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I visited the vasa museum this summer. I felt it was civic duty almost (I am a Swede FYI)
It was not much to see from the outside (the building itself is nothing special) but on the inside she sat upright in a cradle and was very well preserved. You can take stairs to various levels to see any part of the ship. It stirred the imagination and it is amazing how well she was preserved. Like new almost, but all brown-black in color.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 02:04 am: Edit

I looked at the photos of her and was really impressed by all the intricate wooden carvings. Such attention to detail and workmanship.

By Timothy Linden (Timlinden) on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 03:46 pm: Edit

This made me recall the Nonsuch gallery in the Manitoba Museum we went to ages ago when I was a kid. It is just a replica of the 1650 merchant ship, but was rather interesting.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 12:00 pm: Edit

U.S.S. Kidd, DD-661, is completing refit.

The museum has posted video of the ship now fully painted and nearly ready to be returned to the water.

the shipyard has completed the measure 32/10D scheme, so if any of you want to see what a World War 2 Fletcher class destroyer looked like back in the 1940’s, check it out.

The ship has been restored to her original condition (including the small rudder as she was originally equipped with.).

It was found that the smaller rudder was too small to actually control the ship at high speed, increasing the turning radius far more than the original designers had anticipated.

Final checks are being completed to ensure that all fire and flood detectors are functional and operational before the ship is returned to the water and her trip back to Baton Rouge, LA.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 07:23 pm: Edit

USS Cobia (SS/AGSS-245) is a Gato-class submarine, formerly of the United States Navy, named for the cobia. USS Cobia (SS-245). History. United States.

37 days refitting at Sturgeon Bay, WI. Departed this morning , under tow by four tugboats, returning to her permanent berth in Michigan.

Sure are a lot of museum ships being restored lately.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, October 26, 2025 - 02:40 pm: Edit

And under the category of “Not used as intended.”

There is a video posted documenting the encounter between U-29 and H.M.S. Dreadnought.

Spoiler alert: does not end well for the Uboat.

By Michael F Guntly (Ares) on Monday, November 10, 2025 - 10:59 am: Edit

United States Marines

Happy 250th Birthday!




Semper Fi

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Friday, November 14, 2025 - 04:42 pm: Edit

Today, 14 November 2025, the 2d Weather Support Squadron and the 2d Systems Operations Squadron, both under the 2d Weather Group / 557th Weather Wing, were officially inactivated, and the 557th Communication Squadron was activated to take over their combined missions.


Garth L. Getgen, MSgt USAF (ret)

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Sunday, November 16, 2025 - 10:53 pm: Edit

The American Revolution, the latest major Ken Burns documentary for PBS, began airing earlier today.

This six-part series shall continue to be aired over the next several days, as well as being hosted for streaming online.

Beyond this, there is a companion volume available both in hardback and via Amazon Kindle, as well as a soundtrack CD.

A few of the voices might sound familiar from prior works covering this era - not least for those who recall the HBO miniseries John Adams.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, November 17, 2025 - 08:53 am: Edit

Ken Burns, yeah, uh, pass. Hard pass.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Monday, November 24, 2025 - 10:29 pm: Edit

ABC News reported two days ago that the U.S.S. Hornet, CV-12, museum ship in Alameda CA may be moving to San Francisco, CA.

Apparently, not enough visitors to the ship at its present location.

Not sure who thinks San Francisco will be a better location, the reporter didn’t name names or identify the group sponsoring the move.

Proud ship, long history of service to the nation.

By Robert Russell Lender (Rusman) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 02:42 am: Edit

The WW2 submarine "USS Pampanito" is moored at Pier 45 in San Fransisco. Some years ago, the Liberty Ship "SS Jeremiah O'Brien" was moored directly behind on the same pier 45.

The two WW2 vessels complimented each other well as side by side museum ships. For whatever reason the SS Jeremiah O'Brien is now moored off Pier 35 a few blocks away.

Maybe the Hornet will be moored just behind the Pampanito. I could see both being a huge draw for each other with both an attack sub and a carrier in one spot.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:03 am: Edit

Alameda is way out of the way for tourists; moving Hornet across the bay to San Francisco - say, to Pier 35, opposite Liberty-ship Jeremiah O'Brien, and a very short walk from the famous Pier 39 - would put her right into the tourist zone.

By Lawrence Bergen (Lar) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 08:07 pm: Edit

I have spent two NYE on the Hornet watching the celebratory fireworks from the windy cold deck.

It will def get more foot traffic in SF than its current location.

Fun fact there is an annual WW2 board gaming event hosted onboard the ship. I hope that continues with increased attendance.

By John M. Williams (Jay) on Sunday, December 07, 2025 - 05:15 pm: Edit

A date which will live in infamy....

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 08:47 am: Edit

There is a video clip on you tube that is noting a rare event:

Two United States Navy Destroyers, both sharing the same name, same type (Destroyers) and both undergoing major maintenance and repair work in dry docks at the same time.

“Witness USS KIDD DD-661's youngest sister, USS KIDD DDG-100, undergo her own drydock evolution (March 08 ~ December 05, 2025) at Vigor Shipyard in Seattle, Washington. This marked a very rare occasion when two ships of the same name and of the same hull type were in drydock at the same time. And now, both are out and wrapping up their yard periods just in time for #Navy250! Congratulations to the crew of DDG-100! Bravo Zulu!

Video footage courtesy of Mr. Chris Stein, Vigor Shipyard, and the U.S. Navy. Our thanks for allowing our viewers the opportunity to view this evolution and compare it with that of DD-661's own yard period.


THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR FUNDING to finish restoration of equipment not being restored by the shipyard, and to keep the lights on back home at the museum. Let's make DD-661 better than the bare minimum!

Click here to donate to the USS KIDD: https://www.usskidd.com/product/...

FAQ #1 - We have NOT left Houma. USS KIDD (DD-661) is still in Thoma-Sea shipyard. She will not be returning to Baton Rouge until Spring 2026. It is all dependent on river levels being high enough to access the cradle due to the 40-foot difference in the seasonal rise and fall of the Mississippi River annually.

FAQ #2 - It took over six months to remove equipment and artifacts in preparation for her shipyard period. Therefore, it will take some time to put much of the equipment back aboard, with the artifacts returning after she gets to Baton Rouge. She will not open immediately upon arrival.

FAQ #3 - The cradle has been refurbished and is ready to receive the ship when the river cooperates. (  / 1awjxsrzny  )

FAQ #4 - No, we are not restoring her engines. Yes, we know about other ships under power. They were acquired from different sources with different contracts. Pleasure cruises on the Mississippi River or in the Gulf are not economically feasible.

FAQ #5 - No, the Navy is not reactivating her for service. No, we're not installing modern weaponry. She is a museum educational centerpiece and economic tourism generator now. End of story.

FAQ #6 - Videos and livestreams appear on our YouTube channel:    / @usskidd661  

The USS KIDD Veterans Museum is a non-funded state agency that receives no regular state or federal funding. We appreciate your support!”

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 09:18 am: Edit

There was a comment posted to the effect that it just needs a video of DDG-993 USS Kidd, to complete the trilogy!

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 07:42 pm: Edit

Can anyone find me a contact email for YouTube management? There are a suddenly appearing series of channels of WW2 POW stories that I think are ai written baloney and I want to discuss with YouTube that they need to be shutdown.

By Robert Russell Lender (Rusman) on Monday, December 22, 2025 - 12:57 am: Edit

Try here:
https://www.youtube.com/t/contact_us

Or here:
https://support.google.com/youtube/?hl=en#topic=9257498

Or here:
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2802027?hl=en&sjid=12752862702299185772-NC


It's a start.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, December 22, 2025 - 03:25 am: Edit

Thanks. I know I am on a fool’s errand. YouTube is likely to prefer the revenue to the truth.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - 05:34 pm: Edit

How Washington won.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_JBDlorAKc

By Robert Russell Lender (Rusman) on Thursday, January 08, 2026 - 11:32 am: Edit

I realize there are other forums out there with experts on the subject (and will be asking there), but I wanted to ask here as I trust the opinions and information from our small but tight knit crew here and perhaps some of you have knowledge to share.

I recently picked up two very old revolvers and want to find out more about them as well as how safe, if at all they'll be to fire.


* Colt 1860 Army (SN: 374XX)
This thing has seen many better days in its past.
Blueing is almost completely gone with deep pitting.
No idea when it was built but Colt's SN lookup revealed this possibility...
1860 ARMY, year: 1862 (.44 CALIBER WITH NAVAL ENGAGEMENT SCENE ON CYLINDER).
However, mine has no discernible markings on the cylinder.
The percussion caps on the cylinder are black and seem corroded.
Bore is a bit rusty & a little frosty, but w/ intact strong rifling.
Cylinder has about 2.5mm of play in either direction of rotation but does lock as intended.
Cylinder also has about 2mm of play in direction off the rotational axis.
Trigger, hammer & other workings appear to function normally.
I would very much like to learn more about this things history & welcome starting points.


* Webley Mark I (SN: 161XX)
I can find scantly little information on these 1880's Mark I units.
Blueing is very good with some surface rust in areas.
Bore is mostly shiny excellent with great rifling.
Cylinder is not shaved like many later model Webley's have been for .45 ACP.
Cylinder lockup & all functions are flawless so would certainly shoot safely.
My concern is getting safe ammo to shoot.
It's my understanding this thing is only safe with light .455 Webley Mk I black powder loads.
supposedly .455 Webley Mk II cordite loads are also safe, but I just don't know.
Ammo is apparently made by Fiochi and a few off brands, but I hear of squib loads which me nervous.


I'd love to hear anyone's expertise if any can be offered on the subject.
And Happy New Year everyone. :-)

By Alan Trevor (Thyrm) on Thursday, January 08, 2026 - 08:08 pm: Edit

Impossible to say, based on nothing more than a text description. I strongly recommend you have a competent gunsmith, preferably someone specifically familiar with those designs, examine them.

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Thursday, January 08, 2026 - 10:08 pm: Edit

Seconding Thyrm's above suggestion, I'll add a bit.

Being antique black powder weapons, you should avoid black powder substitutes, and use real black powder, while the burn rates and expansion rate on black powder substitutes work just fine in modern black powder designs, they can be a bit hot for originals.

After use, once determined safe to use by a qualified gunsmith, you will need to thoroughly clean them after use, to prevent corrosion.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Friday, January 09, 2026 - 09:00 am: Edit

"percussion caps on the cylinder"

caps? Or "nibs/ •••••••" If caps, take to a gunsmith immediately and don't mess with it.

By Robert Russell Lender (Rusman) on Friday, January 09, 2026 - 10:31 am: Edit

I meant to say nips. I was referring to the nips that the percussion caps fit onto. :-)

And yes, of course I will take both to a gunsmith for examination first.

Anyone know much about these?