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Naval Legacy

Name: Naval Legacy
Address: 16555 DeGroot rd, Colorado Springs, CO, 80928, US
Telephone: +17196839899

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Welcome to the Naval Legacy Page

10/03/2026

The barrel at Fort Story, Virginia Beach, once belonged to USS Iowa (BB-61), one of the most powerful battleships ever built for the U.S. Navy.

Measuring nearly 70 feet long, the 16-inch/50 caliber Mark 7 gun was designed to fire massive 2,700-pound projectiles at targets more than 20 miles away under suitable conditions.

But this particular barrel had a different fate.

It was originally installed as the left gun in Iowa’s forward Turret No. 1. In 1954, the barrel was removed during maintenance and was not returned to the battleship. Instead, it was retained as a spare.

Decades later, the enormous barrel found a permanent home at Fort Story near Cape Henry.

Today, it no longer points toward an enemy fleet. It stands as a massive piece of naval history—a reminder of the firepower once carried by America’s Iowa-class battleships.

From a battleship at sea to a historic display on land, this 16-inch gun has survived long after the era that created it.

09/15/2026

At first glance, USS Kansas City (LCS-22) looks like a damaged ship—but this unusual shape is actually her advanced trimaran hull.

Launched in 2018 and commissioned in 2020, the Independence-class warship was designed for speed, stability, and maneuverability, reaching up to 47 knots.

A strange shape with a very practical purpose.

09/07/2026

She was built to cross the oceans. Decades later, the Atlantic claimed her ⚓ 🇺🇸

The American Star had already lived several lives before becoming one of the most recognizable shipwrecks of Fuerteventura.

Originally launched in 1939 as the SS America, the 723-foot ocean liner entered passenger service in 1940. During World War II, she was converted into the troopship USS West Point, before eventually returning to civilian service.

Over the years, the ship changed names several times. In 1993, she became the American Star and was purchased with plans to transform her into a floating hotel in Thailand.

That plan never happened.

While being towed across the Atlantic from Greece toward Thailand, the towline broke during rough weather. Attempts to reconnect the ship failed, and the crew was evacuated by helicopter on January 17, 1994.

The next day, the drifting liner ran aground at Playa de Garcey on Fuerteventura.

The Atlantic gradually began breaking the ship apart. Within about two days, the hull had separated into two sections. The stern eventually sank, while the bow remained visible from the beach for years.

By the late 2000s, most of the remaining wreck had disappeared beneath the sea.

From a luxury ocean liner to a wartime troopship—and finally a shipwreck—the American Star had an extraordinary journey before becoming part of Fuerteventura's coastline. ⚓🌊🇺🇸

09/04/2026

The Submarine That Became a Legend.⚓🇺🇸🫶

USS Harder was one of the most aggressive American submarines of World War II.

During her fifth patrol in June 1944, she attacked Japanese naval forces near Tawi-Tawi and sank several destroyers in just a few days. Commander Samuel D. Dealey was known for taking extraordinary risks, including the dangerous “down-the-throat” torpedo attack against approaching warships.

But Harder’s story ended two months later.

On August 24, 1944, off Luzon, the submarine attacked a Japanese es**rt vessel. Her torpedoes missed, and the es**rt responded with depth charges. USS Harder was lost with all 79 men aboard.

For 80 years, she remained on the Navy’s “Eternal Patrol.”

In 2024, the Lost 52 Project located the wreck more than 3,000 feet beneath the West Philippine Sea. The submarine was found remarkably intact, with damage visible near the conning tower.

Today, USS Harder remains a protected war grave — and a lasting reminder of the men who served aboard her.

08/30/2026

One of the most dramatic photos from World War II shows the aftermath aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on May 11, 1945. With the war nearing its end, the carrier endured a devastating attack that left large sections of her flight deck shattered and burning.

Yet Bunker Hill's story did not end that day. The ship survived, becoming a lasting symbol of the courage, endurance, and determination that defined the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. Today, this image remains a powerful reminder of a chapter of history that should never be forgotten. ⚓🇺🇸

08/22/2026

The Hellcat That Missed the Deck 🇺🇸

On August 14, 1943, Lieutenant Charles W. Harbert was attempting to land his F6F Hellcat aboard the USS Charger (CVE-30) when the approach went badly. He missed the flight deck and crashed into the carrier’s stern, leaving the aircraft wedged beneath the deck.

The Hellcat was badly damaged, but Harbert survived the violent impact. Remarkably, his injuries were limited to a bruised left shoulder and abrasions across his chest.

A dramatic reminder of how dangerous carrier landings could be during World War II.

08/17/2026

The Mystery of the Arizona’s Oil Leak

There is something unusual happening beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor.

More than 80 years after USS Arizona sank on December 7, 1941, small amounts of fuel oil are still making their way to the surface. The slow-moving sheen has become one of the most recognizable signs of the sunken battleship.

What makes it remarkable is that researchers still cannot pinpoint exactly where the oil is escaping.

The reason is simple: much of the ship is out of reach. Arizona rests in relatively shallow water, but its lower sections are buried beneath decades of accumulated harbour sediment. That hidden portion has never been completely accessible for inspection.

Instead of disturbing the wreck, researchers have studied the parts they can safely observe. Since 1998, the National Park Service and the University of Nebraska have examined how the battleship’s steel is aging underwater. Their research uses the layers of marine material covering the hull to help estimate the rate of corrosion without cutting into the historic wreck.

The results have offered some reassurance. The steel has not been deteriorating as quickly as some might expect. Marine growth covering the hull, combined with the low-oxygen environment around the wreck, appears to provide some natural protection.

An estimated 500,000 gallons of fuel may still remain inside the ship, but current research does not indicate that a sudden large-scale release is imminent.

The oil continues to rise from the wreck, while the exact source remains hidden beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor.

08/14/2026

On January 14, 1969, what began as a routine morning aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) quickly became one of the worst peacetime disasters in U.S. Navy history.

The aircraft carrier was operating off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, preparing for deployment to Vietnam. At approximately 8:18 a.m., the hot exhaust from an MD-3A aircraft starter unintentionally ignited a Zuni rocket mounted beneath an F-4 Phantom II. The rocket fired, rupturing a nearby fuel tank and spilling JP-5 jet fuel across the flight deck.

The fire spread rapidly. As temperatures rose, stored ordnance began to cook off, triggering a series of powerful explosions involving additional rockets and 500-pound Mk-82 bombs. The blasts tore through sections of the armored flight deck, while burning fuel poured into the hangar bay and lower compartments, making the situation even more difficult to control.

Enterprise's crew, assisted by nearby U.S. Navy ships, battled the fire for hours while the carrier was turned into the wind to help clear thick smoke. Their determined damage-control efforts ultimately prevented the disaster from becoming even worse.

The incident claimed the lives of 28 sailors, injured 314 others, destroyed 15 aircraft, and caused extensive damage to the carrier. The lessons learned led the U.S. Navy to introduce major improvements in firefighting procedures, ordnance handling, and damage-control training—changes that continue to influence carrier operations today.

08/11/2026

One Explosion. Forty-Seven Heroes Lost. A Day the U.S. Navy Never Forgot.⚓🇺🇸🕊

On April 19, 1989, USS Iowa (BB-61) suffered a tragic explosion inside Turret Two during a live-fire exercise near Vieques, Puerto Rico. The blast and resulting fire claimed the lives of 47 sailors and remains one of the most devastating peacetime incidents in U.S. Navy history.

The ship's built-in safety systems helped contain the damage, preventing an even greater catastrophe and saving the battleship itself.

Today, we remember the 47 sailors who lost their lives, honor their families, and recognize the courage of the crew who responded in the aftermath. Their sacrifice and service will never be forgotten.

08/09/2026

This image captures the retired USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60) during a RIMPAC SINKEX exercise, demonstrating just how durable the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates were.⚓🇺🇸

The ship initially survived three Harpoon anti-ship missiles and a Hellfire missile, remaining afloat despite the heavy damage. It was finally sunk only after additional Harpoon and Hellfire strikes, a Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo, a 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway bomb, and a 2,000-pound Mk 84 bomb.

That resilience had already been demonstrated during operations in the Persian Gulf in the 1980s, when several ships of the class sustained combat damage yet remained afloat. Their ability to withstand significant damage and continue operating became one of the defining characteristics of the design.

Although never intended to be heavily armored warships, Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates earned a lasting reputation for exceptional survivability, making them among the U.S. Navy's most resilient frigate designs.

Address

16555 DeGroot Rd
Colorado Springs, CO
80928

Opening Hours

Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17196839899

Website

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