World War II Aircraft Carrier Used For Nuclear Tests Found 30 Miles Off Of California Coast

[WhatInThe]

The USS Independence, a World War II aircraft carrier used for two nuclear tests around 1946 was found near the Fallon Islands approximately 30 miles west of the California coast.

http://www.livescience.com/50522-uss-independence-shipwreck-discovered.html

I didn't realize they had brought many of those ships used in nuclear bomb testing in the south Pacific back to the US. The amazing thing is that the carrier survived a tow back from the south Pacific then another tow 5 years later to the Fallon Islands to be sunk. To top it off they say the wreckage is an excellent condition. Makes you wonder if some how the radiation slowed rust or the super heat from the blast reinforced the metal(when metal is heated and cools doesn't it gain strength?)

 

[WhatInThe]

A little more information and pictures of the carrier after the atomic tests/bomb blasts.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-carrier-amazingly-intact-s-plane-hangar.html

Still floating after two A bomb tests- wow. And some of the damage looks like it might have been hit by debris from a smaller ship. Or even a smaller ship itself.

 

[Pappy]

Very interesting. Great pictures.:sentimental:

 

[SeaBreeze]

World War II Plane Discovered after Poland Drought

 

[Lara]

That is interesting, Whatinthe, but I don't like to read this,

"As the ship's metal corrodes, the associated chemical reactions can cause some of the radioactive material to leak into the water…"

Um, 30 miles off the California Coast?? Isn't that a little too close for comfort while they study it's long term effects??

 

[Linda]

That is interesting, Whatinthe, but I don't like to read this,

"As the ship's metal corrodes, the associated chemical reactions can cause some of the radioactive material to leak into the water…"

Um, 30 miles off the California Coast?? Isn't that a little too close for comfort while they study it's long term effects??

Very upsetting!

 

[WhatInThe]

That is interesting, Whatinthe, but I don't like to read this,

"As the ship's metal corrodes, the associated chemical reactions can cause some of the radioactive material to leak into the water…"

Um, 30 miles off the California Coast?? Isn't that a little too close for comfort while they study it's long term effects??

Apparently radioactive fragments from the original test will eventually break off into the water. They say the water will slow down and dilute the radiation. But at the same time when talking about a closer second look they have to take precautions for the radiation which is sort of contradictory.

 

[Lara]

Yes, "contradictory" came to my mind too when I read that. I understand the need for studying it but can't they move it elsewhere to do the study…not 30 miles off California's coast? Pronto!!

 

[AZ Jim]

It's times like this I don't miss my old beach house in California.