Posted on 01/27/2006 12:23:44 AM PST by naturalman1975
We had a few back up A/C systems using package units usually 5-7 tom units. FWD & AFT IC had one, Data processing, the mess decks believe it or not, and a couple of other places. VAST had it's on extra system. Photo Lab and CAL Lab had their own small systems. CAL Labs was on the 03 level outboard starboard. Photo Labs unit was on the 4th deck next to sea mart. At one time that was my GQ station. I was locked in down there because the hatch didn't have a scuttle on it :>{
When I went to AC&R we had 9 chillers 6 older 200 ton Yorks with the speed increaser or gear box between motor & compressor from the late 50's era. We had three 150 ton York Marine Packs located in 1 & 2 aux and during the 80 overhaul I watched them put in number 10 A/C below the Machine Shop. It was about a 350 ton unit and even the space had A/C :>} Our first cruise out of the yards for a two day shake down we went to GQ. I sat in the shop watching the loop temperatures and was very impressed in the difference. The temps dropped so fast I though somebody was doing Zebra on the loop and went to see. My division officer said what are you doing checking Zebra because I was running up & down the passageways LOL.
We usually ate better some of the time than most also. When we did hot gas on the reefers we'd take a cut from the coolers & freezers up to the shop. A pop corn popper served as our hot plate also. Worse part of the job though was R-11 working parties usually before a MED. Taking several dozen 200 pound barrels from the pier to the chillers was a royal pain to say the least.
Oh yea our favorite prank was about midnite to take a cup of refrigerant and pour it on somebody in their rack. Talk about confused looks LOL the stuff flashed by the time they got out of the rack & the look on their faces was priceless.
We used it twice second time we told the Old Man first. We kept hoping for calls saying green water was comong out of a sink or scuttlebutt some place but it never happened. Just one of life's mysteries. A ship with nearly all visible discharges pouring green is pretty funny though.
Squint,
One of the F/A18 squadrons, part of the Airwing, are Marines (VMFA).
Beats me. We heard some bad goings on up there a few times with not so good outcomes. Only time I usually got up there at sea was on rare nights Flight Opps were secure. I usually went up on the bow for an hour or so. Real peacefull especially on a full moon. You almost felt thousands of miles away from the place below.
Late 70's made for some bad FD & after launch crashes though. We lost quite a few I remember that much. IIRC the A-6's had some real major issues then of going out about 2-5 miles and having catrostrophic engine failures.
Happened long after Bush 41 removed tactical nukes. It was due to Slick's downsizing that MARDETs are no more.
Break with the US and next Aircraft Carrier to visit will be Chinese and it won't be a 'good will' call.
I can think of many reasons why they still should have MARDET's in charge of security on carriers and no really good reason why they shouldn't. That one may well bite them in the sitter.
Regardless, wingers aren't MARDETs. MARDETs were grunts and part of ships' company.
I recall standing a steam watch on the waist catapults on USS Ranger (CVA-61), falling asleep on watch with the charge valve slighly open, (it made a great lulling humming noise) and being suddenly awakened by the relief valve blowing off under the angle deck...honest to God, it sounded like the ship was being destroyed. Something like 500 lbs of live steam venting off through a six inch pipe, right over the side. Nothing to be done but to take the rap for that one...
It's fitting, when you think about it. Ronaldus Magnus himself was plagued by Congressional jellyfish in Washington DC.
I wasn't being critical or trying to pick nits. Most Airwings have a Marine Squadron, there is even one Airwing with a Marine CAG. I assumed there was one on Reagan. Stennis had one when I was onboard in 99-01. I also know about MARDETs, I played Rugby with the one onboard TR in 88-90.
Just curious what years?
One of our pilots was over your flight deck while we were wargaming against each other when he felt the need to interfere with your radar. Not to worry, he was (nudge, nudge) chewed out.
We didn't have too much trouble with the Intruders, one caught the round down, and another had a pair of 250's hang up, until he snagged the wire. IIRC while I was on a beach detachment one also had a fodded engine, but on the deck and mostly contained by by the skin. No other aircraft damaged nor crew hurt.
trying to remember the A-6 issue was in the late 70's in 77 or 78 IIRC we lost quite a few before the Navy did a stand down over it. I can't remember the problems or cure.
We were one of the few snipes that went up into the nose bleed section of the ship actually in the Raydome {sp} a few times on trouble calls.
The most impressive thing I remember seeing on the flight deck was on a dependents cruise. We had an F-14 fly by at full speed {super sonic} at flight deck level. Our phone in the shop rang off the wall for a week and all the cooling coil filters had to be cleaned as a result of it. Great way to shake the dust out of the ventilation system.
A-6 and not A-7? We had a stand down in '77 IIRC regarding the UHT's falling off. I don't remember anything about A-6'S, but that was someone else's problem. I worked on A-7's.
Fly by's are cool, but I think you would have been even more impressed by an F-4. An F-14 is a sports car, an F-4 is a dragster!
Four out of eleven isn't most.
there is even one Airwing with a Marine CAG.
That would be Smash Yurovich who assumed command of CVW-9 on 19 January 2006. MAG-12 in Iwakuni will get a Navy Captain as CO in July.
I also know about MARDETs
Then you know that the last one was on the Enterprise in 98.
That may have been it. The planes would launch and fail withing 5 miles. Been too many years now. I have a Deck Ape Buddy I served with tonight if he remembers which one.
I think our worse crash was an S-3 that missed 1-3 wires and caught 4. Over the side she went and IIRC the crew iniated pop out before going over. 3 died from either impact into the side of the ship or water from the jettison. Most impressive crash was a Tom Cat that came in low and popped the round down. It broke the landing gear and the pilot hit hard starboard engine to ride it off before popping out safely. Onboard and up on the Bridge was CNO, Sec Navy and a few others. We were at GQ when both these crashes happened.
When ABE came back from the Gulf with no deaths I was very impressed. Bad things happen on ships in spite of all the crew can do to prevent it.
Maybe but this one went by, turned nearly 180, and then did a very impressive climb out. All about as fast as you eyes and neck could follow.
Roger that. 6 per year per carrier was the average then. We had one perfect year going. In December we had a C-2 COD crash. 3 crew, 3 passengers. No survivors.
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