City Council Gives Final Approval For Floating Navy Museum
After over a decade in the works, the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association is now able to bring the USS Orleck to a permanent home downtown on the St. Johns River.
The City Council signed off on the lease agreement on August 10. The Association can now take the final steps to move the destroyer to Jacksonville to become a floating museum.
The Orleck will be dry docked in Port Arthur, Texas as it is given an inspection of the hull to make sure it is capable to make the trip to Jacksonville and be used as a floating museum. If it passes it will receive some hull repairs and mostly preservation work before it comes to town.
It will be docked on East Bay Street near the old Shipyards area where the new Jaguars’ development is planned. The Association hopes to have the ship in place by Veterans Day.
It’s been a long time coming for supporters to get a floating Naval museum to Jacksonville. “This is a big step for us. We are excited about the opportunities before us and proud of all the folks that navigated our way here,” said Daniel Bean, JHNSA President.
Launched in May of 1945, the USS Orleck was commissioned shortly after the end of World War II and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
It’s the most decorated post-WW II ship ever built and was awarded 18 battle stars.
The Gearing Class destroyer was recognized as the “top gun” in Vietnam for firing over 18,000 rounds of ammunition. The Orleck included two duel cannon five-inch gun mounts, an Anti-Submarine Rocket Launcher, and a Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter System among its major weapons systems.
It’s over 390 feet in length. After its Naval Service, it was transferred to the Turkish Navy. It was transferred back to the U.S. in 2000 to become a museum ship.
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