# Ship Named After Sullivan Brothers is Sinking **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851 "2022-04-15T02:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/1 "2022-04-15T02:43:27Z")
[The USS The Sullivans, named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers who were killed in action when the ship they were on was sunk by the Japanese during World War II, is taking on water at its berth in Buffalo, NY, and is in danger of sinking.](https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2022/04/14/uss-sullivans-taking-on-water-sullivan-brothers-waterloo-iowa-erie-county-naval-military-park/7320749001/) The story of the Sullivan brothers, who chose to serve together although military policy was to separate siblings, was so widely known during and after the War that [a movie was made about them.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037323/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) It’s cruelly ironic that the Navy’s tribute to them may also sink. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/2 "2022-04-15T05:45:24Z")
That’s a serious list to starboard. A third of the stern deck is below the water line. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/3 "2022-04-15T10:31:07Z")
I’ve actually been on the boat, it’s a great little naval museum. My wife did NOT like being a a WW2 era submarine, it’s very claustrophobic. Hopefully they can save that piece of history. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/4 "2022-04-15T13:37:53Z")
I have to ask why they’re messing around? The USS Texas (BB-35) at one point was taking on 1500 gallons a minute, and they were pumping it right back out and keeping her afloat while they performed repairs. USS The Sullivans can’t be taking on that much water that fast; why don’t they just pump it out while they figure it out? Buffalo’s a real port- equipment availability surely can’t be the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/5 "2022-04-15T14:58:43Z")
Maybe because there’s another USS _The Sullivans_ (DD-537). She launched in 1995, so it’s getting a little long in the tooth. Maybe it’ll become a museum ship that’ll replace the current one This current one is the USS _The Sullivans_ (DD-537). She launched in 1943. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/6 "2022-04-15T15:26:38Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I have to ask why they’re messing around? The USS Texas (BB-35) at one point was taking on 1500 gallons a minute, and they were pumping it right back out and keeping her afloat while they performed repairs. The CG said they were pumping water out at 13,000 gallons per minute, so they aren’t messing around. Here’s a direct link to to CG Buffalo. > **[Log in or sign up to view](https://www.facebook.com/USCGSectorBuffalo)** > > See posts, photos and more on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/7 "2022-04-15T16:52:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Dewatering efforts continue with positive progress, large dewatering pumps capable of removing water at 13000+ gallons per minute have been placed onsite. It’s been estimated there are more than **3 million gallons** of water inside the ship. How do you not notice that? “Hey Frank, does _The Sullivans_ look a little low in the water today to you?” FWIW I saw a comment to that tweet that said the commenter heard that the pumps are gaining on the leakage and water load is going down. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/8 "2022-04-15T16:54:54Z")
So long as the front didn’t fall off, there’s still hope… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/9 "2022-04-15T17:11:38Z")
Most of these ships are built so the front doesn’t fall off at all. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/10 "2022-04-15T18:48:53Z")
I read that the Sullivans is moored in the river near the lake, and the water is five feet deep. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/11 "2022-04-15T19:52:03Z")
Yes and part of it was sitting on the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/12 "2022-04-15T20:11:00Z")
Meh, the [front end can fall off](https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/OnlineLibrary/photos/images/g320000/g325746.jpg) and the ship can still go. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/13 "2022-04-16T02:26:59Z")
Update: as of this evening they’ve stopped pumping because [the ship is now leaking oil.](https://www.facebook.com/USCGSectorBuffalo) ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/14 "2022-04-16T02:40:27Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Most of these ships are built so the front doesn’t fall off at all. So what happened in this case? ---
**Author:** ![KCB615](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@KCB615](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KCB615)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/15 "2022-04-16T02:46:21Z")
I have it on good authority that a wave hit the ship. Apparently it’s exceedingly rare. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/16 "2022-04-16T02:59:26Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Meh, the [front end can fall off](https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/OnlineLibrary/photos/images/g320000/g325746.jpg) and the ship can still go. But the front isn’t supposed to fall off. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3m5qxZm_JqM/hqdefault.jpg "Clarke and Dawe - The Front Fell Off") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/17 "2022-04-16T03:22:46Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > So what happened in this case? Well, the front fell off in this case by all means, but it’s very unusual. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/18 "2022-04-16T04:53:33Z")
The Battleship New Jersey YouTube channel, released a video with Ryan Szimanski, the curator of the New Jersey and a special guest, Drachinifel. Drach is _the_ naval history YouTuber so it was an interesting discussion. It’s only 16 minutes long and I found it very worthwhile. They didn’t speculate much, but gave a lot of background information. Ryan says he knows the people at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval Maritime Park quite well and seemed confident they would handle things as best as could be expected. Because it’s a destroyer, the hull is quite thin and this is a known danger. This is a video by Ryan on [Top 10 Most Threatened American Museum Ships](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_kkoY52JzU&t=0s), from a year ago and _The Sullivans_ is included. They didn’t speculate much, but gave a lot of background information. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/19 "2022-04-16T07:39:07Z")
I’m always surprised you don’t see more movies filmed on museum ships. They’re already living props and would be pretty cheap to rent out, just pay to clean up and repaint the ship to make it look better on camera. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851/20 "2022-04-16T18:41:32Z")
I think siblings still get seperated in the military. In 1974-5, when I was stationed at the Presidio of Monterey, there were twin girls, Navy. This was a military language school, and they got put in different languages so they, in all likelihood, would not be stationed at the same post. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-named-after-sullivan-brothers-is-sinking/962851.md?page=2)