The Battleship Won't Fit Under the Bridge, What Now?

[@andreaswiklund7197]

That’s why the ship is equipped with nine 16 inch guns …

[@poowg2657]

Thinking the same thing. Just make the bridge go away.

[@ussenterprisecv6805]

Yeah. I had the same thought. Hell could just use the 5 inch guns. Deal less damage but be more precise on the specific bit of the bridge that is in the way.

[@christiantroy3034]

I’ll bring the popcorn

[@flycrew]

😁

[@squid0013]

​@@ussenterprisecv6805but so much less impressive

[@ghost307]

The Navy solved this problem back in 1938. There should be a control panel in the main Engineering space where you can turn "LIMBO MODE" on.

[@KRDecade2009]

They have it set to W for Wumbo when it should be set to M for mini

[@RuralTowner]

Aim all guns @ full elevation...everything must be precisely timed...FULL salvo @ just right moment for the highest point to clear while in motion...

[@brothertheo2677]

Or just yell "DUCK!!"

[@charlesgantz5865]

There's a reason the Limbo asks "How low can you go".

[@aland7236]

What is the must have playlist for this endeavor?

[@philr6829]

Ryan - if you have not thought about it yet - find the closest National Guard/Reserve or military base with heavy lift Helo capability and see if they need “any training opportunities” to lift the weight you need to lift. Proposed that way, from a museum, may allow a resourceful unit to get permission to “train” overhead the museum.

[@grinnellian09]

Great idea! CH-53 might do it. Not a 25t lift capacity, but it's not clear if the mast alone is 25t or if that's the total high-mass that has to come down. MH-53 was just EOLd I believe, so reduced availabilty there.

[@ianfleming008bsi8]

It's an old soviet design but I think we have somewhere in the US a MI-6 or MI-26@@grinnellian09

[@BeKindToBirds]

Perfect idea. Coast guard would actually be professionals at doing such though.

[@philr6829]

@@BeKindToBirds actually ANG or NG would. CG doesn’t have heavy lift capability. They actually call ANG or NG rotary wing support often for aid to navigations issues for heavy lift. (25 years USCG here)

[@BeKindToBirds]

@@philr6829 Heavy lift, right. My thought train was "who has the most experience around ships masts in helicopters." Didn't cross my mind the biggest thing they lift is a few people and not a radar array.

[@chrismaverick9828]

After watching all that is going into getting Texas fixed up, I don't think anyone interested has any delusions that even a scrape and paint dry docking of a battleship is going to be simple or cheap. Giving the followers these detailed videos really helps us feel a part of the ship's history as witnesses. Thank you, Ryan and staff, for doing what you do so well.

[@Michael_Hunt]

I've always really appreciated how transparent you guys are about your operations. Thank you

[@spvillano]

I've been involved in quite transparent operations, typically referred to as "Command and Staff" briefings, which never lived up to being properly named as brief. Total transparency, obscured by tons of minutiae. To the point where, even the commander wanted to be elsewhere, but alas, was a necessary evil.

[@Michael_Hunt]

@@spvillano Meetings suck, agreed.

[@spvillano]

@@Michael_Hunt especially when they're Death By Powerpoint presentations, where each slide is presented and simply read to the attendees.

[@larrydonovan1293]

When doing routine navigation briefs before going under the Golden Gate Bridge in the early 1990s (CVN-72), our CO would talk about the Winnebago factor - the extra sag on the bridge because of heavier summer traffic (and therefore less clearance). You also have to figure slack tide, draft, mast height, etc…but we needed to consider the Winnebago factor!

[@benni5941]

Gotta think that factor has increased over the years as the average car weight keeps going up.

[@michaelmappin4425]

I was there, shipmate. I love those photos.

[@ct8764]

The passengers have increased in weight, too.

[@SuperAWaC]

The bridge has never carried as much weight as it did in 1987 when it was full of people.@@benni5941

[@johnfitzpatrick3416]

Smart Captain, knowledge passed down as he climbed the ranks.

[@Superuser009]

This reminds me of an episode that occurred during my time in the Pacific Fleet...while pulling into San Diego on a Ticonderoga-class cruiser as you approach the North Island bridge due to perspective issues it looks like the mainmast will in fact impact the bridge as you pass under it. (it won't) So while on sea and anchor detail, all of us on the fantail sourced a handcrank from somewhere, gave it to one of the newer guys who'd never been to SD and sent them up to the 0-5 level to crank the mast down, and be quick about it because the ship wasn't stopping. Off he goes, looking rather nervous. Came back a short time later, rather unamused.

[@321CatboxWA]

Mail bouy watch , clubing freezer rats , haverback bar /shaft , stretcher's, shrinkers and hole removers . , good clean fun

[@R.J._Lewis]

Sent a guy on a wild goose chase to get the pallet stretcher calibrated one time. He walked around carrying this contraption made of two 2x4s nailed at at a right angle eith a bit of chain hanging off it for about two hours.

[@gunnergoz]

In the P-3 community I served in many moons ago, you'd send the new avionics guy into the "hellhole" (avionics equipment bay below the cockpit) to remove the "ASH Receiver." It was actually an ash tray (recall this was a 1960's aircraft design) in the cockpit.

[@mikestanley9176]

@@321CatboxWA Lanyard Oil.

[@vicpecka7356]

The US Army does this too. Send the new guy in an Armor unit for a front slope adjuster or laser fluid for the laser range finder.

[@adamsmith6995]

I know this is echoing what others have said: I just want to thank Ryan and everyone else involved and let them know how much I appreciate getting this inside info on the details of moving the ship. I know it takes a lot of time and effort to make these videos. Keep up the amazing work.

[@svgproductions72]

I just visited the battleship Sunday and brought a bunch of college friends who have never been to a museum ship before/not huge history buffs. They were completely blown away with what this ship was all about and genuinely enjoyed the tour given by your guide Jason. Thank you Battleship New Jersey! Making a short video about my visit soon

[@andyedwards9222]

I love the geeky deep dives, information about things I'd never even thought about. Please keep it up.

[@barrykery1175]

When CV-38 was put in dry dock back in the 60's, it also would not fit under the bridge. To get it low enough, they flooded ballast on the island side of the carrier to put a list on the ship. This gave them the extra feet needed to get under the bridge. Since the island is on the side of the ship, putting a list on the ship made a big difference compared to trying the same on the NJ since the super structure is pretty much centered, side to side, on the New Jersey. Barry

[@SMOBY44]

Thank you for the big piece of teak wood deck. I like giving to the cause for the drydock and will continue to donate for the preservation of the magnificent ship.

[@alexalls]

It's probably a long shot but... You may have some luck with asking the national guard in pa/NJ. A chinook might be a bit overkill but they might be able to use it as a training mission for some kind of helicopter that can lift that kind of weight.

[@WarrenGarabrandt]

You need something like 10,000 helicopters.

[@frankbodenschatz173]

Fort Dix!😅

[@PsRohrbaugh]

​@@WarrenGarabrandtThey were talking about removing the antennas & mast, rather than bringing a barge crane. Ryan even mentions that the radar antenna was originally brought in with a helicopter. They weren't talking about lifting the whole ship.

[@WarrenGarabrandt]

@@PsRohrbaugh OH! That makes so much more sense than what I was thinking. lol

[@tazzo4424]

a chinook or another large size helicopter should be able to lift the radar antenna

[@view05nys]

I remember in the 1950s, living in New York City, ships constructed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard had features such as foldable masts, so they could pass under the Brooklyn Bridge.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Generally they just built them to the height of the bridge.

[@pauljackson358]

Thank you for the updates and for releasing your Drydocks on Wednesdays.

[@shanemccain7107]

All these precious ship's have a special place in my heart, my father served 23 year's in the navy and I remember like it was yesterday waiting on the pier with my mom when the ship or sub he was on would be coming in or leaving out. It was sad when he left but exciting when he was coming back because I knew he had something for me from somewhere else that was different than stuff we could get in the state's. Everytime I go visit a museum ship those memories flood back and I really enjoy telling my kids and showing them what the brave men would live on for month's at a time and it's all truly amazing. Thank's for all you and you crew do.

[@NoName-zn1sb]

ships have

[@bluerebel01]

I always look forward to all of these updates and look forward to many more. Thank you and standing by.

[@RobertoAfortunado]

I remember when I was around 12 or so, my dad took me to see the USS Alabama and as we walked close to her I remember thinking. How can human beings build something so big with steel that is more than 17" thick. I remember asking my dad, how does it float. Now at 59, I understand but have never lost interest in these great ships and the power that they represent. The size makes this such a huge undertaking in every way. I just want to thank all of you for what you are doing to preserve her. So, another little kid can stand there in awe at what humans can accomplish and 40 something years later remember that day with a smile on their face like I have right now. Thank you.

[@Ehrandil]

This planning for dry dock is such an interesting topic. I really enjoy these Weds videos. Thanks a ton!

[@krtwood]

Just make like a Penske truck trying to get under the 11ft8 bridge. Sneak up on the bridge and hope it doesn't notice you.

[@klsc8510]

Being Retired Army National Guard, I will modify the KISS I used with my soldiers. Keep It Simple SAILOR! Jacking up the bridge isn't an option. RATS! Using the 16 inch forward guns to create a gap in the bridge would be spectacular video, but isn't an option either. Cranes are the simplest and safest options for removing the top hamper. Helicopter failures are more common than crane wire rope failures. Granted any failure makes for spectacular video, that is NOT the goal and mission. This does give you time to think outside of the box for ways to remount the tophamper for easier removal the next time the USS New Jersey needs to be dry docked. The future Ryan will be most grateful. Could the dipole masts be remounted with hinges so in the future they could be lowered to the platform instead of being removed? Have fun Ryan.

[@jaminova_1969]

The 1st thing we do when there is a problem in the shipyard is, "Get the torch!" After that, it's the riggers problem! I am so impressed with your explanation of the planning involved in this move! I don't think you have another choice other than moving to another pier so that the crane can lift the antenna mast(s) and radar. Best of luck to you and your team! I look forward on your ballast and dewatering videos!

[@A_Haunted_Pancake]

Oh boy, Did that bring that one bring back memories from my shipyard-days 🤣. "We've made all the cuts - now what ? Ahhhh ..."

[@Powertampa]

You could also weld a hinge at the base of the tower and string cable either side, then cut the mast and use cable winches to lower it down onto the deck. It seems to be long and thin so just laying it flat onto the pedestal it probably isn't taller than the railings. This way you can then also use that hinge to get the mast upright again and weld it up once back out of drydock. Effectively like the pedal steamers lowering their funnels to fit under bridges. If the radar actually weighs about ten tons then yeah there are multiple helicopters both the Navy and Air Force arsenal that would be able to lift that off, which would be a cool cooperation as well.

[@w6krg]

That's what I was thinking.... Hinge all the top protrusions so they can be folded over and left in situ. It's not like they'd have to take the side loads they'd get in heavy seas. The radar will have to be lifted, but they could store it on the fantail for the overhaul.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@w6krg and you are assuming the deck is going to support this?

[@TyphoonVstrom]

@@WALTERBROADDUS It already is supporting "this". Think about it.

[@Ganiscol]

Playing around with 25t like that is a recipe for disaster with potential for unfathomable damage to both the ship and workers. Just take her to another pier with a crane or use a barge crane instead winging it.

[@Ganiscol]

@@TyphoonVstrom the deck isnt supporting the super structure...

[@BufftatJunkie]

This video is what I’m subscribed for, the nitty gritty details that I never even considered would be needed to think about.

[@F-Man]

Might need some 16/50 action on the bridge, then 😛

[@StrikeEagle784]

Good luck guys! I’m so happy you guys are going above and beyond in taking care of such an important warship!

[@gak2173]

"This is a math heavy episode guys, I'm sorry....." great stuff Ryan! 😅

[@bernarrcoletta7419]

I don’t remember which battleship, but when they were reactivated in the 80s, they sent one up the Chesapeake Bay to Aberdeen Proving Grounds. I remember reading that they had to cut down on of the masts in order to pass under the Bay Bridge. I also remember that we could occasionally here her firing the guns here in Annapolis.

[@cwingate438]

That's seems unlikely. Clearance in the main channel is 186 feet.

[@NoName-zn1sb]

occasionally hear

[@benjaminshropshire2900]

When you started talking about cranes, I immediately thought of a case I witnessed where a chiller unit (~2 tons) needed to be replaced on a 4 story building. Not a big lift, but the patio around the building was the roof of a packing structure so the crane would need a longer reach, which make for a bigger crane which needs better ground to sit on, etc. By the time that wrapped up, they had something like 450 tons of ballast on a crane that shut down a 4 lane road for most of a Saturday. After seeing that, I wasn't at all shocked to learn that refrigerated warehouses (with dozens of chillers, hundreds of feet from the edge) have been known to use helicopters to places them.

[@torinnbalasar6774]

11:00 talking about problems with getting a big enough crane/helicopter reminded me of some persnal experience several years ago. Had to remove 6 tons of ballast from a historc tugboat (the Charels D Gaither) that is sitting on a peir in Baltimore so that a smaller crane could lift her without tipping, and move her 50 ft to the other side of the pier...

[@Trebuchet48]

If the crane won't come to the battleship, the battleship must go to the crane!

[@aserta]

There has to be a barge crane in the vicinity... it's not like the area is a barren wasteland.

[@LavitosExodius]

@@aserta there probably is but like Ryan said that would be 10 times the cost of a regular crane.

[@williamjones5309]

I am so glad you are able to have her towed to dry dock for repairs the battleship that bears our home states name the USS North Carolina (BB-55) is literally stuck in the mud. When they pumped out her fresh water and ballast tanks to have her towed to the shipyards she would not come off the bottom of the lagoon where she's moored. There was talk of damming up the lagoon to make a makeshift dry dock but no one knows when that's going to happen. I hope the New Jersey makes it to dry dock for repairs and back home safely. I think it's important to preserve these historical ships.

[@jamesmurney1374]

The BOTTOM of the number is the whole foot! (Unless the Navy is opposite of merchant ships) The numbers are 6 inches high so the top of the number are the half feet. When they brought Iowa to and from Susin Bay they only had 140' to work with so they had to cut off even more.

[@slugmaster64]

I immediately thought about adding water ballast. I remember touring North Carolina and hearing that when she took torpedo damage, her DCS procedure was to pump in water to fix her list.

[@kevinm.n.5158]

Sell tickets for people to ride onboard, thatll weigh it down a bit

[@Klemeq]

That's brilliant!

[@mm3mm3]

They’d need a lot of people lol

[@klsc8510]

Lots and lots. Heavier guests to the extreme bow!

[@alexalls]

Water bladders in bilge or other spaces could help. You could up-charge the tickets to ride the battleship to the yard because it’s literally a once in a lifetime thing. At this point ideas are ideas 🧐😅

[@gbulmer]

Ryan said Battleship Missouri needed 2,000 tons of water near the bow to get within 2 feet of trim. Even pretty big people, 250 pounds each, are 8 to the ton, So 2,000 tons would be 16,000 people. They need to be near the bow. That isn't going to work. Best Wishes. ☮

[@BlindMansRevenge2002]

Congratulations for hitting the 170,000 subscriber mark Mr. curator!

[@sparkplug1018]

When putting the mast back on, is there a possibility of welding a flange on the ship and mast so that for future dry docking it can just be unbolted and removed?

[@Hammerandhearth]

or weld a hinge on before they cut it.

[@johneyton5452]

Yes. So long as they can return it to original condition if the Navy asks for it back. On the Missouri they had cut a whole lot of lugs off the deck as they were trip hazards for us tourists. They kept them in a box just in case.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@johneyton5452 the Navy's not asking for these ships back.

[@Studio23Media]

@@WALTERBROADDUSDoesn't matter if we know that practically, they have an agreement with the Navy that they are required to uphold.

[@J-1410]

@@WALTERBROADDUS They said that in the 1970s and look at what happened.

[@stephenrichards3221]

Good video. Some really good tidbits. I haven't read all the comments but the ones I've read and you didn't take into account that once the anchors are 'weighed' you'll not have to use as much water ballast.

[@cleverusername9369]

Ryan: see that bridge? Gunners: aye, sir Ryan: I don't want to

[@werewolfsaves2179]

Yes ... a shell or two later...what bridge??

[@michaeldrago6999]

I've toured this ship - amazing part of America's Naval tradition

[@Sundancer268]

How did they re-install the mast when New Jersey was set up after passing under the bridge? Might be some historical information that would help in solving this problem in the reverse order.

[@geece1]

During her restoration she was docked down river close to the bridge. There was plenty of room for cranes. The picture at 14:36 was her at that location.

[@werewolfsaves2179]

I really appreciate the dry dock videos. Ryan looks like a kid on Christmas day.

[@arniestuboud]

Ryan, I believe you got READING THE DRAFT NUMBERS - WRONG !!! This could make a 6" difference in you calculations. It is the BOTTOM of each number that represents the even foot, not the top of the number. The top of the number would be that foot + 6 inches. I read these quite a bit while serving as a submarine quartermaster in the US Navy.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

As usual, Great visit with you and that fine old lady.

[@Flashman36175]

Build a temporary crane up there then move the parts off with steel lines. Just call the local iron-worker union hall, and tell them to do it or you will get the NY iron-workers to.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

There's no room or budget.

[@shaggyofwv]

It would be awesome to take a short “cruise” on this beauty as she transits to the shipyard.

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

The masts on HMY Britannia were hinged for bridges , just getting New Jersey to dry dock is going to be a job in itself and it's great Ryan is explaining some of the stages that have to be planned .

[@michaelwhite9199]

A guy on the internet told me you are moving her to Evansville Indiana. I can't wait because that's much closer than New Jersey.

[@kellypayne91]

There is no way she could get to Evansville. You can't be serious.

[@ronwingrove683]

Curator: Removes 25 tons from the mast. NJ: Rises 10 feet due to weight removal. Repeat ad infinitum. (yes, I know pulling 25 tons won't raise the air draft that much)

[@coopercummings8370]

also, that rising due to the reduced weight isn't a problem, they can just add more ballast. The reason they need to remove the mast is because the distance from the bottom of the shipping channel to the bottom of the bridge is less than the height from the base of the ship to the top of the mast (or at least it isn't enough for acceptable clearances). If removing the mast causes the ship to float higher than the maximum safe draft through that channel they can just weigh it back down, there is just a limit on how low in the water they can go.

[@DaveCarpenter-pd1pp]

When I was on USS SImon Lake AS-33 in Charleston SC (1972), we had the same problem. We were upriver from the Charleston Naval Base. When we went out to sea, we didn't clear the US17 bridge over the river. We had to go up on the main mast and remove a 9 ft antenna to clear the bridge. I don't know what the exact clearance was, but at low tide we only cleared by a couple of feet. I do remember what when we were transiting out to sea, occasionally some traffic would refuse to go on the bridge until we had passed underneath it.

[@Melodia-.-]

I do have a Question: What will the tow actually look like? How many tugs? What kind of configuration? What are the logistical and financial challenges involved? Do you collaborate with port authorities or just go for it?

[@ziggyedison2409]

Hi Folks, Discussing the propellers - if you decide to leave them on you could consider giving them multiple heavy coats of lacquer... that should electrically isolate them from galvanic action!

[@nathand.9969]

Will we get a video or at least a photo of Ryan conning the ship from the bridge during her tow?

[@stijnvandamme76]

Perhaps on reinstalling of the cut mast.... install a hinge plate... that way you won't need a crane next time over.. just a winch. Same for the dipoles. The cost of such hinge is greatly offset vs the cost of the crane+ extra moving costs... AND it is a one time operation, since you hire the crane once, weld up the hinges.. Now you have a tilting mast and dipoles.. Winch it down Tug BB NY to the dry dock Winch it back up after you return from dry dock Huge cost saver during this operation but for any future drydocking you will have this height issue covered for no cost of cranes ! I hope this helps !

[@charlesolson9019]

Will you be doing dry dock tours, so people can look at the props etc. in person? Or will the yard's insurance company have a coronary?

[@hitechfl]

Excellent explanations. Keep the great videos coming.

[@Ganiscol]

"Remove the bridge!"

[@SomeRandomHuman717]

As The_Chieftan might say, "The bridge offends me, remove it!"

[@m.streicher8286]

The idea that you guys seriously considered a helicopter makes me so happy

[@haunter_1845]

What's cooler than moving the battleship once? Moving it twice!!

[@emilkarpo]

I expect by the time we see a video celebrating the reopening of the museum Ryan wall have a grey beard and lots of grey up top. Probably the greatest experience of a life time, hard work but a dream job.

[@EricSvilans]

Questions about drydocking: How does cribbing work? How many supports will the New Jersey need? How do you paint under these supports? How high off the floor will the ship be? How is the system of coatings applied? How will the system of coatings be different/better that the ones put on during her last drydocking?

[@someonesomewhere1240]

I think the first part was more or less answered in another video: they have plans for where the cribbing goes, and during dry-dock the ship is re-floated and shifted by ~6ft so that the area obstructed by the cribbing moves.

[@Star_Gazing_Coffee_Lover]

Wish these ships were still sailing, I miss the old days.

[@upstategearheads]

You were talking about the pitch of the shop and how bow high it is. Is there any concern with how deep the props are since being bow high could potentially dip the props deeper?

[@Ylyrra]

Need to fix the trim anyway for other reasons, so there's no real need to look further into the effects of it being off... because it won't be being moved that way.

[@stephenbritton9297]

I worked on a container ship for two tours that the top ~25feet of the mast, above the radars, could hydraulically pivot backwards to horizontal. Undo 4 bolts, and work a hydraulic hand pump... Ship was originally built to service some European ports with low bridges. Only problem was, even with the 4 bolts, the section of mast was not exactly rigid to the lower, and when you had to go ALL the way to the top to change the mast head light, you got this little extra movement with each roll. Very awkward feeling - but amazing view!

[@tubester444]

Maybe you could do a segment about the ship’s trim. Both how it was controlled when it was operating and how it became so far out of trim now. Are there actual hazards for a seriously out of trim BB or is it more of an efficiency and speed thing?

[@appleintosh]

The biggest hazard for an out of trim battleship is that it means there's no fuel on board.

[@lawrenceralph7481]

My son and I watched the USS Iowa go under the Benicia bridge and the Zampa (Carquinez) bridges in Crockett while going into the Carquinez Strait in the Suisuin Bay mothball fleet a decade or so past. As it approached, it didn't look like it was going to clear the Benicia but it did clear it by about 5 to 10 feet. Good luck. It was great fun imagining the Bay Area and Delta targets the 16 in guns could reach from there. I'd hoped we could keep it next to the USS Hornet in Alameda, but Long Beach has done a great job.

[@CameronMcCreary]

Wait for the tide to go out then, the battleship should go under the bridge. I made this statement before notification of the show coming on.

[@SomeRandomHuman717]

Timing the transit with the tides is already factored in, still too tall as is.

[@cruisinguy6024]

Did you watch the video? he specifically discussed in the video the need to do this at low tide.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

They're already talkin about low tide.

[@jamesphillips2285]

@@cruisinguy6024 They commented before the video went live.

[@michaelbyrne8238]

On racing sailboats when you add a new 6' mast extension for the wind instruments, you just send the bowman to the top. Then go real slow until you hear or don't hear WOAH STOP!

[@CTXSLPR]

I know it might be an insurance nightmare but could you do a VIP cruise from the current berth to the crane berth where people could ride on a moving battleship for the short distance in harbour? A 80 people at $500 a head is still real money when you work in the millions.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

In Denmark we have built a bridge which now blocks a Finnish Shipyard, up the Baltic, building cruise ships. So they don't fit the chimney before passing and sails through with high speed, at low water, to make the ship go as low as possible in the water. And traffic on the bridge is stopped during this.

[@jeremycraft8452]

Let some air out of the tires?

[@anthonyalfeo1899]

Try the ‘good old boy’ technique: (drink some beer) wait till late at night, (drink some more beer) tug down to the bridge, (drink a lot of beer) tie off all the stuff that needs removing to the bridge, then ease on down to the dry dock. Nobody will notice. It can all be picked back up on the way back.

[@GearDad]

Question - Is there any work you plan to do at the current dock while the ship is gone for 60 days? I was just curious if you are going to do any improvements or dredging while you don’t have a ship there blocking work.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Only if you got the checkbook? You're talkin a couple million dollars just to move this thing and get it in the yard. Where are you getting additional funding to do anything else? The State of New Jersey is not going to give additional funding. And the Port Authority is not a contributor. And the City of Camden has no money.

[@Studio23Media]

@@WALTERBROADDUSIt was a simple question. No need to be a douchebag about it. 🙄

[@J-1410]

@@WALTERBROADDUS What's with all the pessimistic comments you're leaving here?

[@davemayberry9938]

Maybe you should consider re-designing the masts you keep cutting with piece of steel base plate, so the mast assembly can be unbolted instead of cut in the future. This will save you the possibilities of catastrophic metal fatigue or failure during the welding process. Just a thought...

[@thedyingtitan1247]

What if you cut off the mast and don’t lift it down, keep it up on the pedestal but lay it horizontally onto wooden cribbing using hydraulics, its expensive but probably cheaper than a crane and you don’t need to take up another pier slot, as long as its low enough you don’t need to completely take it off. Then you can get a helicopter for the radar antenna.

[@Simon-ho6ly]

my question would be can the antennae come apart any further reasonably?

[@Superuser009]

Pretty sure the crane needs to be in place rigged to the mast before cutting begins otherwise the mast makes an...uncontrolled descent.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

​@@Simon-ho6lythat still requires a crane. And that's already a non option.

[@Hammerandhearth]

I just had the same thought. Surely they could get a pair of sheer legs rigged on the platform and either lay the mast down horizontally or otherwise cut a hole in the platform and lower it into the structure of the tripod, and lash it there. Take the radar dish off first with a helicopter, or hopefully a cheaper, easier crane.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@Hammerandhearth where are you mounting all this? The deck was never intended to be a foundation for construction equipment.

[@dennisammann9104]

Long Beach Naval Shipyard had a HUGE floating crane called, ‘Herman the German.’ It was a WWII war prize from Germany. It could handle that USS New Jersey mast/radar job with ease. Too bad it’s located a long ways from the east coast and I wonder what happened to it after the Navy decommissioned the Long Beach Naval Shipyard? 🤔😔✨🇺🇸

[@AJGladys]

How many of us do you need to show up and stand around on ship to reduce the freeboard enough?

[@PsRohrbaugh]

Someone did the math in another comment and came up with 16,000 people.

[@ARPTakao]

Speed up, hydrodynamic forces will pull it downward. Cruise ships do this all the time.

[@brnhnd07]

Poweeeeeer!

[@Simon-ho6ly]

"squat effect" is the actual name!

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Speed up how? IT is under tow...

[@29boilersunderthesea99]

@@WALTERBROADDUS rocket boosters obviously just get a falcon 9 to land on it and use that duhh

[@ARPTakao]

@@WALTERBROADDUS tow it faster, real simple

[@johnpublic5169]

Some unique challenges the move is facing. Hope the neighboring pier will allow you to tie up, do your work, & let you store your pieces there while in dry dock. Have you thought of teleporting the ship, like in “The Philadelphia Experiment?” 😮

[@philliplarson2155]

Columbia Helicopters has Chinooks and Erikson has Skycranes. I believe the Chinooks can deadlift 30k and the Skycrane is about the same.

[@vf12497439]

They are looking at 25 tons…. That’s 50,000 pounds compared to 30,000 pounds or 15 tons. Regardless, what a pain in the ass! I hope they set the mast up on a hinge so they can just swivel it into up position and down for transport in the event this is done in 30 more years. I hope this gorgeous ship is still around and loved enough then to keep her up.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

I suggest you look up the specs again for skycrane. They cannot lift 25 tons.

[@Hammerandhearth]

@@vf12497439The impression I got it that they are trying to remove 25 tons total. Just making up numbers here, but maybe something like 13 for the mast, 9 for the dish and 3 for the rest.

[@vf12497439]

@@WALTERBROADDUS exactly, in fact they are good for about 10 tons or 20,000 pounds. The cost to get one on location is astronomical. They aren’t a 401 nonprofit😂. I’ve worked around helicopter logging and the pace they run the turns of logs in is insane. They have to in order to be profitable. The pilot and ship are astronomical costs hourly before even calculating profit. A land or dockside crane will be cheaper no matter the scenario.

[@20chocsaday]

Sail it up to the bridge and hang a hook over the side of the brdge to catch the bit you cut off 😊

[@thickernell]

So Ryan, what about valuables that are not bolted down? I assume you have to relocate and secure all kinds of things off the ship during drydock, like the ham radios, artifacts, the ship silver, etc? Or can you just lock them up somewhere inside the ship?

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Are you seriously worried about people stealing stuff?

[@someonesomewhere1240]

It's dry dock; almost all the work is to the exterior of the ship. I'm sure posting a guard on the one gangway is easy enough.

[@mknewlan67]

@@WALTERBROADDUSin a word…. Yes. Have you seen how entitled people are now?

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@mknewlan67 I don't think you'll have to worry about anyone walking off with ship silver in a lunchbox.

[@mknewlan67]

@@WALTERBROADDUS I wouldn’t believe it until I saw their lunch boxes opened and inspected.

[@TomCat777]

I cannot wait till there's a date so I can bring my son's to see The New Jersey being moved

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

Why are you going to all the trouble? Just fold the mast down. You know when you're in drydock you really should retrofit the mast with a bolted flange instead of rewelding back after you get back to berth.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

It doesn't fold.

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

@@WALTERBROADDUS sarcasm... I know that already. On a serious note the Nimitz class ships have folding antenna masts to get under the Golden Gate Bridge.

[@MattLucius-j5l]

The museum's big boss should walk down to the pier next door and say "if you let us moor here and use a crane on the mast , you'll get a big shout-out on the KZbin channel and Ryan and Libby will bake your staff cookies for three months." It can be amazing what folks will do for good PR and munchies.

[@SomeRandomHuman717]

If all of the sea chests are blanked over, how are you going to fill the ballast tanks needed to trim down the bow? Big effin' pumps and hoses I suppose.

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

Yeah, thats pretty much it.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

If the tanks are below the water line, just need pumps to start, and then can siphon the rest. Could lower the rental costs.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

@jordanrodrigues1279 30 feet from the surface of the water source to the top, yes. The discharge side can have unlimited length. Regardless, this would be an issue with the suction side of a pump as well. I think they could find a way to route the hoses where it'd work. The only question is whether the headache is worth the cost savings. If it only costs $5,000 to rent the pumps, why bother? But if it costs $50,000? Worth looking into.

[@woodywoodman2319]

Yes... are we gonna get a video about ballast and control? Recommend basing it in the Oil Kings! The oil and water kings duties in particular! From fuel storage and testing to oils and all waters! Waters being Condensates, Feed water, potable water, Boiler Water, ballast water, and how they're transfered tested treated stored, and the logs for collecting the test and capacities on!

[@Spookydude3]

Since increasing the draft to clear the bridge isn't possible due to the depth of the shipping channel, why not just list it enough to one side that the mast can clear. Or even better reactivate the 16in guns to remove the bridge.

[@JamesF0790]

I suspect the city of New Jersey might have some problems with the latter solution :)

[@wcox4]

Crank the masts down. We used to have the newbies do it when leaving the port of Charleston on a destroyer. It was part of their quals.

[@stormm787]

Get the department of transportation to modify the center section of the bridge into a draw bridge. That way, all future movements of the ship can be accommodated. Saves using any 5" and 16" projectiles. Besides, what if they missed the bridge?

[@edwardrhoades6957]

It's a suspension bridge.

[@Colaholiker]

You know that your system of units is messed up if you need to have plans drawn at the odd scale of 1:192 so that the odd 1/16 of one unit of measurement on paper are equal to one other unit of measurement in the real world.🤯 Don't get me wrong, I think what you guys are doing there is great, I volunteer at a different kind of museum in my home country, and many years back, I even visited the New Jersey. It's just that my metric mind can't comprehend how people were under the impression that those odd imperial units had any advantage over metric...😅

[@tmorg32]

Ask Cher and her sailor boyz for help !!!

[@johnthomas2485]

Maybe we can just turn back time

[@yak5223]

A question for your Q&A: how much mass in total do you think the new paint job will be adding? Or removing, for that matter? Are we talking zero, a ton, 10 tons? Is lead paint on the exterior something you're worrying about, or has that already been taken care of?

[@29boilersunderthesea99]

Do you guys plan to do a mass asbestos removal whilst the ship is closed and in drydock?

[@ghost307]

Already been abated.

[@tsarbomba4620]

@@ghost307 Theres some areas that still contain it albeit very few

[@johnthomas2485]

Asbestos is generally left in place unless it is deteriorating and will become airborne and can't be wrapped.

[@29boilersunderthesea99]

@@ghost307 yh as tsar said I was under the impression that there were a number of spaces with it still in just thought it would make it easier to be potentially opened and atleast nicer and safer for staff

[@BattleshipNewJersey]

Luckily, the asbestos was almost entirely removed by the navy in the 80s. We keep looking though, just in case.

[@Frateloder]

Unrelated to the ship, but can I just say that it's nice to watch someone talk naturally without the whole trendy thing of doing a jump cut (edit) at the end of each sentence? Man that's getting old.

[@richvanderwoude8667]

Will removing the screws gain anything for clearance?... If so , they would look great as an exhibit on the Fantail later..,.

[@Trebuchet48]

It's already too light aft. Removing the screws would make that worse!

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

That idea is a non-starter.

[@king_br0k]

I think the idea is to remove the screws so it could take on more weight to sit lower in the shipping channel

[@richvanderwoude8667]

Removing the screws would allow more clearance to ballast down and lower ship height...

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

@@sd01 the Navy's never bringing these back to service. They are museums. nothing more...

[@LantanaLiz]

Are you going to going to document any of the repairs? I think the painting of the ship would be fascinating.

[@will5286]

I'm VERY CONFUSED--I think that you are OVERTHINKING THE PROBLEM. The air draft can be readily calculated by a competent surveyor or engineer with a transit-even easier in these days of GPS. This is how ALL countries, and individual parcels, have been surveyed since before George Washington. You will of course have to adjust for varying draft.

[@jasonmurawski5877]

The air draft is easy to calculate. No need to get it surveyed because it’s already been done

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

The calculations have been done. The clearance on the other hand is not going to magically appear.

[@davidmcintyre8145]

One lesser known issue of height is the Skye bridge which was originally to have been a low structure with turbines for electricity generation built into it(which would have powered the island and local areas of the mainland): However the UK government vetoed this design because the Royal Yacht Britannia would not be able to make passage of the Kyle of Lochalsh

[@sewing1243]

My thoughts on adjusting trim. 1) When the Navy used water to ballast the ship when it was moved to the current location what kind of water did they use? 2) Assuming they used sea water (salt water) what kind of damage has being lying in wait (and slowly getting worse) in those tanks all these years? 3) No matter what kind of water was used I would assume all tanks and plumbing will need to be tested for water tightness before trying to fill any of the tanks to prevent flooding other compartments. 4) I assume any water pumped into the tanks will be considered "fouled" and will have to be disposed of in compliance with Federal and State EPA rules, other than just pumped overboard. Safety Concerns 1) In addition to unexpected flooding, an issue that occurred during salvage operations at Pearl Harbor after the attack a number of casualties were suffered among ship's company and salvage personnel was the creation of toxic gases because of the combination of sea water and other substances. Since I'm guessing the best way to test the tanks will be placing air pressure into the tanks any leaks in the tanks could vent any strange combinations of gases into possibly occupied spaces in the ship.