The USS New York arrives in New York

[CrazyRussian540]

A warship built with steel salvaged from the World Trade Center has arrived in New York City.

The USS New York sailed up the Hudson River to near Ground Zero, where it fired a 21-gun salute in tribute to those killed in the 2001 attacks. It was watched by relatives of 9/11 victims, along with members of the emergency services and the public. The US Navy is to hold an official commissioning ceremony for the new warship on Saturday. The New York set off on its maiden voyage from Louisiana, where it was built, nearly three weeks ago. The bow of the boat contains 7.5 tonnes of melted steel from the fallen buildings of the World Trade Center. The ship's crest includes images of the Twin Towers and features the colours of the city departments that first responded to the terrorist attacks in which nearly 3,000 people died.

'A transformation'

People gathered by the waterfront to watch the ship's 21-gun salute honouring those who died in the 11 September attacks. The crew stood to attention along the deck as the guns were fired. Among those watching was JoAnn Atlas, who lost her firefighter husband in the attacks. "We have to remember. It's a way to honour them," she told the Associated Press news agency. Rosaleen Tallon, whose firefighter brother was among those killed, said she was pleased that the steel from the towers had been reused in the ship. "It's a transformation of it from something really twisted and ugly," she told AP. "I'm proud that our military is using that steel." About one in seven of the 361 sailors serving on the ship are from New York state, a higher percentage than would normally be the case, a Navy spokeswoman told AP. She said there had been many requests from Navy personnel to serve on the ship.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8337868.stm

[2Billion]

Yo dawg, I heard you like New York...

And so on.

Actually an interesting tribute.

[Whappeh]

If by interesting you mean a multibillion dollar floating "Future Scrap Heap" then sure.


But count me in the percentage of people who don't see the use for a fully functioning sea supremacy navy.

[Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Whappeh

But count me in the percentage of people who don't see the use for a fully functioning sea supremacy navy.

why not? even Somalia has one

[jayhawk]

An excellent tribute, and to the spirit of the people of New York.

[WillDAQ]

Am I the only one who thinks this is perhaps a little... tacky?

[Speedtouch]

Partly yes, and I'm partly with you on that, although us Brits will never truly understand the American nature of patriotism.

[Symbotic]

Great they built a ship. Now they just need to build a damn building. Its only been 8 years.

[jayhawk]

Originally Posted by WillDAQ

Am I the only one who thinks this is perhaps a little... tacky?

A bit. I think tacky would have been a 75 foot tall air airbrushed Eagle, flag and twin towers all fading into each other on the side of the ship. Considering my military's attitude toward patriotism in the past eight years, this is pretty low key.

Originally Posted by Speedtouch

although us Brits will never truly understand the American nature of patriotism.

Nor will most Americans truly understand the British nature of humor. So we're even!

[CrazyRussian540]

Originally Posted by Symbotic

Great they built a ship. Now they just need to build a damn building. Its only been 8 years.

This is a bit from wikipedia.

1 WTC was expected to reach rooftop level by the end of 2010 with topping out expected by 2011. However in an October 2, 2008 follow-up report by Ward, the estimated completion of the tower was pushed back to some time between the second and fourth quarter of 2013 with a total budget of $3.1 billion and the use of 46,000 tons of steel.

The New York Daily News reported on August 4, 2009 that construction projects were even further behind schedule than officials acknowledged. 1 WTC is reportedly not to be completed until 2018, a full 17 years after the destruction of the World Trade Center. In addition to the delays of 1 WTC, the Transit Hub is not expected to be ready until 2018 and the September 11 memorial is not expected to be completed until 2013. However, the Port Authority of New York has strongly disputed these reports and announced that they will be able to meet the original deadlines they set for the tower and memorial.

It took them 7 years to build both original Towers. 1966-1972 and 1966-1973. But I feel like this ship is a great tribute to the towers.

[2Billion]

Originally Posted by WillDAQ

Am I the only one who thinks this is perhaps a little... tacky?

I actually think the American flag itself is a little tacky... but I don't think that about this. It seems heartfelt, very American and strangely appropriate and that's why I find it interesting.

Oh dear I insulted the flag, let's watch the neg rep roll in.

[Momentum57]

Originally Posted by Whappeh

If by interesting you mean a multibillion dollar floating "Future Scrap Heap" then sure.


But count me in the percentage of people who don't see the use for a fully functioning sea supremacy navy.

Count me in the percentage that think that your an idiot. How do you think that you can maintain air superiority without carrier groups.

[Whappeh]

Originally Posted by Momentum57

Count me in the percentage that think that your an idiot. How do you think that you can maintain air superiority without carrier groups.

Carrier groups are one thing, but is it necessary to have the absurd amount of ships in the navy to protect them? One Cruiser and one Carrier is really all that is needed, as last time I checked, anyone with a navy worth a damn is on our side, and people in speed boats and explosives tend to be able to do damage to ships if they want to anyway.

On top of that, the only reason this ship was built (or the only benefit that is claimed from the class) is its ability to carry the Osprey, which means fuck-all, thus making it a pointless waste of money.

A deep water navy is pointless in the modern era.

[spicysaurus]

Originally Posted by Whappeh

A deep water navy is pointless in the modern era.

You clearly don't understand espionage.

[Whappeh]

Originally Posted by spicysaurus

You clearly don't understand espionage.

Why? The Germans do, and this was their answer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_206_submarine

[DanRoM]

I think it's strangely ironic to built a war ship from from the ruins of a building which was destroyed by people who were annoyed by the US military intervening "everywhere"...

[D-Fence]

That, and to basically turn a graveyard of 3000 people into a war machine. It just doesn't feel right...
As well, if Bin-Laden pulls a USS Cole on this ship, it will be his biggest victory ever....

[cmb1981]

Originally Posted by DanRoM

I think it's strangely ironic to built a war ship from from the ruins of a building which was destroyed by people who were annoyed by the US military intervening "everywhere"...

I thought you Europansies might be happy we recycled.

[DanRoM]

Of course we are.

[Polly]

Originally Posted by CrazyRussian540

But I feel like this ship is a great tribute to the towers.

Yeah, because this one can dodge airplanes. Suck on that, Osama!