I had the opportunity to tour the Battleship NJ this weekend with my son’s cubs scout troop. I was blown away by the size of the ship up close. It was really amazing to see and worthwhile if you are ever in the Philadelphia/SJ area. I really enjoyed the machinery and tools that helped keep the ship moving. They had a huge 25” lathe and mill which looked like it was in pristine condition. Huge USA made vises everywhere! This white one was in the turret of the 16” gun. My 8 year old son was sad to leave because he loved exploring the ship and learning about it.
I was very impressed by the experience and have a lot of respect for those that served and are serving.
Machine shop Tools on a Battleship
- Thread starter Nmr1981
- Start date
That is awesome. It is amazing how they had to just make stuff when needed back then. Instead of now waiting for Amazon to show up.
Awesome, nice pictures! Years ago I spent a weekend on the Massachusetts with my son and his friend with the Cub Scouts. Several years later I was blessed with being with my son when he was in the USN, on three Tiger Cruises after his deployments. One on the USS Howard DDG83, and two on the USS Carl Vinson CVN70. I flew to Pearl Harbor to meet my son and the ship, hopped on board with other parents of deployed sailors, and 6 days later was in San Diego. Great memories that will last a lifetime.
I was supposed to do a Tiger Cruise on the USS Ranger (flight deck scenes from "Top Gun" were filmed on this ship) as a kid. Mid-late '80s. The cruise was cancelled for some reason shortly prior. That would have been an incredible experience.
It was awesome, the Vinson did an airshows for the two Tiger Cruises I went on. It was amazing.
Another interesting thing I saw was 50’ coils of very heavy gauge cables. Next to a round color coded outlet with white, black and red if I remember correctly. I believe they were enormous cables it seemed like 480 volts were running all over the ship. I wish I took a picture of them.
Years ago, 2010, I helped on an inspection of the USS Iowa at the Suisun Reserve Fleet before she was removed. Her machine shop was roomy for a BB. USS Hornet, where I have worked in the machine shop, isn't bad either just not as much space between machines. However, the take all winner was the USS Holland AS-32 a submarine tender. Their machine shop was enormous taking up the whole back half of the ship on 2nd deck. Of course it had to be when stationed at Holly Lock and servicing subs in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Hornet removed a belt sander, a 6' lathe, and a band saw to fill out our shop. All the rest went to Brownsville and some of this stuff was massive inside the ship. Have to make whatever for Polaris and Poseidon short of a major overhaul. Tons of shots from both ships.
Iowa from just above Turret 1 and 2.
Ballistic missile storage, Holland. Wandering the ship it was noted that she was still very slightly radioactive and the ship was well tested.
Iowa from just above Turret 1 and 2.
Ballistic missile storage, Holland. Wandering the ship it was noted that she was still very slightly radioactive and the ship was well tested.
@Nmr1981 - do they still do the sleepovers on it? When my son was in scouts we did the sleepovers on the New Jersey and the Massachusetts. Just awesome opportunities that my son and I will never forget. All the ships and history that I never paid attention to as a kid. I think I was more excited than him half the time. The tools, the construction, the respect for all that served and still do.
Do all the trips and weekends you can with him. Take vacation days, sick days, whatever. My son had (has) a peanut allergy and they were hesitant to let him go on some trips without me so I signed on as an assistant scout master. All those camping trips for a weekend at county parks, museums, West Point etc are just great. Flags at the national cemeteries on Memorial day is amazing how fast the whole place is done.
Once he bridged to Boy Scouts I did the week long trips to Yawgoog, Ten Mile River, Camp Minsi. So many learning opportunities for them (and us). His Eagle project in 2017 was above ground planters in a school courtyard that a teacher wanted. She taught kids gardening and her old stuff was barely even wood anymore. She wanted Cedar, not pressure treated. He was substitute teaching a couple weeks ago there, they are still together just weathered, not broken or coming apart.
Try to encourage your son to stick with it but obviously not force. It will get tough with sports, school, peer pressure, un-cool wearing a uniform and so many other things. My son had many discussions during interviews about his Eagle project. He got opportunities for schooling with comments on it. The thing he learned positioned way better for skills. All his friends that earned Eagle say the same things.
I reflect and my eyes tear up. In 3 weeks he will be married and moving 8 hours away with a great job opportunity.
His Eagle Scout gift from my wife and I. He was I think 14 when he first saw it at GAOS in PA and said I want that so stuck with it. That and his first Leatherman when he got his Totin' Chip.
Do all the trips and weekends you can with him. Take vacation days, sick days, whatever. My son had (has) a peanut allergy and they were hesitant to let him go on some trips without me so I signed on as an assistant scout master. All those camping trips for a weekend at county parks, museums, West Point etc are just great. Flags at the national cemeteries on Memorial day is amazing how fast the whole place is done.
Once he bridged to Boy Scouts I did the week long trips to Yawgoog, Ten Mile River, Camp Minsi. So many learning opportunities for them (and us). His Eagle project in 2017 was above ground planters in a school courtyard that a teacher wanted. She taught kids gardening and her old stuff was barely even wood anymore. She wanted Cedar, not pressure treated. He was substitute teaching a couple weeks ago there, they are still together just weathered, not broken or coming apart.
Try to encourage your son to stick with it but obviously not force. It will get tough with sports, school, peer pressure, un-cool wearing a uniform and so many other things. My son had many discussions during interviews about his Eagle project. He got opportunities for schooling with comments on it. The thing he learned positioned way better for skills. All his friends that earned Eagle say the same things.
I reflect and my eyes tear up. In 3 weeks he will be married and moving 8 hours away with a great job opportunity.
His Eagle Scout gift from my wife and I. He was I think 14 when he first saw it at GAOS in PA and said I want that so stuck with it. That and his first Leatherman when he got his Totin' Chip.
Yes this was a sleepover on the NJ. At least for the kids I didn’t get much sleep that night with 50 some odd third graders giggling etc…but it was great I took a lot from it and so did my son. I enjoy hearing stories like this it helps me appreciate common experiences so far and what’s to come in terms of parenting and fatherhood. Sounds like you and your son got a lot out of scouts and I am sure he is a better man because of it, and because it was quality time with you.
MolaKule
Staff member
Picture 1 Shipley lathe; we had those lathes in HS Metal Shop classes. I think I loved working with the lathes more than any other machine.
Thank you. You will do great also. Here’s how I looked at it and also when they had me “recruiting” for a bit and I would share with parents of new cubs.
Life is busy, there is always stuff that has to be done at home and everywhere else. It will be there later. Going to cub scouts and help with the small projects for the hour-ish each week forced me to make time for him. Away from the computer, cell phone etc. We did the same for my daughter with dance and cheer. That turned into the road trips for cheerleading including competitions and the summer camps for boy scouts as mentioned.
You will reflect later and realize how fast they are gone. Like the country song “Don’t Blink”.
I know it's off topic on the tools on the battleship so if mods want to move or delete.
I can send so many scout pictures from all the times. PM if you want to see some for ideas as they grow. All the Pinewood derbies, I bought a small band saw and drill press off Craigslist so I could teach him cutting with it. Get a good thick camping pad for you, not an air mattress and good sleeping bags. I had the regular Walmart air mattresses 1 time when it got to freezing temps. Even dressed correct, in good sleeping bags, back got ice cold from the air temperature in it. I ended up with an Exped Synmat 9 that is like 4" thick and insulted to like -15F but when rolled up was real small. My son got the thickest Thermarest with foam insulation in it. He still uses them to this day so that says something just like the machines on the ships.
It was with Boy Scouts but we did rafting in Pennsylvania, Canoes in CT and many other. We also went to camp NO-BE-BO-SCO (North Bergen Boy Scouts). Happens to be known elsewhere as Camp Crystal Lake, where they filmed Friday the 13th.
Thanks for triggering the memories.
When you paint Pinewood Derby cars, read the paint can where it says recoat within 30 minutes or something like that OR wait 24 hours. If you don't, the solvents in next coat loosen up the previous coats that were starting to dry good. They make it wrinkle and peel, we went to dinner and recoated about 1.5 hours later, bad idea. Having your 3rd grader ask why the paint is wrinkling like that with an upset look and you reply "don't worry, it just needs to dry, go to bed, it will be dry and look good in the morning" and it did but I wanted to cry, probably did. I called in sick to work, stayed up all night, sanded down the entire thing back to bare wood, re-primed, re-painted and ready by 7am.
I can send so many scout pictures from all the times. PM if you want to see some for ideas as they grow. All the Pinewood derbies, I bought a small band saw and drill press off Craigslist so I could teach him cutting with it. Get a good thick camping pad for you, not an air mattress and good sleeping bags. I had the regular Walmart air mattresses 1 time when it got to freezing temps. Even dressed correct, in good sleeping bags, back got ice cold from the air temperature in it. I ended up with an Exped Synmat 9 that is like 4" thick and insulted to like -15F but when rolled up was real small. My son got the thickest Thermarest with foam insulation in it. He still uses them to this day so that says something just like the machines on the ships.
It was with Boy Scouts but we did rafting in Pennsylvania, Canoes in CT and many other. We also went to camp NO-BE-BO-SCO (North Bergen Boy Scouts). Happens to be known elsewhere as Camp Crystal Lake, where they filmed Friday the 13th.
Thanks for triggering the memories.
When you paint Pinewood Derby cars, read the paint can where it says recoat within 30 minutes or something like that OR wait 24 hours. If you don't, the solvents in next coat loosen up the previous coats that were starting to dry good. They make it wrinkle and peel, we went to dinner and recoated about 1.5 hours later, bad idea. Having your 3rd grader ask why the paint is wrinkling like that with an upset look and you reply "don't worry, it just needs to dry, go to bed, it will be dry and look good in the morning" and it did but I wanted to cry, probably did. I called in sick to work, stayed up all night, sanded down the entire thing back to bare wood, re-primed, re-painted and ready by 7am.
And the most dangerous machine there is to run. The CNC ones are a bit safer.
Its sad to think of all the stuff ruined and lost when those or any large ship is sunk.
