USS Salem 

"They threatened to use a metal detector on me before I leave" lol

I have been on the Alabama, Wisconsin and drum when she was still in the water. I like the fact that you do just as much to promote other museum ships when you visit them.

Pro tip from a Massachusetts resident, the city is named “Quincy” but pronounced “Quin-zee”. Love the ship, great museum to travel aboard

My father served on the Newport News (CA-148) as a machinist mate while she was doing gunnery support off the coast of Vietnam. It was by far his favorite ship that he served on, and a personal favorite of my mother who thought it was the prettiest ship she had ever seen.

The Des Moines class demonstrates how warships grew in size and displacement over the first half of the 20th Century. They outweighed the first Dreadnought battleships.

I served as a crew member and first class fire control technician aboard the Salem from 1952 to 1955 operating and maintaining the fire control computers and radars. These videos are mostly correct and brought back a flood of memories. When I visited her some 40 years later she was mostly as I left her but missing two things were her beautiful teak deck and the stable elements in the plotting rooms. Also vividly recall visiting many Mediterranean ports ,good chow and great times ashore. All this while my high school classmates were being slaughtered when the Chinese came across the Yalu! We had all gone down to join the Marines as we were all about to be drafted. At the last minute Jughead Leffingwell and I crossed the street and joined the Navy!! AMEN

After hearing the museum is strictly volunteer run in the video, I made a donation to their museum!

It was my honor to serve aboard USS Newport News (CA-148) The last all gun Heavy Cruiser in service. My time aboard 1968-69-70 Call sign THUNDER flag hoist; November - India - Quebec - Quebec Our 8"-55 cal. guns were fully automatic with brass powder charge, loading and firing in any position. We could theoretically fire all 1400 rounds of 8" in 15 min. We have a small display aboard USS Salem, and some of our guys do working parties aboard her. Thanks to Ryan for this video. "Fair Winds and Following Seas"

The final shot sitting on the guns was superbly framed, congrats to whoever set it up. What a backdrop. Excited to see that autoloader

I’ll never forget, back when Google Earth was a new thing, stumbling upon a view of the mothball fleet and having my eye immediately drawn to USS Des Moines’ beautiful lines. I subsequently researched her found out as much as I could. Years later, images of her being towed to the breakers brought tears to my eyes.

Maybe 20 years ago I bought an 8''-55 brass case from a collector. Inside was an envelope with a letter saying that it was fired from the Salem and gave the date. Its the biggest brass case ever used by the USN. It is almost a foot across at the base and about 4 feet tall. What a chunk of brass!

My father in law served on the USS Chicago heavy cruiser commanding the Talos missile system and shot down a Mig fighter jet in Vietnam. My uncle was the Captain of the USS Arkansas battleship in WW2 and became Admiral George McFadden O'Rear.

I've had the pleasure of visiting the Battleships Alabama, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Missouri and the USS Texas. Texas is my favorite because I really enjoyed learning about the early Dreadnought Battleships of the early 1900s with their interesting turret layouts and different propulsion systems and just ways natoins tried to find the best combination of armor, speed and firepower.

I strongly suspect the reason why you love the USS Salem is the same reason why I love the USS New Jersey. I recently went to see the USS Wisconsin at the Nauticus museum, and while the ship is very impressive there isn't nearly the same ability to explore the depths of the ship that the New Jersey offers. So much of the ship is still unrestored. It really made me realize how great of a job you guys at the New Jersey are doing to turn the ship into an outstanding, world class museum experience. Thanks for your hard work!

I loved the Salem. One of the 5inch turrets was unlocked when we visited so we were able to shimmy through the hatch and check it out.

The last time I saw Cruiser Salem other than in photos was when my destroyer Caron (DD 970) was in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in July & August 1986 for an SRA. The 'Basin' was just around the corner and down the street from where we were moored and both Salem and Des Moines were nested right up next to the main street. I also saw Newport News further into the Basin, looking pretty rough ... "rode hard and put up wet." That ship and the other two to a much lesser extent had been thoroughly stripped by this time. Both Salem and "Daisy Mae" were looking rough also due to a lack of exterior preservation. As I recall, some of the muzzle caps or plugs were missing from the 8" of one or both ships. For the Salem volunteers: You guys are doing an excellent job in preserving and restoring this grand old Lady. She looks about 500% better than she did in the mid '80s. As I recall, as a museum ship Salem was taken to Boston to participate in some commemoration revolving around USS Constitution, her bicentennial IIRC. Ryan, I'm looking forward to watching the rest of your videos from Salem. Stay safe sir.

Best tour I had was on Salem. Got to wander around all the available spaces myself, then got acquainted with Jim who took me to a gun turret, a firearm exposition, to the engine room all the while spilling stories even after the ship was closed. Spent my whole day on the cruiser!

I’m so glad the USS Salem has gotten some air time on your channel. She is in desperate need of paint!

This channel will go far, just because of it's support for other museums of it's kind. Great work and extremely interesting content!

This ship is by far my favorite ship that I have ever visited he hit the nail right on the head with it being open and free to roam that exact reason is why it’s my favorite the people on board are lovely and they have amazing exhibits with a plethora of information on the ship and what it did it’s truly phenomenal and I recommend it to anyone

USS Salem is also an actress, she played KMS Graf Spee in the movie The Battle of the River Plate (1956).

Took an overnight trip as a cub scout 10+ years ago on the Salem. We got to tour every inch of the ship. Very cool experience especially as a kid. It was easy to get lost below deck, these ships were massive.

That was a fun day! "Eggshells throwing hammers" still cracks me up.

Been on the USS North Carolina and it was amazing....hope to see more ships like the New Jersey.

I remember seeing Salem at the Philadelphia Shipyard in Jan 1983 when I reported to my first ship, USS Semmes DDG 18.

The Salem is a really fun ship to visit. I've been there a few times since I first stumbled upon it in the early 2000s. It is a very different experience from a ship like the New Jersey where you are limited to set tour routes. I would highly recommend it to anyone in the area.

Enjoyed my day on Salem and got to meet Ryan and Dr. John Scholes. Both are very knowledgeable fellows and a pleasure to listen and talk to. I had not been to the Salem in many years and it was great to tour it again. Thanks for your video series you are doing on the Salem. Also was great to meet and talk with Libby. She keeps Ryan humble !

Just went to the Salem yesterday. awesome time. didn't want to leave. give yourselves 3 to 4 hours. so much to see.

The Salem was actually built at this very shipyard where she currently resides. The shipbuilding museum was looking for a surviving vessel built here to go on display as a primary exhibit. They actually wanted to acquire the USS Lexington, but Corpus Christi got to her first, so they went with Salem instead.

These videos showing all these other ships are so cool.

Being inside the gunhouse on Alabama is one I will never forget. Roaming Midway all day on a Saturday was awesome. New Jersey and Missouri are on the bucket list. Thanks for the content!

I’ve done three different overnights on the Salem with my sons’ Cub Scout pack. It only is it awesome how much of the ship is open to explore, but the volunteer docents give great tours and info.

Being a Canadian, my favourite museum ships are up here: the Tribal-class destroyer HMCS Haida in Hamilton, Ontario, the last surviving Flower-class corvette HMCS Sackville (Canada's oldest still-existing warship) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, RCMP vessel St. Roch (first ship to go both ways through the Northwest Passage) in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the experimental hydrofoil HMCS Bras D'Or in L'Islet-sur-Mer Quebec.

The U-505 German submarine museum in Chicago always seemed extra interesting because of the story of its acquisition. The conditions for Admiral Gallery's plan seemed unlikely to occur but he towed back the prize he wanted. One of the best fishermen ever lol.

Thank you for coming to Quincy, it was a great day, we need “Libby Fan Club Shirts” and Ryan, Bobble Heads

When I was maybe 12 or 13 I toured the Salem with my grandfather, he'd served on the Newport News for her service in Korea. It was awesome. Not long after she'd opened so we could only access a fairly limited parts of the ship. But still awesome as he could remember alot of what equipment did what, got to see where his battle stations were and hear about what he did there, the people he served with, we were there all day. It was a thing we did often go visit museum ships. We visited many of them but Salem stands out. She's not too far away I'll have to go back when they reopen in the spring.

USS Texas is my favorite. I have toured it and plan to retire close to Galveston, so hopefully I can do a lot of volunteer work on her. I was Army, but Texas is my home state.

I don't live in the U.S But I have been on the HMAS Onslow which is an Oberon class submarine and the HMAS Vampire, a Daring class destroyer. Submarines are fun to explore!

I remember seeing this for the first time driving through Quincy saw a tall ship behind the salt pile.

One of these acted as Graf Spee in the film Battle of the River Plate. I think it was Newport News. Best looking actor ever.

My father served aboard the U.S.S. Boston, and U.S.S. Columbus. I heard that they were heavy cruisers as well, but I am not sure what thier exact class was. He said he loved them, and it was such a shock when the next ship he was assigned to was the U.S.S. Exultant, a tiny MSO class mine sweeper! 🙂

The first time I visited the Salem I was out of the Navy and hadn’t been on a ship since the 80’s (20 yrs +or -). As soon as I got on the mess deck the aroma of the ship hit me full on and I could see the sailors from my ship the Kitty Hawk walking around w/ trays in their hands and sitting down eating. It was magic.

I live in Australia i have said this before, i would LOVE to visit all the iowa battleships & other museum ships & subs.

My favorite is the USS North Carolina as I live in NC. Also privileged to visit USS Yorktown and USS Missouri. Also have seen the USS Laffey at Patriots Point.

HMS Belfast is a great tour. always make a stop when i'm in london, especially because my grandfather served on her post WW2

I've been on the Salem at the old mooring, Constitution, Cassin Young, Massachusetts, Lionfish, Hiddensee, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., Intrepid, and the Arizona Memorial. I also been on an unknown Destroyer and the Ranger in San Diego during open houses.

The Mass allows a lot to tour. I spent almost a full day on her at Battleship Cove.

You were a mile from my house, wish I knew. I was an Auxiliary Police Captain stationed on the pier when the ship was returned to Quincy, remember the day well. At one point we were looking into moving the emergency management communications operation onto the ship.

That was an awesome meet and greet I signed up to be a volunteer that same day, filling out their form on the bow of the Heavy Cruiser.

I love the cross promotion and hopefully it raises the funds that these important ships need to survive. Well done as usual.

My favorite museum ship. Love that you guys came out here.

My favorite tour of a museum ship was the USS North Carolina, I got to see the steering gear room .

Went there two years ago. This is the most beautiful warship ever IMO.

I was down at Battleship Cove about a month ago and drive right past Quincy and saw the signs for Salem. Couldn't convince everyone to stop.

My favorite museum ship is the SS John W. Brown “Brownie” because she is more than just a museum ship, she is living history. Second is the USCGC Acacia, Ace of the Great Lakes, and She is my fathers ship. Acacia is also operational ready but not currently sailing.

Remember see the Des Moines, could see her off interstate 95 for years thought it was a battleship. Was said to hear it got scrapped, a lot of photos were taken on her final voyage.

For great footage of USS Salem, watch The Battle of the River Plate in which she plays the Graf Spee.

I can't wait to see the other videos on this ship, keep up the good work!

Beautiful ship. So want to visit, Right after NEW JERSEY.

My grandfather served on the USS Salem in the mid 50's. Found his dd214 today

My favorite would be a tie between USS Silversides in Muskegon, Michigan, and USS Kidd in Baton Rouge Louisiana. However, that being said, I never had the chance to tour the New Jersey or her sister ships. Looking forward to those visits! Oh yea, the U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is so freak'n cool... a whole submarine housed inside the museum to preserve it for future generations! I can remember first seeing the U-505 in the mid-80's when it was located outside. I'm glad the effort was made to move it indoors.

My favorite museum ship? HMS Victory in Portsmouth England!

Being from NC I love to see the Showboat!

The Des Moines was just amazing ships, and they looked the part as well. I will by one asap......In 1/700 scale !

The USS Salem is my absolute favorite ship right next to the Bismarck.

My goodness, she looks just like Graf Spee in Battle of the River Plate!

SS Jeremiah O'Brien one of the last Liberty ships. Great ship and crew.

My dad, as a fairly newly minted USMC 2nd Lt., from OCS (after visiting scenic Korea 1951 - 1952) served on board the Salem (as well as the light cruiser Worchester). As part of the Mediterranean Fleet, they made all sorts of ports of call in the Med, and then made a final port call in Havana. I got to visit her in 2010. Hypothetically, if no one is looking, you could scatter some ashes off the side of the ship - hypothetically.

Love the Salem, got to spend a night on her with my sons Cub Scout Pack. Need to get back sometime.

I look forward to seeing your additional Salem videos. I've been on the Massachusetts, Alabama and Texas. I did stop by the Salem about 15 years ago but didn't go aboard. This should be great!! Thanks Ryan!

I've been on Alabama, Yorktown, Wisconsin, and Missouri. I've also been to the Arizona memorial.. New Jersey, Midway, and Intrepid are on my bucket list of museum ships to visit--and now, Salem is as well! If I absolutely had to choose I'd say my favorite was Yorktown, I deployed aboard Constellation and Enterprise during my time in the Navy so I have a soft spot for carriers.

when i did a tour on the uss hornet it was similar to the uss salem in the respect that you have a lot of freedom to go where you please on the ship, they did a good job preserving that carrier to keep it as original as possible to give you an authentic feeling of climbing and walking through the carrier. is also my personal favorite.

I’ve visited 21 museum ships. So far my favorite is probably USS Little Rock.

I was able to visit BB-63 (missouri) while she was in Bremerton... just a small part of the vessel was open to the public. I was aboard HMCS Saskatoon K158 being transported from Vancouver harbour to attend my Queen Scout award at BC Government house (Victoria) My favorite was USS Bluegill (SS-242)... as a boy scout we had a tour while the sub visited Vancouver Canada. They even blew the "dive dive" horn. I suspect we did not dive very deep, as the vessel was still tied up to the pier. Great fun

I have a 8" 55 shell casing, it weighs 59 lbs and is all brass.

My dad was the Admiral's writer while she was in Napoli Italia.

I have been on USS Cobia, and also before it was decommissioned.. USS Enterprise.. the sub is a place for me to remember all the stories from family members that are now gone and I've helped them with funds to get the Cobia under partial main engine power.. hopefully soon with the right people we can get her completely running again.

Was on the Salem a few months ago, got a extra tour down into spaces under restoration from a volunteer after he said “want to see something” than grabbed his keys out of his pocket. I love the 16’s of the BB’s but those auto 8’s are just so impressive at 10 rounds a minute. Thanks for the channel and who any topics you cover. Love hearing all the history. Hope to visit the New Jersey soon.

Oregon City class and a ship named Salem. I live in Salem Oregon lol. Cool video

While my Uncle Jack was stationed on Saratoga(Chief Bos’n Mate), Newport News was still in service as the flagship for the Second Fleet. He called her the prettiest ship in the Navy, other than the Iowas. Had he not retired in 1986(24 years service) Jack would have been in line to be selected as ship’s bos’n on either Missouri or Wisconsin at the end of his second tour as ship’s bos’n on Forrestal.

New Jersey was the first model warship i built. 1986. 1/700

Salem Security: "Whatcha got there?" Ryan, leaving with the Salem's propeller in his pocket: "A fidget spinner"

great video, thanks Ryan!

Of the museum ships I've been on, my favorite is the North Carolina, by far. There were certain things I thought other ships did better, but the overall experience on NC was head & shoulders above anything else. I really liked that I could go through the entire structure of a 16" turret. Aside from that, it's hard to pick a favorite - I've enjoyed them all. NJ was the first battleship I saw (around 2008, so I need to get back & see how the experience has changed) and thus will always be special to me. I also thoroughly enjoy HMS Victory whenever I get to see her. HMS Belfast is excellent too.

Toured the USS Salem not long after she opened as a museum. Felt like I was stepping back in time. There was still stuff left there from when she went into mothballs. As for my favorite tours? Salem is probably #2, USS Slater is #1. I'm going to have to hit Battleship Cove again, as well as Nautilus, Boston Naval Shipyard and New Jersey. Damn-- looks like I have next summer planned out already....

the little rock is a cleveland class cruiser. as far as the Salem is concerned the happens to be my favorite ship in World of Warships so i am happy to see she is getting some love from being a Museaum ship and from you guys doing several videos on her.

I saw the Newport News being broken up in New Orleans and my dad was the Marine Chemist who gave the go ahead inspection to start the work. It was so sad to see her in the first stages with the barrels cut down to stubs.

If your ever up north come by and visit either the Haida or the Sackville

I hope to visit this museum some day...

Favorite Museum Ship ? SS Valley Camp in Sault Ste Marie , MI is worth a visit .

Not really a 'tour' but the way USS Lexington is moored means that the forecastle gets amazing light sometimes. Or at least it did when I visited in 1994.

Wish I could have been there!

Got to see the Midway in San Diego a few weeks ago, fantastic work you guys do to curate and preserve these amazing ships! 👍

The Salem is looking pretty good!! I visited it a few years ago and it looked pretty rough.

A. Submarine. That’s. My. Favorite

Gorgeous looking ships, and the pinnacle of WWII warship design (IMO)

yes I am literally dying to get on board Salem unfortunately I'm not allowed to fly to the US she's a beautiful ship

LST 393 in Michigan is also super open.... to a point where I wondered if I was going to be able to find my way back out at time... (where does this ladder go?)

Very excited to see video's about USS Salem!

The reason the USS Salem ( named after Salem, MA) is down in Quincy is that it was built there at the former Quincy Naval Shipyard