This Relatively Young Military Sealift Command Ship Is Absolutely Caked In Rust

The War Zone ^ | December 5, 2020 | Tyler Rogoway

[PIF]

The Pentagon is pushing its naval fleet to the brink and this is manifesting itself in its vessels appearing run-down after sustained operations.

The Lewis and Clarke class dry cargo ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE-11) pulled into San Diego Bay on Friday, December 4th, 2020

[rlmorel]

I don’t think that is a sign of the nation’s collapse. And if that was directed at me, I did not say so or infer that.

I did spend about two years total time at sea aboard a deployed vessel, and for most of my life growing up except for a few years here and there, and spent a great deal of time around the docks looking at ships. So those are my observations back to about 1960 or so, and even though I was a little kid, and the only ships I saw during that time frame that looked like that were civilian vessels.

But, they are my observations alone, and by no means constitute a full picture.

But I do believe that something is clearly amiss in the US Navy. The state of the vessel, the nature of the Fitzgerald and McCain collisions, and the recent Bon Homme Richard fire highlight that. It may be personnel, may be training, may be logistics, may be operational cycles, may be lack of money, and is probably all of them.

[rlmorel]

Sorry, I was an AD2, Aviation Machinists Mate 2nd Class.

[PIF]

You’re welcome although was not intended

[A Navy Vet]

"I was an Aviation Machinists Mate 2nd Class"

That's what I wanted to be with my wrench experience with cars, but since I didn't finish high school the Navy wouldn't give me an "A" school but did guarantee Aviation Recruit. So I wound up in Fuel division. Once you're there, it's difficult to "strike" (right word?) for another vocation. I went to the AV Mech shop a few times, but the flight deck was always calling me back.

"Now, I went ashore on liberty launches plenty of times, so I had a lot of opportunity to view the waterline and hull for corrosion, never ever saw anything like that. And none of the other ships I saw was ever that corroded. Maybe it was just me, but I thought for sure I would have noticed a ship that bad looking."

It's not you, I've never seen such corrosion either in my 11 years in 70's & 80's, nor any photos I've seen of earlier ships. Surface rust to some degree with long deployments yes, but no to that mess. Someone mentioned the waterline could be barnacles. The bow maybe, but the problem runs the length of the ship.

I was an ABF on the flight deck and not a deck Boatswains Mate. So what do I know other than I would be ashamed to man the railings on the USS Stout?

[rlmorel]

"...And the extent to which deck division considers rust to be someone else’s job..."

That was kind of what I was driving at. From a couple of posts, it sounds like it is the practice now of waiting until a ship comes into port and getting contracted civilians of whatever nation to come aboard and do corrosion control. It sounds like the Deck Division doesn't own that to the same degree nowadays.

Honestly, If I were overseas at some port and saw that US Navy vessel pull into a port in that condition, unless they were operating in a war zone, I would find that embarrassing as an American.

I looked around and read a few articles, and I read one from a few years back now that said retired naval officers have been commenting that even if the rust isn't affecting the performance of the vessels, the look is bad because it indicates a larger problem in the fleet. In that same article, the US Navy was saying it wasn't that much of a big deal and not contributing to greater overall maintenance costs.

All of it probably runs back to a smaller fleet, smaller manpower, and increased operational cycles.

[A Navy Vet]

"The ship delivers ammunition, provisions, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to US Navy and other navy ships at sea, allowing them to remain underway and combat ready for extended periods of time. This ship would pull into port only long enough to restock, and then go back to sea to support the fleet. No time for appearance centered maintenance. It had a very, very important job to do."

"Potable water"? Every USN ship I've served on had their own desalinization systems (75-86). Also, Ive seen and involved in many un-rep procedures and they were always USN Supply or Oiler ships. I never saw a USNR ship for our un-rep. I vividly remember the huge turbulence between both USN designated ships. I also remember either my ship's helo or the supply ship's helo bringing us our mail. No internet at the time. Mail call was a highlight of sea duty then.

Seems I'm becoming one of those "old salts" if I'm so outta date, and apparently I am.

[Mariner]

Fuel, stores and munitions.

She cruises in the battle group.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Washington_Chambers_(T-AKE-11)

[atomic_dog]

Ahhh, there was a misplaced comma there that may have caused confusion. I apologize. I should have said, unlike the other military branches (e.g. USAF, USMC et all) wherein First LT is a rank (O-2) it is job descriptor in the USN. I was a First LT as an Ensign (0-1) when I was assigned as the Division Officer of First Division (Boatswains Mates). By small surface combatant I meant a Frigate (FF) formerly called Destroyer Escort (DE) by the Navy.

[A Navy Vet]

Huh? I thought your rating was called AM whereas engineering types were MM. I read awhile back that some ratings have merged; some changed designations; and some eliminated. Example: original Ship's Cooks to Commissaryman (a culmination of other food handling ratings) to Mess Management Specialists (MS - my era) to now Culinary Specialists (CS). Some admiral or pentagon perfumed princess always needs to make a name for himself.

When I joined in '75, our dress uniform was the same as Chiefs and Officers with the combination cap and the double breasted coat (minus the gold and different cap insignias). About a year later, the Navy Secretary switch us back to traditional bell bottoms and dixie cups. We had to pay for those new uniforms on our own dime.

I actually preferred the combo cap and the double breast coat with slacks in winter. I also like the summer dress with all white and the short sleeve shirt and no tie. I think the Navy bells, dixie cup, tie, and rear flap look stupid compared to the dress uniforms of other branches, especially the Corps. Funny thing is the ladies of old and some new like them. Still, I went another 10 years. So I should complain?

The above said, I was glad to see Navy change out the working chambray shirt and bell trousers to the new Camis. Those shirts were a pain to keep clean on a ship and the trousers not much less. Plus you don't have to buy new shirts to iron on your new crow when you advance. You just change a velcro patch. I see ships now have a similar deck coloring which makes swabbing easier in case you miss a spot. Sorry for tirade.

[A Navy Vet]

Thanks for the info.

[A Navy Vet]

Got it now, thanks.

[A Navy Vet]

Forgot to mention my last ship was a FF. So now I get that also.

[A Navy Vet]

After my long rant about Navy uniforms, I did some research to buy the blue cami trousers for car and house work. I find out the Navy has switched their working uniform now to GREEN to conform with in-country SEAL and EOD teams. Guess it makes sense, but I really liked the blue camis (blueberries).

Yeah I know, blue harder to see for someone over-board. Just liked the fact that the Navy had a distinctive cami color. What's next Mr. Secretary of the Navy? How about a real hat rather than that stupid Dixie Cup? Maybe get rid of the ancient flap on the back that serves no purpose since none has to grease down their long hair as in days of old? The tie can go away, also.

[rlmorel]

Eh. I had to wear the Ice Cream Driver Uniform. The whites looked okay, but I hated the blues.

Heh, I differ with you. I grew up around sailors, and I am a traditionalist. I wanted to wear the Dixie Cup.

And I thought the blue camo was an odd choice-what the hell, if you fall overboard, you will blend right in with the water...:)

[A Navy Vet]

After doing some more research where to buy the digital blue trousers, come to find out the Navy has now switched to green and black cami Navy Working Uniforms III for all to replace the blue NWU I. Plus there is a NWU II for those which is primarily brown and tan and is designed to be worn in sandy, arid, and desert battlefield environments.

"Plus in 2018, the eight-point cover used with the Type III NWU began featuring the Anchor, Constitution and Eagle (ACE) logo in place of the rank or rate insignia previously worn, similar to the Eagle-Globe-Anchor insignia is worn on the eight-point covers of the U.S. Marine Corps' combat utility uniforms."

You want more confusion? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_Working_Uniform Try to work your way through the dungerees past to the present Navy Working Uniforms.

Now they're looking at 4 new design prototypes for another NWU. Sheesh, does the CNO have nothing else to do than change working uniforms every 5-8 years or so? Gotta make their legacy, I guess.

If a CNO wants to change something, do something about enlisted dress uniforms. At least get rid of the tie, the silly flap, and the stupid looking dixie cup that makes all E-6 and down look like Popeye. Design a smart looking dress uniform like the other branches have while keeping it different from the CPO and Officer dress uniforms.

[A Navy Vet]

The dixie cup just looks stupid. To each his own. I thinking a 5 point cap (winter blue/summer white) or a newly designed combination cap with the same blouse and bell bottoms for E-6 and below dress uniform. However, I would nix the back flap and the pointless tie.

Let the CNO design around that idea. It would still stand out from CPO and Officer dress uniform unlike the Ice Cream Driver dress uniform which you mentioned and I was originally issued in Boot. There's got to something more distinguished than the current Popeye look. And why he's at it, quit changing the working uniform so often as I stated above.

Yes, I get tradition and love many of the Navy. Just don't like the enlisted dress uniform. Never have, even though that's the service I preferred (came natural for a surfer/beach guy).

[rlmorel]

Heck, I understand. It is just what I grew up on...:)

I remember being a kid and seeing the sailors in their blues out on the town, all the neon bar signs...The American Bar, Rosies,etc. and you could see the liberty cuffs rolled up.

That’s what I liked.