50 Years Ago - Mux Pulls into Rota, Spain
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood
At 1221 on 11 February, the ship proceeded to Rota, Spain for a brief refueling stop, mooring starboard side to a fuel pier. At 1935, the ship was once again underway for Pollensa Bay, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. Shorty after the midwatch on the 12th, the ship passed through the highly congested Straits of Gibraltar, joining an Attack Carrier Striking Group which lay at anchor in Pollensa Bay at the northwest corner of Mallorca.
That morning, the fog lookouts were stationed at 1042. The bank rolled in like melted marshmallows on a never ending black-jack branch, appearing like a horizontal strip made by an artist’s #3 brush. Mullinnix crept through the fog as the visibility was practically zero. Occasionally the lookouts could hear a foghorn from one of the other ships. While still immersed in the fog, the ship stationed the ASW attack team at 1144 to pursue a detected sonar contact bearing 037, distance 4500 yards. She broke off the search about one hour later as the contacted was evaluated to be non-submarine.
On the morning of 13 February at 0758 she was anchored in Pollensa Bay in eight fathoms of water with a seaweed bottom. Her sister ship USS Davis DD-937 was received alongside to starboard a short time later. Mullinnix took on 15 rounds 5”/54 BL and P projectiles and 20 rounds VT non-frag from Davis. By 1614 she was underway once again to refuel from USS Truckee AO-147 then to rendezvous with USS Springfield CLG-7. Later that day, in conjunction with USS Saratoga CVA-60, the ship participated in ECM exercises.
At 0435 on 15 February, the ship was ordered to turn off all navigational lights. While darkened, she corrected course to 180 degrees by sinuous course clock, cam 1 and commenced turn count masking while Springfield and Shenandoah stood by.
At 0823, the crew was treated to a rare eclipse of the sun. As the sun ebbed behind the moon, the resultant shadow raced towards the Mullinnix like a blanket. In moments, the sun was three-quarters gone and the sea was sucking up the remaining light. The ship was in near darkness. The surface of the water was the color of tarnished bronze. The glow of the dying sunset filtered dimly onto the decks.
By early Thursday, 16 February, Mullinnix was steaming with Task Unit 60.1.9 that was composed of Springfield, Saratoga, USS Des Moines CA-134, USS O’Hara DDR-889, USS Stickell DDR-888, USS Cecil DDR-835, USS Steinaker DDR-863, USS Corry DDR-817, USS Wood DDR-715, and USS Leary DDR-879. At 0410, Mullinnix and O’Hara were detached from the group to conduct an ASW sweep. Midwatch until pre-dawn, with the aroma of strong coffee, the lifeblood of the Navy, permeated everywhere.
There’s nothing like the feeling on a ship at sea at night - the masthead lights, the red and green navigation lights and stern light, the pulsating phosphorescence of radar repeaters - they cut through the dusk and join with the mirror of stars overhead. The drifting off to sleep (assuming you’re not on watch) lulled by the myriad noises large and small that tell you that your ship is alive and well, and that your shipmates on watch will keep you safe.
When finished with the exercises a few hours later, she was anchored back in Pollensa Bay by 0803. She spent the night at anchor with various ships of the Sixth Fleet including USS Mississinewa AO-144, USS Dewey DLG-14, and USS Forrestal CVA-59, steaming once again at 1414 the following day.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
At 1221 on 11 February, the ship proceeded to Rota, Spain for a brief refueling stop, mooring starboard side to a fuel pier. At 1935, the ship was once again underway for Pollensa Bay, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. Shorty after the midwatch on the 12th, the ship passed through the highly congested Straits of Gibraltar, joining an Attack Carrier Striking Group which lay at anchor in Pollensa Bay at the northwest corner of Mallorca.
That morning, the fog lookouts were stationed at 1042. The bank rolled in like melted marshmallows on a never ending black-jack branch, appearing like a horizontal strip made by an artist’s #3 brush. Mullinnix crept through the fog as the visibility was practically zero. Occasionally the lookouts could hear a foghorn from one of the other ships. While still immersed in the fog, the ship stationed the ASW attack team at 1144 to pursue a detected sonar contact bearing 037, distance 4500 yards. She broke off the search about one hour later as the contacted was evaluated to be non-submarine.
On the morning of 13 February at 0758 she was anchored in Pollensa Bay in eight fathoms of water with a seaweed bottom. Her sister ship USS Davis DD-937 was received alongside to starboard a short time later. Mullinnix took on 15 rounds 5”/54 BL and P projectiles and 20 rounds VT non-frag from Davis. By 1614 she was underway once again to refuel from USS Truckee AO-147 then to rendezvous with USS Springfield CLG-7. Later that day, in conjunction with USS Saratoga CVA-60, the ship participated in ECM exercises.
At 0435 on 15 February, the ship was ordered to turn off all navigational lights. While darkened, she corrected course to 180 degrees by sinuous course clock, cam 1 and commenced turn count masking while Springfield and Shenandoah stood by.
At 0823, the crew was treated to a rare eclipse of the sun. As the sun ebbed behind the moon, the resultant shadow raced towards the Mullinnix like a blanket. In moments, the sun was three-quarters gone and the sea was sucking up the remaining light. The ship was in near darkness. The surface of the water was the color of tarnished bronze. The glow of the dying sunset filtered dimly onto the decks.
By early Thursday, 16 February, Mullinnix was steaming with Task Unit 60.1.9 that was composed of Springfield, Saratoga, USS Des Moines CA-134, USS O’Hara DDR-889, USS Stickell DDR-888, USS Cecil DDR-835, USS Steinaker DDR-863, USS Corry DDR-817, USS Wood DDR-715, and USS Leary DDR-879. At 0410, Mullinnix and O’Hara were detached from the group to conduct an ASW sweep. Midwatch until pre-dawn, with the aroma of strong coffee, the lifeblood of the Navy, permeated everywhere.
There’s nothing like the feeling on a ship at sea at night - the masthead lights, the red and green navigation lights and stern light, the pulsating phosphorescence of radar repeaters - they cut through the dusk and join with the mirror of stars overhead. The drifting off to sleep (assuming you’re not on watch) lulled by the myriad noises large and small that tell you that your ship is alive and well, and that your shipmates on watch will keep you safe.
When finished with the exercises a few hours later, she was anchored back in Pollensa Bay by 0803. She spent the night at anchor with various ships of the Sixth Fleet including USS Mississinewa AO-144, USS Dewey DLG-14, and USS Forrestal CVA-59, steaming once again at 1414 the following day.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 14:50
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