We set out Sunday morning
to ride the SD Maritime Museum’s Swift boat.
These were used in Vietnam during the war on the rivers. They went up to 29 knots not rising to plane
on top of the water but with the stern sinking with the higher speeds.
The museumweb sitehttp://sdmaritime.org/visit/the-ships/pcf-816-swift-boat/ says:
“In 1971, the US Navy donated two Swift Boats to the newly formed
Republic of Malta’s Maritime Squadron. After forty years of coastguard duty,
Malta retired these boats from service. In 2011, Malta's Minister of Defense
donated a Swift Boat to the Maritime Museum of San Diego with our promise to
preserve her history and to pay tribute to all Swift Boat Sailors from both
countries.
The
Swift Boat Sailors Association brought this Swift Boat to the Maritime Museum
of San Diego to be restored and operated on San Diego Bay. Museum visitors will
have the opportunity to experience the sound and throbbing vibration from two
V12 diesels delivering 980 horsepower for high speed runs through the Bay while
retired Swift Boat Sailors and docents talk about what it was like to be a
crewman in Vietnam, serving as a Quartermaster, Gunner's Mate, Engineman,
Radarman, Bosun's Mate or Skipper.”
It’s a much longer tour
than other’s give. Here we pass the
Midway going at a sedate 9 knots.
And further down the bay,
we pass the two new ships recently launched
from NASCO,
Followed by miles of navy
ships in the south bay.
Heading north again, the
Captain raised the speed to 19 knots.
The diesels are tired, one more than the other, but she can still give
us a good turn of speed up the coast. We
donated to the engine replacement fund.
Just for a moment we
cruised by the newest carrier to be homeported in San Diego then crossed the
bay and docked. The exhilaration from
our trip lasted all day.
Love the ides of the vets giving tours and information to visitors. Great idea and good to support it.
ReplyDeleteYou have to work on Christmas Day? Who do you work for, Scrooge?
ReplyDeleteThat's a ride I'd like to take. I like parties with more people than chairs, keeps us from hiding in a corner.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like so much fun!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was a grand ride!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pretty impressive array of ships, including the one you were on.
ReplyDeleteChairs are not important. There is the floor and pillows for the younger. I road on an airboat for only the second time in my life during the recent Florida trip and the Pilot had motored these boats since a child and was a Vietnam Vet who actually piloted airboats in the war there. I did not know we used airboats, but makes sense, except for their noise!
ReplyDeleteSpent Christmas weekend with the kids in San Diego -- every one of them was in various stages of sick... I told them they should have given us a heads up and we would have put it off until everyone was well. They wouldn't hear of it... Robert had a twinge of a sore throat tonight and I'm keeping my fingers crossed...
ReplyDelete