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Destroyers - Fletcher Class

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  • Good luck getting a volunteer to lube that :).
    RIP Charles "Bob" Spence. 1936-2014.

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    • Grease buddy tube ......

      Originally posted by 85 gt kid View Post
      Good luck getting a volunteer to lube that :).
      Easy fix.

      Run a grease buddy tube from the signal bridge [ or some lower elevation ] & pump grease up to the bearing(s).
      Of course, someone has to remember to operate the grease gun !

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      • Big stick .....

        The loan / donation of a crane on a barge is heaven sent for removing the radar array from the mast of the USS KIDD.
        This view offers perspective to the assign task....
        Attached Files

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        • I hope they fixed that rusted out lower corner.

          Also nice pic of the back of the SG radar (on the pallet)

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          • Heavy lifting .....

            Agreed, a little attention to fabricating is on the "to do" list ......

            All three (3) volunteer groups ( The Sullivans, the Kidd and the Cassin Young ) have an amazing resource contributing to sustaining the Fletcher DD's.
            The Baton Rouge group appears to have an "Ace" in the hole with oil field and heavy lifting rigs to support the rehab effort.
            Attached Files

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            • Mississippi River ....

              The Kidd is moored to dolphins on port side thus rising and falling when the Mississippi River is running high or low.
              This spring and summer the heavy rainfalls in the upper Missouri valley have kept the river stage high.
              I like this feature about the Kidd, as the fall and winter months allow visitors to examine the entire hull.
              Attached Files

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              • USS Johnston (DD-557, Fletcher-class destroyer), commanded by the hero of Samar ...... Ernest E. Evans.
                A true example of leadership and grit illustrated by taking a fast ship into harms way!
                Attached Files

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                • Samar ...... or how to turnback a larger attacking force .....

                  Originally posted by blidgepump View Post
                  USS Johnston (DD-557, Fletcher-class destroyer), commanded by the hero of Samar ...... Ernest E. Evans.
                  A true example of leadership and grit illustrated by taking a fast ship into harms way!
                  http://www.bosamar.com/

                  "The Battle Off Samar - Taffy III at Leyte Gulf"

                  A book that you can not put down!

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                  • While on the subject .......

                    "The most ably commanded destroyer of Taffy III, JOHNSTON was repeatedly referenced by the Japanese as a "heavy cruiser." She was credited as the first ship of Taffy III to attack Centre Force and charged the four ships of Cruiser Division Seven at 30 knots. After launching a full spread of ten torpedoes, the heavy cruiser HIJMS KUMANO was hit and put out of action. Aggressively screening the escort carriers throughout the entire morning, JOHNSTON finally sank with a loss of 186 men. "

                    The IJN went to great lengths developing a battle plan.
                    A flaw was the lack of adaptability when some event failed to follow that well defined plan.
                    Thus is the case with Center Force running into a spunky Fletcher - DD that was ready to defend the CVE's at the Battle of Samar.

                    The day JOHNSTON was commissioned, CDR Evans made a speech to the crew, "This is going to be a fighting ship. I intend to go in harm's way, and anyone who doesn't want to go along had better get off right now."
                    Another thread has offered that CDR Evans balls clanked.... this must be a long forgotten navy expression ?!?!

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                    • Originally posted by blidgepump View Post
                      "The most ably commanded destroyer of Taffy III, JOHNSTON was repeatedly referenced by the Japanese as a "heavy cruiser." She was credited as the first ship of Taffy III to attack Centre Force and charged the four ships of Cruiser Division Seven at 30 knots. After launching a full spread of ten torpedoes, the heavy cruiser HIJMS KUMANO was hit and put out of action. Aggressively screening the escort carriers throughout the entire morning, JOHNSTON finally sank with a loss of 186 men. "

                      The IJN went to great lengths developing a battle plan.
                      A flaw was the lack of adaptability when some event failed to follow that well defined plan.
                      Thus is the case with Center Force running into a spunky Fletcher - DD that was ready to defend the CVE's at the Battle of Samar.

                      The day JOHNSTON was commissioned, CDR Evans made a speech to the crew, "This is going to be a fighting ship. I intend to go in harm's way, and anyone who doesn't want to go along had better get off right now."
                      Another thread has offered that CDR Evans balls clanked.... this must be a long forgotten navy expression ?!?!
                      Ernie had a tough row to hoe as a full blooded Cherokee in an all white world at the Boat School. The "Chief" (never said to his face) was as tough as they come because of that experience. I may have mentioned this before, but I may be here today because of Ernie and his crew. My father was ship's Boatswain aboard USS White Plains (CVE 66). God love 'em all.

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                      • About a 6 weeks ago I ran into a WWII Navy vet is a nursing home. He was wearing a hat that said DE-339 John C. Butler. We had as long a talk as possible under my time constraints.

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                        • DE-399 @ Samar .....

                          Originally posted by tbm3fan View Post
                          About a 6 weeks ago I ran into a WWII Navy vet is a nursing home. He was wearing a hat that said DE-339 John C. Butler. We had as long a talk as possible under my time constraints.
                          http://www.bosamar.com/pages/de339

                          Interesting connection tbm !
                          Was he on board during the Samar event?

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                          • Originally posted by blidgepump View Post
                            http://www.bosamar.com/pages/de339

                            Interesting connection tbm !
                            Was he on board during the Samar event?
                            Yes he was which is why we had the long conversation. He remembered quite clearly the battle with the Johnston, Roberts, Hoel and Heermann taking off into the Japanese Fleet. He was at a 40mm mount and in the end his ship had also expended all torpedoes and 5" shells.
                            Last edited by tbm3fan; 08 Aug 15,, 05:43.

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                            • When I was director of engineering and DC training at SWOSCOLCOM in Newport, RI, we used to assemble the entire command, staff and students, in formation in front of the main building every October 25th, and the CO did readings on the battle, the Chaplain did a benediction, and Taps was played. The point that was made, especially to the Lieutenants and below, is that this is our ethos as Surface Warriors, both enlisted and commissioned. USS Johnston is our talisman, and we should be prepared to replicate "the last charge of the tin can sailors" because, not to be trite, that's just how we roll.

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                              • Stirring recital dipped in legacy ....

                                Originally posted by desertswo View Post
                                When I was director of engineering and DC training at SWOSCOLCOM in Newport, RI, we used to assemble the entire command, staff and students, in formation in front of the main building every October 25th, and the CO did readings on the battle, the Chaplain did a benediction, and Taps was played. The point that was made, especially to the Lieutenants and below, is that this is our ethos as Surface Warriors, both enlisted and commissioned. USS Johnston is our talisman, and we should be prepared to replicate "the last charge of the tin can sailors" because, not to be trite, that's just how we roll.
                                Awesome history and USS Johnston is a fitting standard for USN tradition!

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