5 years on the same ship? Did you request extensions?
I was a land based sailor and our deployments were two years if single, three years if married. You could always ask for an extension
US Navy trolls Russkies
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5 years on the same ship? Did you request extensions?
I was a land based sailor and our deployments were two years if single, three years if married. You could always ask for an extension
September 1982 to July 1986. Four years. Arresting Gear and catapults. Topside. We may all have had a four year stint in that rate at that time. We were probably manned at 50%. and were always underway except for maintenance evolutions in Norfolk and Newport News. When I left in 86, the Ike was recently positioned in The ship yard at Newport News for n extended life extension overhaul.
I do believe if I rotated to a land based position it would have been for a two year stint as a recruiter.
My memory is as hazy as the gray hull of the ship.
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I was on a destroyer- our job was to stay on the water- not under it.
Thanks for your service.
My first job as an engineer out of PSU was Newport News Shipbuilding, in reactor services. I worked on Enterprise, Washington, Lincoln, several subs and the decommissioning of the USS Long Beach
This happened two maybe three times while in Norfolk - a hurricane track would show it coming right over the base. So, they'd send everything out to sea. The reason being, they couldn't take the chance of something breaking its' mooring and smashing into other ships at the pier. We'd go out and go deep, never felt a thing, nice smooth ride. We'd come up to catch the satellite, not even all the way to periscope depth and start rocking and rolling. I pitied those surface guys trying to ride that stuff out.
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been there, done that
I was one of the fortunate few who didn't get seasick, but lots of guys did when it got really nautical
You're in range all the time, You just don't know that the Russian Boomers are there.
Hurricane Josephine, October 1984, headed all over the place With a Norfolk target in its potential path. We set sail, still had a couple of aircraft onboard in the hangar bay that had yet been off lifted from the last deployment.
Pier 12 at NOB was one of the Carrier piers and yes, that’s exactly what every ship and submarine did when a hurricane was arriving.
We sailed down through the Virginia and NC Capes on our way out to sea. 35 foot waves. Everyone that had anything to do with air ops was busy tying stuff down, relocating gear, etc. including the aviation guys attached to the squadrons of the remaining few aircraft. We still had at least one SH3 Sea King on Board. Maybe it flew on as we were leaving, I have no idea.
anyway, hangar bay 3, ( aft/ stern ) has two elevators, one on each side used for rotating planes to the deck and hangar bay. Bay 1 and 2 have one elevator each, starboard side.
Topside crew spaces are first level below the deck ( obviously ) and it was crazy. Unfortunately a massive wave had washed a couple of crew members out of hangar bay 3 as it washed over the starboard elevator, through the hangar bay and out the other side. I suspect they were in the wrong place at the wrong time trying to tie down gear or a stranded aircraft still on board.
You could see their flight deck vest strobe lights flashing in the high seas when looking out the hatch to the catwalk.
The carrier tried to launch a rescue boat with no luck. A FAST frigate was also nearby trying to outrun the storm. They also tried to launch a rescue boat but no luck. I had never really seen one of these close up before in a storm and it was pretty cool, completely enclosed, probably operating through scopes For surface vision.
So, the idea was hatched that we would try to launch the SH3 ( which was tied down with at least a dozen tie down chains ) We, the Topside guys, were asked to help untie the helicopter simultaneously along with the one or two guys remaining from the helicopter crew still on board. This seemed like a really bad idea. Somehow, the pilot actually got into the craft and with a crew got the bird started In a hurricane. The Tie downs were being strained, the rotors were blasting through the air, the carrier was rolling, lifting, dropping etc. madness. We, the topside team, was all lashed together with a couple of ropes and tied to the bulkhead as well next to the hatch which gave access to the catwalk on the flight deck. I thought we were going to die. We all ran up there, stayed low, tried our best but thankfully, the Captain or whomever was in charge called off the attempt. I can honestly say I have never been so scared in my life. There was no way we were going to unleash the numerous tie downs for that bird simultaneously to ensure a safe takeoff.
Unfortunately the two sailors were washed to sea and never returned. RIP. A lot of folks have no idea how dangerous sea duty can be and the number of ways something can go wrong or become a challenge.
As a data point, it takes 8 foot waves to get a carrier to move up and down in the ocean. I have never felt anything like the 35 foot waves we were racing through. Lots of guys were sick, scared, and freaked out.
What am I looking at here? Thanks.Winter North Atlantic is the most conservative load line for a reason.
A plimsoll line- used to determine a ships loading capacity depending on where it is sailing
What is a Plimsoll line? (noaa.gov)
we didn't have them on Navy ships
I was on the Saratoga (CV60) during that same timeframe, alternate deployments, witnessed same Soviet Navy behaviors. Occasionally, they would send one of their Bears overhead to stress test, and we would always provide F14s as a "courtesy" close-air escort for them. Interesting times, but now, not as commonplace as it once was. Aircraft interaction is far more risky, in terms of proximity and level of antagonism, always worry that some knucklehead will lose their cool.
Thank you both for your service!!