USO Canteen FReeper Style....Gunnery Mates....Thank You....June 26,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

USS Bulkeley

The primary job of the Gunnery Division is to maintain and operate all shipboard weapons systems.

Normal day to day tasks include ensuring all weapons systems are functioning properly and prepared for such evolutions as surface and air combat and exercises, as well as ensuring that the weapons are available for any law enforcement need. Gunnery Division is also responsible for providing small arms training to all Boarding Team Members.

Within Gunnery Division there are two different rates...Gunner's Mates (GM) and Fire Control Technicians (FT). Gunner's Mates primarily deal with the actual firing weapons and their associated ordnance while FT's primarily work with radar systems specifically designed for targeting and firing long range weapons.

Chief Gunner's Mate (SW) Virgil Kilpatrick, an instructor at Fleet Combat Training Center (FCTCLANT) Atlantic, has spent the last three years providing Sailors with skills he hoped they would never truly need -- operating and maintaining shipboard weapons systems in war.

Gunner's mates work in almost every kind of Navy environment: ship, shore, in the United States or overseas. Their work and specialties may involve indoor or outdoor situations, clean or dirty work, deck or shop, and any kind of climate or temperature. They work alone or with others, independently or closely supervised. Their work can be both mental and physical.

River Boat Gunnery Mate.......Vietnam

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the campaign against terrorism, training commands like FCTCLANT are at the ground floor of the battle.

Veteran Sailors like Kilpatrick are in classrooms, laboratories and simulators, arming their students with the tools to fight terror.

According to GM1(SW) George Cumings, careless safety procedure can be a gunner's mate's deadliest enemy.

"It is important to take your time and go through all your steps, whether you're operating the gun or performing maintenance," Cumings said. "If you don't, you can get yourself -- and your shipmates -- killed."

Technology has changed the face of naval training during the past two decades. For gunner's mates, computer literacy has become nearly as important as skill with a weapon.

"Gunner's mates do a lot more than just fire guns," said Kilpatrick, a 17-year Navy veteran. "It may not seem like a technical rating, but it is."

Battleship Iowa firing its guns on the starboard side. You can see it shoving the ship sideways thru the water. What power unleashed! For those who don't know about these guns (the 16 inchers) they can fire a shell weighing as much as a VW Beetle 30 miles thru the air with some accuracy. That is awesome! Of course, we no longer have these ships in our naval service. They have all been decommissioned and mothballed or disposed of in some other manner.

What They Do:

The duties performed by GMs include:
operating and maintaining guided missile launching systems, rocket launchers, gun mounts and other ordnance systems and equipment;

training and supervising crews in the use of all types of ordnance equipment, from large caliber guns and missile systems to small arms;

stowing, securing, requisitioning and reclassifying explosives:
operating and maintaining magazine flooding and sprinkling systems;

making mechanical, electrical and electronic casualty analysis using technical publications, circuit diagrams and blueprints;

repairing, maintaining, testing and calibrating ordnance equipment;
servicing hydraulic and pneumatic systems;

repairing, maintaining, testing and calibrating microprocessing equipment;
repairing damaged hydraulic sealing surfaces, mating areas and threads;

performing mechanical wire connections including soldering; operating and maintaining night optical devices;

operating optical scanning and marking devices to label, identify and report explosives' utilization/expenditure.

This 5"/62 caliber gun can be used to defend against ships or planes.

And this big ship has all the latest in weapons technology: Using the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, the ship's crew can launch up to 96 missiles, including Standard surface-to-air missiles, Tomahawk surface-to-surface missiles and VLA antisubmarine missiles--64 from the back of the ship or 32 from the front. USS Bulkeley is also equipped with two MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems and a 5"/62 caliber deck-mounted gun, which uses Extended Range Guided Munitions projectiles and looks like a machine gun on steroids. According to one crewman, the 5"/62 is so powerful that once when it was fired from the front of the ship, he could feel his pant legs shaking, even though he was standing at the stern.

USS Bulkeley's MK 41 Vertical Launching System fires a combination of Standard surface-to-air and Tomahawk surface-to-surface missiles.

There's a story about John Paul Jones' chief gunners mate. It was during the gore and thunder of that most historic battle. He was loading and firing cannon and carrying the wounded to the medical officer, cutting away the tangled rigging. And apparently in the midst of that first fight, John Paul Jones went below momentarily and changed into a new uniform. And as he emerged on deck a voice rang out through the smoke and fire -- it was the British captain asking, ``Have you struck your colors?'' And the gunners mate, sweat and blood dripping from his body, turned and saw Jones now in his fresh uniform reply: ``I have not yet begun to fight.'' And the gunners mate said, ``There's always somebody who didn't get the word.''

The challenge is great. Our Navy is meeting a heavier responsibility than we had in the sixties and meeting it with fewer ships. And that means the officers and crew of every vessel must work harder, carry a heavier load, and endure longer, more strenuous cruises.

Men and women on these and other ships are under great stress, handling advanced weapons systems and sophisticated equipment. And that's all the more reason to salute them after setting a new record for aircraft safety last year. Many who served could easily have better paying civilian jobs. Sailors on the carriers are away from their families 70 percent of the time; yet 60 percent of these fine young people reenlist.

In today's Navy, as with the other services, the Reserves are playing an increasingly important role. Who are they? Citizens concerned about the future of this country and determined to do their part. They share their time, energy, and talent to keep America strong, safe, and free.

[GatorGirl]

Oh, goodie--almost all my "faves" are here right now.

Tonkin, THANK YOU so much for saying this. I am so angered about this attack on the Pledge of Allegiance. Some say it's much ado about nothing and a distraction from the real problems facing this country, but I think it's a tragedy that something like this happened when we have tens of thousands of Americans in harm's way battling those that seek to destroy America.

The servicemembers who seek comfort in the Canteen should rest assured that there are SO MANY that support them and the Flag that symbolizes the freedoms for which they fight. That we pledge allegiance to that Flag and we thank them for their allegiance as well.

[SpookBrat]

Hi Bahbah!! Nice to see you today. I just read your profile. What an interesting person you are. I look forward to getting to know you better.

[GatorGirl]

You'll have to send me that link, I just love a good fight with a Dem! ;-)

[Eastbound]

......and to everyone else on the thread. "OK, you guys, you are now making me homesick for Chicago...Chicago hot dogs, and childhoods at Riverview...its enough to make this grown woman cry..."

LOL! A grown man, too! Okay, you'se guys. Let's all go to Ashkenaz' and tackle one of dose corned beef sangwiches.

[NCEaglette]

I spent 3yrs on a destroyer in the Navy from '66-'69 as a Gunners Mate, GMG3. Viet Nam Vet.

God bless you for your service to our country, then and now, Tonk and thanks for the beautiful flowers today!

[SAMWolf]

IL's just happened to show up at a time I have a lot of overtime work to do.

[exnavy]

FT's and GM's are like Ice Cream and cake!

[SpookBrat]

I'm bumping what both of you said.

[kneezles]

Hi Spookie!!! We've just about got all our running around done, now to just finish packing. The pets are taken care of, SassyMom is fed and happy and I'm dewing nuttin. I'm gonna miss my little buddy Julio (shown below), but he's in good hands while we're gone. Have a great evening!!!

[Jen]

I really don't enjoy engaging in conflicts with people. I'm glad FR has a 'no personal attacks' policy.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks HiJinx. Nice to know there's backup when needed.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thank You

[SpookBrat]

[RadioAstronomer]

Hi I am back. Thanks for thinking of me :-)

[andysandmikesmom]

We used to go to Ashkenaz....but I dont remember exactly where it was, tho it seems it was very close to where we lived in Rogers Park, where I moved to once I got married...

I seem to remember them having great cheesecake...

My hubby and I go to a little place up in Tacoma, called Kathys...the owners are actually from Rogers Park, and they bring all their red hots, and polish from Chicago...

They have great red hots(complete with celery salt), and polish, corned beef, and the most wonderful combo, sausage and beef sandwiches, ,complete with juice and peppers...

When we go up there on a weekend, we have a polish, and a hot dog...and then bring home combo sandwiches for our dinner....

Its like a little food trip back to Chicago...

[SAMWolf]

Definately time for some "in your face" Civil Disobediance in the schools.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Hey Brother!

[SpookBrat]

I'm going to miss you both. Hurry up and get online as soon as you get there. Drink lots of cherry cider for me. Bring my Sassy home safely. :)

[SAMWolf]

Uno's Pizzaria on the North side!

[kneezles]

I thought that's what husbands are for.

No Jen, we're here so you can sit around all day watching your soaps and eating Bon-Bons!