USS AshtabulaA "modified Cimmeron" or T3-A2-S3 class tanker, USS Ashtabula as commissioned into the United States Navy on 7th August 1943. She served throught the remainder of WWII and well beyond, being stricken from the Navy List on 6th September 1991. She was expended as a target 15th October 2000 off Southern California.The Ashtabula class tankers were built on the same dimensions as the Cimmerons but with a slightly higher full load displacment. Under the "big gun" combat rules of the Australian Battle Group, this small addition to displacement is sufficent to give her a larger pump than the Cimmerons as she is over 25,000 tons full load. As such USS Astabula has the largest allowed merchant pump, a class 5, which pumps approximately 3 litres per minute. At the same time, the Ashtabula class vessels carried a much lighter surface capable armourment then the Cimmerons. Our USS Ashtabula is one of the oldest ships in the Australian Battle Group, starting life as the first working BigGun ship built by Glendon Pryor, founder of the Newcastle Battle Squadron. As the Imperator she attended the January and June 2000 National Meetings of the AusBG. At the end of 2000 she was sold to Dave Howard of the Canberra Battle Group, refitted and renamed "Ellie Sue" and commissioned as an auxilary into the Vichy French Navy. While the "Ellie Sue" she sailed 5 times, 4 times meeting Richard Simpson's USS Alabama which promply sank her. Eventually Dave tired of this and sold her to Richard Simpson of the Sydney Battle Squadron who refitted her again, renamed her "USS Ashtabula" and sails her today. After the March 2002 battle where she experinced all sorts of problems, Richard stripped her back to the bare fiberglass and completely rebuilt her. Today she serves as his test bed for 'damage resistant' superstructures and was recommissoned at the October 2002 meeting in Sydney. Sites of Interest
US Navy page on USS Ashtabula US Navy Surface Fleet press release on the sinking of USS Ashtabula Type
Status
National Battle Honours
June 2000 AusBG National Meet, Bowning NSW (as "Imperator") January 2001 AusBG National Meet, Bowning NSW (as "Ellie Sue") January 2002 AusBG National Meet, Armidale NSW (as USS Ashtabula) June 2002 AusBG National Meet, Bowning NSW June 2003 AusBG National Meet, Canberra ACT Rule Exemptions granted by the Techical Officer to this vessel
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