50 Years Ago, Mullinnix Passes Final Acceptance Trials

(Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)

… Final Acceptance Trials with RADM R. F. Stout, President, Board of Inspection and Survey on board. Of all days, the Mullinnix was cloaked in a dense fog that blotted out the sea and everything else more than fifty feet away. Through the sound of fog signals, the ship conducted INSURV Board exercises in Engineering, Sonar, Communications, and Radar. By 1830 the fog seemed impenetrable. Engines all stop, back, stop, ahead were ordered every few minutes. At 1943, the ship managed to test the anchor chain, anchor brake, and anchor windlass.

The fog lifted, Mullinnix appeared out of the haze, and she managed to conduct locked shaft tests. Nightfall did not interrupt the numerous tests that needed to be completed. The 2000-2400 watch witnessed boiler overload tests at 26 knots, followed by full power trials as the sun tried to knife its rays through the morning fog. With visibility hovering around 100 yards, she completed her full power run and commenced full power astern tests. At 1140 the crash stop to design full power ahead maneuver was successfully completed.

The fog still challenging, she backed all engines two-thirds while conducting steering tests. Would anything go right? Just when the crew thought they had caught a break, the order was given to debark the liberty boat to rescue a disabled fishing boat. With the Boston Harbor channel at low visibility, Mullinnix maneuvered port side of pier 8E, Boston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, Massachusetts, using standard destroyer type mooring lines.

Acceptance tests completed. Acceptance test passed. Time to stand down a bit. Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that fact. At 1533 on the afternoon of 28 August, COMONE ordered Hurricane Condition Two. Hurricanes can produce storm surges, high winds, tornadoes, and heavy rain. Mullinnix prepared for heavy weather, lighting off air and surface search radars. Fires were lit under boiler 2A at 1620. The port anchor chain broke and the crew had to secure the bitter end to a bollard on the pier followed by putting out additional wires fore and aft. She road out the hurricane in the company of USS Daly DD-519, USS Macon CA-132, and various other units of the US Atlantic Fleet.


To be continued…
Cheers,
Woody

50 Years Ago, Mullinnix Arrives in Boston!

(Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)


The crew’s prayers were answered. Mullinnix found pristine steaming conditions with cloudless skies and star-studded nights. They were closing in on Boston and by 16 August were within spitting distance of mooring stateside when a storm was building. In the south the sky was the blue-black of gunmetal, the waves capping as far as the eye could see. The thunderheads rippled with electricity.

A network of lighting bloomed, all the way to the top of the sky. While brilliance lit the clouds and waves you could see shipmates on the fantail smoking - like fire flies on a summer night doing a slow burn. The temperature dropped suddenly and chains of dry lighting pulsed inside the clouds, flooding the Mullinnix with a white brilliance that turned the stacks the pale color of old bone.

Fog rolled over Mullinnix smudging out her entire outline. At 1801 she commenced sounding fog signals and stationed lookouts to be the eyes of the ship. For the next several hours ship’s speed was limited to 5 to 7 knots. At 0135, the morning of 17 August, all engines were stopped – visibility was zero. The fog so thick, the crew thought they were steaming inside a light bulb. Would they ever get to Boston?

By 0222 visibility had increased to 700 yards and Mullinnix was able to increase her speed to 15 knots. At 0559 she sighted Cape Cod light bearing 291 true distance 2 miles. You could smell the clam chowder.

With the aid of Civilian Pilot McNaughton, Mullinnix maneuvered to moor port side to pier 4E, Boston Naval Shipyard, Charlestown, Massachusetts. SOPA was CO of USS Macon CA-132. Macon was the first Atlantic Fleet cruiser to fire a Regulus Missile on 8 May 1956 while anchored off the North Carolina coast. In the coming year, her crew would witness Macon to be the first cruiser to enter the Great Lakes region for the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. A photograph taken during it's passage through the locks was featured on the cover of Life Magazine with a cow grazing in a field in the background. She was also the first to be over 500 feet above sea level.

It was good to be back. The crew needed the down time, the Mux a breather. She’d performed beyond all expectations.

To be continued…
Cheers,
Woody

Woodstock - 39 Years ago today

15 August, 1969 Bethel, New York --- Where were you on this date? I was probably just finishing up summer school at Kearney State College in Kearney, Nebraska and preparing to go to my last semester. After the fall semester and a 0.7 grade point average I was in the Navy by 16 Feb, 1970.

.7 grade pont on a 4 point scale? Yep - 3 Technical Fs, 1 D, and an "A" in advanced-beginning swimming. You are awarded a Technical F when you don't go to class - drinking beer instead.

I've only met one person that admits being at Woodstock - my Navy buddy Ken "Gus" Kustin. Who else went? Didn't Wavy Gravy say, "there's about 300,000 of you fuckers out there?" If any of you read this post, let me hear from you!!!

For a great trip (...without even leaving the farm...), check out http://www.woodstock69.com/index.htm. Great site!!

Even though I wasn't there in person, even today, I can proudly say, "I'm from the Woodstock generation!"

AND: "I had long hair back when long hair meant something..."

Cheers,
Woody

50 Years Ago, Mux Prepares to leave Tampico for Boston!

(Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)

Mullinnix received 2363 visitors on 8 August and an additional 2751 on the 9th. The crew continued to show that they were adept at making friends and extending the good wishes of the American People in every port.

Goodbye Tampico. So said the crew as tugs Tames and Panuco came alongside to port to assist Mullinnix in her departure to Boston, Massachusetts in accordance with COMDESLANT Modified Movement Order 20-58. The ship would spend most of the rest of 1958 in the shipyards during which time many modifications would be made to her original construction. At 0955 she passed Southern Breakwater Light abeam to starboard. Four minutes later the Special Sea and Anchor Detail was secured. State-side her we come! Well, no so fast. At 1446 all engines were stopped, laying to off Tampico Breakwater, received fishing boat Almirante alongside to starboard to debark official guests.

The crew’s prayers were answered. Mullinnix found pristine steaming conditions with cloudless skies and star-studded nights. They were closing in on Boston and by 16 August were within spitting distance of mooring stateside when a storm was building. In the south the sky was the blue-black of gunmetal, the waves capping as far as the eye could see. The thunderheads rippled with electricity.

A network of lighting bloomed, all the way to the top of the sky. While brilliance lit the clouds and waves you could see shipmates on the fantail smoking - like fire flies on a summer night doing a slow burn. The temperature dropped suddenly and chains of dry lighting pulsed inside the clouds, flooding the Mullinnix with a white brilliance that turned the stacks the pale color of old bone.

Fog rolled over Mullinnix smudging out her entire outline. At 1801 she commenced sounding fog signals and stationed lookouts to be the eyes of the ship. For the next several hours ship’s speed was limited to 5 to 7 knots. At 0135, the morning of 17 August, all engines were stopped – visibility was zero. The fog so thick, the crew thought they were steaming inside a light bulb. Would they ever get to Boston?

By 0222 visibility had increased to 700 yards and Mullinnix was able to increase her speed to 15 knots. At 0559 she sighted Cape Cod light bearing 291 true distance 2 miles. You could smell the clam chowder.

To be continued...
Cheers,Woody