What is the carrier in Philly harbor?

[Rauhbatz]

Just flew over it but didnt get a chance to catch the CV number...had an angled deck.

Any ideas on its future? Sure would look great in Buckeye Lake Ohio!

[Pat Carry]

Wondering, does it look like its inactive now?

[Pat Carry]

Google shows this. CV-67 the John F Kennedy. As of October 2013, the USS Forrestal was also in Philadelphia but it was geting ready to be scrapped so it might already be gone.

[Pat Carry]

Rhode Island wants to bring the USS JFK to their state as a museum, one big museum. www.ussjfkri.org I thought I remember an organization was going to bring the USS Saratoga CV-60 to Rhode Island but now I read where it will be scrapped along with its sister ships the Ranger CV-61, the Independence CV-62 and the aforementioned Forrestal CV-59.

[sandiego89]

Both the ex Forrestal and JFK remain in Philadelphia. Forrestal likely going to the scrapper in Texas, but remains in Philly. Forrestal was moved to Philly a few years ago when she was moved from Newport, RI

Saratoga remains in Newport RI. I have been up close to both the Saratoga and Forrestal while in Newport in recent years, and confirm both are in poor shape with zero maintainence.

Independence, Constellation, Ranger, Kitty Hawk are in Bremerton, Washington.

The ships are kept in different categories of reserve, some get some upkeep/preservation, others were on donation/hold for potential museums, but most of those museum efforts seem to be losing steam, and some have moved from donation/hold to disposal status in recent years. Kitty Hawk is arguably in the best shape and should remain on reserve status for some time.

[Sasquatch]

Rhode Island wants to bring the USS JFK to their state as a museum, one big museum. http://www.ussjfkri.org I thought I remember an organization was going to bring the USS Saratoga CV-60 to Rhode Island but now I read where it will be scrapped along with its sister ships the Ranger CV-61, the Independence CV-62 and the aforementioned Forrestal CV-59.

I was a donor to two efforts: save the Saratoga and Forrestal. Sara had the best chance, but not enough donors stepped up to help, so the folks running the effort voted to throw all the money meant for the Saratoga behind the effort to save the JFK. They felt that carrier had a greater chance of pulling in eastern money and actually saving a carrier, so they gave up on the Sara. I didn't care much for this, but it was out of my hands. I don't know where the money to save the FID went (Forrestal's motto: First In Defense; referring to James Forrestal being the first SecDef; but we called her the 'forest fire', referring to her 1967 burn), but that effort failed to garner enough moola to save that ship, so as mentioned, she'll be scrapped.

-Tom

[SaxMan]

At one point, shortly after Forrestal was decommissioned, Baltimore and Tampa Bay were practically ready to call out each others' respective National Guards on the other one over who was going to get the Forrestal. This was also while the Cabot was still with us and both cities were passing up what would have been a very easy buy for a chance at Forrestal. Now Cabot is gone, and Forrestal awaits the same fate. It's sad that not one of the original supercarriers will be preserved. As I've said here before, ships are incredibly demanding in terms of resources, particularly financial, for preservation to be successful and there just isn't enough interest for those resources to be brought to bear.

[hang the expense]

I cant get worked up over the super carriers but I still get pissed that they didn't save EnterpriseCV6.That right there was a dam n crying shame and those responsible should have been shot.I am only half kidding.

[SaxMan]

I think almost everyone agrees that the scrapping of the CV-6 Enterprise was a mistake...yet we're still making the mistake time and again, letting historic ships rust away and get broken up. Once they're gone, they're gone.

[PbyCat-Guy]

My Dad was on the Sara in the 80's and it would be neat if she were saved. I'd like to see one saved.

[Cubs]

Is there anyway we can find out when the Forrestal is going to be towed and perhaps even track it on AIS?

[Rauhbatz]

Hi all...thanks for the great insights. I will pass positive thoughts as I pass over these immense monuments to times gone by. I can't even imagine building multiple CV carriers at once...had to be a magic time to serve on one of these.

Too bad they couldn't lift one of these and put it on dry land somewhere...

[josciak]

She will be leaving Philly on Tuesday if the weather isn't too bad on her last journey to the scrapper

[Cubs]

Thanks for the Intel.!
Are you in the Philly area? or got some inside scoop?
I'm curious as to the tugs name, maybe I can use AIS to track it.
I suspect when it rounds Cape Hatteras it will likely be 30 miles offshore but, I might try getting a look at it.

[josciak]

Friend posted the info on Facebook. Thinking she will head out at high tide on the Delaware