Re: RN Destroyer Rooster Tail

On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:09:09 -0700, AudioSysEng
<audiosyseng@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


"We had both types of fuel lines when I was on board. At first we had
the black lines and after the fire when we went to the yards in Frisco
we changed to the hard piping which was a real pain in the posterior
(ass if you like). I hated them as did everyone else. They were
supposed to be changed long before I went on board but the CO before I
got on was glory hungry and went politicking instead. The result was
the death of four BT's and almost three more for the lower level who
couldn't get the escape hatch open because of all the guys running off
the mess deck (there was a movie going at the time) to get some air. I
was supposed to be on that watch as lower level fireman but because
forward fireroom screwed up there boilers again we had both of ours on
line back aft so they could fix at least one of the units.

I still have nightmares about that fire and it's been 38 years. What I
still see is the skin pulling off the Marty Fishers arms as I tried to
help carry his body out of the hole. Another thing I dream about and I
don't know why is low water in the DA tank. I did stand underway top
watch as an E-3 because we didn't have the personal to cover
everything."

Here's a link to some post-fire pictures:

http://www.uss-king.com/1969%20Fire.shtml

What a nightmare that must have been. An uncontrollable casualty.
I can think of only one fireroom casualty worse than this type of
fire.
I'm hoping this BT meant E-4 and not E-3 (Fireman), or confused top
watch with another watch stand.
Besides the CO's alleged dereliction of duty in not changing the fuel
lines, it's my strong opinion that allowing a Fireman to stand top
watch in this type of steam plant is another dereliction of duty.
A Fireman just plain ain't qualified, unless he's a busted down PO.
When shorthanded, we stood 6x6 watches.
Hard to imagine not having 4 qualified top watches aboard, but I'm
interested in knowing how that could happen outside of battle
conditions.
Looking at the photos, I see major differences from my ship in the
console setup, but most everything else is so trashed it is barely
recognizable.
What a shame. I feel for those guys.
Tell your buddy I said Hi. And tell him to try thinking about some
nice port experience just before he goes to sleep, so he can drive
that damn DA tank out of his dreams.
Might work.

--Vic
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Wow, even the safety crews love a good wreck.
    ... lower right of the screen standing in front of the fire truck. ... the time Hornish hits the barrels, one fireman raises his arms and appears ... crew) go to the races to see a good wreck, not to watch 500 rednecks drive ... Keep an eye on the fireman on the right side of the video. ...
    (rec.autos.sport.nascar)
  • Am I a Fireman Yet?
    ... I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.' ... Later that day she went to her local fire Station in Brisbane, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Queensland. ... She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Am I a Fireman Yet?
    ... I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.' ... Later that day she went to her local fire Station in Brisbane, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Queensland. ... She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. ...
    (soc.senior.issues)
  • Re: Am I a Fireman Yet?
    ... In Queensland, Australia, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year ... she wanted her son to grow up & fulfil all his ... I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.' ... Later that day she went to her local fire Station in Brisbane, ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Billy the Fireman
    ... In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, ... "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." ... Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, ...
    (soc.religion.christian)