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
… 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
posted by Frank A. Wood at 17:42
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