Channel: Dark5

Category: Education

Tags: fleetaircraft carrierbattleshipnavyincrediblelistinteresting factsfactsshipsplacesinteresting placesus navytoday i learnedtop5ghost fleettilmothballmilitarytop 5

Description: For over a century, the US Navy reserve fleets have held the nation’s ships. The maintenance process has changed throughout the years. However, the main purpose remains the same: to keep the ships afloat during peacetime but always ready for battle. The Atlantic and Pacific Reserve fleets were founded around 1912, with operating ships on a reduced schedule. And by the end of World War II, hundreds of assets were no longer needed and grouped in storage sites near shipyards for speedy reactivation. During the Korean War, substantial amounts of time and money were saved at the outset of the conflict, as most ships were readily available. A significant number of the so-called “Mothball Fleets” were Liberty-class ships, a mass-produced transport employed during World War II for convoys traveling to and from Europe, Russia, and the US. They were also used in the race against the German U-boats, supporting the Navy’s warships and ferrying forces across the oceans. Most of these vessels were deactivated and strategically located across the American coasts. And in the 1970s, they started to get scrapped. Despite considerable efforts to maintain the reserve ships in good conditions, it is not uncommon for them to deteriorate and irremediably become obsolete. Therefore, several vessels become inactive and are sold for scrapping, while many others are scuttled in weapon tests. However, some ships are saved on rare occasions due to the involvement of the general public. These lucky vessels have then been turned into museums, memorials, or even artificial reefs. And then there are those that are still waiting to be called into battle. Some include the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia, Suisun Bay in California, and the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Texas.