USS Oregon in the Spanish American War

[Kragrifle]

Hi Fred,
Plan to display again at Kansas City in July. Would love to see more photos of that door!

[Vern Humphrey]

Joshua Slocum was the first man to sail around the world single-handed, in a 37-foot boat named "The Spray." At the Cape of Good Hope, on his last leg of the voyage, the British told him he'd have to give it up. The US was at war with Spain, and the Spanish Navy would sweep the seas clean of American ships. He sailed anyway.

Off the coast of Brazil, he saw smoke -- a battleship! He loaded his Winchester and ran up the Stars and Stripes.

It turned out to be the USS Oregon. As she got close, the captain came out on the bridge with a megaphone, and "spoke" him -- "Have you seen any Spanish ships?"

Slocum shouted back, "No! But I suggest we remain in company for mutual protection."

[Fred]

When I was 11 or 12, I built a Revell plastic model of the U.S.S. Olympia. It gave me a tremendous appetite for the era.

About a year later, my family went to Philadelphia to attend a wedding. We toured Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross home, and other historic spots, but, the highlight of the day was going onboard the "Olympia"..... It was right there!

IIRC - The Revell instructions had an order form to send a $1.00 to a preservation society and get a medallion made from one of the Olympia's propellers. These do appear from time to time on ebay. (I wish I had sent a dollar in 1960)!

It should also be noted, the Olympia played a role in the 1919 'North Russia Campaign'. A 'Landing Party' from the Olympia, that was sent far inland to secure a strategic objective, had to fight their way out of an encirclement of Bolsheviks.

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[Vern Humphrey]

Dewy was the morning
of the First of May
And Dewey was our admiral
Down at Manila Bay

[jon_norstog]

I love the look of relief and the Mosin-Nagant rifles.

p.s. Those Olympia Window Panes are awesome!

That must have been on the Siberian expedition, 1919. When Russia collapsed, Westinghouse was stuck with a pile of them but apparently managed to convince someone in the War Department they were just the thing for the campaign ... I think the ostensible reason for it was to rescue the Czech Legion.

jn

jn

[butlersrangers]

Nice Fred! How long ago did you get your piece of the U.S.S. Olympia?

[butlersrangers]

I have no desire to take this thread away from the great ships of the SAW. I think it interesting to see role they continued to play in history.

However, it is necessary to add to a couple points Jon Norstog brought up.

IIRC - Actually, there were two Fronts to the Allies' intervention into Russia. The North Russia Campaign was through Archangel (White Sea). The Siberian Campaign was through Vladivostok (Pacific). The "Olympia" Crew was in the North Russia Campaign.

Detroit and Michigan have a strong connection with The American 'Polar Bears' involved in the North Russia campaign. A lot of Polish speaking Michigan soldiers were used in the joint American, British, Canadian, and French intervention, through Archangel.

White Chapel Cemetery, north of Detroit, has a beautiful monument honoring these soldiers. It is the burial site for many of these veterans.

The Mosin rifles and ammunition, used during the North Russia Campaign, were already in Britain, from various makers and ready to be shipped, when the Bolsheviks took over. It probably made a lot of sense logistically to use this equipment in the joint Russia intervention.

(Most of the Remington and Westinghouse made Mosin-Nagant rifles, probably, never left the U.S.
Since the Bolsheviks dropped out of the War and the U.S. Military was short on Arms, it made great sense to buy and use this equipment in U.S. Training Camps, along with Krag and Canadian model 1905 Ross rifles).

polar bear patch-ed.jpgarms inspect.jpgPolar Bear Monument.jpg

[Fred]

Nice Fred! How long ago did you get your piece of the U.S.S. Olympia?

I don't remember. I noticed it gathering dust on a bookshelf in the library. Sigh...

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[Art]

I’m from Houston (live in Arkansas now) and remember running all over the Texas moored out by the San Jacinto battleground. I have not seen the USS Olympia since my daughter graduated from the Naval Academy in 2006. Time gets away from you! Always thought SOMEONE would maintain these historic ships, but maybe they’re tied up with their phones!

I remember when Ted Poe was a District Judge in Houston in the 1970s he was famous for creative sentencing. One of his favorites was sentencing people to community service chipping paint on the battleship Texas .

When states or cities get these old ships as museums they always seem to fail to comprehend the cost of maintenance. As was mentioned above the Texas went into the Todd shipyard for maintenance, their was some question as to whether she'd make it that time but it was dry dock her or break her up. On that occasion the Feds matched the state of Texas in raising the $20 million odd dollars for the job. 40% of the underwater hull was replaced at that time and if she goes in again the other 60% will almost surely be replaced.

The old girl looked great when she came out but as you said we have the same problem, sitting in salt water for almost 30 years now and it's fish or cut bait time again. The cost of repair and dry birthing the ship which is the only real long term solution is going to cost $60-$75 million and the fund is at least $40 million short as of today, so it's patch, patch, patch.


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M1 rifles on the battleship Texas 2015

[jon_norstog]

...

IIRC - Actually, there were two Fronts to the Allies' intervention into Russia. The North Russia Campaign was through Archangel (White Sea). The Siberian Campaign was through Port Arthur (Pacific). The "Olympia" Crew was in the North Russia Campaign.,,,
The Mosin rifles and ammunition, used during the North Russia Campaign, were already in Britain, from various makers and ready to be shipped, when the Bolsheviks took over. It probably made a lot of sense logistically to use this equipment in the joint Russia intervention.
...

polar bear patch-ed.jpgarms inspect.jpgPolar Bear Monument.jpg

Thank you for clearing that one up. I just typed without checking facts on that one .. I do remember seeing a post somewhere from a man who had a Finnish Mosin with USA markings on it. My own thought is a lot of weapons must have been left on the beach when the Allies pulled out.

The Oregon did in fact provide transport and "escort services" for the Siberian Intervention. By then who knows WHAT the gunners mates had sitting in their arms lockers. Sailors tend to be pack rats when it comes to stuff related to their rating. Unlike soldiers and Marines, they don't have to carry it on their backs.

jn