USS Yorktown in Charleston

Today [Friday, 12th October] Jane stayed at the hotel catching up on some cat business from NZ, while Gary and I headed for the USS Yorktown and Patriot Point, Charleston. The trip there was not without it's difficulties. A couple of wrong turns on the motorway, but we did finally arrive at Patriot Point and there was the USS Yorktown.

"Under construction as BON HOMME RICHARD, this new Essex-class carrier was renamed YORKTOWN in honor of YORKTOWN (CV-5), sunk at the epic Battle of Midway (June 1942). Built in an amazing 16-½ months at Newport News, Virginia, YORKTOWN was commissioned on April 15, 1943."

Walking up to the ticket office we saw three late model muzzle loading cannons with quite complicated adjustment aiming controls.

After purchasing our tickets we headed down the jetty directly amidships.

We boarded the Yorktown via the side mounted aircraft lift after climbing a long staircase.

Across the lift and we were inside the Yorktown on the hangar deck. Here were many aircraft, displays of other carries, battle honours, flight simulator, small open area showing documentaries, and even one semi-closed off area hosting a reunion dinner.

From here we climbed up to the flight deck were Gary became a Boffer gunner. However he was a bit disappointed that they would not let him use real ammunition.

On the way up we passed through the pilots briefing room and several battle radar and control rooms.

Looking forward on the flight deck with the bridge back across the harbour to Charleston in the background.

A third plane on the foredeck that had its engines removed. It was possible to to look into the jet intake tube and see right down the flight deck.

From here we climbed up into the bridge were Gary promoted himself from Gunner second class to Captain Gary.

From here there was, of course a good view both forward and aft.

Close by were two other naval ships, a destroyer? and a submarine, both included in the one ticket price. However by now the 80 degree plus temperatures were getting to us so we called it quits, headed across bridge back to the hotel.

In all we spent about three hours aboard the Yorktown, took many pictures some of which will be up on Gary's Flickr site. We gave up the idea of the trip to Fort Sumter and instead took a tele-photo of the fort from the flight deck of the carrier.

Crossing the bridge.....

Posted with Blogsy