New Navy Ship

It's wild watching that video how they just dump the ship sideways into the water and doesn't tip over.
 
I have just viewed a video of how the launch a Navy ship and to be honest with you I hope no one is on it when they do. I feel sorry for the recruits, they haven't got their 'Sea Legs' yet. :titanic:
 
Have a grandson on a guided missile destroyer (DDG). Hates it. But he first served on the Nimitz - quite a different experience in rough seas. Hope to get a tiger cruise with him on the destroyer before I get too old (the Navy won't let you go once you reach age 75). Did one when he was with the aircraft carrier which was awesome.
 
The USS Billings (LCS-15) still has a long way to go before seeing any "active duty". After the christening there is a period of time (at least a year) of pre-commissioning during which time the finishing touches and "special equipments" are installed and tested. The crew is assembled and trained in the operation, maintenance and repair of the systems installed. And acceptance testing is performed (every individual component on the ship is tested by the crew to ensure they all perform at or above their specification). Then comes the ship acceptance testing when the entire ship is tested as a single unit to ensure that all specifications are met. Then and only then will the Navy accept the ship from the contractor in the ceremony known as "Commissioning".

I was a part of the pre-commissioning crew of the USS Lawrence (DDG-4), commissioned in January 1961 and can attest to the stresses involved in meeting a very strict deadline (the Navy really frowns on the possibility of delaying commissioning). Pay back is hearing the sponsor saying these words " Man our ship and bring her to life."
 
I was very fortunate, I loved rough seas. Never did get sea sick.

When we retrofit the Arkansas, we added a few bunks where there weren't any. As the longest serving onboard chief, I got first pick of bunks when we moved back aboard. I picked a top rack that was oriented port to starboard rather than like most, fore and aft. When it got rough, I would get rocked head to toe while every one else got rocked side to side. Ever try to sleep while your bed is rolling you out? I slept like a baby.
 
Have you ever been on a submarine on the surface in the middle of a Cat. 4 typhoon?

No I have not BUT sure would like to hear the story of what happened to make that event happen. I remember my ship doing a personnel transfer between a submarine and a destroyer. The submariner had some medical emergency. The actual transfer was done by whale boat with a sea state of 2/3. It was pretty routine for us but the bubbas one the sub were rolling pretty good.
 
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