50 Yrs Ago Today (Pearl Harbor Day), Mullinnix Investigates a Sonar Contact
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)
Early on the morning of 7 December, 18 short years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mullinnix steamed out of the harbor at 0724 for operations in accordance with COMSIXTHFLT OpOrder 60-59. The crew was exercised at general quarters for ASW exercises to investigate a sonar contact, steamed and maneuvered with the Essex, refueled from the USS Mississenewa AO-144, mail transfer from USS Stormes DD-780, and performed ASW operations in area TURK with USS Piper SS-409 and USS Vogelgesang DD-862.
The following day she rendezvous with Task Group 63.1 consisting of USS Betelguese AF-260, USS Altair AKS-32, and USS Hyades AF-28. While taking on supplies from Altair, Seaman R. A. Cable was injured when a tripod snapped on aft station and the supporting stanchion struck him in the groin.
On Friday, 11 December, 8 minutes after securing from refueling from the Mississenewa, the bridge lost steering control. The captain immediately ordered ship’s speed to be reduced to 10 knots while aft steering assumed steering control. Steering was shifted back to the bridge after it was discovered the casualty occurred when the load was lost on the ship’s service generators 3 and 4.
Exercises continued into Saturday with man over board drills, Z-2-T practice with USS Vogelgesang DD-862 with the Mullinnix acting as the target. She then transferred mail to Stromes followed by transferring ENS Fleming, RD1 Newman, and TM3 Double to Vogelgesang. The ship then conducted Z-4-AD gunnery tracking exercises. After the three shipmates were returned safely to the ship, Mullinnix completed a mail transfer via helicopter.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
Early on the morning of 7 December, 18 short years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mullinnix steamed out of the harbor at 0724 for operations in accordance with COMSIXTHFLT OpOrder 60-59. The crew was exercised at general quarters for ASW exercises to investigate a sonar contact, steamed and maneuvered with the Essex, refueled from the USS Mississenewa AO-144, mail transfer from USS Stormes DD-780, and performed ASW operations in area TURK with USS Piper SS-409 and USS Vogelgesang DD-862.
The following day she rendezvous with Task Group 63.1 consisting of USS Betelguese AF-260, USS Altair AKS-32, and USS Hyades AF-28. While taking on supplies from Altair, Seaman R. A. Cable was injured when a tripod snapped on aft station and the supporting stanchion struck him in the groin.
On Friday, 11 December, 8 minutes after securing from refueling from the Mississenewa, the bridge lost steering control. The captain immediately ordered ship’s speed to be reduced to 10 knots while aft steering assumed steering control. Steering was shifted back to the bridge after it was discovered the casualty occurred when the load was lost on the ship’s service generators 3 and 4.
Exercises continued into Saturday with man over board drills, Z-2-T practice with USS Vogelgesang DD-862 with the Mullinnix acting as the target. She then transferred mail to Stromes followed by transferring ENS Fleming, RD1 Newman, and TM3 Double to Vogelgesang. The ship then conducted Z-4-AD gunnery tracking exercises. After the three shipmates were returned safely to the ship, Mullinnix completed a mail transfer via helicopter.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 08:03
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