The Russians are coming...

The Russians are coming??          Emergency! Emergency! Everyone to get from strits.

Let's see how many people get this reference.

Спрут...

Are they bringing vodka?  Nothing chills a cold war like a little Siberian water.

Brian

Bondoman-

That's the great thing about living in a port city, the constant variety of ships. I grew up in Charleston SC where we could watch them from the house, incredible entertainment! Cruisers, container ships, destroyers, submarines, and of course the "Fighting Lady's" presence at Patriot's Point the whole time (since 1975 anyway!).

That Cruiser Varyag is impressive; looks to bigger than the Kirov? All those launching tubes along the rails makes her very capable! Hope they're empty!!

Do you work at the port's terminal?

Rusty

Glue Mark

Do you work at the port's terminal?

Rusty

 

I work in an 1870's era brick building, on the last "Gold Rush" block left. My building was once on the wharf, and has been a warehouse, the Chilean Consulate, and a Ghirardelli factory. Some of the internal columns are spars.

There's always all kinds of stuff to see. And I ride the ferry home most Fridays, so we slink though all the usual traffic in an out of Oakland.

Until now the only Varyag/ Варяг I knew of was....

http://navsource.narod.ru/photos/02/020/index.html

Now THAT was funny, BB.  Classic sight gag that was.  R.

 I almost hit the Oakland Bay Bridge with an aircraft carrier once.

Then please give the Chesapeake Bay Bridge a wider berth next time you transit!   R.

Yeah Lee, weren't you down in Tampa St. Pete some years ago? Well the Cosco Busan finished the job for you, and I saw that later that morning.

I do miss that the USN left Mare Island. From 1981 to 1989 I had an office in the Alcoa Building facing the water on the 17th floor. Well ok, a drafting table. I had the ship traffic report from the paper every week so i could watch the commercial stuff. Every now and then tho....a submarine! Those big basterds are mighty impressive running on the surface!

The incident ( nearly an incident ) happened in 1974 when I was the helmsman on the Ranger. We were transitting out of NAS Alameda to do some ops off the coast. The harbor pilot was getting all fancy using the propellors to steer with and pretty much forgot what he had ordered up. We were approaching that big ol' pylon thingy in the middle of the suspension side of the bridge (to the left of Terminal Island. He had the port screws at ahead 1/3 and the starboard screws at ahead full which really made it hard to maintain course. There was a lot of people on the bridge that day and no one was really paying attention to the sharp turn the boat was taking. I had the rudders turned to about 25 degrees to starboard and she was still veering to port. I could feel the ship shuddering but those airedales on the bridge (aircraft carrier senior officers are mostly aviators, including the CO, XO and navigator) didn't really have a feel for the the ship's vibrations like the guys who actually drove her.  Anyway, I finally hollered at the Officer of the Daeck that I couldn't stop the turn and recommended that they reduce speed on the starboard shafts which was then ordered. It was only then that the harbor pilot realized what almost happened and he then apologized to me. I think we came within 200 yards of the bridge. Pretty close for a ship of that size.

Helmsman on a supercarrier - You are one lucky guy

SF- So he used differential power to manuever away from the pier, then forgot after he exited the berth? Sounds like you had a moron for a pilot. Always love those types that try to reinvent the wheel with some gimmick, then confuse themselves. R.

bondoman

Cruiser Varyag comes to port June 20- 25, along with support ships. I can't wait to see her, and as I work by the waterfront I'm looking forward to a couple of long lunch hours. Wonder if they'll let me take pictures?

Please share with the rest of the class if they do!  R.

Yes will do. At 1230 the Kashima and two other JMSDF auxiliaries come in. At 1430 the USS Bunker Hill, and tomorrow the Varyag and auxiliaries. The Varyag will be open Thursday from 1000 to 1500.