Part of what I used to do

[whodat2710]

No that isn't me, but all of us that drove those boats had a blast. They are 47' long, can operate in 30' seas and 20' surf, and are capable of rolling over then re-righting ready to go, though we trained on how to keep that from happening. Anyway, this is what some of us "puddle pirates" got to play with.

 

[Rhino]

Did you run the Bar?

 

[Rhino]

What I used to do:
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US: Spy plane flew over Swedish airspace to avoid Russian military | Fox News

 

[mappow]

Thanks for your service and dedication that most if not all civilians have no clue to. That of course includes members of Congress and the Senate.
I'll post 2 snippets of the program I worked on to help the USN and DOD to buy of on;
MK-48 Torpedo
And the sink EX; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vaImLvZbPw

 

[R&M]

Training at the "Bar". Only the MLB's have changed in the last 40 years.

 

[Capt. Frank]

This "puddle pirate" did that on a 311 ft. ship (USCGC Barataria), and a 378 ft. ship (USCGS Hamilton) in 50-60 ft. seas.

 

[whodat2710]

Did you run the Bar?

I was stationed in Monterey, and went to Cape Disappointment twice for the two different levels of training they offer there. The first was a basic course, where we were taught the best practices for driving them in big waves. We practiced in 15-20 ft seas, but the instructors drove across the bar to get out to the training area. We crossed it twice a day for about 7 days of a 2 week course. The second time was the advanced course, same schedule, but we drove, and our training area was mostly at the Colombia River bar. In Monterey, we were between two "surf" stations, which meant we got the same big waves as them but there was no "bar" to cross. We did play around in some major surfer spots to maintain proficiency, like "steamers lane" in Santa Cruz. The biggest waves I saw on one was about 60' breakers. We couldn't get near them, but we were in about 30' rollers as "security" for the big wave surfing championships at Mavericks off Half-moon Bay. We were mainly supposed to keep stupid boaters from getting curious (there were none) but we couldn't have rescued anyone in that surf period.

 

[whodat2710]

This "puddle pirate" did that on a 311 ft. ship (USCGC Barataria), and a 378 ft. ship (USCGS Hamilton) in 50-60 ft. seas.

The reason I said "part" of what I did was that I was on Cutters for the other half of my career. 12.5 years ashore and 12.5 years afloat, pretty good mix. Worst waves I saw on a big boat were on the Dallas. In 2007 we were heading south about 50 miles off Cape Hatteras while Hurricane Noel was transiting north about 150 miles off Hatteras. I've never gotten seasick, but we were running with about 1/3 of the crew for 3 days during that. I was one of 3 OOD's left standing out of six, so we got lucky - some watches were port and starboard for a good portion of those 3 days. We saw winds up to about 70 where we were. Waves were 40-50 just off Hatteras, but 3 days of constant 20-30.

 

[Capt. Frank]

Ocean Station Delta, March 1966, 47 days at sea, 15-20 ft. seas were our calmest days, 3-4 storms causing 50-60 ft. seas. At times, the North Atlantic, can be a fun place. During one of the storms, the 900 ft. liner Michaelangelo issued an S.O.S, to which we responded, after about a half hour at only 6 knots (best speed we could make in 50-60 ft. seas), they said they would be ok. They claimed they were hit by a rouge wave, which smashed in their bridge windows, but we guessed that they plunged their bow by going too fast. They reported that they were going 22 knots.

 

[whodat2710]

Actually the worst seas I was in were only about 12-16 footers. Unfortunately I was on an Icebreaking tug going across the Gulf of Maine. Crew of 17, and only 3 of us were operational. I was on the helm for about 16hours, the QM1 had the OOD the entire time, and the most seasick EM3 ever had the engineering watch. It was in about '92, right after they invented the "puss-patch" (anti motion sickness) and he was wired for sound. The short version is that the bottom of a 140' is round and we were taking 50+ degree rolls and green water over the pilothouse. The things are so heavy it was just plowing into every trough. The "captain" (an LT) crawled up to the bridge a few times, just far enough to poke his head through the door curtain, and the EM3 was bringing us food and coffee every round.
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I have to say the Dallas was my favorite though, we were stationed here in Charleston, and made patrols as far north as Maine, east through the Canal up to Costa Rica, and west to Africa, the Med and the Black Sea.

 

[aacx22]

No that isn't me, but all of us that drove those boats had a blast. They are 47' long, can operate in 30' seas and 20' surf, and are capable of rolling over then re-righting ready to go, though we trained on how to keep that from happening. Anyway, this is what some of us "puddle pirates" got to play with.

I've been thinking about going with a Maritime Unit when my PRD comes around next. Looks like a lot of work and a lot of fun rolled into one.

 

[Capt. Frank]

I was on the Evergreen, an old bouy tender, for two days, it was converted into an oceanographic ship. In rough seas, looking out of the mess deck ports, was reminissent of looking into an old washing machine. Round bottom ships suck.