Carrier split in two... USS Makassar Strait

[Scott Rose]

From WikiPedia:

USS Makassar Strait (CVE–91) was a Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy. The ship was named after Makassar Strait, the strait between Kalimantan and Sulawesi, Indonesia.

She was originally classified AVG-91, reclassified ACV-91 on 20 August 1942, and reclassified CVE-91 on 15 July 1943; originally named Ulitaka Bay and renamed Makassar Strait 6 November 1943; laid down by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Washington, under Maritime Commission contract 29 December 1943; launched 22 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Ysabel Weyse Hedding, wife of Captain Truman J. Hedding, Chief of Staff, Commander Carrier Division Three; and commissioned at Astoria, Oregon, 27 April 1944, Captain Warren K. Berner in command.

Makssar Strait entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Tacoma and, while berthed there, was reclassified as a utility aircraft carrier, CVU-91, on 12 June 1955. On 28 August 1958 the United States Secretary of the Navy authorized her to be used as a target. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 September 1958.

In April 1961 while under tow to San Clemente Island off California, she ran aground on San Nicholas Island in the Channel Islands, and was then sold for breaking up in situ on 2 May 1961. As late as the fall of 1965, she had not been broken up and was being used as a target.


(Source: U.S. Navy)


(Source: U.S. Navy)

[airnutz]

WOW! Looks like somebody pencil-whipped an approval sheet.

[Kyleb]

WOW! Looks like somebody pencil-whipped an approval sheet.

Bad things happen when you run your ship aground and leave it.

[Scott Rose]

Even if just an escort carrier it is still surreal to see one in this predicament.

[airnutz]

WOW! Looks like somebody pencil-whipped an approval sheet.

Bad things happen when you run your ship aground and leave it.

Yup, being Navy, I've seen a few examples of ships run aground, but I don't believe I've never seen one shear that clean all the way thru at a bulkhead.

[Matt Gunsch]

wonder if this is what is left ? https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2379277 ... a=!3m1!1e3

[ZRX61]

wonder if this is what is left ? https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2379277 ... a=!3m1!1e3

Wrong side of the island, that could be the Margie A

Carrier grounded here:

33°16'31.75"N 119°33'23.80"W

[eze240]

Interestingly, this is very similar to what happened to the S.S.America, while being towed to the scrapper....
They lost her in a storm near the Canary Islands, she went onto the beach and broke in half...it took about 12 years For the wreck to completely disintegrate in the rough surf....
More recently the S.S. Independence was similarly wrecked in India after some questionable business dealings....
In each case, it appears the ships hull was only partially supported by sand or rocks, tidal and wave action and strong currents work the hull flexing her in the middle, only takes a few hours before the hull fractures...
I doubt there's much left of the Makassar Strait by now, at least not above the surface....
Note that in the first picture the port side of the forward flight deck is already coming apart...presumably this was taken within a few days of the wreck...

[Dave Hadfield]

This tug, now owned by a friend of mine, in 1968 towed 2 -- TWO -- decommissioned aircraft carriers to Japan. In tandem. From Boston. Around Cape Horn. The hard way -- east to west.

There are no photos that I know of. But here's one of it towing an oil rig.

Smit Clyde.