USS Oriskany sunk as aritifical reef, 2006

USS Oriskany (CV-34/CVA-34) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier in service with the US Navy from 1950 to 1976. After decommissioning, Oriskany was laid up at the Naval Inactive Ship Facility at Bremerton, WA. The Navy announced on 5 April 2004, that it would transfer the former aircraft carrier to the State of Florida for use as an artificial reef. Towed to Pensacola, Oriskany was sunk with explosive charges on May 17, 2006. She now forms an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

USS Oriskany (CVA 34) laid up at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Puget Sound, Bremerton in 1990. Moored alongside are USS Hornet (CVS 12), USS Bennington (CVS 20) and USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31). VIRIN: DN-SC-90-03975.

The decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) at Pensacola, Florida January 1, 2005. VIRIN: 050111-N-GS507-010.

The decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) is towed out to sea May 15, 2006. VIRIN: 060515-N-JC459-007.

Explosives detonate aboard the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) in the Gulf of Mexico during SINKEX to create an artificial reef on June 17, 2006. VIRIN: 060517-N-JC459-001.

The decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) sinks in the Gulf of Mexico 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Florida during SINKEX to create an artificial reef, June 17, 2006. VIRIN: 060517-N-JC459-009.

The decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) sinks in the Gulf of Mexico 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Florida during SINKEX to create an artificial reef, June 17, 2006. VIRIN: 060517-N-GO804-010.

The decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) sinks in the Gulf of Mexico 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Florida during SINKEX to create an artificial reef, June 17, 2006. VIRIN: 060517-N-GO804-011.

The decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) sinks in the Gulf of Mexico 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Florida during SINKEX to create an artificial reef, June 17, 2006. VIRIN: 060517-N-JC459-014.

Divers on main deck of sunken aircraft carrier / artificial reef USS Oriskay (CVA 34) in the Gulf of Mexico, 6 July, 2007. Divers are PS1 K. Arnold (USN) and MAJ S. Phelps (US Army). VIRIN: 070706-O-TW583-002.

USS New Orleans (LPH-11) SINKEX 2010

The Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship USS New Orleans (LPH-11) was decomissioned in 1997 and mothballed at Suisun Bay until 2006. She was moved to Pearl Harbor in 2006 to prep for disposal via SINKEX, and was finally sunk during RIMPAC 2010.

Decommissioned USS New Orleans (LPH 11) taking fire during SINKEX, July 10, 2010.

New Orleans begins to roll during SINKEX, RIMPAC 2010.

New Orleans takes fire from a line of surface combat ships, July 10, 2010.

New Orleans begins to sink after being engaged by the Australian navy frigate HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152) with her 5-inch gun.

New Orleans rolls on its side and begins to sink after being impacted by rounds fired from several ships.

Decommissoned US Navy amphibious assault ship USS New Orleans (LPH 11) slips below the surface at the conclusion of SINKEX, July 10, 2010.

New Orleans sunk on July 10, 2010 approx. 70-miles NW of Kauai, Hawaii.

HMS Berwick (F115) and Hr. Ms. Zeeland (D809) in North Sea, Operation Matchmaker, 1967

The British frigate Berwick F-115 (l) and Dutch destroyer Zeeland D-809 (r) in the North Sea in March 1967. A joint maritime task force was tested under the name Matchmaker by the NATO from 1965 to 1967. Troops from the Netherlands, the USA, Great Britain and Germany did participate. The Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL) emerged from Matchmaker, which was an precursor of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1). Photographer: Egon Steiner. Copyright: Egon Steiner/dpa/Corbis

HMS Berwick (F115) was a Rothesay or Type 12I class anti-submarine frigate built by Harland & Wolff and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 1 June 1961. She served for 24-years before finally paying off in 1985. In August 1986, Berwick was sunk as target by the submarine HMS Tireless.

Hr. Ms. Zeeland (D809) was a Holland-class (Hollandklasse) destroyer built by Royal Schelde and commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) on 1 May 1955. She paid off in 1979 after 24-years service.

VIDEO: “Sinking an Aircraft Carrier” (2008)

Royal Navy Tribal-class frigates

HMS Ashanti (F117)
built: Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow
laid down: 15 January 1958
launched: 9 March 1959
commissioned: 23 November 1961
fate: sunk as target 1988

HMS Nubian (F131)
built: HM Dockyard, Portsmouth
laid down: 7 September 1959
launched: 6 September 1960
commissioned: 9 October 1962
fate: sunk as target 1987

HMS Gurkha (F122)
built: JI Thornycroft & Co Ltd, Southampton
laid down: 3 November 1958
launched: 11 July 1960
commissioned: 13 February 1963
fate: sold to Indonesia as ‘Wilhelmus Zakarias Yohannes’ in 1984

HMS Eskimo (F119)
built: JS White & Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of Wight
laid down: 22 October 1958
launched: 20 March 1960
commissioned: 21 February 1963
fate: sunk as target 1986

HMS Tartar (F133)
built: HM Dockyard, Devonport
laid down: 22 October 1959
launched: 19 September 1960
commissioned: 26 February 1962
fate: sold to Indonesia as ‘Hasanuddin’ 1984

HMS Mohawk (F125)
built: Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness
laid down: 23 December 1960
launched: 5 April 1962
commissioned: 29 December 1963
fate: sold for scrap 1982

HMS Zulu (F124)
built: Alex Stephen & Sons, Ltd, Linthouse, Glasgow
laid down: 13 December 1960
launched: 3 July 1962
commissioned: 17 April 1964
fate: sold to Indonesia as ‘Martha Khristina Tiyahahu’ 1984

HMCS Victoria SINKEX USNS Concord (17 July 2012)