Spent the Weekend in Baton Rogue and Mobile

**HMS Lydia** · 10-15-2013, 08:04

Went down to tour the USS Kidd (WWII Fletcher Class Destroyers) and the USS Alabama (WWII South Dakota Class Battleship). Both ships are in their WWII configurations. The Mississippi river was so low the Kidd was out of the water.

I've been to both ships before, but I just can't get enough of these old historic warships. My hat goes off to the dedicated individuals that dedicate their time to preserving these great historical artifacts.

Mis-spelled Baton Rouge

**Moideeb** · 10-15-2013, 14:19

Do you have any pictures?

**HMS Lydia** · 10-16-2013, 09:19

Hope to post pictures on my profile soon. I'll post here after I put them up.

**HMS Lydia** · 10-16-2013, 18:13

Photos are uploaded.

**Nightmoss** · 10-16-2013, 19:05

Thanks for the excellent photos. Very dramatic to see the Kidd completely out of the water. The Alabama was probably one of the first plastic model kits I built as a child. Great stuff.

**Comte de Brueys** · 10-17-2013, 01:27

Thanky you for sharing this pictures and impressions with us, Bob.

Impressive pictures.

Hard to believe that a single torped could sink such a warmachine like an US Fletcher class destroyer.

9 Officers
264 crew

5 gun turrets
10 AA guns
10 torpedo tubes
waterbombs

Displacement: 2,050 tons (standard)
2,500 tons (full load)
Length: 376.5 ft (114.8 m)
Beam: 39.5 ft (12.0 m)
Draft: 17.5 ft (5.3 m)

That reminds me how we judge some sea battles, sometimes.

Lost a few destroyers...? Nothing serious. Where are the carriers?

**HMS Lydia** · 10-17-2013, 04:57

Sven and Jim,

Thanks for the comments. The Fletcher class was not our most heavily armed destroyer of WWII, but it's profile is iconic. When I think of a WWII destroyer the Fletcher class is what comes to mind. This was the first class of US Destroyers that all the 5" guns had fully enclosed turrets, although some of the last built Benson/Gleaves had them, the Fletcher's were designed with them.

Bob

**David Manley** · 10-17-2013, 11:55

Originally Posted by HMS Lydia

Went down to tour the USS Kidd (WWII Fletcher Class Destroyers) and the USS Alabama (WWII South Dakota Class Battleship).

Happy memories, visited these (plus New Orleans, Ship Island, Biloxi, Memphis, Port Gibson and Vicksburg) for an NWS wargaming holiday in 1997. Lovely times :)

**HMS Lydia** · 10-17-2013, 12:01

David, you definitely got you monies worth on that trip!

**csadn** · 10-17-2013, 15:35

Originally Posted by Comte de Brueys

Lost a few destroyers...? Nothing serious. Where are the carriers?

I think the Japanese at Samar *might* disagree with you there.... ;)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Stand.../dp/0553381482

**DeRuyter** · 10-18-2013, 11:43

Originally Posted by David Manley

Happy memories, visited these (plus New Orleans, Ship Island, Biloxi, Memphis, Port Gibson and Vicksburg) for an NWS wargaming holiday in 1997. Lovely times :)

Man I have yet to convince the wife that a gaming holiday is a good idea!

Although not strictly speaking a gaming holiday I am working on Belgium in June 2015!