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The SWO Picture Gallery for those so inclined
- Thread starter Schnugg
- Start date
Propane trainers suck. They burn way too clean and don't produce nearly enough smoke. Nothing like a 6x6' pan of #2 heating oil with 6' of forklift pallets stacked on top. That'll get things cookin' AND make your gear look salty as hell.
True enough! At least one Purple (albeit practice torpedo drop) has been known to make it off the ship, initialed and released by a motivated, lowly, didn't-know-better LTJG (and probably transmitted by an equally motivated, didn't-know-better RMSN).
Propane trainers suck. They burn way too clean and don't produce nearly enough smoke. Nothing like a 6x6' pan of #2 heating oil with 6' of forklift pallets stacked on top. That'll get things cookin' AND make your gear look salty as hell.
If our ships are "gas-fired," which is more true to life?
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Gas Turbine =/= LP or Natural "Gas Fired"
GTMs run on DFM, which is basically Diesel Fuel
Here is a diesel fuel fire=
Now imagine that on a flight deck or below decks.
JP-5 is basically Kerosene, which does not burn THAT much cleaner than DFM.
phrogpilot73
Well-Known Member
Every time I see a photo of a surface ship firing, I reminds me about the time I dove behind a HMMWV because they fired long (we were concerned about flat trajectory, skipping rounds, etc... and firing long = closer to us). The lead up to that event was the CG skipper micromanaging us (the FSCC) and our deconfliction of fires.
091127-N-0000X-001 GULF OF ADEN (Nov. 27, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 95) fires its MK-45 5-inch/54-caliber gun during a pre-aim calibration fire (PACFIRE) training exercise. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is on a routine deployment to the region. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
CG: "I see an aircraft on radar."
NGFS LNO: "Roger, that's the section of skids, under positive control from the FAC and deconflicted from your gun-target line."
CG: "I want him further away."
NGFS LNO: "He's established in the holding area delineated in Camp Lejeune range regs, and well outside the SDZ of any surface fires."
CG: "I want him north of XX grid line."
Me (thinking): "Jesus Christ, we do this all the fucking time. Can you quote chapter, page, verse of the range regs? Do you even KNOW the SDZs for Arty and aerial delivered ordnance? Let us do our fucking jobs!!"
NGFS LNO (after I told him that in order to get his training done, I'd send the skids to the FARP): "Roger, we'll send them off station and will advise when ready to proceed."
First couple of shots were bad enough that we told all air to continue to hold on deck (well away from the impact area). Looking back on it (and after talking to NGFS LNO and PSW), I don't think he was trying to micromanage us. I think he realized how NOT proficient they were with guns. They really do need to provide you guys with more rounds and more training time if they're going to pretend that Naval Gunfire is a valid option.
Yeah, definitely a skill that fades quickly if not used. I was the GLO (Gunnery Liaison Officer) on USS First Ship (CG). It is definitely a team event and everyone needs to be on their toes when putting live rounds down range. I think a strong GLO is imperative given the nature of what you're doing. Once all the checks have been completed and the CO gives a 'batteries release,' it's on the GLO. He and he alone tells the mounts when to fire. It's his responsibility to run his team and ensure each shot is going to where it is supposed to go when it is supposed to go...down to the second.
I think the training I had leading up to be the GLO was some of the best I received as a SWO. There was solid classroom training followed by "simulator" training. I put simulator in quotes because the hands on training is conducted on site in the ship's CIC, exactly where everyone will be when conducting the live fire. The trainers hook a computer up to the guns' fire control system which allows the them to critique our shots. The training is fairly intensive in that it covers many different types of shooting scenarios. But basically, it's a lot of practice, practice, practice.
I agree with your assertion that more training time is needed to maintain proficiency in this area. But more rounds aren't necessarily needed, at least not for the NGFS team's shooting proficiency. Like I said, the trainers come on board and hook up their computer to our system and as far as we know (minus the sound of the gas turbines, the roll of the ship, and oh yeah the bang of the gun mounts), we're shooting the guns.
With that said, shooting live rounds is definitely more fun!
091212-N-9520G-066 SASEBO, Japan (Dec. 12, 2009) A family member looks on as Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) gets underway for a Tiger Cruise. Tiger Cruises provide the opportunity for the family and friends of Sailors to share the experience of being underway on a U.S. Navy ship. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio/Released)
A picture is worth a thousand words
091209-N-4954I-024 PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2009) Quartermaster 3rd Class Jessa Smith, right, from Grants Pass, Ore., trains Quartermaster Seaman Jesse Braman, from Tri-Cities, Wash., on navigation bearings on the bridge aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is conducting carrier qualifications for fleet replacement squadron pilots off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan M. Ilyankoff/Released)
091209-N-4954I-024 PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2009) Quartermaster 3rd Class Jessa Smith, right, from Grants Pass, Ore., trains Quartermaster Seaman Jesse Braman, from Tri-Cities, Wash., on navigation bearings on the bridge aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is conducting carrier qualifications for fleet replacement squadron pilots off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan M. Ilyankoff/Released)
091215-N-1825E-378 ROTA, Spain (Dec. 15, 2009) The High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2, left, is at Naval Station Rota as the guided-missile frigate USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG-29) arrives for a scheduled fuel stop. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph Ebalo/Released)
091217-N-8421M-008 NORTH ARABIAN SEA (Dec. 17, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) is underway in the North Arabian Sea supporting Operation Enduring Freedom with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Mercil/ Released)
091112-N-2600H-003 INDIAN OCEAN (Nov. 12, 2009) Ensign Yevgeni Kamenski closes the dust cover on his rifle aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) as Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Brian Ashcroft hands him a magazine before visit, board, search and seizure operation . Chosin is part of Carrier Strike Group 11 and is conducting anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew A. Hepburn/Released)
091025-N-2600H-030 INDIAN OCEAN (Oct. 24, 2009) Chief Boatswain's Mate Jesse Crider sprays contestants in a firefighting competition with a fire hose aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102). Sampson is underway as part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group on a routine deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew A. Hepburn/Released)
091013-N-2600H-032 INDIAN OCEAN (Oct. 13, 2009) Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Jorge Paz sands the barrel of a 5-inch gun on the forecastle of the guided-missle destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) during a day of topside preservation. Sampson is underway as part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group on a routine deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew A. Hepburn/Released)
