USS Radford sinks

The USS Radford was sunk off the coast of Delaware to create an artificial reef.

[@GShileikis]

Two of my the ships ended up the same way, USS Dewey and the USS Jouett. Great ships, may they continue to serve in their new roles.

[@MrChickennugget360]

technically museum ships. just low maintenance ones that are hard to get to.

[@davidperry970]

Remembering when all the Spruance class cans were the new cans in the fleet. Dam I'm getting old. USS Halsey CG-23 80-83.

[@daved4215]

80 to 84 on Joey D C G 27

[@GShileikis]

USS England (DLG/CG-22)1973-78, USS Dewey (DDG-45) 1981-84, USS Jouett (CG-29) 1991-1993.

[@tomc236]

USS Gridley CG-21, 1983-84. When I separated in 1988 the Arleigh Burke was still on the drawing board.

[@heatherbrown1636]

David M. Daigle I served on the ship from 83 to 86 and lived in Norfolk, VA this was quite interesting to see.

[@McZachary44]

It's amazing how much of the superstructure is already gone from when it was decommissioned.

[@Neonbiker]

Probably reused on another ship or put in museum

[@loyalrammy]

So sad. These ships had another 20 years at least because they were not that old. They destroyed my ship too (USS Fletcher)

[@MadLudwig]

I was stationed at Fort Monroe, VA and remember watching her come into Norfolk after being hit on starboard bow by a Kuwaiti freighter. There was a huge "V" shaped gash in the bow that extended below the waterline and the forward gun mount was knocked askew.

[@Boothrat]

At least she wasn't cut up for scrap. I never served on a spruance class destroyer, but I agree they were the best looking destroyers

[@michaelbilodeau2770]

Very last of the Spruance class, best looking destroyers ever built now resting in Davy Jones Locker.

[@Liamflynnphoto]

Personally I believe the Arleigh Burke Class are the best looking. But hey everyone has their own opinion. Unless your a liberal or a feminist then everyone must have the same opinion as you.

[@michaelbilodeau2770]

Not a liberal. not a feminist, I do believe in everybody opinion, yes Arleigh Burke are cool looking, American destroyers are usually good looking ships in general

[@fallstiger75]

Gearings were the best platform, lasted over 50 years, domestic and foreign service

[@daved4215]

Loved those Spru-cans.

[@Semajsenrab72]

@@fallstiger75 Charles F Adams class served in 4 Navies for nearly 45 years

[@fredwinter7411]

I can clearly see that a whole lot of people posting 'rebuffs' do not have a clue what goes on when a ship like this is sunk. People sport dive on; it's the start of an underwater break for waves and it's mainly done by donations and fund raising. It appears that a lot of people did not understand that. That sunk ship will outlast all of us and two or three more generations before it's completely wasted. For the short of thought, that's called a legacy.

[@timpetta2974]

Yes, a whole lot of people are “clueless” because they have an opinion. The ship should have served another 20 years, then scrapped or sunk as a target. Waste of money to turn her into a reef.

[@panoramix3192]

I will never understand why people cheer and clap watching this.

[@6120mcghee]

It felt like part of my life was amputated.

[@frankmiller95]

The sinking of a ship is literally a death, and nothing to be celebrated, later benefits notwithstanding.

[@deafmusician2]

still feel bad seeing one of our ships go down tho.

[@gremio3293]

Well I still think its better then scrapping it...its now a home to the fishies

[@6120mcghee]

I was on Her. 91-93. Awful command back then. Got better. Best Destroyer ever!!!

[@reign114]

Deployed with the Radford to the Persian Gulf Feb-Aug 1985.

[@LuciensMusic]

My old ship(USS C F Adams) is being scrapped right now. I'm sad it wasn't turned into a museum, its gone now...

[@Semajsenrab72]

I was on HMAS Perth II, we had 3 CFA modified, then bought Goldsborough as spares, still can't watch Perth be scuttled nearly in complete tact as a dive reef

[@stephenhoward6829]

I understand. All but 2 of the 6 ships I was on have been decomm'd and scrapped. It happens, but it tugs on heartstrings.

[@kirkmorrison6131]

The stripping of these ships hurts as badly as seeing them towed to the Breakers. I remember seeing them coming into the Bay

[@michaelbilodeau2770]

Then again my mistake, we still have the Paul F. Foster DD-964

[@ellisbaldwin9316]

I was on this ship from 1980 till 1982

[@minuteman048]

That was one of our sister ships. I was on the Caron DD 970. Sad

[@bigdumbhick]

rode her from 82-86

[@bruceradfordsorrywronghous534]

Awesome thanks!

[@timmayer8723]

Don't know why there is any question that using these hulks for artificial reefs is an excellent use of these war relics.

[@stefaneer9120]

Sink ships make reefs.

[@duchebag3063]

OSSA-OS2 82-85 My first Ship!

[@lanniemoore5367]

I thought we sold the USS Radford 446 to Japan for scrap metal use . Howd we get it back? I served on this ship in the late 1960's .

[@patrickg6163]

This ship is the USS Arthur W Radford 968, not the USS Radford 446

[@picturemetrollin2093]

I live in Radford, lol, I’ve seen pictures of the USS Radford 446 at the courthouse. She was a destroyer escort wasn’t she?

[@geraldschilli8870]

The ship was 563 feet long, not 536 feet long.

[@ache7772]

👍👏 for the Nature !!

[@TheDanno248]

Served 80-85

[@sr633]

What would happen if a sailor called his ship a "boat" ? lol

[@daved4215]

The X O would bitch a fit.

[@smytb]

That's ok, we did it all the time!

[@chrisb9960]

USS Radford is scuttled. Fixed it for you.

[@zackkasey]

Was on her from '99 to '03. Good riddance. HT2 Rayburn aka Banger

[@nicholasmaude6906]

Did they have to vandalise the ship's superstructure.

[@Neonbiker]

They have to cut holes in the ship so it sinks evenly

[@josephjackson7269]

Barely still looks like a ship.

[@dima.jiharev]

0:18 Why paint out the name?

[@pby1000]

Wait! I forgot my hammer!

[@wayneellis1565]

How deep?

[@tedbaker8291]

Woefully insufficient footage of the sinking itself. The ship was 60+% submerged before the sinking footage started, the shot was too tight, and the view was fixed on the CG boat. Just not very exciting as sinking videos go.

[@MrUranium238]

no cameras inside of her???

[@dogeboy0887]

They Wanted The Ship To Sink!?!?!?

[@eaterofclams]

...you are very observant...perhaps a career in the CIA would be a good option.

[@smytb]

That's for divers to access to the insides safely, so no one gets trapped inside.

[@popajoel]

nous irons chercher l'epave pour recuperer l'acier que nous n'aurons plus en 2100.

[@timsering9964]

Why arent they recycling.the scrap steel, instead of polluting the waters

[@saulurias05]

The ships are cleaned out before they are sunk, that way they can become artificial reefs for marine life

[@cyninhoustonf.d1219]

they made a video of it sinking (freaked me out)n they made this one did they make one of it like a diver under water recording it go down....

[@APerson-rx8uv]

Skip to 2:47 to pass the history lesson

[@roadweary5252]

A Person no thanks, I like the history lesson.

[@ralphe5842]

USS misfit I remember when it collided with a container ship looked like a cannonball went threw the bow below the waterline.before she was not certified for action for many years just sat at the pier and then collided with the ship first time out cost the new trouble shooting captan his job (he couldn't fix it) known as a ship of fools it had a covered array made it look as if it was giving the finger

[@user-hb4wq9ec1h]

바다오염과지구에멸망은다가온다게으르고,게으른.인간들에의해서

[@HighwayBull]

They should have recycled the steel from that ship instead of littering the bottom of the ocean for an artificial reef.

[@deannelson9565]

Why it's not like we're even remotely running low on steal things damn near worthless. That's far better as a reff then it is as some recycled scrap Heap.

[@Hellndegenerates]

All professional, until it comes to rubbish filming an historic moment.

[@scottyb68]

Cant repurpose the hull to become a new ship? It would trim some money for a new ship budget. Tax payers money so screw it I guess.

[@Neonbiker]

They say it’s to expensive and the ship is to old

[@donalfinn4205]

Artificial reef = dumping ground. No matter how you dress it up.

[@PhilJonesIII]

It costs a lot more to prepare a ship for reefing and they are sunk in places that are mostly devoid of life. Once sunk, they get colonized rapidly with a wide range of aquatic life. In a few years, the ship becomes barely recognizable as a ship. The larger part of the oceans floors are like a desert. That is their natural state. The regulations are quite strict when it comes to what can and cannot be sunk. The rejected material has to be disposed of correctly and safely. The alternative is to have it towed to some Asian site where they strip the ship and dump all the waste, including oil and other toxic material, into the ocean.

[@donalfinn4205]

Philip Jones Thank you for your reply but I don’t buy it. If you dump a bag of rubbish in a ditch, it doesn’t be long being covered over and made use of by the local natural life. Very same thing. Ships were never dumped like that before. I’m not convinced by your argument at all. It’s just dumping by another name. Pure and simple.

[@floppychzcake7936]

@@donalfinn4205 Your ignorance and stupidity amazes me, you have no clue what is actually happening here. Do you think the EPA would allow this if it was harmful at all? There's a difference in creating a reef and putting a plastic bag in a ditch.

[@ZR117]

Don't you all thank it's a waist of money shish