Destroyers - Fletcher Class

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USS Cole back on station ....

Now several new terms which you included " communication " and " floodable length ". The word usage is unique but makes sense after explanation.
When addressing the "water communicating with the ship" I thought that was a pretty classy expression to state " Hey water is flowing freely through this big hole and there is nothing when can do about!"... it certainly reduces the number of syllables required to express oneself.

The "floodable length" term I am getting my head around. A shoebox with a bunch of small boxes. How many small boxes can you fill with water and not roll over. In the recital offered by the Captain, he sustains that the ship will not sink, " he uses a term meaning to me that only two of the four critical section of the shoebox are flooded. But he certainly did not state that the ship was sea worthy or towable in my reading thus far.

#3 SSGTG was the only one the crew could get to work. Air line problems to #2 . I did not realize the air starter / flask problem. Makes perfect sense as the old DDAD 2-cycle diesels loved air starters. Turbines would prefer even more!

Update on exchange between Desertswo (RIP) and Blidgepump about the damage to the USS Cole...
The USN making a "statement with the USS Cole on station ?
The world awaits..... http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/02...audi-ship.html

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Update on the USS Cole ....

Update on exchange between Desertswo (RIP) and Blidgepump about the damage to the USS Cole...
The USN making a "statement with the USS Cole on station ?
The world awaits..... http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/02...audi-ship.html

More on the USS Cole...

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...-saudi-frigate

Headed to Washington in the morning with the hope of having a late lunch with a couple of old USN officers who performed post attack investigative work on the USS Cole before retiring. It will be interesting to hear their sorties again....

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Back from the hill ....

What was that line from the movie " Airplane" the Lloyd Bridges uttered.....
" I pick the wrong week to give up __________!!"

Crazy spring like weather this week match the unique activities in Washington, D.C.
Well I'm back from our Nation's Capitol and I am whipped.
Very warm spring like weather and the malls and halls were full,
Visiting the congressmen, senators, chiefs of staff, legislative aids and all the other public servants.....
.... so very happy to be back home and pick up on the "Fletcher thread"... just say 'in ...

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Arlington visit .....

While paying respects at Arlington I happened upon this grave that may be known to some of the Fletcher - DD thread followers.

Frank Jack Fletcher (April 29, 1885 – April 25, 1973) was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. Fletcher was the operational commander at the pivotal Battles of Coral Sea and of Midway. As a lieutenant, Fletcher was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in battle at Veracruz. He was the nephew of Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, who was also awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at Veracruz.

Frank Friday Fletcher (November 23, 1855 – November 28, 1928) was a United States Navy admiral who served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was awarded the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions as commander of Navy forces at the Battle of Veracruz, Mexico. The Fletcher-class destroyer, the most produced class of United States Navy destroyers, was named after him. He was also the uncle of Frank Jack Fletcher, another U.S. Navy Admiral who also received the Medal of Honor for actions at Veracruz.

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The Fletcher name ....

While paying respects at Arlington I happened upon this grave that may be known to some of the Fletcher - DD thread followers.

Frank Jack Fletcher (April 29, 1885 – April 25, 1973) was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. Fletcher was the operational commander at the pivotal Battles of Coral Sea and of Midway. As a lieutenant, Fletcher was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in battle at Veracruz. He was the nephew of Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, who was also awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at Veracruz.

Frank Friday Fletcher (November 23, 1855 – November 28, 1928) was a United States Navy admiral who served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was awarded the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions as commander of Navy forces at the Battle of Veracruz, Mexico. The Fletcher-class destroyer, the most produced class of United States Navy destroyers, was named after him. He was also the uncle of Frank Jack Fletcher, another U.S. Navy Admiral who also received the Medal of Honor for actions at Veracruz.

USS Fletcher (DD/DDE-445), named for Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, was the lead Fletcher-class destroyer, and served in the Pacific during World War II. She received fifteen battle stars for World War II service, and five for Korean War service.

Fletcher was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, on 2 October 1941. She was launched on 3 May 1942; sponsored by Mrs. F. F. Fletcher, widow of Admiral Fletcher; and commissioned on 30 June 1942, with Lieutenant Commander William M. Cole in command.[1]

Among World War II US Navy destroyer candidates for preservation, Fletcher’s standing as class leader, fine record (including 15 World War II battle stars, a number surpassed by few other ships) and longevity were self-recommending and after she decommissioned and was stricken in 1969, plans were made to restore her as a museum ship. These fell through, however, and she was sold for scrap in 1972.

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F.F. Fletcher ...

A dashing USN Admiral.... very fitting for a "Dashing Destroyer" to bear his name !!:.

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Flags burnt ... belonging to WWII signalman who served on a DE...

http://www.ktnv.com/news/us-navy-vet...urned-to-ashes

Veteran remembered and flags replaced!

UPDATE FEB. 16: Dozens of members of the Las Vegas community, including a group of local members of the U.S. Navy, reached out to 13 Action News after they saw the story about William Barclay, wanting to replace his flags.

On Thursday morning, Barclay received a special visit by the U.S. Navy, who presented him with new flags.

And that was just the beginning -- from a security system to several people offering to fix his car which was also burned.

Another man donated an original 48 star flag from World War II.

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Captain's radio ...

The Captain's in port stateroom was equipped with a radio, too!

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Sharing a memory DD-512 .....

Typhoon Cobra and the legacy is still an interesting read.
Today we pause to remember one of the survivors of Halsey crossing the "squall line".
Bill Haddox, Sr. served on the USS Spence and survived!

USS Spence, DD 512 “always did more than her share,” wrote Admiral Arleigh Burke in 1983 of the original flagship of Destroyer Division 46—a tightly-run, happy ship with a reputation for great chow, which served with distinction with Destroyer Squadron 23, the “Little Beavers,” until she was lost during the great typhoon of 18 December 1944.

[Albany Rifles]

My dad survived Typhoon Cobra. He was aboard the Cabot, CVL 28. The ship's log stated the carrier was rolling so badly that the gun tubs on either side of the flight were dipping in the water. Anything canvas was ripped away. He was the Oil King and had hell's own time keeping the tanks even. He said they had refueled the day prior so were pretty maxed out on displacement which helped.

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Picture in my mind ...

My dad survived Typhoon Cobra. He was aboard the Cabot, CVL 28. The ship's log stated the carrier was rolling so badly that the gun tubs on either side of the flight were dipping in the water. Anything canvas was ripped away. He was the Oil King and had hell's own time keeping the tanks even. He said they had refueled the day prior so were pretty maxed out on displacement which helped.

I have been trying to imagine the scene below in a CVL rolling back and forth far enough for the gun tubs to dip into the sea..... "YIKES"

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"ALL HANDS" Page 2 ... article about 2100 ton DD's ...

http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/archpdf/ah194810.pdf


Page 2 of this PDF recites efforts to modify some Fletcher DD's into DDE's

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USS Fletcher.... CIC background ....

"The first CIC was a joint invention of Cole and Wylie. In battle, rather than stationed at the after steering position as dictated by convention, Wylie’s station was the PPI [SG radar] scope (the 2,100-tonners were the first destroyers fitted with this equipment as built)—which let him see anything as it developed.

“Wylie stayed in that room on that scope, guiding us and calling out to Capt. Cole,” remembers Fred Gressard. “In the middle of the battle [of 12–13 November], Admiral Callaghan said ‘cease fire’, which was unbelievable. Then Cole said, ‘How do we get out of here?’ and Wylie gave him a course—they were always within earshot during battle; a great team. Afterwards, the CIC was adopted by the whole Navy.”
Ens. Fred Gressard, USN

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Engine room gang on a Fletcher DD ...

After engine room crew, late 1945. Allard, Anderson, Boyd, Beeker, Peterson, Simmons, Tyler & Staehli.
Photo courtesy of Linda Ayotte-Messner.

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Cold Iron .....

After engine room crew, late 1945. Allard, Anderson, Boyd, Beeker, Peterson, Simmons, Tyler & Staehli.
Photo courtesy of Linda Ayotte-Messner.

All the gauges are showing "Zero"