50 Years Ago Today –Mullinnix Steams Out of Gitmo, Headed Home
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
Pearl-Harbor-Day, 1960 found Mullinnix getting underway back to Norfolk in accordance with COMSECONDFLT Msg 062103Z. At sea the wind is never inconsistent. Always, at a minimum, a steady knotage matching a ship’s speed. The air was filled with the astringency of the sea. Frail clouds moved like tattered paper across the morning sky.
General Quarters was sounded at 1239 on 8 December. “This is NOT a drill, THIS is NOT a drill” thunder across the 1MC due to a class “B” fire in the “Reefers” – Reefer Room compartments 3-42-O-L. The flames were extinguished quickly by the repair party using CO2. Salt water was used to cool the deck. The cause was determined to be a flare-back in the acetylene bottle while a workman was adjusting the flame on his Helide Torch. Somebody was in trouble as the flame arresters were missing from the torch. A red devil blower aided in clearing the area of smoke. Fortunately, damage was limited to about two square feet of paint burned from the deck of the compartment. Regardless how small, fires aboard ship while at sea are no laughing matter. With the crew living above a series of magazines and fuel tanks, the fire is either put out or you head straight to your abandon ship station – assuming you can outrun the explosions of ammunition and jet fuel.
To shake off the cobwebs, aches, and pains, the ship performed a four hour full power trial on Friday, 9 December. It was a beautiful morning. The sea was calm and she was heading North towards Virginia. A light wind whip up as the ship gained speed and the shoreline faded into the distance off the starboard side. Salt spray kicked up around those on the 01 level as the Mux sped over the low swells. They breathed in the fresh smell of salt air as the ship’s speed peeked at 35 knots at 0806. The following morning, she rested contently at Pier 23 at D&S Piers, in anticipation of a longs winter nap and the upcoming holiday season.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
Pearl-Harbor-Day, 1960 found Mullinnix getting underway back to Norfolk in accordance with COMSECONDFLT Msg 062103Z. At sea the wind is never inconsistent. Always, at a minimum, a steady knotage matching a ship’s speed. The air was filled with the astringency of the sea. Frail clouds moved like tattered paper across the morning sky.
General Quarters was sounded at 1239 on 8 December. “This is NOT a drill, THIS is NOT a drill” thunder across the 1MC due to a class “B” fire in the “Reefers” – Reefer Room compartments 3-42-O-L. The flames were extinguished quickly by the repair party using CO2. Salt water was used to cool the deck. The cause was determined to be a flare-back in the acetylene bottle while a workman was adjusting the flame on his Helide Torch. Somebody was in trouble as the flame arresters were missing from the torch. A red devil blower aided in clearing the area of smoke. Fortunately, damage was limited to about two square feet of paint burned from the deck of the compartment. Regardless how small, fires aboard ship while at sea are no laughing matter. With the crew living above a series of magazines and fuel tanks, the fire is either put out or you head straight to your abandon ship station – assuming you can outrun the explosions of ammunition and jet fuel.
To shake off the cobwebs, aches, and pains, the ship performed a four hour full power trial on Friday, 9 December. It was a beautiful morning. The sea was calm and she was heading North towards Virginia. A light wind whip up as the ship gained speed and the shoreline faded into the distance off the starboard side. Salt spray kicked up around those on the 01 level as the Mux sped over the low swells. They breathed in the fresh smell of salt air as the ship’s speed peeked at 35 knots at 0806. The following morning, she rested contently at Pier 23 at D&S Piers, in anticipation of a longs winter nap and the upcoming holiday season.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 08:15
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