NOT if you haven't visited her recently - like, in the last 5 years - since she's re-established in Key West, FL (as above): you haven't! Because I just toured her last week (hey, Bill!), and she is vastly improved - both inside and out - than what I had seen earlier, up at Patriot's Point, SC.
Not only is she smarter and cleaner - again, both inside and out - indeed her paint all spotless, with more going on even as I visited - but there is significantly more on display, as well. The interior tour now includes 3x- to 5x as much as (IIRC) before, including audio guides and a killer little video mash-up - complete with frames of Ingham herself, during WWII - sampled right out of "Victory At Sea": just like we do, here at ModelFleet!
AND - for any of you longing as I have been, to see a real-live, vintage Single-3in50cal Open-Mount deck gun in-person, they've managed to snag not just one but two of them. One of which, outstripping even the above picture, has already been mounted aboard - likewise restored to pristene condition - on the 02-level forward. With a pair of Saluting Guns on the 03-level, as well.
Below-decks, there are at least as many if not more models than before - including a beautifully-done Revell 72-scale TypeVII depicting U-626: the U-boat sunk by Ingham (with a single depth-charge, apparently!) while escorting Iceland Convoy ON152, 12/15/42. (Merry Christmas!)
Of course, those of you who have visited Ingham before already knew (at least some of) the above. For those who haven't, be advised she is a historic ship.
Launched 6/3/36, Ingham was well in-service before WWII:
Click on Image to Enlarge
Above are the two earliest pics of her that I could find - from before the close of 1936. Including this rare and gorgeous shot of Ingham's original main armament of 5in/50cal Open-Mount guns: same as the casemate guns of your Arizona (and cousins), at Pearl Harbor.
Ingham proceded to serve truly throughout WWII - in every theater - and well beyond (see below), accordingly going through a near dizzying array of changes in fit and paint:
Click on Image to Enlarge
Which service - and refits - she continued to see, right up through the 30-year mark:
Here seen in the mid-'60s, note Ingham had by then received a tripod-mainmast with large radar, and raised deckhouse at its base, and lost all (heavier) guns except the forward 5-inch turret. Nevertheless, she would in this fit go yet one last time into a hot fight: off Vietnam in the late '60s. Finally, retaining pretty much the same fit Ingham would finish out her whopping 52 years(!) of service with the rescue - right back off Cuba, where she started - of immigrants in the Mariel Boat Lift.
That's what I mean when I say "historic": this vessel USCGC Ingham - sole remaining hull to have sunk a U-boat - is on a par with Enterprise CV-6, as one of those most deserving preservation, of all time. Except (unlike Enterprise) in Ingham's case they did save her - and are continuing it now better than ever before - down in Key West!
Cheers,
- Matty
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