Thread: Destroyers - Fletcher Class

Originally Posted by USSWisconsin

I wouldn't call what has happened here a hijack, we are discussing related topics and a rich tapestry of information has been woven - enriching the discussion and creating a larger context for the main attraction, which our host is so thoughtfully presenting.

Absolutely correct. As powerful as the Battleships, Cruisers and Aircraft Carriers were, Fletcher's were always part of the Fleet Escort ships. Very clean looking ship but I was disappointed to see Mount 53 taken off in way of an electronics shack.

Originally Posted by blidgepump

Dread, I'd love to have that mill in the picture, so neat and clean. Obviously well cared for area of the ship. All of this equipment arrives and place to operate by using the monorail?

Alot of the pieces, mills, surface grinders, saws and other equipment are original equipment for the ships and are as old as the ships, all kept in spotless working condition by the men that restored them and her shops to pretty much pristine operational capabilities. It took alot of hard work and diligence to say the least. From a mechanical point of view, its awsome the capabilities they had aboard even then. There were a few machinery updates in the 1980's reactivation period. You can see all of the shops if you take her City at Sea tour pretty much. Pretty impressive.

My guess would be the monorail system although Im not sure, they could have moved some things in before or after the AC units in the removed 5" mags. Rusty would know better if they used this access for machinery but Im pretty certain the monorail was used as well.

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

Alot of the pieces, mills, surface grinders, saws and other equipment are original equipment for the ships and are as old as the ships, all kept in spotless working condition by the men that restored them and her shops to pretty much pristine operational capabilities. It took alot of hard work and diligence to say the least. From a mechanical point of view, its awsome the capabilities they had aboard even then. There were a few machinery updates in the 1980's reactivation period. You can see all of the shops if you take her City at Sea tour pretty much. Pretty impressive.

My guess would be the monorail system although Im not sure, they could have moved some things in before or after the AC units in the removed 5" mags. Rusty would know better if they used this access for machinery but Im pretty certain the monorail was used as well.

I saw the monorail being used to move a heavy part to the mill when I was aboard BB64, the shop was very impressive and emacuately clean as well when I was there in 1991.

[QUOTE=Dreadnought;764988]. You can see all of the shops if you take her City at Sea tour pretty much. Pretty impressive.

Dread what did I miss out on when I purchased my ticket to tour BB 62.

Upon arrival I asked for the best tour guide and the best ticket for sale. In a few minutes an older gentleman in his late 70's who was a challenege to keep up with climbing the ladders and wearing navy brown shirt and pants with a Martin Mariner pin introduced himself. The gentleman had his specs memorizied cold. about the design and construction of the NJ. When I finshed interviewing him, I discovered he was a former Republic Aircraft engineer who rejoined the Navy in the late 50's. I thought he showed me everything open to the public, but I know for a fact we didn't see Broadway. Is the City at Sea tour something recently added to the tour menu?

Built Fletcher tough.

USS Hazelwood.

While on picket duty off Okinawa was struck by a Kamikaze. It hit #2 stack on the port side, smashed into the bridge, and exploded. Flaming gasoline spilled over the decks and bulkheads as the mast toppled and the forward guns were put out of action.

Proceeding by tow and part way under her own power, the ship reached Ulithi 5 May for temporary repairs, then sailed to Mare Island for permanent repairs.

Was recommissioned for Korea in 1952 In 1958 she was modified and used to test the DASH drone and the Shipboard Landing Assist Device. Precursor to the present day RAST

[QUOTE=blidgepump;765150]

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

. You can see all of the shops if you take her City at Sea tour pretty much. Pretty impressive.

Dread what did I miss out on when I purchased my ticket to tour BB 62.

Upon arrival I asked for the best tour guide and the best ticket for sale. In a few minutes an older gentleman in his late 70's who was a challenege to keep up with climbing the ladders and wearing navy brown shirt and pants with a Martin Mariner pin introduced himself. The gentleman had his specs memorizied cold. about the design and construction of the NJ. When I finshed interviewing him, I discovered he was a former Republic Aircraft engineer who rejoined the Navy in the late 50's. I thought he showed me everything open to the public, but I know for a fact we didn't see Broadway. Is the City at Sea tour something recently added to the tour menu?

He was an Officer. (the only ones to wear the Kaki and the only ones that ever will) which means not only did they serve actively, but they still do as in aboard (most still give their time to other things and charities as well) but it would depend upon the tour that you took (bad vocab I know) mind you. Some have served aboard, some have served aboard other's as in plural orders and cosignments to other ships and other military posts. We have many from all walks of service none excluded. You cannot see her in full unless you were to take several tours. Broadway herself is not open to the public, It is coming, We hope to show the public everything, once the time is rite. The City at Sea tour will show you her logistics and other things. Much depends on these systems for her to fully function in service, these are the meat and potatotes behind those big guns and her other capabilities. IMO, You are percieved as "Lucky" as you had a tour by an Officer. I know the many, and they are all respectable men and Ladies without doubt.

*Not meaning to blow horns here either, but its also why she is #1 in the Country for Encampments for 2010 etc. She earned it without doubt with hard work and diligence and the men and Ladies behind the scenes! Congrads to the Men and Ladies that made this happen! She is one of a kind no doubt and IMO sets the Standard.

[QUOTE=Dreadnought;765172]

Originally Posted by blidgepump

He was an Officer. (the only ones to wear the Kaki and the only ones that ever will) which means not only did they serve actively, but they still do as in aboard (most still give their time to other things and charities as well) but it would depend upon the tour that you took (bad vocab I know) mind you. Some have served aboard, some have served aboard other's as in plural orders and cosignments to other ships and other military posts. We have many from all walks of service none excluded. You cannot see her in full unless you were to take several tours. Broadway herself is not open to the public, It is coming, We hope to show the public everything, once the time is rite. The City at Sea tour will show you her logistics and other things. Much depends on these systems for her to fully function in service, these are the meat and potatotes behind those big guns and her other capabilities. IMO, You are percieved as "Lucky" as you had a tour by an Officer. I know the many, and they are all respectable men and Ladies without doubt.

*Not meaning to blow horns here either, but its also why she is #1 in the Country for Encampments for 2010 etc. She earned it without doubt with hard work and diligence and the men and Ladies behind the scenes! Congrads to the Men and Ladies that made this happen! She is one of a kind no doubt and IMO sets the Standard.

I took a tour of the Missouri a few years back, and when the tour guide found out that I was an active duty Sailor, he asked me where I wanted to go.. with nothing being off limits.. (it was just him and me) broadway, engine rooms, boiler rooms... you name it, went went into it.. best tour that I've ever gotten of any ship..

Yes, Our rules are different. Our insurance is no doubt different as well. Hope you enjoyed Mo.

Great link to the Historic Naval Ships Association sites copy of Fletcher Class Booklet of General Plans from 1944. Standard Square Bridge Fletcher layout during WW2.

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/plans/dd502.pdf

The site has some really great downloads.

Navy Documents


Including a General Plans booklet for the Jersey in 84. The Whisky in 56. And many other ships

Thank you GG, very good website on the Fletchers.

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

Yes, Our rules are different. Our insurance is no doubt different as well. Hope you enjoyed Mo.

it was one of the highlights of my Naval carreer.. makes me sure wish that I was around and had been able to be a "Battleship Sailor"

The "dazzle paint scheme" shown on the USS Hazelwood..... was the paint scheme effective?

Originally Posted by blidgepump

The "dazzle paint scheme" shown on the USS Hazelwood..... was the paint scheme effective?

As I understand it, in the days of optical rangefinders, when a ship's captain, or gunnery officer would look up an enemy vessel type (frequently using a Jane's Fighting Ships manual), determine it's length, and then use stereoscopic optics to find the range by triangulation, the dazzle pattern could confuse the operator about where the bow and stern were (particularly in the heat of battle) - leading to inaccurate first salvo's and giving the dazzle painted ship a chance to return fire before it was bracketed by enemy salvo's. Once radar range finding was in use by the enemy, it was not very effective, in fact it could be counter productive, since the wild patterns could call attention to a ship (from optical spotters).

LT (j.g.) Brook C. Garrett, Jr. WM, 25 yoa, served as the USS Kidd's Medical Doctor when the 11 April 1945 Kamikaze plane struck the starboard side of the Fletcher class destroyer.

The illustration below recites the same information; adding a display of two (2) aluminum rivet heads removed from Garrett's abdomen.

Question: What were aluminim rivets doing in the deck of a Fletcher class destroyer?