Navy Stuff

[Periscope Man]

Sure was Dick.  I qualified on USS Medregal SS 480 in Pearl.  Then spent 5 years on USS Simon Bolivar SSBN 641 (commissioning crew Gold).  I didn't get into submarines until my ninth year in the navy, so prior to that I did some time on AKAs LSTs and 1 DD (Lofberg). Also put the USS L.Y. Spear AS-36 in commission.  Retired from the Navy in 73 and then spent the next 28 years in civil service working on submarine Periscopes and Antenna systems.  Still do some consulting from the house.

 

[Jim Dick]

Sure was Dick.  I qualified on USS Medregal SS 480 in Pearl.  Then spent 5 years on USS Simon Bolivar SSBN 641 (commissioning crew Gold).  I didn't get into submarines until my ninth year in the navy, so prior to that I did some time on AKAs LSTs and 1 DD (Lofberg). Also put the USS L.Y. Spear AS-36 in commission.  Retired from the Navy in 73 and then spent the next 28 years in civil service working on submarine Periscopes and Antenna systems.  Still do some consulting from the house.

Well I probably chased you around somewhere. I was in from '60-'64. Spent all my sea time in Destroyers. Started on a Reserve trainer out of Long Beach, USS Colahan, DD-658, then commissioning crew for USS Buchanan, DDG-14. Final tour was USS Twiining, DD-540. That was my favorite tour. Got to go to Westpac in '62-'63. Great ship and crew.

 

[Periscope Man]

Jim,  I think we actually may have crossed pathes.  In 61-62 I was onboard USS Medregal SS-480 out of Pearl Harbor and we did make a trip back to the west coast.  We did some exercises with surface craft and aircraft from Widbey Island.  Don't remember what destroyers were involved.  I got transferred to an SSBN in 62 and spent the next 5 years on her (USS Simon Bolivar SSBN-641).

 

[Jim Dick]

I just split this topic since I got us off onto another subject. ;D

I imagine we could have crossed paths easily. The last two ships I was on were home ported in San Diego. We left San Diego in November of '62, stopped at Pearl for a few days before heading to Yokusuka. Arrived there 22 December, 1962. First and only time I missed Christmas at home. ;D

We also went to Pearl with the Buchanan in '62. We were on our shakedown cruise. On the way over we twisted a shaft and had to go into dry dock. Instead of spending two weeks playing games at sea we spent it on the beach! Pulled into Pearl just in time for the ceremony at the Arizona Memorial. We manned the rail in whites for what seemed like hours.

I often wondered if I jinxed the ships I was on. While transiting to Japan we hit the edge of a Typhoon. Twisted a shaft then as well. Instead of six weeks of Taiwan Patrol, we were in dry dock again. Luckily for us since the ship that took our place on patrol ran into six weeks of bad weather. When we went on patrol it was six weeks of water like glass!

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Jim:

>> . . . then commissioning crew for USS Buchanan, DDG-14
====
Few here realize that a tin can was named after my great, great, uncle Frank  . Actually, no relation.

If you recall from our QZ campfire Navy days discussion in February, I was on board the USS Shenandoah AD26 in '56-'57 out of Norfolk with time in the 6th fleet. I was aware of the Buchanan, of course -- but didn't realize that you were part of the commissioning crew. It's sad to remember that kind of excitement and now to know the ship's fate. This is quoted from the Buchanan's Disposition pages:

Quote:
Stricken to be disposed of by Navy Sale 11/20/92

Changed to sinkex June 1999 and used as target ship for RIMPAC 2000

At 21:26:30Z (11:26:30 AM HST) 14 June 2000 as a target for RIMPAC 2000 she was sunk. Her final resting place is 22:54.38N, 160:27.68W , 64 Nautical Miles from land in 2540 Fathoms of water.UNQuote:

Franklin Buchanan was quite a dude. He was from Maryland, joined the navy at age 14, became the first superintendent of the Naval Academy, resigned his commission because MD was going with he North in the Civil War -- then joined the confederate Navy as a Captain and ended his career as an Admiral. Here's the full text of his career:

http://www.uss-buchanan-ddg14.org/frankbuchanan.html

 

[Jim Dick]

Bob,

Your "uncle" did good.

Commissioning was in February of 1962. The only time I was ever seasick was during sea trials out of Bremerton, WA, where she was built. Many of us had come from other destroyers or destroyer escorts. We hit extremely rough seas and the design of the Buchanan, named the puky buky after that trip, had added stabilizers to the hull. This changed the roll capability greatly and none of us were use to it. It was much slower than a "real' destroyer. Almost all of the crew were seasick but it didn't matter to the CO. We stayed at our posts and left only long enough to do what came naturally. I'll never forget that trip.

I had done some research a few years ago to find out the fate of my ships. The Twining was sold to Taiwan and renamed. Finally stricken a few years ago, I believe. Not sure when the Colahan was stricken. I saw the website where they showed photos of the sinking of the Buchanan. It really made me sick to see the damage. However she was proud until the last breath. It took two days for her to sink after they threw all they could at her. Guess I won't be salvaging any mementos from her at 2540 fathoms!!

The Fletcher class destroyers, which the Twiining and Colahan were, weighed 2100 tons as I'm sure you remember. The Charles Adams class, of which Buchanan was #14, were 4500 tons. The USS Ramage, DDG-61, which our son will command next week, is 8315 tons, almost as large as current day cruisers!!!

I remember they told us the reason for chipping paint before repainting was one coat on the Fletcher class destroyers weighed 2000lbs! I Can't imagine what one coat on the new destroyers weighs!!!

 

[Jim Godward]

>>I got transferred to an SSBN in 62 and spent the next 5 years on her (USS Simon Bolivar SSBN-641).<<

That was about the time I workd for North American on the SINS!  Small world.

 

[Periscope Man]

James,  I doubt if any of the sailors today even know what SINS was.  I'm not even sure what navigation system they use I think it's ESGN.

 

[Jim Godward]

>>I'm not even sure what navigation system they use I think it's ESGN.<<

I'm not even sure what those letters mean although I do have a guess.  VBG

I moved on in '66 to Minuteman and in '72 to Space shuttle Orbiter avionics.

 

[Mike (ex-f-221)]

Only two days since my registration here and already reading some (ex)sailors... 

The Charles- F. Adams Class: Maybe it is of interest to you, that one of the three DDG's of the German Navy is a Museumsship now. It is the ex-Moelders (formerly DDG 29). Moelders is out of service since 2003 and you find the Old Lady now at the Deutsches Marinemuseum in Wilhelmshaven (Germany).

I never served on those DDG's during my 12 years at the Navy (started 1970), but on Frigate Emden and on a FPBG.

 

[Jim Dick]

Only two days since my registration here and already reading some (ex)sailors... 

The Charles- F. Adams Class: Maybe it is of interest to you, that one of the three DDG's of the German Navy is a Museumsship now. It is the ex-Moelders (formerly DDG 29). Moelders is out of service since 2003 and you find the Old Lady now at the Deutsches Marinemuseum in Wilhelmshaven (Germany).

I never served on those DDG's during my 12 years at the Navy (started 1970), but on Frigate Emden and on a FPBG.

Welcome to the forum. You will find quite a few former Navy here. Nice to know someone has preserved one of the Charles Adams class ships. I don't think we have any here in the states but I could be wrong. There are a few Fletcher class in museums.

 

[chuck]

I just rediscovered this forum after a couple of years, I have to get my two cents worth in here, I served on the USS Midway CVA 41 from sept 1957 to july 1959, the Midway is now an aircraft museam in San diego, it's a great feeling for us old sailers to know that our old ship is still around, and I know that it is sad when they are done away with, we attended a division reunion aboard the ship last Sept it was great.

 

[Mike (ex-f-221)]

Chuck, thought USS Midway was in Oakland but learned that it was moved to San Diego.
Reunions are great. Very emotional. Have this once a year - but without the old ship. It was scrapped a few years ago.

 

[Tom]

...thought USS Midway was in Oakland but learned that it was moved to San Diego.

That's correct Shayne. USS Hornet remains in Alameda.

 

[Shayne]

How did I get in on this?  Oh well I guess I talked out of turn again.