A late post on the S.S. O'Brien. There were only a few people touring one of only two surviving "Victory" Ships from WWII when we visited the S.S. O'Brien on a Saturday afternoon. A volunteer cashier, himself looking like a veteran of WWII, gave us a map, a few touring highlights, and we were free to roam about the ship. It is not intended for the disabled, with steep ladders and tight stairs. We had just come from the bustling Fisherman's Wharf next door, and I had expected more foot traffic on this historic vessel, but it's possible WWII ships hold less interest than they once did.
That's a shame. The O'Brien was built in a remarkable 56 days, using steam ship designs from the 19th century. All "Victory" ships were built to serve as supply ships for the Allies and all were built exactly alike, with simple mechanics, so repairs and maintenance were standard and easy. The ship's hold is 3 stories high, built to carry jeeps, armored vehicles, and anything else the armed forces needed. The O'Brien serviced the Normandy beaches just after D-Day and saw service in the South Pacific. It's last long voyage was celebratory - journeying to the Normandy Beaches 50 years after D-Day, manned by veterans in their 70s.
Its engine room is 3 stories high and was the engine room depicted in the movie Titanic (though the shots were doubled, as the Titantic's engines were TWICE as big.) A younger volunteer talked about the mechanics, most of which passed over my head, but it was clear it was a massive and difficult operation. The heat in the engine room could reach 140 degrees F as I recall!
On deck, you are are also permitted to man the guns. Victory ships had just a few guns for protection, run by Navy sailors. The rest of the ship was run by Merchant Marines.
There are some homespun hsitory panels in the main deck, plus you can pretend you are a 1940s gal waiting for the Victory ship to come home.
No comments:
Post a Comment