GRRRRRR…..

@#%(*)^^&$*@($)_(!@_)((+_@!)_(%_$%($*^*&^7%!!!!

Sigh, now that I’ve got THAT out of the way…

Armed with tools to cut through locks, they worked to open hatches on the 312-foot long, 2,500-ton behemoth, letting gallons of Hackensack River water rush into the vessel. These vandals knew the inner workings of the historic ship, it seems, even opening hatches to the bilges, the lowest compartments of the submarine.

Full article HERE.

And to add insult to injury, the stole the memorial plaques too. USS Ling was built in 1943, commissioned in 1945, then decommissioned in Oct 1946, brought back in the 1960s as a training platform then finally fully decommed in 1971. She’s a Balao Class boat, a follow on to the Gato class, and one of 120 build in the last half of the war.

The perps better damn well hope the veterans don’t catch up to their sorry asses… Just sayin…

h/t Stretch

Comments

GRRRRRR….. — 20 Comments

  1. I’ve never understood the vandalism of a military memorial. Those so inclined to do such things are feral animals; and the best solution is to treat them as such, when they are caught.

  2. I’m betting on terrorists. Possibly a disgruntled ex-employee, but terrorism seems more likely to me.

  3. “First they came for the Confederates…”

  4. I’ve never understood vandalism of any memorial — military or otherwise. Or vandalism, period. But… we are sure seeing a lot of it these days. And yes, greybeard, it surely does bring back unpleasant memories.

  5. There is some thought this may be an inside job, as the Ling has been evicted from the park and hasn’t found a new home. 🙁

  6. My thought is that it’s probably not a coincidence that this happened at eviction. Since the sub was being left in place, perhaps someone (non-maritime) thought that the sub would sink, thus clearing the shoreline at this new development. Who profits?
    Also, most scrap dealers would call the police when Mr Crackhead shows up with bronze plaques to sell for scrap and says he “found them in the street”.

  7. Would someone explain to me how opening hatches caused flooding? Scuttle valves, yes. Intake valves, yes. Torpedo tube doors, yes. But hatches lead to compartments, not to the ocean. I’m seriously asking for my own edumencation.

    I wonder if the vandals thought they might find copper wire to strip for resale.

    • Compartments are watertight as long as the hatches are closed. They had to open the hatches to make sure the water could get in.

      • Ahhh. I get it. Open scuttle won’t work without an outlet for the air. Duh~~~ Thanks John.

  8. This is what happens when you let people get away with despoiling certain memorials. Once the flood gates are open, it’s hard to push against the tide of stupidity and evil with your hands.

    As to the sub, damn. Wish I was some rich tech billionaire so I could save her and give her a proper home.

    Some people’s kids. Don’t teach them respect at home, don’t teach them respect at school…

    Hope they catch these vandals and make them muck out the sub.

  9. Could the scuttle be a middle finger directed toward those who evicted the ships? As in, ‘Ok, you developer scum. Tow THIS away to make razor blades!’
    And is it possible that the theft of the plaques was to remove them from the control of the unworthy? Perhaps they will grace the wall on some retired Navy enlisted bar somewhere?
    Or am I hopelessly naive?

  10. Pat, I can’t see that. No former Dolphin, for that matter, former target inhabitant, would willingly kill a boat or ship like this. Burn down your town or neighborhood as an example of why not.

  11. Hey Old NFO;

    while reading the article the first thing that comes to mind is “Well it is Jersey”. But the more I read, the more I think it is someone with the employ of the developer, to remove the “blight” from the view and increase the value of his development. I considered it might be “Youth” but unless the bronze is melted down, it will be difficult to sell.

  12. All- Thanks for the comments. Larry, they had to cut the locks on the hatches to get to the scuttle valves, in addition to allowing the boat to flood. It couldn’t be towed away anyway, since the river has silted up… sigh…

    Posted from my iPhone.

  13. I used to work for The Record years ago. The sub wasn’t able to float on its own for decades, and the beauty of that spot was that the mud supported its rotten belly. It’s sad to see it treated that way.

    As for the newspaper, it’s sad to see one of the last decent independent newspapers has been sold to Gannett. The older generations of the owners (Malcolm Borg and his father) were proud of their independence, and wanted to be loyal to their employees. But I guess Mac’s kids just weren’t interested in legacy, only money. Sold off the newspapers, demolish the buildings, develop the land, never mind the people they hurt in the process.

    Guess it’s part of getting older: watching the places and institutions that are important to us be cast aside by the younger generations with no sense of history.

  14. We live in a time where our children have not only been taught to ignore history, but to actively destroy it.

    These animals will undoubtedly get what they deserve, either here or hereafter. Unfortunately, they will take a lot of innocent bystanders with them.

    Unless we as a society change the path we are on those who survive will look back on us and say “why did they allow this to happen”. History shows where we are heading…

    Oh yes, I forgot that our society has turned a blind eye to that evil institution. This will not end well…

    Teach your children well. If you give them the skills that so many ignore, they will be the minority who are prepared for the hard times to come.

    MSG Grumpy