50 Yrs Ago Today - Mullinnix Arrives in Montevideo, Uruguay
(Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)
Mullinnix was greeted at Montevideo with one mile visibility, heavy rain hitting hard on the aluminum superstructure. The sea and anchor detail personnel stared out over grey-green sea – bleak below the heavy black clouds through which no ray of sunshine could pass. The ensign wrapped itself about the flag pole in the gusty wind.
At 0822 she fired a salute of 21 guns to the nation of Uruguay. Uruguay reciprocated by firing a salute of 21 guns in return. Shortly after the ship passed Sarandi breakwater and at 0844 moored starboard side to Mulle de Escala Pier, Montevideo, Uruguay with standard class mooring lines, all doubled.
COMSOLANT left the ship to call officially on the Honorable Robert F. Woodward, US Ambassador to Uruguay; Daniel Fernandez Crespo, President of the Montevideo Council; General Cipriano Oliveria, Uruguayan Minister of National Defense and Captain Victor Dodino, Inspector General of the Uruguayan Navy. USS Spikefish SS-404 stood into the harbor and moored alongside of port in the mid morning rain. Lightning rolled silently through the clouds overhead, flaring suddenly in a yellow ball, as though igniting a trapped pocket of white gas inside each individual cloud.
SOLANT Chief of Staff left the ship to call officially on General Captain Angel N. Sierra, Uruguayan Maritime Perfect. Later that day, COMSOLANT, in the company of an honor guard, placed a wreath at the statue of General Jose Artigas, Built in 1949, it was to pay tribute to the 19th century general, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan independence”.
The weather continued to deteriorate. Liberty was cancelled for all hands. At 1855 Mullinnix set storm condition II, setting the starboard anchor underfoot, and put additional 1 1/8” bow and stern wires doubled to the pier. The sky was almost black. When lighting flared in the clouds it looked like Jimmy Stewart’s flash bulbs in Rear Window. By 2000, the ship had made all preparations for getting underway on one half hour notice. She set the underway watch in addition to the import watch. Lightning quivering in the clouds like pieces of white thread while rain was twisting in sheets. The main engines were lit off shortly after midnight. Underway watches were stationed on the bridge and in after-steering. Deck security patrols were stationed throughout the ship. The gale force winds were cutting the tops off the waves. At 0330, USS Hartley was underway to proceed to sea to ride out the storm.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
Mullinnix was greeted at Montevideo with one mile visibility, heavy rain hitting hard on the aluminum superstructure. The sea and anchor detail personnel stared out over grey-green sea – bleak below the heavy black clouds through which no ray of sunshine could pass. The ensign wrapped itself about the flag pole in the gusty wind.
At 0822 she fired a salute of 21 guns to the nation of Uruguay. Uruguay reciprocated by firing a salute of 21 guns in return. Shortly after the ship passed Sarandi breakwater and at 0844 moored starboard side to Mulle de Escala Pier, Montevideo, Uruguay with standard class mooring lines, all doubled.
COMSOLANT left the ship to call officially on the Honorable Robert F. Woodward, US Ambassador to Uruguay; Daniel Fernandez Crespo, President of the Montevideo Council; General Cipriano Oliveria, Uruguayan Minister of National Defense and Captain Victor Dodino, Inspector General of the Uruguayan Navy. USS Spikefish SS-404 stood into the harbor and moored alongside of port in the mid morning rain. Lightning rolled silently through the clouds overhead, flaring suddenly in a yellow ball, as though igniting a trapped pocket of white gas inside each individual cloud.
SOLANT Chief of Staff left the ship to call officially on General Captain Angel N. Sierra, Uruguayan Maritime Perfect. Later that day, COMSOLANT, in the company of an honor guard, placed a wreath at the statue of General Jose Artigas, Built in 1949, it was to pay tribute to the 19th century general, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan independence”.
The weather continued to deteriorate. Liberty was cancelled for all hands. At 1855 Mullinnix set storm condition II, setting the starboard anchor underfoot, and put additional 1 1/8” bow and stern wires doubled to the pier. The sky was almost black. When lighting flared in the clouds it looked like Jimmy Stewart’s flash bulbs in Rear Window. By 2000, the ship had made all preparations for getting underway on one half hour notice. She set the underway watch in addition to the import watch. Lightning quivering in the clouds like pieces of white thread while rain was twisting in sheets. The main engines were lit off shortly after midnight. Underway watches were stationed on the bridge and in after-steering. Deck security patrols were stationed throughout the ship. The gale force winds were cutting the tops off the waves. At 0330, USS Hartley was underway to proceed to sea to ride out the storm.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 07:07
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