tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post8082885441469810975..comments2024-01-03T05:18:54.650-05:00Comments on CDR Salamander: Fullbore FridayCDR Salamanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05981221786954902349noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-35250234782051278212010-02-28T09:46:54.000-05:002010-02-28T09:46:54.000-05:00Thank goodness we now have the LCS, a ship that co...Thank goodness we now have the LCS, a ship that could take on all four IOWAs, batter them into submission singlehandedly, and come through unscathed, thanks to her many sharp corners defraeting the IOWA's radar, and her impenatrable, unigniteable aluminum deckouse.<br /><br />I will say this for the LCS, however. One has to admire her self comfidence, as when viewed from astern, she seems to be wearing a thong.SCOTTtheBADGERnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-85008979244264436082010-02-28T07:16:29.000-05:002010-02-28T07:16:29.000-05:00Carries are vulnerable... single bomb could have d...Carries are vulnerable... single bomb could have done minimal damage to a cruiser and barely scratched a battleship. No matter how sophisticated defences, a lucky bomb or missile can go thru and ruin your day. Ponder.ewok40knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-57654836092583434992010-02-28T00:29:20.000-05:002010-02-28T00:29:20.000-05:00Looking Franklin, one has to wonder how an optimal...Looking Franklin, one has to wonder how an optimally or minimally manned ship would have handled the situation. Ship numbers were a factor, too: Franklin wasn't the only CV operating there that day and they had lots of supporting ships.<br /><br />Whatever the value of physical strength and endurance to each crewman's job prior to the ship being hit, they were essential and non-negotiable attributes thereafter, especially with 1/3rd of the crew KIA or wounded almost immediately. And they weren't starting with 20% of the crew being less strong than most of the rest.<br /><br />Another lesson is that you can have totally defeated the enemy's navy and dominate his home waters and still have a major fight, with the prospect of suffering major damage, before you can finally finish him off.Anthony Mirvishnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-19286973942437194442010-02-27T19:40:56.000-05:002010-02-27T19:40:56.000-05:00She was still moored at North Island when I was an...She was still moored at North Island when I was an Ensign. For info, we plane-guarded HANCOCK, an ESSEX-class CVA, a couple of times during my first deployment.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-59934980898137826992010-02-27T18:41:00.000-05:002010-02-27T18:41:00.000-05:00Yeah - I've seen a picture of her towed out of...Yeah - I've seen a picture of her towed out of San Diego as the last Essex class still existing with an axial deck in 1974.<br /><br />No question it was the right thing to do - move to an angle deck, but there is something impressive about seeing that original Essex configuration.<br /><br />Made me wish we kept one in the original configuration.Wharf Ratnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-61506586302569755312010-02-27T18:30:55.000-05:002010-02-27T18:30:55.000-05:00For info, although BUNKER HILL never returned to f...For info, although BUNKER HILL never returned to full status it was moored at North Island for several years serving as an electronics test platform. C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-86625395377658143482010-02-27T18:27:54.000-05:002010-02-27T18:27:54.000-05:00One of my earliest experiences as a commissioned o...One of my earliest experiences as a commissioned officer was the fire fighting week at the start of DCA school at Treasure Island. It was one of the old JP-5 trainers and I'll never forget the experience of being the nozzleman fighting a fire in the "boiler room" mockup being pushed across the deck grating towards the fire as my classmates kept feeding hose into the space (while staying as close to the entrance as possible). Our instructors, who were all E-6 and E-7 shipfitters and damage controlmen, were quite frank in telling us that the purpose of the train was not so much to teach us proper firefighting techniques as it was to help us deal with our fear of fire. C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-24994157294652308622010-02-27T11:39:16.000-05:002010-02-27T11:39:16.000-05:00great point...great point...MR T's Haircutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-80715995729897139702010-02-27T05:45:39.000-05:002010-02-27T05:45:39.000-05:00Well, Mr. Guest, it was a choice of either keep th...Well, Mr. Guest, it was a choice of either keep the damn hose on the fire and keep the five people behind me on the work line semi-wet and the flames semi-beat back, or drop the nozzle and jump over a rail to about 20 feet below and hope the nozzle didn't beat the snot out of me.<br /><br />So pock you, you sniping gutless piece of shit. I did what I had to do.Byronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-78858769963402399482010-02-27T01:27:01.000-05:002010-02-27T01:27:01.000-05:00Philo?Philo?MR T's Haircutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-52852203879877496902010-02-27T01:02:58.000-05:002010-02-27T01:02:58.000-05:00Byron, you're so brave.Byron, you're so brave.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-42273246638861411802010-02-26T23:51:11.000-05:002010-02-26T23:51:11.000-05:00All who have partaken in sending out this word: T...All who have partaken in sending out this word: The lady who asked if I'd post it like I did 2 years ago is very greatful for the rest joining in. Also: If anyone plans to go....she said to llok her up, and she'll make a path for you to get a great experience. (Hint, hint, Maggie...)xformednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-29099052138115473732010-02-26T21:44:55.000-05:002010-02-26T21:44:55.000-05:00They didn't abandon and scuttle her because tr...They didn't abandon and scuttle her because tradition demanded that they save her. Living up to tradition is why the US and Royal Navies have been so victorious over the centuries. We are abandoning out traditions for the sake of political correctness and that does not bode well for the future.sobersubmrnrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-43241981624072909642010-02-26T21:37:53.000-05:002010-02-26T21:37:53.000-05:00Byron,
They've gone to a new indoor trainer t...Byron,<br /><br />They've gone to a new indoor trainer that uses computer controlled fires fuels by propane. The fire ain't out until the instructor puts it out. It's more enviro-friendly and a lot less dangerous to the trainees, but lacks the fear factor and realism of the old trainer.<br /><br />That old trainer was a bitch, but very effective. You're right, it's run or fight the fire. And if the man on the applicator panicked and bolted, the nozzleman would get cooked.sobersubmrnrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-72749940598255563022010-02-26T21:12:47.000-05:002010-02-26T21:12:47.000-05:00Kind of like the Pentagon after 9/11 where, despit...Kind of like the Pentagon after 9/11 where, despite the industrial-sized cans of air "freshener" placed about, you could still smell the odor of burnt wood, fuel and other months afterward. I swear even when I make my occasional forays into the 5-sided wind tunnel today that I can still smell it and it immediately brings back that day.<br />- SJSsteeljawscribenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-6744376478783505552010-02-26T21:08:45.000-05:002010-02-26T21:08:45.000-05:00Well, if you're thinking that end of combat op...Well, if you're thinking that end of combat ops might be sometime around 1947 or '48, it made sense to refit them both as ready replacements for the ones that would be lost in the upcoming planned nvasion of the Japanese homeland...<br />- SJSsteeljawscribenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-27159258603517822082010-02-26T19:51:49.000-05:002010-02-26T19:51:49.000-05:00When I was assigned to the Sylvania, we were requi...When I was assigned to the Sylvania, we were required to go through DC/FF school annually. Byron is right about the feeling you get when the instructors have someone open that hatch. When I saw that in Boot Camp, I didn't want to go in, but it was my duty, so I went. That was the summer of '72. I saw it again in spring of '74 when I was on the Sylvania.<br /><br />Anyway, when I was in boot camp, I saw the flick on the Franklin fire. I saw it again in '74 in DC/FF school. We also saw the Forrestal fire. Both were impressive. I hop they are both still required.<br /><br />A litttle humor. I had read Dan Gallery's "Clear The Decks" while on the Courtney and remembered his story about going through DC/FF school while he was Captain of the Guadalcanal. There was a staff Commader going through the school in my class in DC/FF. Iasked him if he had read Gallery's book. He said he hadn't, and I recommended he do so. The instructors certainly did to him what their ancestors had done to Gallery.<br /><br />I really hope the Navy hasn't softened on DC/FF schools. It would be the height of idiocy to do so. I have to say, hoever, the Navy hasn't shown much intelligence of late, and even less maturity.Quartermasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-36497479332134520822010-02-26T13:22:32.000-05:002010-02-26T13:22:32.000-05:00Oops, that was the damage report from her kamikaze...Oops, that was the damage report from her kamikaze hit.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/CV13/1946DamageReport.html" rel="nofollow">Here is the correct one</a>...sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-25942587352111371712010-02-26T13:17:03.000-05:002010-02-26T13:17:03.000-05:00Has our good host done FbFs on ENGLAND and LAFFEY?...Has our good host done FbFs on ENGLAND and LAFFEY? Right proper DC on both ships.SCOTTtheBADGERnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-71239036356015644222010-02-26T13:16:57.000-05:002010-02-26T13:16:57.000-05:00Before someone uses the brave story of the Frankli...Before someone uses the brave story of the Franklin as a specious reason why modern ships need not be built for Survivability,,,because <a href="http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/30/in-defense-of-lcs-the-skippers-own-words/" rel="nofollow">"modern weapons are too lethal,"</a> should note that the ship was hit by only one bomb (this case should not to be confused with other serious damage from a kamikaze attack some months previously).<br /><br />What caused the carnage -only three men were known to have survived from the hangar deck- were the uncontrolled detonations and conflagration caused by her own bombs, aircraft fuel and missiles.sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-83967830582810464402010-02-26T13:10:44.000-05:002010-02-26T13:10:44.000-05:00Mayport Naval Station...and not too long ago, you&...Mayport Naval Station...and not too long ago, you'd see the smoke from NG virtually every day. And yes, JP-5 is UGLY. My second trip through on the work line, the damn nozzle man dropped his hose and bolted. Didn't flinch, kept sweeping, the instructor was soaking me down in a flash ;)Byronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-1837573399300098932010-02-26T13:07:55.000-05:002010-02-26T13:07:55.000-05:00With ya there Anon...When the natural gas trainers...With ya there Anon...When the natural gas trainers came on line for what we were told was environmental reasons (no smoke enhancement at first), we called it the "bar-b-que pit", and it was not nearly as "real."sidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-68903069367071775222010-02-26T13:01:35.000-05:002010-02-26T13:01:35.000-05:00Not sure which Firefighting School you're look...Not sure which Firefighting School you're looking, but most have routed their exhausts through some type of filtration system so that they aren't polluting the surrounding area as before. Plus all the JP-5/DFM burning systems have been replaced with natural gas. The advantage is "more control" of the system, but the trainers don't burn as hot or with dark smoke. To compensate heat and smoke modification systems have been added, but they are <span>nothing</span> like a the old JP-5 trainers. I won't ever forget my day in that trainer!Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-80339445629769640402010-02-26T12:56:39.000-05:002010-02-26T12:56:39.000-05:00Since we're talking about damage control, I th...Since we're talking about damage control, I thought I'd bring this up. We were shooting the breeze today, and realized that we hadn't seen any smoke come from the fire fighting school in a LONG time. Have the Navy axed the Shipboard Firefighting School? If they did, then they are dumber than dirt. Back in the early 80's, the Navy asked the shipyards at Mayport if they'd be willing to send selected groups of yardbirds to the school. I volunteered, and I can tell you with complete sincerity that you have no farkin idea how bad it is till they open the door to that main space and a huge wall of flame comes rushing out at you. You have two choices, run like a biotch, or fight the damn fire. I fought the fire and gained a new appreciation for maintaining fire safety aboard ships.Byronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-52716811146019406662010-02-26T12:34:01.000-05:002010-02-26T12:34:01.000-05:00well, the big question is can we do it now with cr...well, the big question is can we do it now with crippled Nimitz in Chinese waters?ewok40knoreply@blogger.com