Relic From the USS Hornet? ID: Memento of her 1941 Construction

[drac2k]

I attended a small local auction and bought a mixed box lot as a knee jerk reaction. When looking through the contents I found this curious item which was stamped with illegible writing on it. I took some flower and rubbed it into the engraving and it read " OUTSIDE ARMOR PLATE HOLDING NUT COVER ON INSIDE OF HULL, HULL NO.385 THE FIRST AIRCRAFT CARRIER HORNET SEPT. 1941."

I Don't know what an armor plate holding nut cover is and I realize that the Hornet was sunk in the Battle of Santa Cruz in 1942, but could this be possibly real and removed after repairs prior to it's sinking?

[Salvage Sailor]

Not after repairs....it's from her initial construction in 1941

 

This is part of the construction process from the ship being built and commissioned in October 1941.  The 'holding nut cover' is a temporary part (disposable) which protects the threaded studs on the plates prior to the riveters and welders attaching them to the ships' ribs.

 

"...the ribs begin to rise within which are built the walls of the bulk-heads, watertight compartments. The plates are hung up on the ribs and temporarily held in place by nuts and bolts until the riveting teams can get to them."  ...and the cover goes over the threaded nut & bolt.

 

Thus, authentic, but a shipyard (yardbird) workers memento from constructing the vessel at the Naval shipyard, Newport News, VA, not from her battle damage between the campaigns.

 

There ya go, nice artifact.  I've got a few shipyard mementos in my collection too that are stamped or marked by the welders and shipfitters.

 

WWII 'V for Victory' patch, Norfolk Navy Yard

 

[drac2k]

Fantastic information, thank you so much!