moves things get lost. Sorry but thanks for letting me ramble on.
@@CSltz I was impressed by the top-to-bottom conning tower and the thickness of it's doors, the inside of the turrets, the replacement of WW2 AA guns with missile launchers and Phalanx(?) and it's wood-lined deck. Hard to believe that was so long ago. A very, very impressive ship with an equally impressive history. A salute to thosed who served on her, a true honor.
In bridge design they support the beams on a neoprene bearing pad, perhaps the same could be done to minimize direct contact with the concrete anchors. I know the submarine floating away is a very serious issue but my inner 10 year old thought “How cool would it be to have a submarine wash up in your back yard!”
i visited the submarine batfish in oklahoma with my wife and friends!! i couldn't believe how confine the compartments are!! it was awesome!! and got to see the mast of the uss oklahoma!! watching from missoura!! love the mighty mo!!👍🤘🖖😉🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@shaider1982 during the spring storms of a few years ago it got flooded pretty bad , as I recall the batfish did float and was damaged pretty severely.
im a big boy! it was hilarious seeing me try to squeeze thought that sub!! my wife and my long time friends were laughing!! it was an awsome experience!! i have great respect for them sailors on them subs!!🖖😉
Oh my gosh! I remember seeing this with my Boy Scout Troop! We had so much fun seeing the planes and stuff. I also remember sleeping on the USS Alabama and playing manhunt with some of the other troops. We also visited Pensacola Naval Air Base as well. So many good memories.
I remember reading about USS Batfish refloating during the 2019 OK floods. She's just sat on the ground on her hull, not chained to anything, allowing her to float when the museum really didn't want her too.
The Batfish was moored by 4 cables but the 2019 flood was a 500 year flood that pushed those cables to their limit, causing 3 to snap and 1 to pull the mooring cleat and concrete block (estimated at approx. 10 tons) clear out of the ground. Another item no usually known is the Batfish has a cathodic electrical grid under the ground to prevent rust and damage to the hull that is in direct contact with the earth.
I was obsessed with WWII German U-Boats many years ago so I made it a mission to visit them. U-995 Type VIIC is on the beach in Laboe and of course in the USA the U-505 IXC in Chicago tidy in an enclosed museum.
I've been on the U-505, very well kept. It's now indoors and the room looks like a u-boat bunker. The Chicago Museum of Industry and Science is really worth going to see.
@@paulkenny5052 have you seen all the junk they pull out of it when they did a deep clean? I liked the Marriott's Great America ticket they found during the clean. Made me feel a bit old.
I've been to the USS Batfish SS-310 in Muskogee, OK which is on dryland and the USS Kidd DD-661 in Baton Rouge, LA which is permanently moored on the Mississippi river.
I've been to Mikasa park in Yokosuka, Japan, three times now. Mikasa is basically embedded in concrete up to the waterline. You can train some of the tertiary battery guns and can see a lot of the internal spaces which are used for displays and diagrams of the Battle of Tsushima. It's always very cool to visit the last pre-dreadnought remaining.
@@jeffjr84 mikasa condition is due to the interwar treaty system. Even though she is a pre-dreadnaught the treat still treated her as a battleship The same a texas or warspite. This left the Japanese with a few options keep her and have her count towards battleship tonnage, scrap her and free up tonnage, convert her to a training ship, or covert her to a memorial and museum. The Japanese decided to go with memorial the other signing power agreed with the caveat that she be encased in concrete.
Same here. I had to see the Mikasa before my 5 years in Japan were up. Glad I did, but I found it to be a little underwhelming that she's sunk into a pit of concrete.
I just visited this sub and battleship Alabama last week. After watching several of your videos, it was incredibly exciting to see it first hand. One day I hope to see the USS New Jersey as well!
My son and I did a number of overnight stays with the Cub and Boy scouts. We went half a dozen times, and if we could go tonight, we would do it in a heartbeat
One of the real hidden gems of that place is a nature trail that goes off into the tidal marsh and ends in a two story gazebo in the midst of a see of reeds. When the wind blows, you can see it's patterns, ebbs and shapes. If you're not careful you can spend hours watching it.
@@Letyourcolorsblendwithmine On the other extreme, several times we have gone for sleep overs, the next morning there would be folks flying RC aircraft out front, doing some cool stuff. I also love the museum - seeing the YF-17 prototype is a subtle favorite.
I've visited U.S.S Alabama many times. One of my final memories with my dad before he died was going there with him and my daughter. He was wheelchair bound so could not climb around the ship, but he got rolled up onto the deck.
I have toured the USS Alabama and the Drum on three occasions. Furst when i was about 5 - 6 years old (55 years old now). My Mother was actually one if the children who gave milk money to have the Alabama brought to Mobile. The Drum was in water at that time. The next time I took my son when he was about 5 years and Daughter as a baby. Drum had been damaged and could not be toured. The next time was when my daughter was about 6 years old, and Drum was out of water and able to tour. I remeber when they pulled drum out their was extensive work that had to be done on the stern it had large corroded holes. My kids loved touring and especially my Daughter we went from top to bottom. Great video I' m planning a trip to the USS Yorktown in a year or so.
Visited the USS Alabama and USSDrum several years ago with my family, and some friends. I was pleasantly surprised at how well maintained that they both were! I really enjoyed the trip, though I can't say as much for my family and friends...I don't think they enjoyed it as much as I did. I think that this museum was set up the year I was born, 1964. Thank you so much for presenting this! Also, the Pensacola Aviation museum and Lighthouse is a special visit that I highly recommend! Thank you again!
I actually watched the process to move the Drum to land in the summer of 2001. Was a very interesting piece of engineering. I only wish i would have taken photos.
I've visited my local museum ships, USS Hazard and USS Marlin, here in Omaha, Nebraska. They are both out of the water but right next to the river and have wandered a bit when we get floods.
So glad to see you in my home state of Alabama. I visit and support the USS Alabama whenever I'm down that way. Will you be doing episodes aboard ship?
I used to live in Pensacola as a kid and would visit the Alabama and Drum all the time. The last time I was there the Drum was still in the water behind the battleship so you can tell it's been a few years:)
I've been aboard USS Cobia, SS245, which acts as a stand in for the 28 "freshwater" submarines built in Manitowoc, WI during WWII. The Cobia is still afloat in the Manitowoc River, is listed as a National Historic Place(and traditionally trades salutes with another National Historic Place that serves as part of Highway 10, the SS Badger car ferry). Cobia is also credited by the Wisconsin Maritime Museum as having the oldest known operational radar set in the world.
Ahhh I used to see these guys every year when I was a kid. Used to be you could go all the way up the conning tower and it was just so amazing. Ended up meeting a submariner while I was walking through USS Drum when I was like 8 years old and he gave us an awesome tour of the boat. Awesome place.
I remember touring USS Drum while it was in the water behind BB60 many times as a young kid and early teen. This is my home state park and one of my favorite places. Looking at Drum from The rear deck of BB60 (by the float plane) will never leave my memory
When we lived near Meridian Mississippi, we did make a trip to Mobile and went through the USS Alabama and the USS Drum. The Drum was still in water at that time. I wouldn't trade that day for anything. It's a precious memory.
USS Albacore (AGSS-569) in Portsmouth, NH It's research submarine that pioneered the US version of the teardrop hull form of modern submarines. Well maintained. Self paced tour. Nice museum ship to visit.
A number of years ago I took a driving tour of several states and visited the USS Drum on my way west and the USS Razorback in Little Rock on my way back east. It was good to experience a submarine both in and out of the water. Seeing the parts of the Drum that I couldn't see on the Razorback gave a little more perspective that I wouldn't have had otherwise. The folks in the Razorback visitors center asked me how the experience differed between the 2 boats. It was a very similar experience but I told them that at least their boat is still in water.
The USS Albacore is on dry land in New Hampshire. It was built here at the Portsmouth shipyard (when they built subs) it was to test the teardrop design.
I've visited DRUM twice; once as a kid when she was still floating, then a couple of years ago. A deck around the boat at the waterline would help preserve the sight of her afloat, but the underwater part could still be accessible. OR, build a dummy drydock deck around her to give the impression of being out of water for overhaul.
I was fortunate enough to grow up very close to Drum , Alabama , and the assorted exhibits . Was on Drum many many times before they pulled her out. So glad they did.
I remember visiting, Battleship Park, when I was a kid. The Drum, was still moored in the water at the time, and wasn't put on dry land until after hurricane Katrina came through. If I'm not mistaken, we toured the inside of Drum also.
My German teacher used to take us on field trips to the U-505 in Chicago as well as the Christ kindle market for our Christmas fieldtrip. Was always amusing to us. But was really awesome to see the submarine especially the inside tours.
Hello, I'm a ship-lover from landlocked Bavaria. So wherever I go, I strive to visit museum ships wherever possible, and come to think of it, a lot of them a on dry land, like: Cutty Sark in London, now propped up on a specially built steel cradle, connected to her framework. Even her keel is high in the air. Fram and Gjöa in Oslo. Two rather small ships designed to deal with immense ice-pressure, so I guess they wouldn't pancake easily. Echo in Picton. A Scow, designed to sit on the shore for loading and unloading. She sadly has been broken up meanwhile. U1 and Theodor Heuss in Munich. A submarine (inside a building, dry all around) and a lifeboat. And I know two local river-barges (Plätten), propped up next to the Inn river in Rosenheim, one of them inside a museum. This also reminds me of my cousin, who worked as a junior in an engineering firm, who was supervising a larger construction project. The concrete box, which was to form the basement had been cast when heavy rain set in and the water in the ditch around it rose faster than inside. It was saturday, nobody picked up the phone (the time before cellphones), so she, the office junior, had to decide that the basement was about to float up and destroy itself and it was best to just flood the whole thing to weigh it down. Luckily, her boss approved of her crisis management and all was well.
Steve from Annapolis Maryland keep up the good work I like to meet you one day maybe get involved in helping out with the ship's I really like to submarine stuff ships are cool too
I believe the last time I was on the drum was when she was still in the water. I think one of the major events that lead to the decision to bring the drum on land was a series of Hurricanes caused significant damage to the ship. It was either Opal or the major one a few years later that first started the discussion to bring her on land. I love that old boat. She has a long distinguished service history. One of the unique things about the drum though is I believe the conning tower was actually replaced mid war due to combat damage.
Visited the Alabama in '92' when the drum was still in the water, just aft of the Battleship. What a fabulous museum park. Perhaps the best in the country. Lots to see for us Viet Vets!
My wife and I visited the USS Alabama in 1977. The park was much smaller back the and the USS Drum was in the water parked behind the battleship. I was fascinated by what I saw, I know that many more pieces of equipment have been added since then
I have visited many times the captured German WWII submarine U505 at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry which is on land. Great school trip and many family visits also. This was great museum experience since so many things were “hands on” displays, something unique in late 60’s.
The Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, TX has The Japanese Midget Sub HA-19. It was one of the five midget subs involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor. It sits displayed inside the museum. Worth the visit if you're ever passing through the area.
I saw USS DRUM when I went to see USS ALABAMA several years ago. I have also made two visits to U-505 when it was on display in the open air. Seeing it now that they have it enclosed and safe from the elements is on my 'To Do' list.
I was in Texas about five years ago, so I visited the Lexington, Texas, and Sea Wolf park which has a sub and a destroyer escort on dryland. Interesting visit.
I also did that trip in 2018. I'd highly recommend it to anyone. It was a lot of driving since we started in Dallas, went to San Antonio, then Houston and down to Corpus and back to Houston. Thank god for Buc-ees.
You know a good way to solve both of the problems of not being able to see the undersides of a ship, and keeping it in the water? Aquarium Docking. Build an Aquarium around the ship, in or near where it would normally be in the water; pump out all the silt, salt, and other water garbage that would cause the ship extra damage and cloud the water, and keep the water clean and clear with aquarium filtration and such. Then, museum patrons can see the underwater parts by literally going into an underground area where they can see up through the water to the bottom of the ship, all the way around. Yes it is FAR more expensive, but it would give the best of both options. It would be INSANELY expensive though I think.
Been to the Uboat at the Science and Industry museum in Chicago. It used to be outside but dry docked and now they built a building around it to preserve it.
Seeing how sadly deteriorated the USS Ling had become from sitting in the mud and lack of maintenance I prefer seeing these ships properly mounted on stands.
I have been aboard both the Drum & the Alabama. The aircraft pavilion & outdoor displays are all awesome too. It's been a few years. I need to go again.
The Alabama museum is amazing. I went there a few years ago and could not believe the aircraft they had there in addition to the Alabama and Drum. They even have an A12 in the hangar.
Man, I wish I could've caught you there. I have spent so many days aboard the Alabama over the years ( same goes for the Drum, obviously), I'm actually shocked I wasn't there haha. I've also had the pleasure of being aboard the Iowa in the port of LA, but the New jersey is next on the list for sure, followed by the Massachusetts and North Carolina. Hope you enjoyed Mobile!
I live in Pensacola, Fl, about 60 mile east and have visited the Museum a number of times. I also lived near Charleston, S.C. and spent time at Patriots Point.
I remember going on her when she was still in the water behind the battle ship. I was a little fella. probably 35, 36 years ago. when we went about 12 years ago she was out of the water but had 2 and 3 foot holes rusted in the hull at the water line. they have done an excellent job with it.
The USS Albacore is a museum submarine in Portsmouth, NH. A trench was dug from the Piscataqua River across a roadway and a set of railroad tracks and then the sub was floated to its display location. Then the trench was filled in behind the sub and the water was pumped out. Albacore was a research submarine and the first sub to use the teardrop shaped hull used later in nuclear subs. Inside the depth and speed gauges are still covered as the sub's top speed and deepest dive depth are still classified.
I proudly served in the Navy and have been on the USS Alabama, USS Missouri, USS Drum while in the water and out on land, USS Pampanito as well as the USS Arizona Memorial. I also toured the Star of India although not a US military ship.
I think the way the Japanese brought the IJN Mikasa into a dry slip, closed it off, then backfilled to support the hull is a good way to preserve very old ships. Mikasa is the last of the late 19th century British battleships remaining, plus the flagship at Tsushima Strait in 1905. It is the centerpiece of a nice park on the waterfront in Yokosuka Japan, and if in the country, well worth the visit.
I have seen the German sub U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago many times. Back then, it was outside, behind the museum. In 2004, the museum completed an indoor display for the sub and moved it.
Just drove by there in late August with my daughter while driving cross country. We were going to stop but the evacuation warning for a hurricane prevented us since we had to get past New Orleans and further west. But I visited her in the early 90's when stationed in Athens, Georgia.
I saw Alabama & Drum in 2020. Very cool. Of the 4 battleships I've seen, Alabama is the second best after North Carolina. Aside from Drum, other ships on dry land I've seen are HMS Victory (hopefully going to get to see her again next year), HMS X24, and HMS Alliance.
I visited the Wasa museum in Sweden last year, they have en extensive part about the preservation of the ship. It, being wood, moves up to centimeters yearly. They control it as best they can, but time will win eventually. It has a pretty elaborate laser system to check the movement. Interesting stuff for sure.
I've been on both the Drum and Alabama twice. 1st time both were in the water, 2nd time both were out. (Alabama had a coffer dam around her so the water could be pumped out to repair the ship). As a kid it was exciting to go into a sub that was in the water, but as an adult I understand the logic of preserving dry.
On August 10th, 2018, I visited the Liberty Ship John W. Brown in Cambridge, Maryland. It amazes me how large even that ship was compared to me. She was sitting 10 to 11 feet in the water at the time, and I could see the propeller. The vessel is 100% still operational and can travel under her own power… for what that’s worth. I’m so glad I got to see a relic of a time of war so many years ago.
There's the Cutty Sark museum in London that is on dry land. It's quite the setup with the glass roof around the hull and you can fully walk under the copper clad hull and keel. Side supports suspend her up in the air. Pretty cool old sailing ship.
I've been on quite a few warships in my life but I think my favorite is the U505 in Chicago at the Museum of Science & Industry. Not only is the story surrounding the boat amazing but it's now in a fully enclosed building encompassing a huge array of artifacts, memorabilia and exhibits.
I saw the Drum and the Alabama back in the mid 1970s. The group I was with sang "Roll Alabama Roll" as we pulled into the park. It is about the CSA Alabama but it seemed appropriate.
As a local, I’ve visited Drum and Alabama a number of times. As for other dry land vessels, I’ve visited the German U-boat inside the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry a few times.
In November of 2019, we visited the Alabama and the Drum. both our sons who are retired from the Air Force were shocked at how cramped the interior of the Drum was! I served in the USS Blueback (SS-581), a diesel boat and though much newer, really didn't have much more space that the WW II boats.
Battleship NC is in Wilmington NC but wasn't marked on the map. My family has been to a number of ships. When I was a kid in the Boy Scouts we slept on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in Charleston SC. It was amazing, we slept in the same cots the crewmembers did while it was operational. Side note if you go to the Battleship NC while you are there the goalpost is probably gone by now but if you watched One Tree Hill thats where they filmed the "river court".
I have visited the U505 in Chicago many times since I was a kid. In all that time, it has been out of water. I was outdoors for many decades but within the last 20 years, it was moved to an underground cavern specifically designed for her.
My late father-in-law, Robert Fedor, served on the Drum as an EM3c. I have the diary of his time on the drum. Their first patrol was an especially terrifying one as a torpedo exploded halfway to a target. The Japanese tracked the torpedo wake back to the boat and launched 30 or more depth charges, many of them close in. Bob tells of cork insulation being knock down all over the boat. The first page in the diary was an account of the depth charging. After it was over, he removed that page, but you can still see the hashmarks on the edge counting the explosions. I'm sure he thought he was a dead man and made some notes on that first page he decided not to save. The courage of these men cannot be overstated. Bob went on to serve on the Queenfish, another boat with an interesting history.
I have visited the USS Stewart and the USS Cavalla on Pelican Island in Galveston many times. Both are on dry land even though Stewart is in a concert block for lack of a better term. As retired Navy it makes me a little sad yet from talking to some of the crew that maintains them they tell me it's easier and should allow a longer life. I plan to visit again next month when I go down for a cruise. I only wish I could visit Texas at the same time but she is closed preparing for drydock.
Many years ago was on the Drum and The Battleship Alabama.Was nice touring them.Didn't know until now the Drum is on dry land.How long has the Drum been on dry land?
The last time I was on the UUS Drum was the week before Catrina. In seeing the earlier damage, I think they did the right thing, and are doing well with their work!!!
I remember going to it as a kid when it was still in the water. Having seen the damage to the hanger after katrina, I can only imagine what would of been the outcome if she was still in the water at the time. Never knew it was anchored down though, that's pretty cool.
my father took me when I was very young on his ship USS SAINT PAUL CA-73 when it came to San Pedro in the 60's and I have seen the IOWA in L.A. Harbor but it wasn't open yet. And I would love to see a submarine on full display on dry land they are so fascinating !
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I really enjoy these Szimanski-style visits to other museum ships and talking not just about the history of the object but also the complexities of conservation and display.
I volunteer for the Bama's living history crew and I was so excited for our last drill that brought in workers and volunteers from other museum ships around the country for the HNSA yearly meeting. Almost fell out of my chair at the luau when they mentioned the New Jersey and the people who make their videos were there as well. Happy they did a video by the ole drum while they were down.
Thanks for the show, it was great!
Im also grateful that they did a video here the last time I was on that beautiful sub was when I slept on the uss alabama in 2019 and they are both beautiful ships and I love being able to see them anytime I cross the bay
We went to Alabama for vacation this year and actually spent two days at the USS Alabama park. Absolutely AMAZING! To be able to freely walk these ships and just take it all in just totally blew us away! Thank you to all who work endlessly to make these beautiful ships available to those who want to see them.
I have this Greek mate who has been living in Australia for around 20 years. One day while driving to Melbourne we stopped off in Holbrook for a hambuger. As you may be aware Holbrook is a small inland town next to a creek, but has some history attached to submarines and torpedoes.
While walking back to the car he noticed the Oberon class sub sitting in the middle of a park buried up to it's waterline. Of course it is only the outer hull and sail but in a green-grassed park, from a distance looks like a sub at sea.
"How the bloody hell did that get here" he asked. I just couldn't help myself and replied, "well during the last big flood it came up the swollen creek to deliver goods and evacuate some of the towns people. And while there the flood receded and it's been stuck there ever since".
He took the bait hook, line and sinker and now I fear that if he ever finds out the truth, he might kill me.
Now that's a pretty good yarn. There are a number of submarine displays like that on various navy bases, with just the superstructure and sail, and a concrete blob in the shape of the hull above the waterline. Looks great from a distance.
Hi there John. I went to the museum for the pacific in Fredericksburg Texas I think that’s the right town. Any way I was in such a hurry to get inside that I walked right past the conning tower there on the left side of the entrance. I thought that’s a nice display. On the way out and back to the car I saw the bow coming up out of the grass. I tried to find a place where I could see the whole thing. Very moving memorial to that service. Great museum everyone should try and see it if they can. Calm seas and fair winds.
@@CSltz Nev, just a bit of trivia. Around 35 years ago when the Oberon class boats were in service with the Australian navy, I had the privilege of attending a small cocktail party on board as a guest of the Commander. The boat was visiting Sembawang naval dock in Singapore at the time.
I was also the guest of the Captain of the USS New Jersey during it's stopover in Singapore on return from the Middle East. I was shown around the ship, from top to bottom and will never forget the experience.
Both vessels were operational at the time and therefore quite different to museum pieces.
@@gone547 well I wasn’t a guest of the Commander or anything like that. I bet you have stories. I did get to see and board the U.S.S. New Jersey on her way back to the U.S. from Viet-Nam. Didn’t get to go all through her but the things I got to see and hear have stayed with me for years this was around 1969. I remember the officer taking us around the ship where could. Probably the two highlights were the deck mounted high powered glasses. Outside of the bridge. I swear you could look across the bay at Subic and see very clearly the sailors walking on the deck of the other ships. The other one was that there were rings that were painted on the bottom of the ship under the main turrets. That “If you should happen to get caught down there and the alarm goes off. Don’t get in that circle “ If that’s true or not it’s still a good story for a young bunch of dependents. He signed our little information pamphlet. I sure wish that I could find that. But with all the moves things get lost. Sorry but thanks for letting me ramble on.
@@CSltz I was impressed by the top-to-bottom conning tower and the thickness of it's doors, the inside of the turrets, the replacement of WW2 AA guns with missile launchers and Phalanx(?) and it's wood-lined deck.
Hard to believe that was so long ago. A very, very impressive ship with an equally impressive history.
A salute to thosed who served on her, a true honor.
In bridge design they support the beams on a neoprene bearing pad, perhaps the same could be done to minimize direct contact with the concrete anchors.
I know the submarine floating away is a very serious issue but my inner 10 year old thought “How cool would it be to have a submarine wash up in your back yard!”
That would be sick...
@Andrew Crews Make the sub your "man cave?" I'm sure the wife wouldn't mind.
would salvage law apply at that point? possession is 9/10th etc
@@herrskeletal3994 I mean if it were me, I’d happily turn my home into a museum for the interim period until they could get it relocated again.
FWIW, they've had the aircraft blown around outside as well, because airplanes fly and hurricane winds exceed the stall speed.
I visited USS Alabama and USS Drum in the late 80's ... when Drum was moored behind Alabama....need to go back down and revisit.
greetings from pensacola!! love visiting the USS Alabama every year, and the Drum too of course
i visited the submarine batfish in oklahoma with my wife and friends!! i couldn't believe how confine the compartments are!! it was awesome!! and got to see the mast of the uss oklahoma!! watching from missoura!! love the mighty mo!!👍🤘🖖😉🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I think it floated when it flooded where it was located.
Batfish is on pylons like Drum it is very rusted in places sad to say
@@shaider1982 during the spring storms of a few years ago it got flooded pretty bad , as I recall the batfish did float and was damaged pretty severely.
@@flurgy22 man, hope it gets repaired.
im a big boy! it was hilarious seeing me try to squeeze thought that sub!! my wife and my long time friends were laughing!! it was an awsome experience!! i have great respect for them sailors on them subs!!🖖😉
Oh my gosh! I remember seeing this with my Boy Scout Troop! We had so much fun seeing the planes and stuff. I also remember sleeping on the USS Alabama and playing manhunt with some of the other troops. We also visited Pensacola Naval Air Base as well. So many good memories.
I remember reading about USS Batfish refloating during the 2019 OK floods. She's just sat on the ground on her hull, not chained to anything, allowing her to float when the museum really didn't want her too.
The Batfish was moored by 4 cables but the 2019 flood was a 500 year flood that pushed those cables to their limit, causing 3 to snap and 1 to pull the mooring cleat and concrete block (estimated at approx. 10 tons) clear out of the ground. Another item no usually known is the Batfish has a cathodic electrical grid under the ground to prevent rust and damage to the hull that is in direct contact with the earth.
I was obsessed with WWII German U-Boats many years ago so I made it a mission to visit them. U-995 Type VIIC is on the beach in Laboe and of course in the USA the U-505 IXC in Chicago tidy in an enclosed museum.
ey cool- I've visited that Laboe Type VIIc sub too!
Not far away from Laboe in Bremerhaven is another german U boat. U-2540 a type XXI.
I have visited the U-505 at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry many times when it was outside and only once since it was moved indoors.
I've been on the U-505, very well kept. It's now indoors and the room looks like a u-boat bunker. The Chicago Museum of Industry and Science is really worth going to see.
@@paulkenny5052 have you seen all the junk they pull out of it when they did a deep clean? I liked the Marriott's Great America ticket they found during the clean. Made me feel a bit old.
I've been to the USS Batfish SS-310 in Muskogee, OK which is on dryland and the USS Kidd DD-661 in Baton Rouge, LA which is permanently moored on the Mississippi river.
Ive been to the sub Baitfish in Ok. on dry land. Best fleet sub I've visited is #383 Pampinito in S F.. and she's properly afloat 😁
I’ve seen the USS Batfish, she’s in Muskogee Oklahoma, super cool to see a sub in the middle of the US. Her story is quite amazing.
You are in my stomping ground. Love coming to the USS Alabama park
I've been to Mikasa park in Yokosuka, Japan, three times now. Mikasa is basically embedded in concrete up to the waterline. You can train some of the tertiary battery guns and can see a lot of the internal spaces which are used for displays and diagrams of the Battle of Tsushima. It's always very cool to visit the last pre-dreadnought remaining.
Didnt the way she was moored have something to do with the accident?
@@jeffjr84 mikasa condition is due to the interwar treaty system. Even though she is a pre-dreadnaught the treat still treated her as a battleship The same a texas or warspite. This left the Japanese with a few options keep her and have her count towards battleship tonnage, scrap her and free up tonnage, convert her to a training ship, or covert her to a memorial and museum. The Japanese decided to go with memorial the other signing power agreed with the caveat that she be encased in concrete.
Same here. I had to see the Mikasa before my 5 years in Japan were up. Glad I did, but I found it to be a little underwhelming that she's sunk into a pit of concrete.
@@fwfs I mean, it preserves her.
@@the4tierbridge For sure. I just meant that I was expecting something different. It was still a good museum.
I just visited this sub and battleship Alabama last week. After watching several of your videos, it was incredibly exciting to see it first hand. One day I hope to see the USS New Jersey as well!
I finally got to go to the USS Alabama museum this year and can't wait to go back
My son and I did a number of overnight stays with the Cub and Boy scouts. We went half a dozen times, and if we could go tonight, we would do it in a heartbeat
One of the real hidden gems of that place is a nature trail that goes off into the tidal marsh and ends in a two story gazebo in the midst of a see of reeds.
When the wind blows, you can see it's patterns, ebbs and shapes.
If you're not careful you can spend hours watching it.
@@Letyourcolorsblendwithmine On the other extreme, several times we have gone for sleep overs, the next morning there would be folks flying RC aircraft out front, doing some cool stuff. I also love the museum - seeing the YF-17 prototype is a subtle favorite.
I would love to see the battle ship museums in u
Ment to write USA
I've visited U.S.S Alabama many times. One of my final memories with my dad before he died was going there with him and my daughter. He was wheelchair bound so could not climb around the ship, but he got rolled up onto the deck.
Hey a question I can answer for once! I've been on the Drum, and Alabama, before, beautiful submarine and the Alabama is massive.
I happened to visit the Drum when I was working in Alabama. I enjoyed the presentation they had.
I have toured the USS Alabama and the Drum on three occasions. Furst when i was about 5 - 6 years old (55 years old now). My Mother was actually one if the children who gave milk money to have the Alabama brought to Mobile. The Drum was in water at that time. The next time I took my son when he was about 5 years and Daughter as a baby. Drum had been damaged and could not be toured. The next time was when my daughter was about 6 years old, and Drum was out of water and able to tour. I remeber when they pulled drum out their was extensive work that had to be done on the stern it had large corroded holes. My kids loved touring and especially my Daughter we went from top to bottom. Great video I' m planning a trip to the USS Yorktown in a year or so.
Visited the USS Alabama and USSDrum several years ago with my family, and some friends. I was pleasantly surprised at how well maintained that they both were! I really enjoyed the trip, though I can't say as much for my family and friends...I don't think they enjoyed it as much as I did. I think that this museum was set up the year I was born, 1964. Thank you so much for presenting this! Also, the Pensacola Aviation museum and Lighthouse is a special visit that I highly recommend! Thank you again!
I actually watched the process to move the Drum to land in the summer of 2001. Was a very interesting piece of engineering. I only wish i would have taken photos.
I've visited my local museum ships, USS Hazard and USS Marlin, here in Omaha, Nebraska. They are both out of the water but right next to the river and have wandered a bit when we get floods.
So glad to see you in my home state of Alabama. I visit and support the USS Alabama whenever I'm down that way. Will you be doing episodes aboard ship?
I used to live in Pensacola as a kid and would visit the Alabama and Drum all the time. The last time I was there the Drum was still in the water behind the battleship so you can tell it's been a few years:)
I've been aboard USS Cobia, SS245, which acts as a stand in for the 28 "freshwater" submarines built in Manitowoc, WI during WWII. The Cobia is still afloat in the Manitowoc River, is listed as a National Historic Place(and traditionally trades salutes with another National Historic Place that serves as part of Highway 10, the SS Badger car ferry). Cobia is also credited by the Wisconsin Maritime Museum as having the oldest known operational radar set in the world.
We have an Oberon class boat up high and dry in Fremantle Western Australia
Went on it 3 weeks ago , what an eye opener that was 👍👍
Ahhh I used to see these guys every year when I was a kid. Used to be you could go all the way up the conning tower and it was just so amazing. Ended up meeting a submariner while I was walking through USS Drum when I was like 8 years old and he gave us an awesome tour of the boat. Awesome place.
I remember touring USS Drum while it was in the water behind BB60 many times as a young kid and early teen. This is my home state park and one of my favorite places. Looking at Drum from The rear deck of BB60 (by the float plane) will never leave my memory
When we lived near Meridian Mississippi, we did make a trip to Mobile and went through the USS Alabama and the USS Drum. The Drum was still in water at that time. I wouldn't trade that day for anything. It's a precious memory.
We had this issue with the USS Batfish in Oklahoma a while back. Heavy flooding floated the boat and moved her off her mounts.
/the Batfish will be moving to a new berth on dry land at the 3 forks marina, Muskogee OK. in the near future...
USS Alabama,USS Texas, USS Lexington, USS New Jersey, loved them all. Great vid.
USS Albacore (AGSS-569) in Portsmouth, NH It's research submarine that pioneered the US version of the teardrop hull form of modern submarines. Well maintained. Self paced tour. Nice museum ship to visit.
A number of years ago I took a driving tour of several states and visited the USS Drum on my way west and the USS Razorback in Little Rock on my way back east. It was good to experience a submarine both in and out of the water. Seeing the parts of the Drum that I couldn't see on the Razorback gave a little more perspective that I wouldn't have had otherwise.
The folks in the Razorback visitors center asked me how the experience differed between the 2 boats. It was a very similar experience but I told them that at least their boat is still in water.
The USS Albacore is on dry land in New Hampshire. It was built here at the Portsmouth shipyard (when they built subs) it was to test the teardrop design.
Thank You for the Sub videos, we toured the Drum this summer. Was worth the trip from Kansas.
A few years ago my family and went to see to uss Alabama and the uss drum it was awesome to see that little piece of histor
I've visited DRUM twice; once as a kid when she was still floating, then a couple of years ago. A deck around the boat at the waterline would help preserve the sight of her afloat, but the underwater part could still be accessible. OR, build a dummy drydock deck around her to give the impression of being out of water for overhaul.
I was fortunate enough to grow up very close to Drum , Alabama , and the assorted exhibits . Was on Drum many many times before they pulled her out. So glad they did.
USS Batfish in Muskogee, OK, when the river super flooded she tried to make a break for the sea
She wanted to go home
Her story is very interesting, she broke free in transit while being moved to her present location.
First time they called in the National Guard to sink a submarine.
i live 30m away from her so i seen here often in that flood you are talking about alot of the major roads near me were coverd in water it was bad.
She craves the sea
I remember visiting, Battleship Park, when I was a kid. The Drum, was still moored in the water at the time, and wasn't put on dry land until after hurricane Katrina came through. If I'm not mistaken, we toured the inside of Drum also.
My German teacher used to take us on field trips to the U-505 in Chicago as well as the Christ kindle market for our Christmas fieldtrip. Was always amusing to us. But was really awesome to see the submarine especially the inside tours.
Hello, I'm a ship-lover from landlocked Bavaria. So wherever I go, I strive to visit museum ships wherever possible, and come to think of it, a lot of them a on dry land, like:
Cutty Sark in London, now propped up on a specially built steel cradle, connected to her framework. Even her keel is high in the air.
Fram and Gjöa in Oslo. Two rather small ships designed to deal with immense ice-pressure, so I guess they wouldn't pancake easily.
Echo in Picton. A Scow, designed to sit on the shore for loading and unloading. She sadly has been broken up meanwhile.
U1 and Theodor Heuss in Munich. A submarine (inside a building, dry all around) and a lifeboat.
And I know two local river-barges (Plätten), propped up next to the Inn river in Rosenheim, one of them inside a museum.
This also reminds me of my cousin, who worked as a junior in an engineering firm, who was supervising a larger construction project. The concrete box, which was to form the basement had been cast when heavy rain set in and the water in the ditch around it rose faster than inside. It was saturday, nobody picked up the phone (the time before cellphones), so she, the office junior, had to decide that the basement was about to float up and destroy itself and it was best to just flood the whole thing to weigh it down. Luckily, her boss approved of her crisis management and all was well.
Glad to see you in my neck of the woods. Born in Mobile and have been going to the Battleship park since the late 70's. Now I get to take my kid.
I've visited the USS Cavalla and the Buckley-class DE USS Stewart which are both dry-berthed in Galveston, buried up to the waterline.
I've visited the North Carolina and the Alabama memorials. A great walk thru time...
Steve from Annapolis Maryland keep up the good work I like to meet you one day maybe get involved in helping out with the ship's I really like to submarine stuff ships are cool too
I believe the last time I was on the drum was when she was still in the water. I think one of the major events that lead to the decision to bring the drum on land was a series of Hurricanes caused significant damage to the ship. It was either Opal or the major one a few years later that first started the discussion to bring her on land. I love that old boat. She has a long distinguished service history. One of the unique things about the drum though is I believe the conning tower was actually replaced mid war due to combat damage.
Visited the Alabama in '92' when the drum was still in the water, just aft of the Battleship. What a fabulous museum park. Perhaps the best in the country. Lots to see for us Viet Vets!
I wish i could have gotten a tour with you as a guide when I visited last year.
My wife and I visited the USS Alabama in 1977. The park was much smaller back the and the USS Drum was in the water parked behind the battleship. I was fascinated by what I saw, I know that many more pieces of equipment have been added since then
I have visited many times the captured German WWII submarine U505 at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry which is on land. Great school trip and many family visits also. This was great museum experience since so many things were “hands on” displays, something unique in late 60’s.
Excellent in every way.
Thanks for your work and authoritative presentations.
Me and my boys toured the drum a few years back
Really cool!!!
The Family and I visited the Drum and USS Alabama in Aug of this year was really cool.
The Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, TX has The Japanese Midget Sub HA-19. It was one of the five midget subs involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor. It sits displayed inside the museum. Worth the visit if you're ever passing through the area.
That's a rare fish indeed.
I saw USS DRUM when I went to see USS ALABAMA several years ago.
I have also made two visits to U-505 when it was on display in the open air.
Seeing it now that they have it enclosed and safe from the elements is on my 'To Do' list.
I was in Texas about five years ago, so I visited the Lexington, Texas, and Sea Wolf park which has a sub and a destroyer escort on dryland. Interesting visit.
I also did that trip in 2018. I'd highly recommend it to anyone. It was a lot of driving since we started in Dallas, went to San Antonio, then Houston and down to Corpus and back to Houston. Thank god for Buc-ees.
@@herrskeletal3994 Did also the same run...oh yes Buc-ees rocks...I have a stuffed Buc-ees I got for one of my pets but he refused it, scared him.
I spent the night aboard USS Cavalla as a Cub Scout. At the time I probably didn't appreciate what an amazing opportunity it was. I certainly do now.
You know a good way to solve both of the problems of not being able to see the undersides of a ship, and keeping it in the water?
Aquarium Docking.
Build an Aquarium around the ship, in or near where it would normally be in the water; pump out all the silt, salt, and other water garbage that would cause the ship extra damage and cloud the water, and keep the water clean and clear with aquarium filtration and such.
Then, museum patrons can see the underwater parts by literally going into an underground area where they can see up through the water to the bottom of the ship, all the way around.
Yes it is FAR more expensive, but it would give the best of both options. It would be INSANELY expensive though I think.
Been to the Uboat at the Science and Industry museum in Chicago. It used to be outside but dry docked and now they built a building around it to preserve it.
Seeing how sadly deteriorated the USS Ling had become from sitting in the mud and lack of maintenance I prefer seeing these ships properly mounted on stands.
I'd they can't save the Ling, she will be scrapped.
@@gspiatti249 Yeah there's only hope for some of the subassemblies and components to be preserved at this point.
I have been aboard both the Drum & the Alabama. The aircraft pavilion & outdoor displays are all awesome too. It's been a few years. I need to go again.
I’ve visited the USS Drum and Alabama many times!!!
The Alabama museum is amazing. I went there a few years ago and could not believe the aircraft they had there in addition to the Alabama and Drum. They even have an A12 in the hangar.
Man, I wish I could've caught you there. I have spent so many days aboard the Alabama over the years ( same goes for the Drum, obviously), I'm actually shocked I wasn't there haha. I've also had the pleasure of being aboard the Iowa in the port of LA, but the New jersey is next on the list for sure, followed by the Massachusetts and North Carolina. Hope you enjoyed Mobile!
Great series. Yes, visited the Drum and the Albacore.
I live in Pensacola, Fl, about 60 mile east and have visited the Museum a number of times. I also lived near Charleston, S.C. and spent time at Patriots Point.
I remember going on her when she was still in the water behind the battle ship. I was a little fella. probably 35, 36 years ago. when we went about 12 years ago she was out of the water but had 2 and 3 foot holes rusted in the hull at the water line. they have done an excellent job with it.
I remember visiting the Drum when it was at the old Washington Navy Yard back in the mid-60's clp
The USS Albacore is a museum submarine in Portsmouth, NH. A trench was dug from the Piscataqua River across a roadway and a set of railroad tracks and then the sub was floated to its display location. Then the trench was filled in behind the sub and the water was pumped out. Albacore was a research submarine and the first sub to use the teardrop shaped hull used later in nuclear subs. Inside the depth and speed gauges are still covered as the sub's top speed and deepest dive depth are still classified.
I've been to the Albacore Too.. Well worth the stop.
Been to the USS Batfish many times.
I proudly served in the Navy and have been on the USS Alabama, USS Missouri, USS Drum while in the water and out on land, USS Pampanito as well as the USS Arizona Memorial. I also toured the Star of India although not a US military ship.
I think the way the Japanese brought the IJN Mikasa into a dry slip, closed it off, then backfilled to support the hull is a good way to preserve very old ships. Mikasa is the last of the late 19th century British battleships remaining, plus the flagship at Tsushima Strait in 1905. It is the centerpiece of a nice park on the waterfront in Yokosuka Japan, and if in the country, well worth the visit.
Here's a video on why other ships don't do that: ruclips.net/video/17wnf7ehcZw/видео.html
I have seen the German sub U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago many times. Back then, it was outside, behind the museum. In 2004, the museum completed an indoor display for the sub and moved it.
Yes. The use batfish in Oklahoma. Love these old subs
Just drove by there in late August with my daughter while driving cross country. We were going to stop but the evacuation warning for a hurricane prevented us since we had to get past New Orleans and further west. But I visited her in the early 90's when stationed in Athens, Georgia.
I saw Alabama & Drum in 2020. Very cool. Of the 4 battleships I've seen, Alabama is the second best after North Carolina.
Aside from Drum, other ships on dry land I've seen are HMS Victory (hopefully going to get to see her again next year), HMS X24, and HMS Alliance.
In 2017 I visited USS drum and battleship USS Alabama. Was an of the cuff visit as we spotted a sign on the highway
I visited the Wasa museum in Sweden last year, they have en extensive part about the preservation of the ship. It, being wood, moves up to centimeters yearly. They control it as best they can, but time will win eventually. It has a pretty elaborate laser system to check the movement. Interesting stuff for sure.
I've been on both the Drum and Alabama twice. 1st time both were in the water, 2nd time both were out. (Alabama had a coffer dam around her so the water could be pumped out to repair the ship). As a kid it was exciting to go into a sub that was in the water, but as an adult I understand the logic of preserving dry.
On August 10th, 2018, I visited the Liberty Ship John W. Brown in Cambridge, Maryland. It amazes me how large even that ship was compared to me. She was sitting 10 to 11 feet in the water at the time, and I could see the propeller. The vessel is 100% still operational and can travel under her own power… for what that’s worth. I’m so glad I got to see a relic of a time of war so many years ago.
There's the Cutty Sark museum in London that is on dry land. It's quite the setup with the glass roof around the hull and you can fully walk under the copper clad hull and keel. Side supports suspend her up in the air. Pretty cool old sailing ship.
I've been on quite a few warships in my life but I think my favorite is the U505 in Chicago at the Museum of Science & Industry. Not only is the story surrounding the boat amazing but it's now in a fully enclosed building encompassing a huge array of artifacts, memorabilia and exhibits.
I saw the Drum and the Alabama back in the mid 1970s. The group I was with sang "Roll Alabama Roll" as we pulled into the park. It is about the CSA Alabama but it seemed appropriate.
As a local, I’ve visited Drum and Alabama a number of times. As for other dry land vessels, I’ve visited the German U-boat inside the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry a few times.
In November of 2019, we visited the Alabama and the Drum. both our sons who are retired from the Air Force were shocked at how cramped the interior of the Drum was! I served in the USS Blueback (SS-581), a diesel boat and though much newer, really didn't have much more space that the WW II boats.
Battleship NC is in Wilmington NC but wasn't marked on the map. My family has been to a number of ships. When I was a kid in the Boy Scouts we slept on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in Charleston SC. It was amazing, we slept in the same cots the crewmembers did while it was operational. Side note if you go to the Battleship NC while you are there the goalpost is probably gone by now but if you watched One Tree Hill thats where they filmed the "river court".
I have visited the U505 in Chicago many times since I was a kid. In all that time, it has been out of water. I was outdoors for many decades but within the last 20 years, it was moved to an underground cavern specifically designed for her.
My late father-in-law, Robert Fedor, served on the Drum as an EM3c. I have the diary of his time on the drum. Their first patrol was an especially terrifying one as a torpedo exploded halfway to a target. The Japanese tracked the torpedo wake back to the boat and launched 30 or more depth charges, many of them close in. Bob tells of cork insulation being knock down all over the boat. The first page in the diary was an account of the depth charging. After it was over, he removed that page, but you can still see the hashmarks on the edge counting the explosions. I'm sure he thought he was a dead man and made some notes on that first page he decided not to save. The courage of these men cannot be overstated. Bob went on to serve on the Queenfish, another boat with an interesting history.
“Macro-artifacts”
Imagine being an archeologist and discovering one of these.
“It belongs in a museum!”
uss batfish in muskogee and down in houston at the destroyer on dry land
Swedish sub HMS Neptun is a great example of this, it even has a little friend beside it in the facility.
I have visited the USS Stewart and the USS Cavalla on Pelican Island in Galveston many times. Both are on dry land even though Stewart is in a concert block for lack of a better term. As retired Navy it makes me a little sad yet from talking to some of the crew that maintains them they tell me it's easier and should allow a longer life. I plan to visit again next month when I go down for a cruise. I only wish I could visit Texas at the same time but she is closed preparing for drydock.
Check out the Batfish in Oklahoma. Really cool
Many years ago was on the Drum and The Battleship Alabama.Was nice touring them.Didn't know until now the Drum is on dry land.How long has the Drum been on dry land?
The last time I was on the UUS Drum was the week before Catrina. In seeing the earlier damage, I think they did the right thing, and are doing well with their work!!!
I remember going to it as a kid when it was still in the water. Having seen the damage to the hanger after katrina, I can only imagine what would of been the outcome if she was still in the water at the time. Never knew it was anchored down though, that's pretty cool.
my father took me when I was very young on his ship USS SAINT PAUL CA-73 when it came to San Pedro in the 60's and I have seen the IOWA in L.A. Harbor but it wasn't open yet. And I would love to see a submarine on full display on dry land they are so fascinating !