Patriots Point
Naval & Maritime Museum
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Camping WWII Style!!
Troop 95 makes the 601 mile journey to South Carolina to spend the night on the USS Yorktown. The Scouts stay in the sailors quarters and enjoy meals in the mess halls of this WWII aircraft carrier. While there enjoy the Patriots Point Museum and explore interactive experiences and war relics.
In addition to the WWII history, Patriots Point, is also home to the ferry that transports the Scouts back to April 12th 1861 to the start of the American Civil War. The Scouts will spend half the day walking the grounds of Fort Sumter National Historical Park!
Naval & Maritime Museum
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum on South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor is a must-see. With WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown as centerpiece, the Museum is also home to destroyer USS Laffey, the Cold War Memorial, the Vietnam Experience, the Medal of Honor Museum and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. It’s nearly 1,000,000 square feet of hands-on history combined with heroes’ stories and stunning natural landscapes.
USS Yorktown (CV-10)
The USS Yorktown (CV-10) was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy. Under construction as Bon Homme Richard, this new Essex-class carrier was renamed in honor of the USS Yorktown (CV-5) that was sunk at the epic Battle of Midway in June 1942. Built in a record 16 ½ months at Newport News, Virginia, the USS Yorktown was commissioned on April 15, 1943. World War II’s famous “Fighting Lady” would participate significantly in the Pacific offensive that began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945. The USS Yorktown received the Presidential Unit Citation and earned 11 battle stars for service in World War II.
In the 1950s, the Yorktown was modernized to operate jet aircraft as an attack carrier (CVA). In 1957, she was re-designated an anti-submarine aircraft carrier (CVS) and would later earn 5 battle stars for service off Vietnam (1965-68). The ship notably recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule in December 1968. The USS Yorktown was decommissioned in 1970 and placed in reserve. In 1975, this historic ship was towed from Bayonne, NJ to Charleston, SC to become the centerpiece of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.
Facts of the USS Yorktown
Displacement
27,000+ tons (1943) 30,000+ tons (1956)
Length
872 feet (1943) 888 feet (1956)
Speed
30+ knots
Range
14,000 nautical miles at 13 knots
Armament
(circa 1944) 12 X 5 in/38 cal guns (127 mm), 68 X 40mm 917 quad mounts, 61 X 20mm (single); (circa 1968): 4 X 5 in/38 cal (127mm)