Missing is the history in 1973 of the USS Seattle AOE-3 in helping resupply the Aircraft Carriers used to resupply the aircraft being flown to Israel.

In April 1973 when I reported aboard, the USS Seattle AOE-3 was undergoing an “INSERV” Inspection.  Sadly, there were many deficiencies, however, the ship was urgently needed in the Mediterranean. As a result, the ship was declared ready for sea and was sent to Yorktown for rearming. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Weapons_Station_Yorktown

Several incidents happened, some could have been tragic; i.e Seaman “Breezy” (A nickname because he was so stupid) stayed behind (Unauthorized and unnoticed by the PO in charge.) in the ammo magazine and began playing with a box of grenade fuses.  The fuse went off and burned his legs, but did not start a fire. Can you imagine what a fire in the magazine could have done? This was my introduction to life in USS Seattle AOE-3.  As the ammo loading resumed, I get a call from LCDR Almond, the First Lieutenant, that an elevator is broken that loads the missiles and a missile is stuck on it. We manage to free the missile and take the elevator apart in pieces and off load it to send it to the yard for straightening and repairs.

Because of the extensive engineering problems with forced draft blowers (FD Fans), we only had one fan on the # 2A boiler.  I asked the CO CAPT. McCann, Carl Jay  if we could delay getting underway in order to fix that fan.  #2B was disassembled for inspection of watersides and was not ready. The CO did not allow the delay and I asked him to tell the “Throttle Jockeys”  (The OOD’s) not to give us an “Emergency Back” Bell as I knew the FD Fan on the 2A Boiler would trip off the line because of a defect in the “Speed Limiting” device on the FD steam turbine.  His remarks was “Andy you have only been Engineer Officer 4 days, don’t worry, we are only going to steam down to Hampton Roads and load some more ammo from a barge.”

Some of you remember the story. Underway, 2 engines 2 boilers, 3 FD Fans.  We head for the Yorktown Bridge at 12 knots so we can navigate thru the bridge.  The Yorktown Bridge is unique, it swings open,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P._Coleman_Memorial_Bridge

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/USSElrod_VA.jpg

Well as you may have guessed, that day, the bridge could not open!

“Emergency Back” the command from the OOD to the Engine Order Telegraph Operator (EOT).

I am in Main Engine Control # 1 Engine Room and my first indication of trouble is that # 2 Fire Room reports “ “#2A Boiler is off the line, # 2 Main Engine reports # 2 Engine all stop!” Meanwhile, #1 Engine is backing full emergency.  I picked up the sound powered phone and said to the OOD, “# 1 Engine backing Full Emergency, # 2 Engine Stopped.! “ Bridge Aye” the reply.

What I can’t see is occurring on the Forecastle of the ship. Both anchors are dropped, the boiler #2 Safety Valves are lifted and steam is screaming out the stack along with a large amount of black smoke.

On the Yorktown Bridge, the gates are down blocking traffic because the bridge is schedule to open, so many people in cars are looking at this huge ship coming toward the bridge.  It was reported that the ship came within 50 feet of the bridge, before starting to slowly drift back. People began to abandon their cars and run away!

Significant in all this is that the Squadron Commander was onboard and saw the whole thing from the ships Fag Bridge.

The river bridge was fixed and opened, we proceeded to get the 2A Boiler back on line and we proceeded downriver to Norfolk. But, we did not take on any more ammo; instead we tied up at pier 12.

The next day, the XO called the crew to quarters on the Flight Deck at about 1100.  Everyone lined up in their respective places and the XO called “Attention, the Captain will now address the crew!” The CO came out in his “Wash Khaki” uniform and addressed the crew, thanking us for serving with him the past several months. (I believe about 18). And said your new Commanding Officer, CAPT. Anderson Jr., Raymond Magnus has a few words for you.

Captain Anderson said “XO dismiss the men, all officers assemble in the Ward Room.”

Having been Engineer Officer only a few days, I’m sure my career is over!

During the meeting in the Ward Room the new CO came over to me, placed his hand on my shoulder and said “I understand you are the new Engineer, what do we need to do to get this ship ready for sea?”

Knowing the poor condition of the engineering plant as evidenced by the INSERV inspection (During the inspection, I accompanied the Captain who inspected the Engineering spaces, so I saw first hahd from an expert, what was wrong.)  I said “We need to overhaul 8 Forced Draft Fans, 4 Main Feed Pumps, 2 Emergency Feed Pumps, overhaul all 4 General Regulator Automatic Combustion Control Systems, complete the conversion from black oil to distillate fuel and repair 2 steam driven fire pumps.”

“How long do you think this will take?” the CO asked. I replied “If you will get me about 50 yard workers from Norfolk Naval Shipyard, about 6 weeks.”  To which the CO said,” Is there anything else you need?”

Needless to say, this did not go over big with the Service Force Maintenance Officer and the Service Force Supply Officer, CDR Gluse, but, we received a bus load of workers the following day  and they immediately began to disassemble all the equipment I asked for and made extensive repairs to bearings, oil pumps, speed limiting devices and controls for the FD Blowers and to all the other devices I asked for.

About midway during this mini overhaul, the CO Capt. Anderson called me at 1200 noon and asked for me to show him thru the engineering spaces. We come to the upper level of the #1 Machinery Room, the Forced Draft Fan area and he views the fans in disassembly.  The CO asked, “Where are guards?” I respond, we have a “Cold Iron Watch” on the lower level.” The CO responded, “I want an Armed Guard here watching this machinery so someone does not take a hammer and destroy the equipment so we can’t get underway later.” Needless to say LCDR Almond was not fond of supplying “Armed Guards” in all the engineering spaces, but he did.

The CO asked “Where are all the Yard Workers?” I explained that they were at lunch on the pier.  He asked “Don’t we feed them on the ship?”  No, I replied.” Navy ships don’t provide food for yard workers.” To which he said “I want this ship to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to all the workers working on this ship.  Give this message to the Supply Officer and make it happen.” I took the message to the Supply Officer and he said “Andy, you know that will not happen!” My reply, was “The CO said make it happen!” He stormed off to see the CO!

Next morning, 50 yard workers were in the chow line! They had breakfast, lunch and supper until the overhaul was over.

Why do you suppose I received everything needed to fix all that machinery? Why do you suppose the Naval Ship Engineering Center Washington DC sent an engineer down with authority to make whatever alterations necessary to get the FD Fans and all the Engineering Plants working properly?

The US Navy needed Seattle for the upcoming Arab Israeli Yom Kipper War.

More later on "How many watch sections are the BT's in? The CO said he wanted all BT's to be on a 4 and 8 rotation, currently they were 6 on and 6 off. By the time we got to Rota, Spain, we had the BT's on a 4 & 8 rotation.

“Stepping Stones”

The AOE-3 would steam at high speed 27 knots to resupply the US Navy Carrier Groups in the Western Mediterranean Sea, the middle, and Eastern groups. Frequently the Russians would get in the way requiring us to change course, however, one day, the Russian was in the way and he had to move quickly seeing the black smoke coming from our stack.

After refueling and rearming the 3 different groups, we would sail to Augusta Bay, Sicily and be refueled by one of the old slow US Navy Tankers and the 27 knots to the West, Central and East to resupply the Carriers again.  We repeated this round robin refuel and rearm for several hours as the planes flying in from Lajes could not make it all the way to Israel.

“Stepping Stones”

During the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Washington used the Lajes airbase as a stepping stone in mounting an arms airlift to Israel. Lisbon then was hit by the Arab oil embargo.

http://www.csmonitor.com/1983/0214/021445.html

http://blog.nixonfoundation.org/2010/10/how-richard-nixon-saved-israel/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_war

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0798/twersky1.asp

http://www.lajes.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4003

http://www.jewishmag.com/167mag/kissinger-nixon-war-watergate/kissinger-nixon-war-watergate.htm

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/thirty-six-years-ago-today-richard-nixon-saved-israel%E2%80%94but-got-no-credit/

Andy,

I pray and hope everyday, and have added you and your wife for good health, including your family, and especially your grandchildren.

I thought I remembered you saying you worked at Browns Ferry.  You ever meet a Chemical Engineer; Paul Romine?  Big man, with a good laugh if the heat was not too bad.

God's Blessings,

Paul Carr