U.S.S. Lyman K. Swenson - Page 2

sls11650 · 03-08-2010, 04:47 PM

82's were phased out in the '90s. Replaced by new 87' patrol boats.

Steve S.
CWO4 Bosn
USCG ret

Tomathvl · 03-08-2010, 05:32 PM

Never did understand why youse guys liked to ride around on targets.

Two kinds of Boats/Ships....Submarines and Targets.

dond · 03-09-2010, 10:37 AM

Hi Bill (wlyon),
I was in sonar also. I joined in '67 and by then the Navy had changed the rate to Sonar Technician (G - surface, S - sub). Berkeley had the AN/SQS-D system (state of the art at the time). Guess the new title made us sound more professional in the Navy's mind. I wound up with a STG3 rating. Took my 2nd class exam, but flunked it...if I recall correctly, it was after a night of frolicking in Subic! I agree that the Destroyer Navy was the REAL Navy. Berkeley went through a typhoon and we actually were pushed into N. Korean waters! Talk about ("rock & roll!). Don

Ron Smith · 03-09-2010, 12:27 PM

"it was after a night of frolicking in Subic!"

Don,

"Frolicking"? I spent many wonderful evenings "Frolicking" in Subic. Served my last couple of years on the U.S.S. Dixie AD-14. We were on 6 month rotation to Riviera Pier at Subic, as the station repair ship. When I die, I want to go to Olongapo...

What year did you go through the Typhoon? We got into a bad one in late '69. We were walking on the bulkheads more than the deck. A wave smashed the front of mount 52, buckling the 5/8" armor plate and shorted out the brake. The dual 5" mount was swinging back and forth like a Rain Bird sprinkler.

We skirted a Typhoon on the Dixie in '71. It's pretty humbling to be on the top deck of a 600 ft. ship and looking up at the swells on all sides of you.

Ron

dond · 03-13-2010, 09:06 PM

Hey Ron,
The typhoon we went through was in '70. It was an experience I'll never forget! The watch standers were the only ones supposed to be about, everyone else was supposed to be strapped into their racks for their safety. A couple of buds and I ventured up to the signal bridge. You're absolutely correct about walking more on the bulkheads than the decks! Waves were crashing over Mount 51. This was quite a feat as DDG's were built with the much higher "Hurricane Bow". At times, we rolled so far over that I didn't think the ship would right herself. She just hung there (for what seemed like an eternity!), groaned and creaked, and finally would right herself...only then to go to the other side. My heart still pounds thinking about it! Ah, the sea stories are endless!
Cheers, Don

Ron Smith · 03-13-2010, 11:44 PM

Don,

It could have been the same Typhoon. I'm not altogether certain , so it could have been in '70. It was kind of a catch 22. I loved being at sea, yet at the same time I hated being at sea.

Ron

03-08-2010, 04:47 PM	#21
sls11650 User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Memphis Posts: 30 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Uscg 82' wpb 82's were phased out in the '90s. Replaced by new 87' patrol boats. Steve S. CWO4 Bosn USCG ret

03-09-2010, 12:27 PM	#24
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	"it was after a night of frolicking in Subic!" Don, "Frolicking"? I spent many wonderful evenings "Frolicking" in Subic. Served my last couple of years on the U.S.S. Dixie AD-14. We were on 6 month rotation to Riviera Pier at Subic, as the station repair ship. When I die, I want to go to Olongapo... What year did you go through the Typhoon? We got into a bad one in late '69. We were walking on the bulkheads more than the deck. A wave smashed the front of mount 52, buckling the 5/8" armor plate and shorted out the brake. The dual 5" mount was swinging back and forth like a Rain Bird sprinkler. We skirted a Typhoon on the Dixie in '71. It's pretty humbling to be on the top deck of a 600 ft. ship and looking up at the swells on all sides of you. Ron Attached Thumbnails __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said... Last edited by Ron Smith; 03-09-2010 at 01:21 PM.

03-13-2010, 11:44 PM	#26
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Don, It could have been the same Typhoon. I'm not altogether certain , so it could have been in '70. It was kind of a catch 22. I loved being at sea, yet at the same time I hated being at sea. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

03-08-2010, 05:32 PM	#22
Tomathvl User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Milan, IN Posts: 363 Thanks: 3 Thanked 48 Times in 19 Posts	Never did understand why youse guys liked to ride around on targets. Two kinds of Boats/Ships....Submarines and Targets.

03-09-2010, 10:37 AM	#23
dond User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 34 Thanks: 10 Thanked 12 Times in 4 Posts	Hi Bill (wlyon), I was in sonar also. I joined in '67 and by then the Navy had changed the rate to Sonar Technician (G - surface, S - sub). Berkeley had the AN/SQS-D system (state of the art at the time). Guess the new title made us sound more professional in the Navy's mind. I wound up with a STG3 rating. Took my 2nd class exam, but flunked it...if I recall correctly, it was after a night of frolicking in Subic! I agree that the Destroyer Navy was the REAL Navy. Berkeley went through a typhoon and we actually were pushed into N. Korean waters! Talk about ("rock & roll!). Don

03-13-2010, 09:06 PM	#25
dond User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 34 Thanks: 10 Thanked 12 Times in 4 Posts	Hey Ron, The typhoon we went through was in '70. It was an experience I'll never forget! The watch standers were the only ones supposed to be about, everyone else was supposed to be strapped into their racks for their safety. A couple of buds and I ventured up to the signal bridge. You're absolutely correct about walking more on the bulkheads than the decks! Waves were crashing over Mount 51. This was quite a feat as DDG's were built with the much higher "Hurricane Bow". At times, we rolled so far over that I didn't think the ship would right herself. She just hung there (for what seemed like an eternity!), groaned and creaked, and finally would right herself...only then to go to the other side. My heart still pounds thinking about it! Ah, the sea stories are endless! Cheers, Don