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Plankowner
Posts: 9163
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: How was it for you?
I was chatting with a subsailor from Seattle Base today and the comment came up about being worn out on patrol and having channel fever and couldn't wait to get back to port. After a week or a few it is time to head back out and you were just as inpatient to get going. Set the maneuvering watch and get back out to sea. Longing to hear; "Secure the maneuvering watch, section two has the duty", and you hit your rack for some bunk time as the sea closes in over you.
I did enjoy going to sea. Not just weekend ops or that sort of thing but patrol.
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1454
| Subject: RE: How was it for you?
It all depended on what you left behind. The travel from Groton to Holy Loch was tedious. Turn over was a good time to trade BS with the other crew. Reality sinks in when the diving alarm goes off and the routine begins. Arm the weapons system and then either hit the rack or enjoy fine dining. The first part of the run is full of NTINs. That starts again when cabin fever sets in. All the plans on what you're going to do, besides the obvious. The travel back to the states is even more tedious thanks to the aforementioned cabin fever. In a sense when it gets close to another run, there's a bit of anxiety but quickly dispersed when you get back to the boat. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 2490
Location: East Coast of Wisconsin | Subject: RE: How was it for you?
Agree. The worst duty was 'School boat' followed by PCO cruises. Give me the patrol duty anytime. |
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Plankowner
Posts: 9163
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: How was it for you?
The one patrol I hated the most was a summer cruise carrying Middies. Out of the 10 or so we had only three would have made good sub officers. The rest were just full of themselves. |
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Old Salt
Posts: 271
Location: Vista, Ca. | Subject: RE: How was it for you?
I always liked going to sea and only had channel fever once. We did a week op with three midshipmen. They were pretty much a pain in the ass. No room in the wardroom so the COB had three skid bunks made on the deck of the torpedo room. None of the "Middies" would sleep there because they thought someone would step on them while they were asleep. So, a couple of non-quals who were tired of hot bunking move in after the TMLPO said no one was using the bunks. COB found out and was really pissed. Funniest thing however was in the middle of a dive at 400 feet the Skipper wanted to go to PD. The three "Middies" were sitting on tool boxes in and around Control. Diving Officer replies aye, aye Captain, both planes - all rise. In unison the three "Midddies" stood up. We laughed out ass off and when they caught on they were not amused. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1602
| Subject: RE: How was it for you?
Going to sea for me was always made easier if I had no money left. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1454
| Subject: RE: How was it for you?
The middies we took on patrol were berthed in Hanging Gardens. Not real popular with the normal senior E6s that slept there. Three had to give up their racks and move to the 40/80 club. They did not get much sleep as we all took turns making noise next to their racks. The door to the head was next to them so naturally anybody taking a dump left the door partly open. We gave them piping and electrical manuals and told them to start qualifications. The COB gave a wink and a nod so did the Wardroom. They had to learn the hard way, even though FBM, about conserving shower water. Take too long and the hot water valve got shut. WE told them it was metered so as to conserve hot water. Gullible was an under statement. I always wondered what stories would end up back at the academy. |
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 715
Location: Conway, NH | Subject: RE: How was it for you?
Speaking of middies; on one boat, in the eighties, we took a middie who was between his first and second year. His white hat still had the blue ring (he got rid of that very soon). He was a good sailor, great planesman and member of the Seaman gang.
On that same boat the new Eng reported aboard. I looked at him knowing I had seen the face someplace. I had. When I first saw him, in the early seventies, he looked like he was just a boy scout. He was a middie on my first boat! |
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How was it for you?
