Posted on 12/05/2015 7:06:29 PM PST by RaceBannon
We loaded up in a P5 in the well deck of a 'Gator Navy' ship (USS Alamo?) off the coast of Vietnam back in '69 for an amphibious assault. The Navy only flooded the well deck about 4 feet deep. Amtracs draw about 7 feet or more of water.
We went roaring off the stern and promptly dove about 10+ feet deep. The P5 had small slit windows up high in the troop compartment. We could see the surface of the ocean sparkling WAAAAY up there. Naturally, the gaskets on the front hatch/ramp were leaking and water was pouring in.
"I'm in a 45 ton steel box, 10 or 15 feet under water and it's leaking to beat the band!"
We finally popped to the surface and churned our way in to crawl up the beach. One on the other Amtracs sunk just before the beach in about 8 feet of water. Thankfully, the P5 had long overhead hatches, so everyone climbed out the top, safely.
Fun times!
;-)
Great anecdote. The P5s you had may have ended up in Taiwan since that is where a bunch of 3rd Amtracs vehicles went. I got detailed to strip commo gear out of them which I thought was just stupid.
Saw a P7 have an adventure one day at Camp Lejeune. He had launched ——— off the Portland if IIRC—— and had hydraulic trouble and the steering was screwed up. After the launch completed they tried to get back on the ship. Heavy swell and the ship was rising and falling. He ended up half on and half off the port side of the ramp and flipped over sideways and went completely under. About gave those of us watching heart attacks since it looked like they were going to be smashed by the ship’s ramp. Luckily they popped back up and eventually managed to get back on the boat. Good thing there were no grunts inside.
Another P7 did a test run in Courthouse Bay and sank. Even four bilge pumps can’t keep up when yoou forget to dog down the door in the ramp. Some asses got chewed over that :<{
Yeah, it’s scary cruisin’ around in metal boxes THAT heavy with that little free-board!
Gator Navy ping....
You forgot apologies to Robert Service.
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