My Great Ships Collection

[ZacharyB]

Last post for now. I hope this update has been of interest.

Kind Regards,

Z

[Daniel.S]

Those are really nice items!!

[ZacharyB]

Greetings Sirs,

It has been nearly a year since I posted an update to this collection, so I hope no one minds if I bring this to the top with a few interesting additions to my Great Ships Collection.

The first up is HMS Edgar. She was a 91 gun Ship of the Line launched in 1858. She was one of that class of hybrid ship that could be both traditionally sail powered as well as screw driven by use of a steam engine.

What you see here is a wood fragment and large brass spike taken from her figurehead at the time she was broken up in 1904.

Enjoy,

Z

[ZacharyB]

And then here is HMS Edgar when she served as a flagship. I do not own this print, it is copied from the internet just as a reference.

Z

[ZacharyB]

Here is another exciting item. It is a wood fragment from the deck of the Tirpitz. She was the sister ship of the Bismarck. This fragment was recovered from her wreck site by a Norwegian diver before the wreck was closed to exploration.

Z

[ZacharyB]

Here is another and a picture from my collection of the Tirpitz.

Z

[ZacharyB]

Next up is a famous American vessel. These are teak slabs cut from the deck of the USS Iowa. This great battleship should need no introduction as she was the lead vessel and namesake of the greatest class of capital ship ever to sail the seas.

Strange to think that the USS Iowa and her sisters represent the final culmination of Admiral Lord Fisher's vision for an all big-gun battleship. The launching of his dream--HMS Dreadnaught--in 1906 until the decommissioning of the last Iowa Class battleship--USS Missouri in 1992--represents a unique era in naval history that will probably never be seen again.

Z

[ZacharyB]

Now here is a really fascinating piece from a ship that has already appeared in this collection.

The USS Oregon led the squadron that attacked the Spanish fleet in harbor at Santiago, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

The result was a total US victory. The Spanish Navy lost 4 armored cruisers and 2 destroyers.

After the battle, a US Signalman onboard the Oregon--Bill Riley--brought down the "Attack Pennant" that had flown during the battle. He ripped it into strips and gave them to members of the crew. He retained two for himself along with a handwritten note giving the date--3-January-1898--and the details of the pennant.

Framed here, you can see both pieces of the pennant kept by Riley along with his original handwritten note about the battle. These items turned 120 years old a few days ago.

Z

[ZacharyB]

Here are two more. The note continues on the reverse, but of course I can only display one side.

Z

[ZacharyB]

Now here is the newest addition that I am most excited to share. This a brass gangway tread from the HMS Hood. When the Hood and Prince of Wales were dispatched to intercept the Bismarck in May, 1941, Hood departed in such haste that she forgot to bring in her gangway.

In a chilling message, she signaled that she'd retrieve it when she returned victorious. Of course, we all know the fate of this great ship and her crew.

After her sinking at the hands of the Bismarck in the Battle of the Denmark Straight on 24-May-1941, the brass treads from her gangway were removed and distributed as souvenirs.

I'm sure there are a few of these still floating around, but they are exceedingly rare. In fact, the only example I could find for comparison resides in the collection of the Imperial War Museum. This piece corresponds in all respects to their example.

Enjoy,

Z

[ZacharyB]

Two more images of this interesting relic from a truly great ship that met a tragic end. Only 3 of her 1,421 crewmen survived the sinking.

Z

[ZacharyB]

Finally, an image of the HMS Hood in all her glory from happier days.

Z

[gregM]

Amazing collection.

[Tom B]

Wonderful collection !!!! Tom

[ottodog8]

Great collection! At one time I had an extensive collection of relics from the USS Maine. Still have a soft spot for tihs stuff.
Steve