Posted on 06/21/2021 10:00:08 AM PDT by MAGA2017
” and, as it stand right now, the Ford is capable of launching an airplane every 3 or 4 weeks.(/s sort of).”
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems’ Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) achieved the Navy’s target of 8,000 successful aircraft launches and recoveries during the ship’s 18-month Post Delivery Test & Trial (PDT&T) period.
” and, as it stand right now, the Ford is capable of launching an airplane every 3 or 4 weeks.(/s sort of).”
Last May, the Ford’s electronic catapult launched 165 planes in a single 10 hour period; in December 2020, it did 170 in 8.5 hours, well above its target of 160 in 12 hours, a one-third improvement over Nimitz class standard.
Rofl!
I did some dangerous stuff. I was T.A.D. to a permanent Fire Dept during overhaul and was One on One of my section. I did a 3 month stint in it the previous yard period and found by accident our biggest fire while I was onboard. It was in a storeroom in Hanger Bay 2 and heat had transferred to 02 the level and close to a JP5 day tank. The floor tiles in the Barber shop close by were buckling. I was off duty but all off duty fire department that lived onboard geared up and did cool down of adjoining spaces.
But the one job that nearly killed me several times was T.A.D. to boat crew as an engineman. I about got crushed three different times. One was so close I kid you not my Mom back here woke up screaming for me to jump and I did as the windshield smashed against the QD ladder. At that time all E-3 and below in A-Div when we were in the MED had to go T.A.D. to the boat shop as enginemen when he hit port and dropped anchor.
Myself and a whole boat load of us about bought it either in Brindisi or Trieste one night. We went around a long sea wall and channel headed towards the ship from fleet landing and hit a fog bank. The next thing we saw was LIGHTS lots and lots of lights. A cruise ship went by so close we could see the people in the cabins. My ship was the only CV built with a Sonar Dome in the bow and the Sonar Techs had to talk us back to the ship over the radio. I got my crow on second cruise LOL.
You sure bring back some memories - I was in Deck Dept, 2nd Div. We owned the quarterdeck accom ladder and it had to be rigged before we anchored. Had an E-3 in a wet suit with a ‘D’ ring and a couple of our beefier BMs holding him with a line while we’re steaming at 15 kts towards the anchorage. They’d yell ‘Wave’ and he’d hold his breath as he went under.
We were dropping boats in the water at 10 kts and rigging the boat booms. Everybody in Deck was port/stbd during port visits, and I was on the 3 section bridge watch bill as well, so never saw much liberty. I do remember all the Sailors strapped in Stokes stretchers at Fleet Landing - deemed too intoxicated to make the boat trip back to the ship. One time in France our CO came roaring back onto the pier with his rental car and threw his keys at us and screamed ‘Fix It!’. Somewhere along the way, he lost a tire and was driving on 3 tires and a rim.
We’re all fortunate we survived those days!
He was in the navy. You want him to have an army base? Weird question.
An acquaintance of mine bought one of the Buicks from China shortly before COVID-19 struck. He showed it to a bunch of guys, and I admit, it LOOKED beautiful. But I couldn’t help thinking of all the toxic products that have come from China. Because of covid I haven’t seen him since then. I’ll be interested to learn how it has held up.
>I also got into a big disagreement one night with the 1st LT aka LTCDR Deck Officer and the MARDET CO because boating was secure due to high swells and we were all on the ship and the boats tied out. He ordered me to go get a boat and bring it to the fantail aka DH4. I said No Sir boating is secured by order of the CDO. He said I'm giving you a direct order to put on a life jacket and go down the boom and get on that boat and bring it around. I said no Sir. I said we can all three go up and ask the Old Man what he says and I'll do what he says to do but boating is secured by CDO LOL.
They looked at each other then looked at the BM1 Dispatcher and said sailor put on a life jacket and go get a boat. He said Sir I'll put on a lifejacket but I will not go down a boat boom right now.. Cheng would have had his lunch if he'd found out. So would have The Captain. CO was a great man & a real hero. One of the longest held in Hanoi Hilton and had everyones respect for how he conducted the ship and himself. He had started out as a Fireman Recruit after WW2 and ended up as a pilot shot down in Nam.
I wasn't in Deck I was in Engineering and 1St LT didn't even know who his crew was and there was no reason to run a boat. Those two wanted to go to the beach and I think were half way snookered. Too Bad LOL.
Yeah Stokes stretchers were great portable cells LOL. We had 7 UB's 2 PB's, Captains gig, and Admirals barge.
One of the last memories of boat crew was in Venice, Italy. We had pulled in early that day and been making runs non stop. Both the Coxun and I had a cruise under our belt so we knew what to do. At dusk the Boat O came on and it went down hill fast. He has a map and his compass and he pointed out where we were to go. The Coxsun was a good friend of mine from Fire DEpt. We told the Boat O that's not the way to fleet landing and pointed the right direction. He insisted we do it by his map and compass he was holding. In about 10-15 minutes I heard the screw cavitate and yelled shut it down shallow water. WE sat there a minute and had enough under us to float. I'd seen this alot as I grew up on east Tennessee lakes. I told my Buddy we'll be out of here in a few minutes just back out slow like we came in. WE got out, headed to the ship till we recognized our landmarks we'd used all day and went to fleet landing. Boat O never said nothing the rest of the night. LOL.
“Are there any good Chinese cars?” - video by two white guys in China. They publish videos about China while driving around on motorcycles - cars, buildings, food, girls, pretty much anything having to do with China.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1At2H-lIJog
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