Author Topic: LST 325 (Read 457 times)

Moose1 · « **on:** January 07, 2001, 11:04:00 AM »

http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html

A group of WW II veteran sailors (mostly in their 70s) took possession of a surplus Landing Ship Tank from the Greek Navy, repaired it on their own, and are sailing it from Athens to Mobile, Alabama, for use as a floating museum.

29 guys. In their 70s and 80s. Sailing a 60-year-old ship that was stripped for scrap. Across the Atlantic. In winter.

Every single one of them should get a wheelbarrow when they get to Mobile. They need it to carry their balls around in.

Wow. I mean, just...wow.

Moose (fpmoose)
The Flying Pigs
OINK! OINK! TO WAR!!

RAM · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2001, 05:59:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Moose1:
.

Every single one of them should get a wheelbarrow when they get to Mobile.

ERRR...IF they get to mobile. I've been aware of this since a couple of months, and it has really serious chances not to ever reach its destination.

To add to the sailors' advanced age, you must know that the LST is in really poor shape and that it was advised by tech people not to even sail it from Greece in the mediterranean...let alone to cross the Atlantic in mid-winter.

I really hope they reach safely. THey show a lot of valor doing what they do.

LJK Raubvogel · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2001, 06:58:00 PM »

They've already made it to the Bahamas. They only have 800 miles to go.
http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent/1,12044,TS_lstbahamas_ap,00.html?cat=NEWSEDITOR2

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LJK_Raubvogel
LuftJägerKorps

[This message has been edited by LJK Raubvogel (edited 01-07-2001).]

Moose1 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2001, 08:16:00 PM »

Actually, they seem to have had very little trouble along the trip. They had an engine go out going from Athens to Gibraltar, the repairs in Athens took so long they couldn't make a side trip to Normandy, and they had problems with one gyrocompass and one generator during the crossing. But the main systems of the ship have held up very well. These guys have done an awesome job fixing and sailing the LST 325 and now they're only four or five days from their destination. And with only 29 men in their 70s and 80s. Unbelievable, I wonder what a normal crew complement was during the war?

It'll be interesting what happens when they arrive in Mobile. The Coast Guard pushed hard to try and stop them from making the trip "for their own safety", and they seem to think they will have serious trouble with American authorities when they get here. We'll see.

Moose (fpmoose)
Flying Pigs
OINK! OINK! TO WAR!!

Eagler · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2001, 07:30:00 AM »

big brass ones and an unlimited supply of Wild Turkey

Eagler

Fox29 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2001, 02:43:00 PM »

I see that they arrived in Mobile Alabama today.....

[This message has been edited by Fox29 (edited 01-10-2001).]

Fox29 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2001, 02:50:00 PM »

Not sure if this will wok,,pulled it from Associated Press (AP) "wire"
http://wire.ap.org/APnews/main.html?PACKAGEID=veteran

Fox29 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2001, 02:59:00 PM »

Ill try this again..

it appears that these "Senior's" have completed thier voyage..

I really should read the other posts before I reply..sigh

[This message has been edited by Fox29 (edited 01-10-2001).]