[fattubbashit]

Not every ship struck by a Japanese torpedo sank. This image shows Cockatoo Island Dockyard (Sydney , Australia) workers inspecting the damage to the US 'Liberty Ship' 'PETER H. BURNETT', which had been hit by the Japanese submarine I-21, four hundred and twenty miles off Sydney on January twenty second, 1943.

As you can see, the ship sustained serious damage. Travelling four hundred and twenty miles onboard a ship in this condition would have been a nail biting experience, even with assistance.

[Bazonthebass]

Great pic and story. Ship had loads of watertight separate adjoining sections so never sank I would imagine eh?

[William May]

Originally Posted by Bazonthebass ↗

Great pic and story. Ship had loads of watertight separate adjoining sections so never sank I would imagine eh?

Hell, NO! I went on the one on display in San Francisco, (I was talking to a ship guy there, and hit if off with him, and he offered to take me down in the normally closed areas and see what it was like. I have had a long-term interest in U-Boats, so was very keen to see as far down inside as I could get.) When you are down in the freight hold, when you touch the skin, the ocean is on the other side. I almost crapped my pants! I always thought they had a double hull. I think they had a double bottom at the lowest level, but above the floor plates, there is nothing but ribs and outer skin. If you look at the picture closely, you can see it. They WERE compartmented, so that helped a lot, but that entire compartment must have flooded. To get from one compartment to another, you have to climb a tall ladder, then climb down a ladder into the next compartment. Those Merchant Marine guys had some big balls to repeatedly sail those things back and forth to Europe and the Pacific.

[Kanda444]

Originally Posted by fattubbashit ↗

Not every ship struck by a Japanese torpedo sank. This image shows Cockatoo Island Dockyard (Sydney , Australia) workers inspecting the damage to the US 'Liberty Ship' 'PETER H. BURNETT', which had been hit by the Japanese submarine I-21, four hundred and twenty miles off Sydney on January twenty second, 1943.

As you can see, the ship sustained serious damage. Travelling four hundred and twenty miles onboard a ship in this condition would have been a nail biting experience, even with assistance.

That sub apparently also participated in the Pearl Harbor attack, shelled Newcastle (and the fort there fired back), then went on to sink a few other ships including the destroyer USS Porter

[Bazonthebass]

It really is amazing, the stories from WW2. Thanks.

[Mr_Shlaapu]

Those liberty ships litter the bottom of the atlantic. Wolfpacks get the credit. Shoddy and rushed manufacturing should get some if it too.

[Mr_Shlaapu]

Originally Posted by William May ↗

Hell, NO! I went on the one on display in San Francisco, (I was talking to a ship guy there, and hit if off with him, and he offered to take me down in the normally closed areas and see what it was like. I have had a long-term interest in U-Boats, so was very keen to see as far down inside as I could get.) When you are down in the freight hold, when you touch the skin, the ocean is on the other side. I almost crapped my pants! I always thought they had a double hull. I think they had a double bottom at the lowest level, but above the floor plates, there is nothing but ribs and outer skin. If you look at the picture closely, you can see it. They WERE compartmented, so that helped a lot, but that entire compartment must have flooded. To get from one compartment to another, you have to climb a tall ladder, then climb down a ladder into the next compartment. Those Merchant Marine guys had some big balls to repeatedly sail those things back and forth to Europe and the Pacific.

Carquinez mothball fleet.
I've been on those ships a few times. Just rust heaps any more.