Historic Naval Ships Association

Posted Monday, December 18, 2006

I recently submitted a membership application to join the Historic Naval Ships Association (HNSA). I made the decision to apply for a Patron Membership after exploring the HNSA Web site and seeing the great work this organization is doing.

As stated in the HNSA Visitors' Guide, "Thirty-seven years ago, a group of individuals representing a number of former naval vessels established the Historic Naval Ships Association (HNSA). Its purpose is to facilitate the exchange of information and provide mutual support among those who are working hard to maintain their aging vessels physically and financially."

On the HNSA Web site, you can use the on-site interactive map of the United States to discover historic naval ships in your state and to learn about what is being done to preserve them. There are also lists of historic ships in other countries. I discovered that the SS American Victory is preserved in my "home port" of Tampa, Florida. From June until September 1945, she carried ammunition and other cargo from U.S. West Coast ports to Southeast Asia. She ferried cargo, equipment and troops back to the U.S. after the war ended. She also served during the Vietnam War effort. Other historic ships being preserved by HNSA in Florida include USCG Mohawk (Coral Gables, FL), PTF 3 (Deland, FL), and PBR MARK II (Orlando, FL).

The HNSA Web site is rich source of information. Among other things, it includes lists of historic naval ships by location, name, and type; historic sound files in RealAudio and QuickTime format; Navy documents and manuals (including a Fleet Type Submarine Series); and the US Navy File Manual, Fourth Edition, 1941. These are just a few of the resources you can explore at the HNSA site. I spent a good portion of yesterday listening to the sound files for the "Attack on Battleship Kongo" by the USS Sealion. (The crew of Sealion made sound recordings in the conning tower of the submarine during the attack. The Kongo was sunk by Sealion on November 21, 1944.) There is also an interesting set of recordings about the "Attack on Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-52" by aircraft sent by Escort Carrier USS Bogue. There is a wealth of other information on the site of interest to any submarine or navy buff.

"Discover" and "Explore" are the operable words for the HNSA Web site. It is an authoritative resource you can use frequently.