50 Years Ago Today –Mullinnix Returns to Norfolk
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
The Triton, a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered radar picket submarine, was the first vessel to execute a submerged circumnavigation of the Earth, accomplishing this during her shakedown cruise in early 1960. She also had the distinction of being the only non-Soviet submarine to be powered by two nuclear reactors.
With NATO exercises finally completed, Mullinnix headed home for Norfolk. The strenuous and stressful ‘cruise’ had taken its toll on the crew. The Commanding Officer held mast for three shipmates for assault and disorderly on board ship. One received a Summary Court-Martial, the other solitary confinement on bread and water for three days. She arrived, no less from wear, at Pier 20, berth 206, portside of USS Dewey DLG-14 at Norfolk’s D&S Piers at 0819 on 20 October. By 1232 the ship had taken on 69,609 gallons of fuel.
Early Saturday morning, on 29 October, tugs YTB-131 and YTB-390 breasted out USS Putnam DD-757 then moved Mullinnix (under cold plant) to Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth. In compliance with COMDESFLOT 4 (Admin) mag 282118Z and COMDESLANT 290400Z mag, the ship was assigned restricted shipyard availability to accomplish emergency repairs to her economizer tubes. Pilot White disembarked by 0853 and the ship shifted from emergency electrical power to shore power. SOPA was Commanding Officer, USS Randolph CVS-15.
She returned to D&S Piers on 14 November. After receiving pyrotechnics and fuel, Mullinnix departed for Second Fleet Exercises with USS Forrestal CVA-59, and USS Laffey DD-724 of the Virginia Capes according to COMDESFLOT6 OPORD 4-60. To maintain peak readiness, the ships operating together while muster their crews at numerous drills. During the afternoon of 16 November she fired 32 rounds of 5-in AAC. Later the ship used her motor whale boat for a personnel transfer with USS Seneca ATF-91. This was followed by exercises with USS Triton SSRN-586, sister-ship USS Manley DD-940 and USS Northampton CLC-1.
Under a night sky black as tar, starless and cold, Mullinnix hooked up with Task Unit 25.2.1 during the mid-watch on Thursday, 17 November. The unit consisted of Northampton, Laffey, Manley, USS Mitscher DL-2, USS J.C. Owens DD-776, USS Strong DD-758, USS McCard DD-822, USS Johnston DD-821. After refueling from USS Salamone AO-26, she engaged in ASW exercises with Laffey and USS Corsair AGSS-435. This constituted a Z-5-G firing exercise that expended 12 rounds of 5-in VTNF and 10 rounds 3-in 50 VTNF.
On Friday, 18 November, USS Ellison DD-864 and USS Cone DD-866 joined the other ships in an eight ship concentric circular screen exercise. Days were filled with high line transfers, abandon ship drills, man over board drills, and GQ after GQ after GQ.
The next day, under a blood-streaked morning sky, found Mullinnix in the company of DESRON 4 ships (less USS Gearing DD-710 and USS Vogelgesang DD-862) and DesDiv 321 (less USS Lowry DD-770 and USS Stormes DD-780). As the sun rose and the sea surging under Mullinnix’s hull, drenching the focele in spray, she stationed her ASW attach team and pursued a sonar contact in a zig zagging pattern in accordance with Plan 21, base course 320 degrees in the company of Corsair, USS H.J. Ellison DD-864 and USS Turner DER-834.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
The Triton, a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered radar picket submarine, was the first vessel to execute a submerged circumnavigation of the Earth, accomplishing this during her shakedown cruise in early 1960. She also had the distinction of being the only non-Soviet submarine to be powered by two nuclear reactors.
With NATO exercises finally completed, Mullinnix headed home for Norfolk. The strenuous and stressful ‘cruise’ had taken its toll on the crew. The Commanding Officer held mast for three shipmates for assault and disorderly on board ship. One received a Summary Court-Martial, the other solitary confinement on bread and water for three days. She arrived, no less from wear, at Pier 20, berth 206, portside of USS Dewey DLG-14 at Norfolk’s D&S Piers at 0819 on 20 October. By 1232 the ship had taken on 69,609 gallons of fuel.
Early Saturday morning, on 29 October, tugs YTB-131 and YTB-390 breasted out USS Putnam DD-757 then moved Mullinnix (under cold plant) to Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth. In compliance with COMDESFLOT 4 (Admin) mag 282118Z and COMDESLANT 290400Z mag, the ship was assigned restricted shipyard availability to accomplish emergency repairs to her economizer tubes. Pilot White disembarked by 0853 and the ship shifted from emergency electrical power to shore power. SOPA was Commanding Officer, USS Randolph CVS-15.
She returned to D&S Piers on 14 November. After receiving pyrotechnics and fuel, Mullinnix departed for Second Fleet Exercises with USS Forrestal CVA-59, and USS Laffey DD-724 of the Virginia Capes according to COMDESFLOT6 OPORD 4-60. To maintain peak readiness, the ships operating together while muster their crews at numerous drills. During the afternoon of 16 November she fired 32 rounds of 5-in AAC. Later the ship used her motor whale boat for a personnel transfer with USS Seneca ATF-91. This was followed by exercises with USS Triton SSRN-586, sister-ship USS Manley DD-940 and USS Northampton CLC-1.
Under a night sky black as tar, starless and cold, Mullinnix hooked up with Task Unit 25.2.1 during the mid-watch on Thursday, 17 November. The unit consisted of Northampton, Laffey, Manley, USS Mitscher DL-2, USS J.C. Owens DD-776, USS Strong DD-758, USS McCard DD-822, USS Johnston DD-821. After refueling from USS Salamone AO-26, she engaged in ASW exercises with Laffey and USS Corsair AGSS-435. This constituted a Z-5-G firing exercise that expended 12 rounds of 5-in VTNF and 10 rounds 3-in 50 VTNF.
On Friday, 18 November, USS Ellison DD-864 and USS Cone DD-866 joined the other ships in an eight ship concentric circular screen exercise. Days were filled with high line transfers, abandon ship drills, man over board drills, and GQ after GQ after GQ.
The next day, under a blood-streaked morning sky, found Mullinnix in the company of DESRON 4 ships (less USS Gearing DD-710 and USS Vogelgesang DD-862) and DesDiv 321 (less USS Lowry DD-770 and USS Stormes DD-780). As the sun rose and the sea surging under Mullinnix’s hull, drenching the focele in spray, she stationed her ASW attach team and pursued a sonar contact in a zig zagging pattern in accordance with Plan 21, base course 320 degrees in the company of Corsair, USS H.J. Ellison DD-864 and USS Turner DER-834.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 08:04
1 Comments:
Re "50 years ago today, Mullinnix returns to Norfolk" ...don't want to nitpick but comment about USS Lowry and USS Stormes somehow got the hull numbers mixed up. USS STORMES was "DD-780" (I served on her) so perhaps the Lowry was DD-770? (not sure). Thanks for a great article and SPECIAL thanks to the unknown crewmember of the Mullinnix who took video of the USS STORMES in a 1959 Med Sea missle test (USS BOSTON CAG-1). Was a thrill for me to see my old ship. THANKS.
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