Ever wonder what it was like to serve on a WWII era
destroyer, that was
FRAM'd (Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization program) in the 60's to
meet the challenges of the Cold War period in our nations history?
This
area of the web site is dedicated to a group of writers who served on FRAM
ships that carried Gyrodyne's DASH weapon system (as seen above on the USS
VOGELGESANG (DD-862)), yet these stories are not of DASH, but of
interesting events that happened to these Sailors while serving in the
United States Navy and of the complexities of NAVY LIFE. This group of sailors, who call themselves the Secret
Scurvy Dogs Society (SSDS), have been an incredible
resource to the Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation
(GHHF) in performing research of the FRAM destroyers which carried
Gyrodyne's QH-50 series Drone
Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH), but also in providing a sailors
perspective of where DASH succeeded and where it failed.
If not for the continued
oversight (weekly if not daily) of the SSDS concerning Gyrodyne's
continuing archive recovery and many questions relating to them, the GHHF
web site would not be as complete and accurate as it is.
To honor and thank the Secret Scurvy Dog Society, we are
pleased to present some of their writings and adventures of Navy life.
Click on a Picture/link below and Anchors Away!
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The SSDS recently lost
Lance Cpl. Shane Goldman USMC to the war
in Iraq. We ask that you click here to read
about Shane and remember, Freedom is not Free. |
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Here is an Introduction
of how the SSDS came into being from a "Plank-Owner" of the
Scurvy
Dogs.....the Mysterious Mr. Hood. |
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When Mr. Hood visits his
old ASROC haunts, it is like old times about USS ORLECK (DD-886) |
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How Do you re-fuel
a FRAM/Gearing class Destroyer, at Sea? What happens if something goes
wrong? Read about it here. |
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If your boilers are out and your Steam Plant is
cold, someone will have to light them off. Now there is a problem: How much
fuel oil is at the bottom of the boiler? You'd better find out if you wish
to keep your Round Uptakes! |
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What happens if a FRAM/Gearing class Destroyer
tries to enter port, under a bridge when the tide is in? Why you LOWER
THE MAST of course! See how that is done! |
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Preparing to get underway after dry docking a
FRAM Destroyer isn't easy and you can't forget to seal anything, or you
run the risk of Flooding the Sonar Dome.......and
then you'll be in real trouble. Read here on fixing that problem! |
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Have you ever toured a Navy ship while docked?
Well, there are always crewman on those ships to make sure all have a safe
time, however, it is boring for the unlucky sailor left on board while
others get to have shore leave and "experience" the local night
life. Read here about what happens when one sailor activates
the ASROC launcher on his ship to get even with those party boys! |
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FRAM destroyers did more than screen aircraft
carriers, they intercepted Russian Spy Ships; some off the coast of
California. Read about what happens when the USS CHEVALIER (DD-805) is
required to "steam-up" fast to intercept the approaching enemy
in a Cold War Encounter. |
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Do you wonder how the food was on a FRAM
Destroyer? What happens when the food isn't so good? Read here about such
an episode on the USS CHEVALIER (DD-805) when the
Attack of the Rancid Rabbits occurred! |
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The Management of the systems on a Destroyer is
a complicated thing; especially when the subject of the
"Lists" is concerned. Read here about such an episode when
it got really confusing aboard the USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7). |
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Docking a FRAM Destroyer is no easy task and
when rivalries between classes of Naval ships is involved, you know its
going to get interesting. Read here about how to set the
Sea and Anchor Detail when the clash of the classes occurs! |
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Being a young man in the Navy and enjoying the
adventures is one thing, but when Liberty Call is announced over the 1MC,
the young man's attentions are turned to other things, like girls. But
what happens when that young girl shows up, while your giving a tour of
your ship to VIPs? Better think fast or the Portland
Rose Festival may mark the end of your career! Read Here! |
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After the other ships of McKEAN' s squadron are
decommissioned, the operating tempo for the ship greatly increases but
there is still time to do those things that are very much in the Navy
tradition; like Burying the Dead at sea.
However, that doesn't mean it goes off without a hitch! Read about it
here. |
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The FRAM'd GEARING Class destroyer was the last
of the American Naval Destroyers that had manual engine control. Because
of that, trying to change the direction of the ship during docking
maneuvers was a real art or more of a Boiler
Flat Ballet. Read here about how those throttle men
did it! |
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When you destroyer is tied up at dock, it is a
coordinated event to slip the lines and get Underway.
Read here about what happens when someone decides not to cooperate! |
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FRAM destroyers were the last of the
"manual" controlled destroyers and with that amount of control,
came great responsibility and for those who could muster such greatness in
the engineering spaces came the ultimate title.......of "THE
OIL KING". Read here about what he did and how! |
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Life on a Destroyer can get pretty interesting
when dealing with Nuclear Security and while both ASROC and DASH were
Nuclear qualified weapon systems, that didn't mean the ship actually was
caring the weapons. What if the Destroyer that docks next to you, does? Why are
you being issued a side-arm? Should you load it? What was that noise in
the night? Read here about such an episode aboard the USS Henry B.
Wilson (DDG-7) that took all of these questions which resulted, in a
Shot in The Dark. |
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What happens when a fresh Junior Officer meets a
seasoned Chief Petty Officer whom the Junior Officer is expected to lead?
While inevitable friction may occur, the end result is a Junior Officer
who must earn the trust of these career sailors by hard work. This process
can be clearly seen in Junior Officers and
Chief Petty Officers. |
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After a day of gunnery practice on your FRAM
Destroyer, you are tired, tired and looking forward to liberty, BUT first,
you need to refuel the ship. But what happens when fuel going into the
fuel tanks, starts coming out of...the wardroom? You better do something
about this OIL SPILL before a fire
erupts.....read about it here as this happened on the USS CHEVALIER. |
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There
is an obscure section of Naval Regulations, which states that if an
ongoing O.O.D. (Officer of the Deck) doesn't like the situation
that he is being asked to "take over", he has the absolute right
to refuse to relieve. What happens IF THE SHIP IS SINKING? What HAPPENS if
you are in the middle of worst TYPHOON you've
ever seen? Someone better do something! |
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Having great liberty (shore leave) with a buddy
is something to be savored, especially in the far east. Exploring the
sights with camera in hand, visiting ancient temples and cemeteries,
walking in directions that you hadn't walked before are all great
adventures and because you have to be back to ship
before midnight, you'd better make sure your buddy is with you when the
whale boat takes you back.......or YOU ARE GOING
TO BE IN TROUBLE! |
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It doesn't matter if you have 2 stars on your shoulders
or not...if the Security personnel don't know you, you are going to be queried.......or
on the Chevalier....maybe even barked at! You
watch out, for SEAMAN CINDY! |
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Being the Officer Of the Deck (OOD) is an
incredible responsibility, especially when navigating around treacherous
waters. It is even more so when the Captain orders you to stay on course
and you realize that will cause you to run aground. You
wonder....."is this a test"?......"is the Captain
nuts?" Either way, you have a decision to make and for one OOD, it
was an Aegean Decision. |
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Why was Mickey Mouse on a Destroyer?
Well, he managed to get a ride on one and of course, between bands
playing, heaving seas and an intermittent wind, Mickey became the starring attraction when
docking to the pier becomes difficult! Read about this Mickey Mouse Operation! |
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You are at Sea.
There is a war on. It is the 1973 Mid East War and your ship is in the
Eastern Med on PIRAZ (Primary Identification and Radar Advisory Zone)
duty. The Crew is at Condition Three wartime posture with one third of the
ships crew awake and at battle stations ‘round the clock. Radar
announces a distant contact. You have permission to fire. It appears that
an Attack at Dawn is underway! |
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Standing watch can be boring and ways to pass
the time sometime range from the entertaining to the disturbing. Read here
how the Bridge crew of the MacKenzie handled the boredom as there were
those who tried to Quoth the
Lieutenant. |
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Making sufficient water on a FRAM destroyer is
serious business: run out of either drinking water or feed water for the
boilers and your ship will come to a halt. What you need, is a WATER
KING. |
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IF your steam plant goes down, it reflects on
the entire ship EVEN though you did nothing to deserve it, you had better
fix it fast because the Casualty report (CASREP) that follows might junk
sink your Navy career. You'd better get that part, no matter how small...even
a Bearing Race! |
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So, you are new on board the GEARING-class
destroyer you are assigned to? Well, Let two old sea dogs acquaint you with
your responsibilities.....Let's see, first you'll be assigned
to a Work Center, then a a Division (WA –
Weapons ASW for example), a Department, a life boat, a GQ station, a DC
station, a Condition 1AS station, an Underway Watch station and finally, an
inport duty section. Better check DECK LOGS to
understand all this! |
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DESTROYER Tenders were the backbone of the
destroyer fleet. They provided everything a destroyer needed: Food,
water, power, mail and of course, weapons for their weapon systems. Weapons
transfers don't always go according to plan and when they don't, you may
have a BAD DAY IN NEWPORT ! |
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To keep your Anti-Submarine capabilities at the
ready, practice is required. So, when you enter the area for a ASW exercise,
you and your crew better be ready if you want to look good. Read hear for a
great accounting of when the USS CHEVALIER (DD-805) bested a U.S. submarine
by "killing" it first....and used their Drone Anti-Submarine (DASH) to do
it, in ASW EXERCISE. |
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While most people are
interested in the weapons systems of a destroyer, what happens when the crew
gets hungry? Specifically, how do you feed a crew of a GEARING class
destroyer? Are there procedures? More importantly, what was the quality of
the food like? You'll find those answers here for several ships when you are
Feeding a destroyer crew. |
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So, your ship is
pulling three duty sections down from 5, during ops in Vietnam, fatigue and
sleep deprivation have started to show its ugly head, and all you can dream
about is getting enough sleep....beware......in wartime, sleeping on watch
is very serious and you'll find yourself being court-marshaled if you are
caught.....or will you? Find out when you are caught
Asleep on Watch. |
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