Only we sailors can relate to the "Ricky's Tour" cartoon. I found this one while catching up on my "All Hands" magazine (in PDF format) today. The only thing missing in the image would be the loud sounds of the flight deck that one would experience while deployed on an Aircraft Carrier.
By MC1 Mike JonesBelieve it or not, I had the best sleep during deployment. Has anyone else felt that way about having great sleep or was it the opposite during deployment?
In my earlier post I was talking about my berth on the destroyer USS Stormes. Later, aboard the FDR the chief's quarters was right beneath the arresting cables, so I know what you mean. I was lucky, however, I ran the tv and radio studio aboard, so I simply strung up a bunk in the radio studio and was treated to the soft sounds of music all night.
Hi john, Sounds like the same berthing space I had on USS Saratoga. Just under the darn cables. Eventually I got used to the flight op noise at night and had the best sleep ever at sea.
After they secured night ops I slept pretty good. But working an hour on and hour off it was hell trying to catch 40 winks. Our sleeping quarters were above the fantail and right below the arresting cables,all you would hear was that 250 lbs of tailhook slamming down on the flight deck every 5 min. There was no sleeping at all during flight ops unless you found you a nice hole somewhere midships.
I retired from the Navy over thirty years ago and to this day, I have to keep a white noise generator going in the bedroom to duplicate the night-time sounds of the ship's engines, blowers and generators. I just turn on the noise, close my eyes and I'm transported back to my rack in First Division. The only thing missing is the movement. Maybe I should ask my wife to rock my bed or at least give it a hard kick every now and then.
I know it sounds hokey to anyone who hasn't been there, but, like Tim, I miss being at sea. Oh, I really don't miss the hard work and the BS but I just miss the sea, especially at night. My wife and I cruise relatively often and it is nice but not the same. I've got some screws loose, I guess, but all of that mahogany and glitz just doesn't take the place of Navy gray.
I was on land when a portion of Hugo hit Jacksonville, Fl. creating numerous flooding everywhere.
Taking U.S.S. Independence around Cape Horn was an experience in itself. On a carrier you feel some what "Safe" because of the size of the ship yet when we approached and went around cape horn, we were thrown around like I never felt before. Even our Escort (Cruiser name forgotten;sorry) had to go in our wake to protect itself. She was so badly damaged that she pulled into Chile for repair.
It was a wild ride as Indy was thrown around like a coke can.
Indy info:
Left for new Home Port - San Diego, Ca. 1988
Transit Via Cape Horn * CVW-17
Polywog to Shellback * Crossed Equator 28 Aug 1988
I remember sleeping through Hurricane Hugo on the Spartanburg County (LST - flat bottom). I tucked my boondockers under my mattress on one side and then wrapped my arm around the pole on the other. I slept like a baby - rocked to sleep!
I didn't like it as much on the Coontz (DDG). It was top heavy and cut through the water so we just swayed very slowly from side to side (non-stop).
I find it interesting that looking back my sleep was the deepest it has ever been. Was it because the long, hard, work days or was it something else?
Another memory of being at sea was the calming effect it had on me. After a long day of working the flight deck, I would find a spot on the ship where I could sit and just capture my thoughts in peace. Listening to the ship cut through water, dolphins escorting, and flying fish hurrying away all teamed up to create a peaceful atmosphere after a long day of work. Then once in a while I would escape reality at night to the highest point of the island, above the crow's nest, to look up at the stars. You cannot beat such a sight anywhere on land if you enjoy astronomy like I do. It was surprising how quiet it can be with only the humming sound coming from the workings of the radar and wind whirling around you between flight operations. What a way to end your day viewing the millions of points of light that even my many trips to the mountains cannot duplicate.
Some of my friends in past years would always remark how can anyone be at sea for so long and how they could not do it. They would use boredom, lack of conveniences, etc. as excuses but like I tell them, you do not know unless you experience the Seas first hand what it feels like.
I sure do miss it.
Comments
I know it sounds hokey to anyone who hasn't been there, but, like Tim, I miss being at sea. Oh, I really don't miss the hard work and the BS but I just miss the sea, especially at night. My wife and I cruise relatively often and it is nice but not the same. I've got some screws loose, I guess, but all of that mahogany and glitz just doesn't take the place of Navy gray.
Taking U.S.S. Independence around Cape Horn was an experience in itself. On a carrier you feel some what "Safe" because of the size of the ship yet when we approached and went around cape horn, we were thrown around like I never felt before. Even our Escort (Cruiser name forgotten;sorry) had to go in our wake to protect itself. She was so badly damaged that she pulled into Chile for repair.
It was a wild ride as Indy was thrown around like a coke can.
Indy info:
Left for new Home Port - San Diego, Ca. 1988
Transit Via Cape Horn * CVW-17
Polywog to Shellback * Crossed Equator 28 Aug 1988
Shellback and damn proud of it!
I didn't like it as much on the Coontz (DDG). It was top heavy and cut through the water so we just swayed very slowly from side to side (non-stop).
Another memory of being at sea was the calming effect it had on me. After a long day of working the flight deck, I would find a spot on the ship where I could sit and just capture my thoughts in peace. Listening to the ship cut through water, dolphins escorting, and flying fish hurrying away all teamed up to create a peaceful atmosphere after a long day of work. Then once in a while I would escape reality at night to the highest point of the island, above the crow's nest, to look up at the stars. You cannot beat such a sight anywhere on land if you enjoy astronomy like I do. It was surprising how quiet it can be with only the humming sound coming from the workings of the radar and wind whirling around you between flight operations. What a way to end your day viewing the millions of points of light that even my many trips to the mountains cannot duplicate.
Some of my friends in past years would always remark how can anyone be at sea for so long and how they could not do it. They would use boredom, lack of conveniences, etc. as excuses but like I tell them, you do not know unless you experience the Seas first hand what it feels like.
I sure do miss it.
Anyone else feel the same?