30 Oct 2009
Ex-Saipan begins journey to scrap yard
Tugs towed the amphibious assault ship formerly known as the Saipan out of its mothball berth in Philadelphia on Wednesday, beginning the ship’s final trip to sea — one that will end at the scrap yard.
The Saipan is scheduled to arrive mid-November in Brownsville, Texas, where workers at International Shipbreaking Ltd. will begin cutting the 28,000-ton ship apart.
USS Saipan (LHA 2, bottom) and USS John F Kennedy (CV 67) tied up in Philadelphia's Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility
Weapons effect testing was conducted on the Saipan after she was decommissioned.
October 30th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I didn’t get the last paragraph of the linked article, about how the “net cost” to the gubmint for breaking the ship up was 2 cents.
Why wouldn’t they sell the ship? Seems they would get more than 2 cents for it.
October 31st, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Not sure, but I think they sold her for 2 cents. The breakers are responsible to move her and get to keep anything they can sell the scrap for.
Did the same thing with my ‘85 Camaro a few years ago.
…Well, not the weapons effect testing…
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 am
Ha, I had an ‘83 with t-tops. I bought it in 1993. By 94/5 it was an unredeemable piece of shite.
Weapons effect testing woulda been worthwhile.