"Everything in life is really simple, provided you don’t know a f—–g thing about it." - Kevin D. Williamson
Cloud Yeller of the Boomer Age
Last of the Fletchers
ARM Cuitláhuac, the former USS John Rodgers, in 2000. It was the last Fletcher still in service anywhere in the world
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits - Mark Twain
Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy / Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
I read a statement that the warships that won the war were the Essex class carrier and the Fletcher class destroyer. I don't remember who said it though. Pretty hard to argue with.
How about some more Fletcher content with a cameo by the USS John Rodgers?
Surigao Torpedo Slinger and Overall Slugger
Above we see, 80 years ago today, a great original color shot of one of the trainable 21-inch quintuple MK 15 torpedo tube stands on the Fletcher-class destroyer USS Halford (DD-480), complete with helmets on top of the crew shield and a greyhound with a steel fish in his grill.
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits - Mark Twain
Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy / Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
And here is the incident that led to the Navy naming the above destroyer after Coxswain William Halford
Captain's Gig from USS Saginaw
The captain’s gig was selected from the surviving ship’s boats, and the crew brought the craft onto shore to begin modifying it for the 1,500 mile trip to Honolulu. The crew first added 8 inches of freeboard to the 25-foot long and 6-foot wide vessel by adding side planking. This freeboard added height between the water and the top of the boat. They also created a top deck, which they then covered in canvas. Metal strips were used to reinforce the bow and steps for two masts were constructed, along with the masts and necessary sails/rigging. All the materials used in the construction were salvaged from the wreck of USS Saginaw itself.
The ship’s executive officer, LT John Talbot was selected to lead the all-volunteer expedition. His crew consisted of Quartermaster Peter Francis, Coxswain William Halford, and dredging operation contractors James Muir and John Andrewes, who both temporarily enlisted in the Navy for their journey.
Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits - Mark Twain
Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy / Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?