WastedTimes

[aiolos]

It took the U.S. Navy to do what two wars, hurricanes and a salvage contractor couldn't: sink the famed aircraft carrier known as "The Mighty O."

More than 500 pounds of plastic explosives, going off with flashes of light and clouds of brown and gray smoke, sent the USS Oriskany into its new life as the world's largest intentionally created artificial reef. Hundreds of people watching in boats had to stay a mile away but could still smell the acrid smoke.

Hurricanes and environmental permitting problems had delayed the $20 million project two years, but the sinking itself was much quicker than expected: 37 minutes instead of more than four hours.