Hello guys, I have been a member of this board and others in the past. Eventually I forget my password and years pass by, kids grow up and my hair gets more grey. I can remember back to 1990 when I was applying to the naval academy with the hope of serving on a battleship above all else. During this time, I requested to meet with architects at the Gibbs & Cox office in Manhattan. I was young and naive, but I had drawings and specifications for a "new" class of battleship. The architects and engineers were polite, showed interest in my work, but were not interested in developing the idea further which I can understand now more than I could then. I even had Norman Polmar's email address at some point and we would exchange emails once in a while. And, I went down to the academy several times and visited with Mr. Garzke at the Naval Institute and once was introduced to Captain Edward Beach of submarine fame. After getting Mr. Garzke to autograph my battleship book, I went back to New York and licked my wounds over my rejection from entering the academy due to my poor math skills. I still loved the navy, even called Admiral Rickover's assistant (name escapes me) about using nuclear reactors aboard a ship designed to sail in harm's way like a battleship. My father nearly killed me when he got the phone bill that month! Anyway, with all due respect toward those who have dedicated a lifetime to these ships, I have a few questions which may help me decide what course I should set since I feel my life is intertwined with these great ships.
I understand that the Wisconsin and Missouri are in the best material condition of the four Iowa's. However, what condition is the Massachusetts, North Carolina and Alabama in relation to the Iowa's? Are these three ships in better material condition than the Iowa's or worse due to corrosion and humidity for example. I have been aboard the Massachusetts, looked like a new ship to me. The North Carolina is rumored to be in the best condition. They have been stripped of some items during the reactivation of New Jersey first and then by the others during the 80's. Theoretically, is it just as possible to reactivate one or all of these three museum ships or is it easier to reactivate an Iowa? Thank you, Mark.
I understand that the Wisconsin and Missouri are in the best material condition of the four Iowa's. However, what condition is the Massachusetts, North Carolina and Alabama in relation to the Iowa's? Are these three ships in better material condition than the Iowa's or worse due to corrosion and humidity for example. I have been aboard the Massachusetts, looked like a new ship to me. The North Carolina is rumored to be in the best condition. They have been stripped of some items during the reactivation of New Jersey first and then by the others during the 80's. Theoretically, is it just as possible to reactivate one or all of these three museum ships or is it easier to reactivate an Iowa? Thank you, Mark.
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