The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Destroyer Squadron 9 & Wolmi Do-(9/13-24/1950) - Aug. 3rd, 2005

www.ussdehaven.org ^ | Relman Morin

[Professional Engineer]

I hope somebody got fired for their inability to count in order.

[Iris7]

As far as I can tell, "1658" is a YC of the 1607 type.

http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrservicecraft/C_B_26.htm

Reminded me of "YCU" and "YFU" from the old days. Looking closely I see many differences from these earlier vessels. Certainly the unreliable ramp raising gear I remember is totally different. "YC" means, probably, "yard cargo". "Y" always means "yard" I believe.

1658 was delivered May 1, 1995 and so is just over ten years old. About a thirty year lifespan but could be longer if needed.

The hull is of the "raft" type, like WWII landing craft, with square section flotation tanks, or one big tank, in a sense, thirty feet wide and about ninety feet long, about six to eight feet deep, and divided into maybe fifty full strength sub-tanks, called "voids" (nothing in them, empty "voids"). This makes flotation more reliable. The "floor" you see in the pictures is the top of these "voids". The machine has much less room for humans than appears at first glance.

Think of it as a raft made of steel with an outboard engine. Not really outboard, but could be I.O., so shallow bottoms can be managed. The old ones had fixed propeller shafts arranged so they were well above the bottom of the hull, with the propellers in recesses in the hull bottom. These recesses were shielded from snagging (pretty well).

Anyway, brings back memories.

[Professional Engineer]

Howdy ma'am, get the chamber whipped into shape?

[Professional Engineer]

Anyway, brings back memories.

I intentionally ran ships aground? Cool!

[Iris7]

Two "728"s. Very strange indeed.

[Iris7]

Not hard to run a ship aground, easy as fishin', but hard to do it so you can get off again, and way harder to get off again without too much damage! Harbors and piers are way easier!

Saw an LST blown up onto the beach in a storm that looked fine from a distance but could not be salvaged. Beach operations are in open water, really. In rough weather they are difficult. (Understatement.)

[Iris7]

You got to be alive to do your job. You must not expend yourself unwisely.

[colorado tanker]

Hiya folks.

I've always liked destroyer sailors. Those guys have guts.

We're supposed to get some relief from the heat tonight in this foxhole. Hope so.

[GATOR NAVY]

It's an LCU-Landing Craft Utility.

[GATOR NAVY]

My first ship was in DESRON Nine.

[USMCBOMBGUY]

GOOD Afternoon all. Interesting read. Lot of guts to carry out that mission.

[USMCBOMBGUY]

Hello Gator,
What "boat" (LOL) are you on? Those boats are like a second home to me. I have spent some "Quality" time on the USS Frederick (Fast Freddy), USS Juneau, USS Boxer, USS Belleau Wood, USS Cleveland, and the USS Harpers Ferry.

[Iris7]

What surprises me about this mission is that there was so little damage to the Navy. Maybe those North Korean gunners had had a breakfast of schnapps. Could be they hadn't zeroed their pieces. Maybe their brass thought ships would not dodge like hell. Sure was dumb of them to shoot at someone obviously trying to draw their fire. Some sort of saying about the wages of stupidity, isn't there?

Lots of tubes on that island.

[PAR35]

Two "728"s. Very strange indeed.

I think the back one is a '9'.

[USMCBOMBGUY]

I looked in a couple of old books I have on ordnance to see what they may have been firing but didn't have much luck at finding anything other then the 75mm. The 75mm could be stated as being less then a reliable round against the skins of the destroyers, I imagine many could/would have passed through without functioning.
One thought I had was the proximity of the destroyers to the shore. The guns may have been laid in/sighted for a different distance. Another thought is although the story does not state it, there may have been more "hits" to the ships but the ordnance didn't function. Again maybe the proximity to the shore worked in their favor.
Just a thought

[Professional Engineer]

I looks like the anchor rode is obscuring the "9".

[Professional Engineer]

Hi miss Feather.

The other day, we introduced Bittygirl to grits. After just a few bites, she kept asking for more until she had eaten my plate clean.

[snippy_about_it]

Hi Sailor. I see by your tagline that you are back out at sea. Stay safe and stay out of trouble. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

I could live there. I'd plant a few trees though. ;-)

[snippy_about_it]

Howdy ma'am, get the chamber whipped into shape?

Nah, I just go for the free food.