Navy thread

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Speaking of....

How many recognize this torture device? [/IMG]

One notch below the Square Needle in the Left Nut...

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

One notch below the Square Needle in the Left Nut...

Or that giant penicillin shot! I had a golf ball sized knot in my right cheek!

[Llarry]

Coffee... I believe I've revealed here that I have had an insomnia problem for some years. When I get up in the wee hours of the morning, I tend to get on the computer and I get a cup of black coffee within an hour or so of awakening. My doctor has never said so directly, but I think it is clear that she is not thrilled with my "sleep hygiene."

I sent her this cartoon recently. I suspect any Navy veterans can relate.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Speaking of....

How many recognize this torture device?

Above all, do not flinch!

[Boomer 2019]

I did when going through the conga line at Great Lakes RTC. I left a trail of blood dripping down my left arm to the floor (deck) and over to the exit where a Corpsman bitched at me extensively for fouling his deck; wrapped a bandage around my bicep to stop the bleeding; and directed me to a closet containing a bucket and a mop (swab) with which I swabbed the entire room before being allowed to leave.

Great group of guys. I later gained a profound respect for Corpsman as I saw them save peoples lives in some seriously shitty situations. Bravo Zulu shipmates.

[KurtsM5]

This was in Rota, Spain when we were taking onboard HM14 helo minesweeping squadron. We went to the Gulf of Suez and swept for mines, found nothing, then after transiting the Canal, went straight to Beirut. See the blue circle where the CIWS was right on top of the ET Shop. That damn thing would rattle your fillings out of your teeth.

[KurtsM5]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Now THIS is Old Navy! Recruit training center Great Lakes 1940. Note the leggings, the triced-up hammocks, etc. Not all of these sailors would survive the war that came in 1941; I suspect a number of them would be Chief Petty Officers by war's end in 1945.

We wore leggings in Orlando in 81-82. No hammocks though.

[Llarry]

The U.S. Navy commissioned nine nuclear-powered missile cruisers (CGNs) from the early 1961 to 1990. The concept was that the ships would not require frequent refueling and could escort nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The problem was that the CGNs were quite a bit more expensive than their conventionally powered counterparts.

Here are the last six CGNs of the Navy in formation in 1981. By the year 2000, they were all gone. These days the USN has exclusively nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines, but no surface combatants.

[Llarry]

The battleship USS Mississippi (BB 41) had an interesting career. It was commissioned in 1917. It saw plenty of action in World War II, though by that time it was too slow to operate with the fast task forces. But it was valuable, along with other older battleships, for shore bombardment.

After the war, such old battleships were generally decommissioned and scrapped, but the Mississippi found a new career as a gunnery training ship. The big guns were removed, and the ship got an extensive assortment of smaller-caliber guns to be used for training. In recognition that the ship was no longer a combatant unit, it was redesignated a miscellaneous auxiliary ship -- AG 128.

Some years after WWII, the U.S. Navy was developing shipboard surface to air missiles to protect the fleet against air attack. The Mississippi was chosen to be altered once again to incorporate missile launchers and guidance radars and in 1953 made the first ship-based test firings of the Navy's Terrier missiles.

By 1956, the Mississippi had been in service for almost 40 years and was decommissioned and scrapped. In the same year, the Terrier surface to air missile became operational in the fleet.

[Llarry]

The first U.S. Navy flag officer killed in World War II was Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd, who was killed aboard the battleship USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Since his death, three U.S. Navy ships have borne the name USS Kidd. The current one is a missile destroyer (DDG 100) and, for reasons that are not clear to me, is the only USN ship authorized to fly the Jolly Roger flag.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

The current one is a missile destroyer (DDG 100) and, for reasons that are not clear to me, is the only USN ship authorized to fly the Jolly Roger flag.

https://www.twz.com/36644/heres-why-...lled-into-port

[Llarry]

An introduction to U.S. Navy destroyer escorts (DEs) and frigates (FFs). (WARNING: This could get a little geeky! )

When the U.S. entered World War II in late 1941, the U.S. Navy had 160-plus modern destroyers (DDs) in service. It was quickly evident that not only were more destroyers needed, but that even that was not enough to meet the needs of the battle against the U-boats in the Atlantic and the huge demands of the Pacific war.

About 350 DDs were built by the Navy during WWII; many were cancelled as the war ended.

The concept of the destroyer escort (DE) was an inexpensive, easily produced ship that could be rapidly built in large numbers to supplement destroyers in some less-demanding tasks.

Destroyers might be characterized as fast ships with multiple 5-inch (127mm) main guns as well as lesser-caliber guns for antiaircraft use. They also were armed with large (21-inch diameter) surface-launched torpedoes for use as an antiship weapon and had depth charges for attacks on submarines. Importantly, they were steam-powered and capable of speeds over 30 knots, enabling them to escort aircraft carriers or larger warships.

Plenty of compromises were made in the DEs to get more ships in service in a hurry. There were several classes and the propulsion systems varied: some were steam-powered, while others had Diesel power. They were not speedy ships -- top speeds usually were about 20 knots. In the Battle of the Atlantic, where the speed of a submerged U-boat was under 10 knots, the lack of speed was accepted as a reasonable tradeoff.

The astounding number of about 585 DEs were built in World War II; like other ship types, large numbers were cancelled late in the war and shortly thereafter. The hull numbers ranged from DE 1 to about DE 1000. When WWII ended, most DEs were quickly retired after serving for just a few years; quite a few ended up in other navies and continued to serve.

Given the large number of war built DEs in reserve, there was not much incentive to build new destroyer escorts for a number of years. In the 1950s, a small class of particularly small DEs -- the Dealey (DE 1006) class -- was built.

When large numbers of WWII-built destroyers began to age out in the 1960s, the Navy looked at the cost of replacing them and resurrected the idea of destroyer escorts, giving the fleet combat capability at lesser cost. 52 steam-powered DEs were built from 1964 to 1974, along with 6 missile-armed derivative DEGs; by now the max speed had increased to 27 knots or so, which was still a bit too slow to operate with aircraft carrier task groups. But the DEs and DEGs had an Achilles' heel; their power plants drove the ship with a single shaft and screw, making them vulnerable in case there was an issue with that arrangement. Likewise, they lacked redundancy in weapons; they were equipped with just a single 5-inch gun mount, for instance.

The other notable feature of the new DEs and DEGs was that they incorporated facilities for a helicopter, which was revolutionizing the antisubmarine warfare mission.

In 1975, the U.S. Navy finally recategorized the destroyer escorts as frigates: DEs became FFs and DEGs became FFGs.

Shortly thereafter, a very large class of gas turbine-powered missile frigates began construction. The USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG 7) was the class leader and was commissioned in 1977. 50 others followed, with the last entering service in 1989. Again, the speed of these ships (29 knots or so) was slightly less than that of a destroyer. While the FFG 7 class ships had only a single 3-inch (76mm) gun mount and limited missile capacity, they did have a large hangar that could fit two helicopters. They were the first USN ships to incorporate the Canadian-invented Beartrap haul down system which made helo operations in rough seas safer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver...-class_frigate

Quite a few retired FFG 7 class ships have found new careers in allied navies.

As the FFGs aged, their Standard missiles became obsolescent, and the launchers were removed altogether. That left these combatants with a single 76mm gun, a single 20mm close-in weapons system gun, perhaps a few machine guns, and torpedo tubes for antisubmarine torpedoes. The FFG 7 class ships were retired by 2015, and the U.S. Navy has no frigates in active service, although a new class -- which I have previously reported on -- is under construction.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Llarry

The other notable feature of the new DEs and DEGs was that they incorporated facilities for a helicopter, which was revolutionizing the antisubmarine warfare mission.

I oversimplified the helicopter angle. In the beginning (1960s) the existing destroyers and DEs were considered too small to incorporate a helicopter hangar and deck.

To solve this problem, a remotely piloted small helicopter was developed that could extend the weapons range of the ship to attack an enemy submarine. This DASH (Drone Antisubmarine Helicopter) was designated QH-50 and could carry two homing torpedoes to some distance from the ship -- but always under the control of a shipboard operator. The U.S. Navy bought over 750 of them. The DASH had no sensors and was strictly a weapons carrier.

By the 1970s, it was clear that the DASH was not the answer and that only a manned helicopter would do, leading to the enlargement of the small DASH hangars and decks to accommodate the smallest ASW helicopter the Navy considered usable -- the Kaman SH-2 LAMPS. The SH-2 incorporated not only the ability to carry homing torpedoes, but also had a radar and could drop and monitor sonobuoys to detect submarines.

[Llarry]

Canada has announced the intent to procure 12 new submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy. This project has been in the works for some times, as the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project was established in 2022.

While Canada is an observer in some working groups of the AUKUS project to upgrade the Royal Australian Navy with nuclear-powered submarines, the intent is to buy 12 conventionally powered submarines capable of under-ice operations. A number of shipbuilding firms have expressed interest in the project and a formal request for proposals should be forthcoming in the Fall of 2024.

The RCN possesses four Diesel-electric submarines at present. These were originally commissioned in the UK's Royal Navy in 1990-93 but removed from service after only a few years as an economy measure. The RCN recommissioned the boats in 2000-2004. One of the present SSKs is based in the Pacific, while the other three are based in the Atlantic. Their material condition currently leaves something to be desired and generally only a single unit is at high readiness.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by Llarry

The RCN possesses four Diesel-electric submarines at present. These were originally commissioned in the UK's Royal Navy in 1990-93 but removed from service after only a few years as an economy measure.

Canada has a long history of buying crap from other countries. The subs were no exception. The brother of my friend in Halifax was a marine engineer (Stoker) who was sent to England for a period of six months to get them ready. He was there two years and still nothing really worked.

On its maiden voyage, HMCS Chicoutimi caught fire and killed a young lieutenant.

Story here: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia....submarine-fire

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Canada has a long history of buying crap from other countries. The subs were no exception.

It sounds like this current plan is to buy new subs, which hopefully will avoid some of the past problems. Of course, it will still be possible to reduce the cost of the procurement too much and thereby buy a batch of under-performing submarines.

If only Canada would jump into AUKUS with both feet and buy perhaps half a dozen nuclear boats... (And then I woke up.)

[Llarry]

Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact: Canada, Finland and the United States recently (July 2024) signed an agreement to produce icebreakers. Finland is one of the world's foremost designers/builders of icebreakers and will probably end up in the lead on the project. Canada and the U.S. Coast Guard will hopefully benefit from the treaty.

With global warming, the Arctic is taking on increasing importance and icebreakers will have an important role in Arctic operations.

[Llarry]

The U.S. Navy nuclear-powered small submarine NR-1 was active from 1969 to 2008 in mostly classified missions. It specialized in retrieving items from the ocean floor. Displacing only 400 tons, it had a crew of just 13.

While NR-1 was capable of diving to great depths, its speed was quite low, and it operated with a support vessel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_submarine_NR-1

[Llarry]

Two other nations selected the U.S. Navy Aegis missile destroyer (DDG) design and have ships in commission. Here are three part-sister DDGs in formation: In the foreground, a Japanese DDG, in the middle a U.S. Navy DDG and in the background a Korean DDG. Of note, the Korean ship is slightly larger than its U.S. counterpart.

At least one other nation seriously considered buying the USN's DDG design; The Royal Australian Navy in the end selected a smaller and less expensive Spanish design for their upper-end Aegis combatant.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by KurtsM5

This was in Rota, Spain when we were taking onboard HM14 helo minesweeping squadron. We went to the Gulf of Suez and swept for mines, found nothing, then after transiting the Canal, went straight to Beirut. See the blue circle where the CIWS was right on top of the ET Shop. That damn thing would rattle your fillings out of your teeth.

The aft CIWS on DEYO was right above SSES and it would cause waviness in the monitors. I was a TAO too so really enjoyed getting to shoot it.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by c1pher

The aft CIWS on DEYO was right above SSES and it would cause waviness in the monitors. I was a TAO too so really enjoyed getting to shoot it.

Well, they fixed the waviness in the latest ones, right? I believe the later DDGs do not have CIWS anymore. They've got RAM launchers now.

[freakystyly]

Interesting project documenting hauling U17 S196 (German) into a museum overland in one piece. It's still going on as far as I know.

launched in 1973 and decommissioned in 2010

https://u17.technik-museum.de/de/u17-live/

Site needs translating from German.