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HOLDS TWO AND THREE (Maximum depth 35m)
Hold Two is normally done in conjunction with Hold One or The Bridge. Hold Three is actually part of Hold Two, linked originally to Hold Two by two hatches which start on D Deck. Hold Three was a refrigerated hold. In the Coolidge for all intents and purposes, they are the same hold.
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| The entrance to Hold Two | The artefacts at the entrance to Hold Two |
Hold Two is a treasure trove! At the entrance to the hold there is a lot of bric-a-brac, plates, cups, teapots and other items. One of the first things you will notice as you enter is that there are huge cuts in the hull over top of you. These were caused by some salvage work, probably Americans during the war.
Straight away you will see a huge wheeled artillery gun and more six wheel drive trucks and jeeps. The gun may be one of four 155 mm guns modified in Noumea and loaded onto the Coolidge at the last stop. These were to be linked up with bases being built at Santo. See Joseph Ritz's memories on the Coolidge's last trip page. There is a tracked vehicle here. It is upside down and appears to be a bulldozer.
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| A gorgonia at the entrance to Hold Two | Some of the wheels at the front of Hold Two |
At the back right of the hold there are some aircraft drop tanks and past here there are two rust holes through which you can enter the Medical Supplies Hold (Hold Four). The upper one brings you out in the upper level of the bottom of Hold Four where there are heaps of drop tanks. The lower hole takes you to the bottom level of the bottom of Hold Four.
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| The crews barber chair | Kelly at the front of Hold Two |
At the front of Hold Two there are some interesting things to see. At the middle right there is a crews' barber shop, with the chair still sticking out of the floor. At the top left of this hold there are some toilets that were the seamen's washroom. You can also enter the Medical Supplies Hold at the right middle, over some trucks. You can enter Hold One on the opposite side of the hold.
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| A Jeep in Hold Two | The rust hole from Hold Two to Hold One |
On the 4th level in, right side as you enter (towards stern), there are three field guns. Two of these have huge wheels and are medium sized and the other is a smaller gun but still quite large. I never saw these till October 2002, despite diving here dozens of times before!
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