Pop was a Bosun's mate on a CVE in the North Atlantic. He shared a couple of stories about the Hobson's choice offered to damage control parties by fire at sea.
But nothing beats video, and I need to rewatch the Forrestal fire every year or so to salute the heroism of "the Chief with the Purple K"
An AEGIS FC once bragged their gear was much newer than old TERRIER. Until the X-band equipment covers were opened and some reused TERRIER components identified.
Shoot twice, look once, skin to skin, if it flies it dies.
Great history! Great response by the crew. Hang Fire!! I hate when that happens. Been there, done that. You really can clear a 5"38 gun mount in about 3 seconds if motivation is high.
Hmm, good thing they evacuated Mount 53 due to the hangfire before the bomb hit.
Now, you have a mount pretty well destroyed, and presumably still a live round in one gun, although likely cooled below any danger of it cooking off. So, off you go to the tender with that gun still loaded? Maybe they were able to manually open the breech at that point and remove the powder case? Otherwise, nearby ships may be a bit nervous with a loaded 5" gun pointed at them.
BZ to all hands for their excellent response at every step in this event. Obviously well trained, and when "sh!t happened" their training kicked in.
POD from the USS Hector reunion site from the day after this attack. It mentions Higbee and Buchanan in the national news. http://www.usshector.com/1972pod.html
Lol
Pop was a Bosun's mate on a CVE in the North Atlantic. He shared a couple of stories about the Hobson's choice offered to damage control parties by fire at sea.
But nothing beats video, and I need to rewatch the Forrestal fire every year or so to salute the heroism of "the Chief with the Purple K"
big brass ones. Deserved the MoH
Great story for FBF. Wonder how it would be a similar story if a 250 lb iron bomb hit an LCS or even a DDG51 Flt I or II?
As the popular refrain echoes "they don't make them like they used to".
Fun times.
Yet AF likes to trumpet 15 April 1953. AIR FORCE magazine article June 2011 claims it might even have been a bi-plane!
An AEGIS FC once bragged their gear was much newer than old TERRIER. Until the X-band equipment covers were opened and some reused TERRIER components identified.
Shoot twice, look once, skin to skin, if it flies it dies.
Great history! Great response by the crew. Hang Fire!! I hate when that happens. Been there, done that. You really can clear a 5"38 gun mount in about 3 seconds if motivation is high.
Bad-ass.
Fullbore, all the way. Having the hangfire meant the gun crew was out of the mount.
Hmm, good thing they evacuated Mount 53 due to the hangfire before the bomb hit.
Now, you have a mount pretty well destroyed, and presumably still a live round in one gun, although likely cooled below any danger of it cooking off. So, off you go to the tender with that gun still loaded? Maybe they were able to manually open the breech at that point and remove the powder case? Otherwise, nearby ships may be a bit nervous with a loaded 5" gun pointed at them.
BZ to all hands for their excellent response at every step in this event. Obviously well trained, and when "sh!t happened" their training kicked in.
The ...actual... Smartest Guys in the Room.
https://dennisclevenger.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/radar-gang_cropped_lg.jpg
More here:
https://dennisclevenger.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/combat-action-in-1972/
POD from the USS Hector reunion site from the day after this attack. It mentions Higbee and Buchanan in the national news. http://www.usshector.com/1972pod.html