From: dpe@inel.gov (Don Palmrose)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Escalator on Carrier
Date: 18 Dec 92 21:29:20 GMT
Organization: INEL EG&G Idaho


From Don Palmrose <dpe@inel.gov>

In article <BzEyzH.EsA@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>, Andre Molyneux <andrem@pyrman2.mis.pyramid.com> writes:
> 
> 
> From Andre Molyneux <andrem@pyrman2.mis.pyramid.com>
> 
> While on vacation in South Carolina last month, I had the opportunity to
> visit the Patriot's Point naval and maritime museum.  The museum consists
> of the aircraft carrier Yorktown, destroyer Laffey, submarine Clamagore,
> nuclear merchant ship Savannah, and a Coast Guard vessel whose name escapes
> me.
> 
> While touring the Yorktown, I ran across something that surprised me.  On
> the way back down from the flight deck and superstructure, the tour path
> took you down an escalator (looked just like one in a mall or department
> store).  I assume that it belongs there and wasn't added after the carrier
> was de-commisioned (since it was non-functional, after all).
> 
> Due to the path that the self-guiding tour takes you on, I wasn't sure
> what level I was at when I ran across the escalator.  My wife asked me
> why it was there, and the only thing I could figure was to take loaded-down
> flight crews from the ready-room level to the flight deck.  Makes more
> sense than an elevator, since you can still climb up by yourself if power
> fails.
> 
> Can anyone tell me if my guess was on the money?  Does anyone have an idea
> when they started putting these things on carriers, and if the practice still
> continues?
> 
> +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
> | Andre Molyneux   KA7WVV     "Insert your favorite disclaimer here"       |
> +-----------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
> 

As a former Auxiliaries Officer on USS Enterprise (CVN-65), I can tell you 
that such an escalator is not normal.  The "Big E" never had one.  My
speculation would be that either some past Commanding Officer wanted one for
the status and uniqueness of it or it was added for the self-guiding tours
but broke and they do not have the money to fix it.  Hopefully there is a 
former Yorktown sailor on the net who can answer this.

[mod note -- how about a Hancock sailor (CV-19), same class.

On a related note, in _The Bridges at Toko-Ri_, Michener mentions an
escalator in there for flight crew use

Steve]

Don Palmrose
"There are only two kinds of ships....  Those that project power onto shore
and those that protect or support the power projectors."



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Newsgroups: sci.military