Author Topic: Das Boot  (Read 28223 times)

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Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #15 on: March 07, 2015, 11:49:20 PM »
The interior of most of the ship is illuminated by red light after bed time.  Some rooms like the head (shitter) and mess (dining room) have normal lighting.  The boat deck an open deck is where the life boats are stored and it is about six feet lower and ahead of the flight deck.  The well deck is under the flight deck and the boat deck.  The landing craft are there.  This picture shows the well deck from up on the boat deck.  It is lit with normal lights 'cause folks are down there working on the equipment.  Normally is is lit at night by dim blue lights.  A fellow told me the low intensity blue lights are very hard to see from an airplane overhead.

The well deck is where people exercise at night.  To get there from the boat deck, you walk down a long ramp to a turntable and walk down a second ramp onto the well deck.  Lots of chains are hanging from the walls and they clank against them as the ship rocks to and fro.  Then, you walk through very narrow gaps between the little amphibious vehicles to get to a big gap between the equipment where lots of people are working out.  There is an oval track around the larger landing craft and folks are jogging.  All of this is under a dim bluish glow.  I was down there every night too.  Stretching and calestenics are needed to loosen me up prior to a night in the rack.

At night this ship is in stealth mode.     

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #16 on: March 09, 2015, 11:19:52 PM »
These ships are armed for defense.  Escort vessels provide offensive capabilities.  The first line of defense is information provided by the department of defense through satellite, long distance radar, sonic detection buoys, intelligence, etc.  The ship's radar can detect threats from a few hundred miles away.  The RAM missiles are deployed first from the box like turret.  They can shoot down cruise missiles, planes, etc.  The missiles spin in the air like a rifle bullet and this gives them stability.  They cost 2.3 million dollars each and they did not fire them for test.  They said they are reliable.  A Harrier jet flew past and the missile launcher moved to track it.  The rockets are self-guiding so they will seek the target on their own after it is identified and they are launched.

The 25mm machine guns are the next biggest armament.  They are a close-in weapons system for defense against small ships and nearby targets.  They are effective up to 2000 yards.  They are remote controlled fro inside the ship or shot manually by crew members on deck.  Some members of the ship crew were learning how to shoot these.  They were having a lot of fun.  It is the single barrel large machine gun in the pix.

The 20 mm phalanx machine gun is the last line of defense.  It can track targets on its own.  Humans are too slow to react and to do it effectively.  It can shoot down missiles and planes.  The fire rate is incredible since five barrels are being loaded and shot.   

       

Offline RidgeRunner

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #17 on: March 10, 2015, 08:01:27 AM »
     A lot of progress from the single 5" that was on our bow!  During a land target night shoot the first rounds pretty much had to start a fire to enable the FT's to get coordinates to calculate any following rounds with accuracy.

     Back in reply #8 first picture looks like "The Mighty Mo", did you get a chance to tour her while you were in Pearl?  She's seen a lot of history over her last 70+ years [keel laid in '43, commissioned in '44] , good to see they are keeping her around to tell us about it as well as to stand a respectful watch over the Arizona.

                         Ed

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #18 on: March 10, 2015, 10:49:18 PM »
Can't do it, Ed.  I get all choked up and emotional.  The same with the atom bomb stuff at the Wendover airport.  Cannot go there either.

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #19 on: March 16, 2015, 12:37:59 AM »
We can go almost anywhere on the ship except for the main rooms.  This is where the generators, propulsion equipment, desalinization units, etc are.  They give us a guided tour.  There are little control rooms in various locations.  They are soundproof so folks can talk and work.  It is loud in the rooms.  Double hearing protection is mandatory, such a foamie ear plugs with ear muffs.  This picture is in a control room.  The lady in blue is in charge.

There are four diesel engines, 45 degree opposed, 16 cylinders each, in pairs.  One pair drives the right prop and the other powers the left.  They are rated at 7755 kW at 520 rpm.  This is 10,400 horsepower per engine.  They are Colt-Pielstick PC2.5V www.fairbanksmorse.com/colt-pielstick-pc25-stc/

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #20 on: March 16, 2015, 11:35:55 PM »
The engines are closely watched.  There are monitors in the bridge and in the main room.  This screen is in the bridge and it shows a lot of detail about the cylinders on one of the four engines.  This second pix is on a main room monitor.  Note these big motors run with a vacuum in the crankcases.  The third pix shows a happy cylinder.  Note how most everything is painted grey.  The navy does not have a lot of imagination when it concerns colors.

Offline RidgeRunner

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #21 on: March 17, 2015, 09:29:38 AM »
     Great stuff!  Keep posting any more you have, I'm enjoying learning about how much progress has been made over the years.  Remote 'tronic monitoring and data logging, I noticed a "trends" button on the status board, even an indicator to note when the jacking device is engaged.  No more need to move about the eng room trying to log everything on a big sheet of paper on a clipboard while dripping sweat all over it and trying to keep it clean for keeping in the log office.

     We had 4 early generation FM 10cyl OP Model 38 8 1/8 's similar to the latest versions shown in your link, Roots blown instead of turbo's, 40's vintage.  2 in each eng room, could be engaged singly or in pairs on each of the ships 2 shafts.

                          Ed

     

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #22 on: March 19, 2015, 12:49:40 AM »
The engine room was well lit, clean, and at a comfortable temperature.  Everything was tidy and it was much neater than anywhere I have worked.

Offline Frankie7799

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #23 on: March 19, 2015, 01:56:02 PM »
Wobbly, in regards to the pics of the two helicopters the first one pictured is a Huey, a UH-1 and the second is a Huey Cobra, not an Apache. The Taliban is very familiar with the sound of the Cobra as the Marines and Navy use them just as the Army uses the Apache  8-)

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #24 on: March 20, 2015, 10:40:18 PM »
Thanks, Frankie.  My civilian experience does not help me with reporting this.

These screen shots explains what will be seen in the next post.  The first is the reduction gear for the port (left) side propeller.  The engines rotate counter clockwise and this rotates the prop in a clockwise direction by way of the reduction gear.  One engine is disengaged and idle.  The ship typically cruises with three motors working.  The props have adjustments for variable pitch so the one engine working hard on the dead engine side can equal the output of the other two that are loafing along.  This method gives the best fuel economy.

The next screen shot shows the starboard drive.  Both engines are working.  These two rotate clockwise and this drives the prop in a counter-clockwise direction.     

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #25 on: March 20, 2015, 10:57:05 PM »
The big box in the middle of the photos is the reduction gear.  It is extremely valuable and it is not property of the ship.  It belongs to Naval Central Command.  A person lists all tools and parts they take into the box when they go in to fix something.  Then, they check everything they have on them when they exit.  This is to make sure nothing is left behind that can damage the gears.  The gear setup is made by Philadelphia and the prop variable speed adjustment system is made by Rolls Royce.

Offline RidgeRunner

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #26 on: March 21, 2015, 07:44:42 AM »
     Answered [mechanical drive through reduction gears] my question [mechanical or electric drive] before  I had a chance to type it!  To back down they shut the engines down and restart them in reverse, correct?

      You brought back another memory - wiring wrenches [they were specific use with holes drilled in them for the wire] to the wrist when inspecting the reduction gears.  Standing orders for the Ship's Engineering Officer to be present for oversight whenever the reduction gears were opened up.

      Keep 'em coming, warm thoughts for a New England winter that doesn't seem to want to give up!

                             Ed

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #27 on: March 22, 2015, 11:45:03 PM »
They do not change the engine's direction of rotation.  They reverse the pitch direction on the props to go backwards.

The sailors are constantly repainting the ship.  The metal is cleaned of corrosion first.  Then, this primer is applied.  It is green.  Next, the grey topcoat is applied.  Brush application for both coats.  My plan is to find some of this paint and to use it on the bike and trailer.   

Offline manta22

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #28 on: March 23, 2015, 12:12:12 PM »
WW;

I used a 2-part zinc chromate epoxy primer on my chassis that is almost the same as the one in your photo. I bought the kit from Aircraft Spruce. It is really good stuff.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ
Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Das Boot
« Reply #29 on: March 23, 2015, 11:15:18 PM »
Thanks, Neil.  I will try that as a source.

Flying fish.

The sailors are called up onto the flight deck to stand in formation.  Most of them, anyhow.  Some stay behind to run the ship.  Citations and awards are given out.  This was a peacetime cruise so no combat ribbons, etc.  A handful of awards are given for saving the Navy money by developing innovative procedures or shortcuts to the system.  The amounts of savings are substantial.  There is a lot of incentive in an organization like this to simply do what one is told.  These folks show a lot of initiative to be doing what they did.  There is some subdued snickering among the marines during all of this.  None from this old guy.  I think "we sure could use him/her in the highway department."  We need those skills and motivation.

The next pix will be of the Marines.  Their's are interesting lives.