ROANOKE Leaves The Reserve Fleet

| December 6, 2012 | Shipping News | 3 Comments
The same day the replenishment oiler USS ROANOKE arrived at Mare Island dry dock from the raft of laid up ships in the reserve fleet at Suisun Bay, near San Francisco, California her sister WABASH began her tow to Texas for scrapping.
ROANOKE arriving at Mare Island, CA. Photo © Frank Cleope, Jr
Frank Cleope, Jr took these photos December 3, 2012, as the ROANOKE is dry docked for preparation for her tow to Texas for scrapping.
ROANOKE arriving at Mare Island, CA. Photo © Frank Cleope, Jr
ROANOKE is 39th obsolete ship to leave the fleet in a cleanup effort since 2009.
ROANOKE arriving at Mare Island, CA. Photo © Frank Cleope, Jr
ROANOKE was built by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, of San Diego, CA, she was launched on December 7, 1974, and commissioned October 30, 1976. She was decommissioned on October 6, 1995 and was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, at Suisun Bay.
ROANOKE arriving at Mare Island, CA. Photo © Frank Cleope, Jr
Thanks to Shawn Dake, Frank Cleope and Réne Canham plus a variety of internet sources for ROANOKE history.
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mcox

MARTIN COX - Founder and publisher of MaritimeMatters, inspired by maritime culture and technology growing up in the port of Southampton. He works as a photographer in Los Angeles, and his works has been exhibited in LA, San Francisco, New York, London and Iceland. Martin is the co-writer of the book “Hollywood to Honolulu; the story of the Los Angeles Steamship Company” published by the Steam Ship Historical Society of America. The Los Angeles Maritime Museum has commissioned artworks and collected his photographs.

3 Comments
  1. James E. Therrault

    There is something sinister regarding the increased pace to scrap later built ships that still have life left in them.

    A military with little in the way of reserve vessels is a weakened military…

  2. Mal

    What condition are theses ships on the inside? Are they stripped? Would they have to have power during the lay up period? Or are they basically just left “dead”. Just wonder…I think all ships leak a little…and if nothing was done theses would sink. Still a good looking ship here….

  3. Mark

    Obsolete indeed! B.S! I hope I get to see the KC before she goes to the breakers. What a filthy rotten shame. Thanks O’Bama….

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