They don’t make them like they used to

[Argonaut]

i was reading one of my marine trade publications this morning. This article hasn't made it to the mass media yet. It seems the USS John S McCain (one of the USN ships involved in collisions this year) was loaded onto a semi submersible ship for its trip to a Japanese shipyard for repair but it is breaking up on the deck. It has developed a 4 inch (and increasing) crack (not unlike the Congressman) in the hull. The semisubmersible has been redirected to a closer port. It looks like we have sacrificed hull strength for lightweight (speed) in our equipment.

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[Stomper]

It's all about physics, nothing is free.

 

[Argonaut]

The British learned about aluminum ships during the Falklands war with Argentina. There high end warships would get hit with a small Exocet missile and go up like a match. Some burned to the waterline.New Technology isn't always a good thing. Best if introduced in small doses.

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

It's the name of the ship...

Bad karma

 

[No_Regerts]

So I guess I wont buy a new F150 today...

 

[cigars]

Let's see them try to piggy back the USS Missouri.

 

[Argonaut]

Here she is in a floating dry dock. Not a problem.

 

[cigars]

View attachment 401020 Here she is in a floating dry dock. Not a problem.

Will that floating dry dock sail the Missouri back from half way around the planet or just service her in port?

 

[Argonaut]

Will that floating dry dock sail the Missouri back from half way around the planet or just service her in port?

They are towed wherever they need to be anywhere in the world. Typically towed empty but they are the largest portable floating structures on the planet. There was one grounded off the golden gate a couple of decades ago after it broke tow in a storm. Iowa class battleships are dwarfed by today's large commercial ships as are today's aircraft carriers. With the expansion of the Panama Canal there has been a huge building surge for the biggest ships ever to sail the oceans. These semi submersibles were made from cutting down and modifying oil tankers. An Alaskan class tanker is huge, but not the biggest. The largest ship was an oil tanker that was twice as long (over 1500 feet) and many times the gross weight of the Missouri. Many modern cruise ships are larger today.

 

[cigars]

They are towed wherever they need to be anywhere in the world. Typically towed empty but they are the largest portable floating structures on the planet. There was one grounded off the golden gate a couple of decades ago after it broke tow in a storm. Iowa class battleships are dwarfed by today's large commercial ships as are today's aircraft carriers. With the expansion of the Panama Canal there has been a huge building surge for the biggest ships ever to sail the oceans. These semi submersibles were made from cutting down and modifying oil tankers. An Alaskan class tanker is huge, but not the biggest.

Not exactly an apples to apples comparison. But thanks.

 

[dangerranger60]

View attachment 400935 i was reading one of my marine trade publications this morning. This article hasn't made it to the mass media yet. It seems the USS John S McCain (one of the USN ships involved in collisions this year) was loaded onto a semi submersible ship for its trip to a Japanese shipyard for repair but it is breaking up on the deck. It has developed a 4 inch (and increasing) crack (not unlike the Congressman) in the hull. The semisubmersible has been redirected to a closer port. It looks like we have sacrificed hull strength for lightweight (speed) in our equipment.

Cool pic! Thanks for putting it out there! DR

 

[johnny bob]

So I guess I wont buy a new F150 today...

So I heard a fellow bought a new F150 and sanded the paint to bare aluminum and then buffed it to a brilliant shine. He said he just wanted to prove you could polish a turd. Hey I'm a Ford guy but thats kinda funny.

 

[Ura-Ki]

The shipping company ( DockWise) effed up the loading which caused the additional damage to the DDG, not the material it is made of! They might wanna have a look at that. BTW, there are several utuby vids of the two DDGs being inspected after being delivered and hauled out, pretty telling as to just how tough a DDG actually is! Also, the Burks class Destroyers have Steel hulls, as they always have. Only one class of American Navy warship was ever built of aluminium before today, and they were dismal failures! The new Frigates are having all sorts of problems from being built of aluminium, history be dammed!

 

[Boboclown]

The British learned about aluminum ships during the Falklands war with Argentina. There high end warships would get hit with a small Exocet missile and go up like a match. Some burned to the waterline.New Technology isn't always a good thing. Best if introduced in small doses.

It was to make it so they couldn't capture one and reverse engineer it!

So I guess I wont buy a new F150 today...

Wouldn't really get any new truck tbh... But the aluminum bed of the new F150s are the least of your worries. With the trucks in general these days, I'd be more concerned about finding parking lots that fit em.

 

[CoastRange57]

So I heard a fellow bought a new F150 and sanded the paint to bare aluminum and then buffed it to a brilliant shine. He said he just wanted to prove you could polish a turd. Hey I'm a Ford guy but thats kinda funny.

I am a Ford guy since day one with a few Chevys thrown in, but the aluminium body F 150 is the biggest POS that Ford has built. Well, close to the Fiesta and what ever those little pre Ranger pickups were.

My son bought one in 2015 because he could finance it of course and I was completely unimpressed. The specs and lying salesmen say you can tow a toy hauler with it and still get 22 mpg. He finally traded it off for a 2010 F 350 4x4 and some cash. Not one of Fords better ideas. It is all about average fleet mileage any more.

 

[CoastRange57]

Pretty amazing things can happen when a mechanical invention implodes on itself and the handlers don't have a fing clue on how to properly move a large machine. This is several million in scrap metal right now.

 

[Stomper]

I am a Ford guy since day one with a few Chevys thrown in, but the aluminium body F 150 is the biggest POS that Ford has built. Well, close to the Fiesta and what ever those little pre Ranger pickups were.

My son bought one in 2015 because he could finance it of course and I was completely unimpressed. The specs and lying salesmen say you can tow a toy hauler with it and still get 22 mpg. He finally traded it off for a 2010 F 350 4x4 and some cash. Not one of Fords better ideas. It is all about average fleet mileage any more.

The Ford Courier pick-up.... was a rebadged Mazda... the valve covers even had "MAZDA" cast on top on them... LOL. They sucked.

 

[CoastRange57]

The Ford Courier pick-up.... was a rebadged Mazda... the valve covers even had "MAZDA" cast on top on them... LOL. They sucked.

That was it. Damned if I could remember the name. Fing tin cans. I have not seen one in years. Must be a reason.

 

[Caveman Jim]

I too have been a FORD guy from the begining with 2) 60's era mustangs, F100's, Escorts & Focus (family cars), a 98 Ranger, 90 F250 (a real lemon) and the 08 diesel heavy hauler.
My son bought a 15 F150 & so did the new SIL (they collaborated together) vowing not to ever buy chubbies... Smart kids I'll say...
I'll buy a used steel F150 (with an ecoboost) instead of a Ranger this time around.

 

[Boboclown]

Well, close to the Fiesta and what ever those little pre Ranger pickups were.

I'm driving a Ranger now. Its actually going strong still, no issues with it. Now ask about my friends 2013 Ford Fiesta and I can probably give you a book.

Course, I'm more into the F-150s from the 90s... Cause all the trucks these days don't impress me. And look like they were designed so guys in NYC can compensate for a, erm, you know. Hell, ask me how much I like (or dislike) the 2016 Silverado.