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.

[Bahbah]

I can't speak for GG, but I have no problem with lawyer jokes. Lots of lawyers I know deserve the disapprobation of the public. BTW, I also have a teaching degree. A French teacher, no less. That is popular on FRee Republic as well. I'm surprised they let me in. LOL.

[Pippin]

WOW! Shooting Rockets! Are we gonna do this on the 4th? An Independance Day celebration!

[homeschool mama]

Hi ladies. :o)

I've been so busy lately...add the PT to that and other stuff and whew...I'm tired. lol

Spookie...your books will be sent Monday. Sorry it's taken me forever and a day. ugh.

CS, haven't seen you on the Dose in a while.

For both of you...Grammie's being awful mean lately. ;o/

[GatorGirl]

Don't work too hard. And I DID admire what you said about the pledge. You just said it so....vehemently (and rightfully so!). You're my hero too! Love, GG

To all my FRiends--
He's right, I have put myself on a FR diet. I'm "cheating" this week 'cuz we are big Steve Irwin fans and it's Croc Week, so I can sit and watch TV with my kids during this hour, get on the computer and not feel like I'm neglecting them TOO much.

But I have more family coming in after the 4th and I have a few things I really need to get done around here, so I am going to have to limit myself to quick scans when I check my email and maybe one or two later nights per week.

I LOVE FR and the Canteen especially SO MUCH! The coolest thing happened last night with Lady X's son MedProf--he and my husband know each other very well! That's what's so cool about this place, not only do you make new FRiends, you might even reconnect with old friends as well! I can't stand it when I have to be away.....

Good night FRiends! Love, GG

[SpookBrat]

Hey y'all...let's go clean up San Fransexco!!

[Pippin]

Good Night, GG. "CROCS RULE!"

[GatorGirl]

Thanks CS--Gators too! 'Night!

[RadioAstronomer]

WOW! Shooting Rockets!

Yup, a Canteen rocket club. :-) I have one that goes supersonic. If you stand far enough back, you can hear the crack as it breaks the sound barrier.

[Pippin]

OH! OH! Looks like I'm gonna have to get over there and straighten BG out! LOL! how is everyone over on the Dose? I do miss them. and seeing the pictures of GWB! and Laura And never to forget Rummy!

[homeschool mama]

you have freepmail

[Pippin]

YEE HAWWW!

[SpookBrat]

Granny needs her butt spanked! She's gonna get it!

<----Granny getting ready to pounce.

[homeschool mama]

lol...might take a few pallets of commie (er...comet) to clean that place up. :o/

Interesting bit of info on the Pledge debacle: The person who started this is a doctor from the town I live in. His daughter attends an Elk Grove elementary school. I'm not familiar with this particular doc but sure am curious. And of *course* I now can't find his name...

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"I'm surprised they let me in."

You will always be Welcome by me!

[SpookBrat]

Wasn't that a funny picture? I laughed when I saw it. You should find out where the doctor practices and FReep him. I'll bet he has gone into hiding.

[GatorGirl]

Sorry, girls--still here (I always make the rounds of "latest posts" one more time before I log off)

HM--his name is Michael Newdow. Let us know what you find out. Veddy interesting!

(His poor little daughter didn't want to be forced to "listen to" something she doesn't believe in, even though she was not being required to recite the Pledge)

[Bahbah]

Dear Tonkin, always kind. You are an inspiration to us all.

[RadioAstronomer]

YEE HAWWW!

Cool! :-)

[homeschool mama]

**HM--his name is Michael Newdow. Let us know what you find out. Veddy interesting!

(His poor little daughter didn't want to be forced to "listen to" something she doesn't believe in, even though she was not being required to recite the Pledge) **

THAT's his name. Will check on him.

About his daughter...ohhh her poor witto ears.

[Pippin]

Thanks! now you have freepmail! =^)