| Bob Womack |
09-14-2018 09:09 AM |
If you are into unique models, perhaps you should look into the USS Wolverine and USS Sable, the only freshwater, coal-fired, side paddle-wheel aircraft carriers ever used by the United States Navy.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...rine_IX-64.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...higan_1943.jpg
The sponson hid the paddle wheel.
https://www.modelboats.co.uk/sites/2...8May07_008.jpg
They were originally excursion ships for the great lakes but the Navy needed some aircraft carriers to ply Lake Michigan in order to give fledgling Naval Aviators a chance to become carrier qualified. The two excursion ships were purchased and converted. Their decks were shorter than those of attack aircraft carriers, making them more challenging for air ops. but due to the fact that they lacked hangar decks, the flight decks were closer to the water, making surviving the inevitable overshoots more possible. My father worked on Chicago's Naval Pier during WWII. He used to take his lunch out, sit on the pier, and watch the attempted traps and take-offs. During his career he saw quite a few planes fail take-offs and landings and end up in the drink. One of those has recently been fished out of the drink in relatively good shape. President George H.W. Bush qualified on the Sable.
These ships were unique, odd ducks!
Bob |
