I recently read that the navy sank an aircraft carrier in the ocean to from a reef. Why wouldn't the government sell it for scrap metal value instead?
2006-10-01 11:19:04 · 14 answers · asked by Robert P 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Other - Business & Finance
Many many many ships are sold to other countries and for scrap but using such a craft to see the effects of new arsenal of weapons on the vessel provides a lot of unforeseen information. Kinda like Car Co's using test dummies and having to meet guidelines.
Go to this web sight http://navysite.de/dd/dd973.htm and go to the bottom and view the photos showing the John Young getting hit by one Mk-48 torpedo. There are I believe 6 Spruance Class Destroyers sank in this area. plus a few others. Long live the USS INGERSOLL (DD-990) family of CREW MEMBERS.
2006-10-02 13:33:11 · answer #1 · answered by tc_an_american 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most of our ships are put in mothball fleet for future need. however, many do get sold to other countries for thier navies. but the big boys, aircraft carriers, not many countries can sustain a carrier so those dont get sold for reuse. some of the ships are used for test vehicles using new munitions. and some do end up in scrap yards. as for sinking a carrier to help form a reef, i have not heard anything on that. i did read that the retired carrier USS America will be used to test munitions to see how it will affect the carrier as no ship that size has been sunk during a battle. it has nothing to do with forming reefs. it will be done far enough out in the ocean to sink well below depth at which anyone could get to it. also, for all you environmental people, great care is being used to make sure all polutants, like fuels and oils and nuclear materials are removed prior to sinking.
i just did some research and found that the navy has finally recieved permission to sink carrier oriskany off florida coast to revitalize reefs destroyed by hurricanes. florida was one of 5 states that requested this action, and the navy has plans for 20 more sinkings for the same reason over the next few years. i have not been able to find any reasons other than to revitalize damaged reefs. however, they are using all capital ships, meaning big ones, which suggests that it is cheaper to sink them than to remove all the military hardware before being able to sell for scrap.
2006-10-01 11:29:10 · answer #2 · answered by fn_49@hotmail.com 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am guessing the following.
1. Not that much of money to get because it takes money to tear it apart. Not really worth the effort
2. Selling as scraps that can also reveal the design for the ships. Navy just don't want anyone know how the ship structure and the design inside the ship
3. It can be a publicity stunt, saying now the ship can be a environmental savior for the ocean and fish.
2006-10-01 11:22:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scrapping Metal For Dummies
2016-11-07 00:49:17 · answer #4 · answered by alanna 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the Navy scraps hundreds of ships for every one sunk as an artificial reef, so scrapping is indeed the default option....its only in a very few cases..like the Oriskany to serve as a basis for new corals or the America as a weapons test to see how to better build the next generation of carriers...that ships are sunk whole.
Consider that the US built ( off the top of my head) 400 destroyers and 50 cruisers and 30 carriers in World War 2......where are they all now? In your Toyota and your razor and your refrigerator
2006-10-02 04:23:58 · answer #5 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not all carriers and such get sunk...some ships are sold to foreign governments. Some are scuttled. Some are drydocked and disassembled for scrap metal. Some are sold to private buyers.
2006-10-01 11:27:53 · answer #6 · answered by synchronicity915 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that's a good question, and it could also provide work for people cutting up the iron to the specified sizes for scrap, loading it, hauling it, ect while still bringing a profit.
2006-10-01 11:21:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Costs more to dismantle the ship than to sink it. Think of all the manpower to take a ship apart.
2006-10-01 11:20:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's easier to sink it, than to hual it back to a yard, scrap it, and then rid of the scraps.
2006-10-01 11:27:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know. But my guess there must be lot of old navy ships is the yards!!
2006-10-01 11:21:20 · answer #10 · answered by alfonso 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋