I guess I should look at this forum more often. Tom answered correctly first. As an ex-Spruance sailor I learned a bit of the Kidd's in training. They had increased chiller capacity for operations in the middle east and would have sported a goat locker if delivered as designed. The major deviation from the Spruance class is that they had a more comprehensive anti air suite. Steve
I can answer two of the three. It's the bow of the USS Indiana and is used as a parking attendant's shed in Berkeley, CA across from a seafood shop. I don't know the story behind it.
This is, indeed, the prow of U.S.S. Indiana (BB 58), and it stands in the parking lot across the street from world-famous "Spenger's Fish Grotto" in Berkeley, California. The Indianapolis was commissioned just two weeks before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, and played a crucial role in the Pacific Campaign. Decommissioned soon after the end of the war, she was mothballed in Bremerton, Washington, until November of 1963, when - despite the efforts of a group of former crewmates and friends (of which Frank "Bud" Spenger, Jr. was one) - she was sold for scrap, and towed to Richmond, California to be broken up. Bud Spenger was determined to save some part of the ship for posterity, and he bought the prow from the breaker's yard, then moved it to the parking lot of his restaurant. Although it may seem sad (and maybe even a bit tacky), had he not done that, the prow would have been melted down. Believe it or not, surviving crewmembers of the Indiana held their reunion at Spenger's in 2001, and all posed in front of the prow for a group photo. So, who's to say he did a bad thing? The prow isn't the only piece of the ship saved from scrapping. Check this out: http://ussindianabb58.com/relics.html Rob
Don't get me wrong, it is great that part was saved, it just deserves a better home. I for one would love to see it here in New Orleans, it would make a fine addition to the World War Two museum. EDIT - I think it is the garbage can sitting by it that seems most inappropriate.
OK, I think it has been long enough without something new here, don't you? Keri, you were the last to answer a question so you're up. J
The Japanese I-201 (Sen-taka?) had submerged operating speeds of 19kts. They had a midget/ medium sub capable of 23kts surfaced if I remember right (Type A). Das Butts
