re: #16 Jay C

in the “TIL” file:

The Russian naval vessel Kommuna (a “rescue”/”salvage” ship, ex-sub-tender) recently damaged by a Ukrainian missile attack in Sevastopol is actually the world’s oldest active naval vessel! It was first commissioned into the Tsarist Navy in 1912, and is still on the books as of today.

Though after 112 years, it just might be time to retire*…..

*especially with that 21st-Century missile damage

Depending on the definition of “active”, Old Ironsides might disagree with that statement…

I’ll give the Kommuna is likely the oldest warship in combat service in the world, but Constitution is still far-and-away the oldest commissioned warship still afloat (HMS Victory has been commissioned longer, but has been housed in dry dock as a museum ship for over a century).