Who left the hatch open?

Are you saying the board wasn't green?

Two Guitarro Stories:

ONE
The Crew of Guitarro were found to be totally without blame in the Sinking of the boat along side the pier during New Construction at Mare Island.  The Crew was transferred out in short order.  Some of the Crew were sent to other New Constuction boats at other Shipyard.

One of the Officers, Doug Powell, a Naval Academy and Sub School Classmate of mine, was transferred to the Seahorse (673 Boat), under Construction at EB in Groton.  I was Weapons on Trepang (674 Boat) also under construction at EB.

The practice was that the Prospective Commanding Officer (PCO) of the next boat was permitted/required to ride the boat that was currently going out on Alpha or First Sea Trial.  Of course, the KOG, Admiral Rickover, was aboard for that trial and often time he brought along a couple of influential riders or observers - maybe a Congressman or Senior Congressional Staffer.

Any how, Doug Powell had the EOOW Watch in Maneuvering fr FLYING FISH's Alpha Trial as they were setting up for the Crash Reversal at the end of the Four Hour Full Power Propulsion Test.

The Admiral was situated near the Throttleman, the dignitaries the Admral had brought along were just outside Maneuvering.   The Admiral was describing how Qualified and Well trained the three Enlisted Operators were as was the EOOW (LT Powell).  He emphasized the years of training and education they all had received under his direct supervision.

To make his final point, Admiral Rickover directly asked LT Powell where he had last served and in what capacity.

LT Powell replied, "I was The Damage Control Assistant on USS GUITARRO."  I'm told that everyone struggled to avoid laughing, but that didn't work out!

TWO
Move forward to about 1976.  GUITARRO's Commissioning was delayed because of   the pierside sinking,  And of course, her First Overhaul was delayed also.  I was the Senior Ship Superintendent for GUITARRO's First Overhaul.  The CO told the Shipyard Commander that he darn sure wanted me to be known as the Ship Supt that Did Not sink the Guitarro! (I didn't.)

We did find a couple of odd things left by the sea water incursion at Mare Island, including an Electric Receptacle in AMR-1 that apparently had never been used.  It was entirely corroded out.




Edited by SaltiDawg - 20 Jan 2018 at 9:05pm

Were you the RO for the Crash Reversal i spoke about?

Why isn't SSN-673 in your sig?


Edited by SaltiDawg - 19 Jan 2018 at 8:08pm

Saltidawg     The seahorse was a 637 class boat, but her hull number was 669 not 673.

!@#$%

Not SEA HORSE.  FLYING FISH.  PCO  Don Shelton.  SSN-673.

I edited my post above which will inevitably total confuse anyone coming in late.

My apologies to all.

Hopefully still good sea stories.




Edited by SaltiDawg - 21 Jan 2018 at 10:10am