Navy Warship number, but what's the name?

Builder · Mar 18, 2006

Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

OK, I pass a navy yard with this huge old battleship or heavy cruiser with the # "134" on the bow. Sucker must be 900 feet long...been there for 20 years.

Any way to tell the name of the ship and it's classification by the number on the bow?

shvl73 · Mar 18, 2006

Re: Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

Is this it?

scesnick · Mar 18, 2006

Re: Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

I'm sure it could be looked up but you would first need to know what kind of ship it is. Alot of the newer navy ships have the same hull numbers of older decommissioned ships. So it might share a hull number with a few different era ships.
Some are even using old decommed names also.

What navy yard are you talking about? it may be used as a museum.

Builder · Mar 18, 2006

Re: Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

YES SIR! That's it!! So it's the heavy cruiser "USS Des Moines". She's sitting in what was once the Philadelphia Navy Yard (closed duruing the base closings during the Clinton Administration). She's not looking too good, but I always wondered what type of ship it was.

Thanks shvl !

tommu56 · Mar 18, 2006

Re: Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

the hull number on a ship ususlly dosent change even if the ship's name changes hull # 134 is

CA-134: Des Moines (1948-____)

from link web page

tom

scesnick · Mar 18, 2006

Re: Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

Once a ship is decommisioned the number is also decommisioned and therefore can be put back into serive. Usually on a different class of ship. There is only ever one number at a time is service however. This was a little harder to explain than I thought it would be.
I was a plankowner on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 But there once was a U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln SSBN-602 ( submarine) There was also a Submarine with the "72 " hull number which was the U.S.S. O-11 ( SS-72 )

Builder · Mar 18, 2006

Re: Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

Looks like the DesMoines has been decomissioned since 1961 /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

RobertN · Mar 19, 2006

Re: Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

That is the page I reference.

I just got home a litle bit ago from CV12, USS Hornet also seen at Hornet hornet

We did the Live Aboard again; we did it as Cub Scouts 2 years ago.

Here's more, with links to other ships More CV12 USS Hornet and others

jinman · Mar 20, 2006

Re: Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

( Once a ship is decommisioned the number is also decommisioned and therefore can be put back into serive. )

I believe a decommissioned ship still retains its hull number. Only after the ship is stricken from the naval record does the hull number become free. Of course, hull numbers are type-specific, so two ships could have the same hull number as long as they are different types of ships.

I was stationed in Phladelphia during the late 70s and was Assistant Disposal Officer at the Naval Inactive Ships Facility there. We sold many old Fletcher class destroyers, the air craft carriers, Randolph and Essex, and the hospital ship USS Hope. There were many others, but those were the most memorable. It was a fun and educational tour of duty.

I believe all ships that are memorials actually remain the property of the US Navy. The cities with these agree to maintain the ships in good material condition in case the Navy wants them back. I'm afraid that requirement isn't always met though. Many years ago, I was really disappointed by the Battleship Texas near San Jacinto, but I've been told it has since been restored and is again a proud memorial. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

dmccarty · Mar 20, 2006

Re: Navy Warship number, but what\'s the name?

I'm pretty sure one of my uncles is a plank owner on the Lincoln as well. Mid to late 80s, the Lincoln somehow was docked in Ft. Lauderdale. How n the heck they got her in there is beyond me. I would loved to have seen it. The port is not that big and there is a very small turning basin that the Lincoln had to filled up.

She was docked at the terminal as close to the turning basin as possible. The road was a semi circle from the gate and you would see a terminal building with a ship towering over the structure. Then you SAW the Lincoln and there was no comparison is size. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My family went down and took a tour of the ship. She seemed massive at the start but after awhile you got used to her size. I could have gone on a dependents cruise back to VA but work did not allow the time. My father went and had a great time. I really regret not getting on the ship for that cruise, it was an opportunity missed.....

I'm sure the Captain was MUCH happier once the ship got out of Ft. Lauderdale. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan