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Initial antisubmarine warfare (ASW) trials and preparation for the first deployment
Bob's tenure as Commanding Officer was significant, but shortened due to reassignment to
another ship involved in Vietnam War operations. Robby Robinson turned over to him a new ship
that, for the most part, "worked." Bob activated the equipment that was the key purpose of the
ship's being: finding submarines.
Here's Bob's story as submitted to the author:
I relieved Capt. Robinson in Norfolk, VA and we departed the next morning for a six week
shakedown period at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While at Guantanamo Bay, we also began a series
of operational tests of the 26CX sonar to measure the performance against contractor estimates.
These tests continued throughout the period, and ranged from Newport, RI to the Bermuda
Triangle. This was also the time of:
- Cantankerous fire pumps
- Z-grams" [CNO Admiral Zumwalt's pronouncements to the Navy]
- The conflicting desire of many crew members to have longer hair
and beards versus the Navy's desire to the contrary.
In January I971, we were able to obtain more ping time on SSN's nuclear powered submarines
than probably any other destroyer to date. During one weekend, off Norfolk, we exercised,
alone, against three. Hopefully, this set the stage for the many "A" 5 [competitive awards
for excellence in ASW] which followed.
"The major interruption to this operational work-up was a short overhaul in the Portsmouth
Naval Shipyard to re-radiograph all high pressure welds (well over 3000, as I recall).
Avondale Shipyard lost/misplaced/misread enough to cause concern at NAVS HIPS naval Ship
Systems Command). Hopefully, for those who followed, we did it right.
"Highlights, after so many years, can be condensed:
- Losing fires in one boiler while doing our first UNREP [underway
replenishment while sailing in parallel with the supply ship at 12 knots] and
staying alongside to complete.
- Ship handling with no MK 48 Torpedoes and no VDS [Variable Depth Sonar].
- Her hull draws 26 feet forward and one foot aft, my could she turn!
- Rescuing three Cuban refugees from a net and inner tube raft off Guantanamo.
- Finding subs at then unbelievable ranges.
A lot of positive activity in short time. And, above all, the officers and men who made
the ship - including Commander Connole."
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