The Ship Model Forum

I was aboard USS INDEPENDENCE when we did a trip from Sydney to Freemantle around the Australian Bight. Seas were pretty rough, but nothing like the video. I could just discern the ship`s motion whilst walking the p-ways or sitting at my watch station. Yes, many sailors, particularly those on their first cruise, were experiencing seasickness!

More often then not, Ive been on the frigates barely visible in the troughs.

Wasn`t that the worst place to park that helo?

I sent the link to my team chief (Navy LCDR) who was on the Kitty when they took her from the East Coast to the West Coast. He said the seas they went through on the passage around S America were similar. He was standing watch on the bridge watching her taking it green over the flight deck. He said it was the only time while on a CV that he had to wedge himself into his bunk to keep from falling out due to the ship's motion. He also said the seas were so high that when a small boy escort went into a trough, all you could see was the top of the mast. Everything else was hidden by the waves.

What would you guess to be the sea state where Kitty Hawk shipped water over her bow?

There are some fairly dramatic bridge window footages of an Iowa class battleship completely burying her bow up to No. 1 turret in severe seas during WWII. It was said that the whole bow could be seen from the bridge window to quiver as it came out of the water, and there was real concern that bow would fail and break off.

Devin wrote:That's the first time I've ever seen a modern carrier take green over the flight deck. Wow. But, as a former DDG and CG sailor, I have more sympathy for her screening ships!

I hear you.

I have seen people pukeing hard in the Gulf of Mexico on an oil field crew boat in seas not half as bad. The crew boats are about 500 tons displacement.

I bet the heads were packed with seasick Carrier sailors Now they may know what being a sailor means No sympathy from any former DE sailors, especially those who are acquainted with the Bering Sea in January

Bob B.

Hmmmm, someone forgot to take out that heli from the bow!!! Wonder in what state it was after....

That's the first time I've ever seen a modern carrier take green over the flight deck. Wow. But, as a former DDG and CG sailor, I have more sympathy for her screening ships!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGd4UQhF49Y