Scut-tle-butt \ 1a: A shipboard cask to contain fresh water b: A drinking fountain on a ship 2: Talk heard around a water cooler 3: Rumor or gossip.

This page is for comments and sea tales submitted by readers. I update this page occasionally, so it may take a while for new messages to appear. If you want to get in contact with someone you see here, send a message to me and I will pass it on to them. I don't post email addresses because scumbag spammers will use them.

Some of these posts are composites of several messages, with some replys to questions I asked. They aren't in any particular order. I have included a few comments in italics.

Mike Cottrell

I'm a former member of the USS Little Rock CLG-4 and a current member of the Little Rock Association and a volunteer at the park in Buffalo, NY. I'm looking for specific info on the AN/SPS-30's antenna and pedestal assembly for an attempt to get it rotating again. I need motor power requirements and gearbox maintenance info. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Gene Slover
Naval Weapons

The Lexington in Corpus Christi has just obtained two 5"/38 mounts to install on the ship. They would like to have a CD or Video training and or operational manual about the mounts. Do you know where they might obtain something like this about the mounts?

The MK 37 directors were also removed before the ship was turned over to them. They would like to know if there is a director around somewhere in storage or a scrap pile they might be able to get?

Any help would be appreciated.

Bill Gilbert
Historian
USS Long Beach CGN-9 Talos history

I am writing a history of Long Beach and am trying to identify photos of the ship over her 33 year history. Long Beach operated with OK City a few times - I can provide dates if it would help - and I was wondering if you might have any photos of Long Beach taken from OK City, or maybe others in your Association might have taken some.

Bob Presswood 76-78
V.P. USS Oklahoma City Association
Okie Boat

Hi Phil. Thank you for setting up such a great site. I have spent hours on this site and I still have a lot of things left to look at. I saw a question about how much bread we baked. I was a cook from 76 till 78. during this time the longest that we were out to sea was 14 days. I only remember us baking bread twice while I was on board. The bread that we took on board before we pulled out would last OK for about 10 days. After that you would have to start picking out the moldy spots.

Thanks for all of your time spent doing this.

Art Tilley
USS Little Rock Association

I was on the Little Rock in 1962 and '63. I was on the Galveston (CLG-3) prior to that. Served as a Missile Tech. Got out in Dec 1967 after a tour as an instructor at the Talos Missile School, Mare Island, CA. If you have any questions on the missile, or the guidance system, perhaps I can help you. There was a time when I was an instructor that I could give you "chapter and verse" for almost any detail pertaining to Talos or the Mk111 Fire Control System.

Maybe you'd want to consider joining [the Little Rock Association]?. We solicit "Associate" members, especially those who have served on Cleveland/Galveston class ships!

With regards to the [USS Little Rock]... much of it is opened to the public. There is complete access to the Missile House, as well as many of the Main, 1st and 2nd decks. The engineering spaces aren't open to the public, although the Park lets the reunion attendee roam anywhere we want to go. They are kind enough to open up every space on the ship to us one morning during our reunion BEFORE the public comes aboard.

Isn't 'Charlie Noble' the exhaust stack that vents the Galley? I recall being able to sit near the galley exhaust vent on the USCGC Eagle when I deployed on her as a CG Reservist. I'm pretty sure the crew referred to the stack as 'Charlie Noble'.

[Art gets a gold star - or should it be a gold anchor? Charlie Noble was a British merchant captain in the mid-1800s who had a penchant for polished brass. He made his crew polish the galley stack so they named it after him.]

Phil, you continue to to do an amazing job on your site. Thanks!

Gerard A. Dupuis
President, USS Little Rock Association
Little Rock model

Your endeavor to build a model of a CLG class cruiser is quite something. I am also impressed with your having secured the original drawings from the National Archives. Of course, the missile design is now quite obsolete.

You should post your message, and information, on our web site at usslittlerock.org. You might get a lot of takers.

Moreover, you should consider joining our "Cruiser" gang on the Little Rock. I saw Art Tilley's response to you where he suggested that you could join as an "Associate" member. Actually, you can join as a full member, with all rights and privileges of a Little Rock sailor or Marine, as a Class A member. You would be eligible to hold any office in the organization, whereas Associate Members are not.

Give it a thought or two. By the way, there are at least two of our members building a Little Rock model with whom you should commiserate.

Good luck with the project.

Doug Rasor RD2 68-72
Talos shot

I was on the OKC from Sept '70 - April '72. I really enjoyed reading your write up on the Talos shot in Feb 72. Particularly the mention of 'the electronics warfare folks detected emissions from a radar truck'.

Turns out, I was on-watch that night in the EW shack and was on the receiver and picked up the BARLOCK ATC radar that the Vietnamese were using. I remember the incident pretty vividly... how long we'd trained to be able to pick up those threat emitters, determine the key characteristics so we could pass on just the kind of info that was used to program the TALOS that night. Some of the measurement gear was NOT part of a standard electronics package. A few OW-div buddies and I collaborated to put together a couple pieces of outboard 'off-the-shelf' test equipment (an audio signal generator and XY scope so we could accurately determine PRR frequencies of incoming signals). It was this set up that allowed us to pass on not one...but 3 of the frequencies that BARLOCK was using that night (since it was a Frequency Scanning...FRESCAN...radar to allow it to determine bearing/range AND approximate altitude).

I remember passing parameters on to the fire control folks continuously as the missile was being prepared for launch (Barlock radars were notorious for changing frequencies during operation). I remember feeling/hearing the launch... I continued to monitor the signal as the missile was in-flight. After a minute or so (I didn't have a stopwatch on it) I remember hearing a weird screeching... then the signal went silent. Apparently that was the precise moment of the impact/explosion that "killed" the radar.

I never saw the recon. pictures of the site but heard that the launch was successful.

I got a Navy Achievement medal for the effort. It's a real source of pride for me to this day.

I've been wanting to write this whole thing up to pass on to my son and grandkids. Your write up really adds additional color to the whole thing. I actually had no idea this was the first use of surface-ground missiles in Navy history. Very cool!

Although I cherish the experiences and friendships gained during my Navy days, I could never see myself "in uniform" as a career. I left the Navy and enrolled in College, got my degree in Systems Engineering and went on to grad school (Computer Science). I've enjoyed a fulfilling career as a design engineer (F-16 Avionics Simulators) then went on to Texas Instruments where I did stints in Field Apps engineering, Sales Management, Business Manager and have recently retired as VP of Strategy and Business Development. I'm certain that my Navy training and experience helped instill in me a drive and sense of purpose that helped me throughout my career and helps me still today.

Although we spent most of our watch time behind a closed door staring at a receiver with headphones on, I'm sure I must have seen you ONCE in a while on my way to the coffee pot (on the opposite side of CIC as I recall).

You helped bring back some fond memories!

David Henley Jr. AGC 74-76
Picture of SMQ-6

Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful website on the Okie Boat. I served aboard from April 1974 to April 1976. I was an Aerographers Mate (weather guesser) serving the Fleet Meteorologist on COM7THFLT. Your site is a great resource to me since I was planning on building a model of the Okie Boat but was similarly frustrated by the lack of kits. The closet thing I could find was a 1/700 scale resin kit by some Italian company of the USS Providence. Her missile house was set up for Terriers, so it wasn't a complete match. Your drawings will allow me to scratch build from a kit of the USS Miami.

By the way, that picture you provided of a SATNAV antenna is actually an AN/SMQ-6 meteorological satellite tracking antenna. We used it to catch 3-4 satellite passes a day for weather forecasting. Back in the old days, weather satellites were not geo-stationary and would scoot across the sky. We used that antenna to follow them.

[I identified the antenna incorrectly. Chief Henley straightened me out. I got a lot of that when I was an Ensign!]

I am very pleased to note that you updated your website to identify the SMQ-6. No doubt it pleased a small number of former ET's as well.

I attached a scan of a page from the old AG3&2 which details the SMQ-6 system. The picture of the diagram is terrible, but it lists some part numbers. I also found an old AG PQS on the web which covered the SMQ-6. It lists a reference document, NAVAIR 50-30SMQ6-1. I sent an e-mail to NAVAIR and asked for a diagram of the antenna and pedestal. I'll let you know what I hear from them.

Most of the time I was aboard, the Okie Boat's skipper was Capt Butcher, the XO was Cdr Skinner, and the Engineering Dept Head was Lt Frame. One of my buddies in B Division joked that if any of the engineering sailors went all the way through non-judicial punishment up to Captain's Mast, they would be framed, skinned and butchered.

Thanks again for your fine work on the website.

Jose Farias, RM3 71-74
Five Typhoon Cruise on the OKcity

You've probably received other emails considering this cruise but I remember it very well. It was my first aboard the OKCity and I reported aboard in July of '71. I remember arriving in Yokosuka two weeks before She arrived back at homeport from a cruise. I'll never forget the butterflies in my stomach the 1st time I saw her tied to the pier and walking up the gangplank with my duffelbag over my shoulder "Reporting Aboard."

That first cruise was very memorable because it was the sickest I have ever felt in my life. I was puking the whole cruise! The head outside the radio shack was a one or two holer with one sink and a garbage can and all had at least two sailors at each! My Watch Chief smoked these green cigars I'll never forget the smell. I was pulling tape off a bank of six teletypes and he would come up to me and blow smoke in my face and ask "How ya doin' Farias!" and that's all it took and I was off to the head.

Since the seas were so rough there was a couple of inches of water along the passage way to the head and you know that several other sailors never made it. That water smelled foul and I still have nightmares about it to this day. If you knew the layout of the ship well, the radio shack was two decks above the main deck on the starboard side of the passageway amidships. The waves were coming over the decks so high the passageways were filled with water whenever someone opened the hatch to the outside, which some fools tried to do since the head was so full.

What a trip!!! I remember we were chased out of Hong Kong and had to leave some crew behind and likewise when we left Okinawa. I remember the Tugs pushing us toward the pier most of the night so the lines tying us wouldn't break. Boy was I glad to get back to Yoko and dry land after all that - but you know.

I got my sea legs with that cruise and never got sick again until Dec. '73 we were headed back to Yoko after another cruise and a front blew in before we reached Japan. I was only sick one night and I remember leaving the radio shack and lying on the passageway outside the head in front of one of the officers staterooms. Don't remember who they belonged to but I just remember a khaki uniform stepping over me and a couple other sailors with me. Didn't care if I got put on report or not. Visions of my first cruise raced through my head! It was a long night and made it with the help of plenty of rack time.

I served aboard her from July of '71 to May of '74. I was asked to remain aboard but opted to transfer out. Wish now I would have stayed. Thanks to Joe Carruso and this website I have been able to reach out and keep in touch with a long list of shipmates.

For me those years aboard ship were like an out-of-control frat party. I finally went to college after leaving the Navy and got my BS degree in horticulture but the experience was nothing compared to life aboard the Okie Boat! To this day my ex shipmates feel we belonged to a special brotherhood even though we went our separate ways to other commands and ships but nothing comparable to life on the Okie. She took a piece of all who served aboard her down to the depths of "Davy Jones Locker." She will be missed but always remembered.

She was the only ship I sailed on. Went straight to her after RM "A" School in Bainbridge Md. and ironically my next duty station after was at Service School Command, Communication School, San Diego where I spent my last two years. I did six active finishing in CA. What a ride it was!

P.S. I quit telling stories about the ship in later years 'cause no one would believe those things happened except other Sailors that shared the experiences or had been to the ports of call we went to (Bangkok and Subic are still my favorites!).

The Son of a Sailor and fellow shipmate, Jose Farias, RM3

[See folks, I wasn't exaggerating!]

Rich Waters 2nd Division 69-70
Night refueling on OKC

I was a member of 2nd Div during '69-'70 and, as such, was part of the refueling crew. I don't remember exactly when it was but we refueled late one night. There was always spray coming over the side so we took no notice of it. After this particular refueling we went down to the mess decks for mid-rats. As we came into the light we all looked at each other and started laughing. We were covered head to toe in black diesel oil. When it got light enough everyone went out to take a look and the oil had sprayed all the way back to the fantail on the starboard side. We used a lot of purple K to clean the decks and bulkheads. Third Div got the worst of it though since the intake was near the rear of 2nd Div territory. A lot of clothes were tossed overboard too.

No idea what caused it. I was on board between May '69 and Nov "70 and I'm sure that it was in '70. Possibly pumping before connection or still pumping and a pull away. We had no idea it even happened until we got below deck and into the light of the mess decks.

I also remember seeing the bow of that cargo ship floating as we passed by. Thanks for all the pics. They brought back a lot of fond memories!

Don Slack FTM3 72 - 75
Fellow shipmate

First let me say you have some awesome history of the Oklahoma City on your website. I don't know if you remember me, I sure don't remember you. We were both on the OK boat at the same time. I went through you pictures hoping to see myself. I am sure I was in the general area when you took some of them. I was an FTM3 working in WDE and involved when we was setting up the Talos surface to surface target.

Anyway I was onboard from March 1972 to January 1975. What an experience!

Sorry I don't have any FTM training manuals. Geez I went to so many C Schools, TALOS, Tarter, and Aegis, not to mention I spent 4 months in Norway on the Norwegian Penguin Missile system. I sure would like to see some of the TALOS Mk111 computer manuals again. That was my first C School. TALOS The Fire Control solution math, it was so overwhelming. If I stumble upon something I will let you know.

[The Mk111 service manuals are available in the National Archives]

I retired in February 1991 as a FMTC(SW) at Wallops Island Virginia. I worked for NASA as a contractor tracking scientific satellites for about 5 years. While doing that job I spent a year in McMurdo Antarctica. Something I always wanted to do in the NAVY but was restricted as a Firecontrolman. I now work for NOAA taking care of the nations weather GOES "Geostationary Orbital Environment Satellites."

In one of your photographs I see the "Donkey Dick" (Emergency Black Powder Squib) retracted. I remember this incident. I was in WDE when we attempted to fire a TALOS. The Officer that was in charge, I don't remember exactly who, but he mistook a non fire situation as a DUD or misfire. As I remember if a "Bird" did not leave the rail you had to check for "BLACK SOME" a true DUD in which case you DUD eject, or "White Smoke" Battery squibs fired but no launch and you wait a pre determined amount of time and put the bird back in the house. Anyway there was neither black smoke or white smoke and the Officer in question initiated an emergency "DUD EJECT" which forced the apparatus we called a DONKEY DICK to jam a black powder charge into the solid fuel booster. The bird was ejected over the side and shortly after that self destructed. After the smoke cleared, literally, it was determined the procedure was a serious mistake. I distinctly remember the Officer in question saying "Why did I do that?". It turned out the Bird only had a dead battery. That was determined due to the fact more than one bird had the same battery problem. Anyway your photo reminded me of that situation.

I don't know if anyone got burned for this mistake. But as you well know politics can play a big part on the final outcome of an incident like this.

Anyway from what I remember is that white smoke indicates the TALOS onboard battery squib has been ignited. This battery is what is used to fire off the solid booster. If there is no white the squib was not most liked not fired. Black Smoke indicates the booster burning and you better get the bird off the rail. You are correct that there were Ni-Cad batteries that required charging. Although I did not work in the missile house I was always fascinated by the electronics and hardware of the Talos Missile. I don't know if you know, but the early TALOS missile actually used vacuum tubes instead of transistors. They were really small tubes referred to as "peanut tubes". As you most likely already know, most of the WDE hardware was vacuum tube operated. That was the electronics I grew up with, vacuum tubes. I still have a guitar amp that uses tubes.

Thanks so much for you awesome website. 'Fair winds, and following seas' Don

Larry Julihn

Men of the USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5), former submarine shipmates of Jack Donovan are trying to locate our old friend. A diesel submariner, LCDR Donovan "surfaced" and reported to OK City as Navigator around the mid-1969 timeframe (as best we recall). Tall, with red hair, and a ready laugh, he would have been a welcome addition to the CLG-5 wardroom. We remember "Big Jack" well and would like to contact him.

We note that his name is not in the online OK City list of officers and would appreciate ANY information that could be provided. FYI, a letter sent via the Navy Personel Command was not returned, nor was any confirmation of delivery received.

No need to reply if you have no info.

Thanks in advance.

[I remember Jack Donovan. No idea where he is now.]

Keith Tillstrom
Uncle Chief A. W. Gustafson

My uncle, Chief Pharmacist Mate A. W.(Al) Gustafson, of Gresham, Oregon, was on the first crew of the CL91 when she left Philadelphia for points West. I know little about his service on the Oklahoma City. At this late date I wonder if there are any of his shipmates still living.

I came across a letter he wrote from Tokyo Bay. I did not know he served that long. He had been a corpsman with the Marines at Guadalcanal, on Bougainville, and I had thought that was the extent of his service. Any further information you might have of him would be appreciated.

I have seen on the web a photo of all the chiefs assembled for the shakedown cruise, my uncle included. That information says in a contemporary news letter that he left the ship. But I think he stayed at least until Tokyo.

Thanks

Andy ?

I served in USS Chicago (CG-11), 5th Div (ASW), 7/68-5/74, STG-3/2/1; FLEASWTRACENPAC, Instructor, 6/74-6/77, STG-1; USS Albany (CG-10), 6th Div (ASW), 7/77-5/80, STG-1/C; USS Puget Sound, 5/80-6/82, STGC; MOTU-5, 6/83-487, STGCS.

Yours is one of the best US Navy ship sites I have come across. It is well laid out, and informative.

While in Chicago & Albany, I never fully knew, and didn't appreciate the evolutions involved in a Talos system. It was also an eye opener to find out that the missiles had tube electronics and some of the computers were mechanical. The ASW fire control computers on both of the cruisers I served in were digital but, the operating system was stored on a rotating drum (a cylinder, not a disc) and it was loaded from a paper tape reader.

I hope you can find the time to finish your model. Thank you for the information you have provided.

Bob Hirons EWC 68-71

I served on OKie City May'68 (SD 1st Flt Flag) to Jan '71 (Yoko 7th Flt Flag). I was the Electronic Warfare Chief (EWC), a spin off rating from RD/ET/CT. My DO was Lt. Don Burrell (LDO) the EWO, transferred probably in mid year '70 gapping the billet for 6 Mos. What an experience that was, boot E-7 was the EWO on 7th Fleet's Flag Ship, transiting to the South China sea through the Formosa Straits every six weeks. Finally, Lt(jg) Calvin Ridenhour reported aboard.

My personal claim to fame on the finest ship in the USN, in those years, was setting up the OW division within the Ops Dept. On premise the Radar rating was subdividing , acting on my own initiative, I presented the proposal to Lt Burrell and had his full support. I established and justified to the Manpower team that came on board a 13 billet division. The guys in the division kicked around what letters to use for the division and came up with Out of this World. I negotiated with Chief Kelly the ET and he assigned a Seaman ET to my division. Besides myself having completed the 18 months of school for the developing EW rating, initially implement under a RD EIC (I think this was the abbreviation used to identified specialties) the other BUPERS controlled billet was filled by an E-6 classmate, Gary Hanson. I worked out with the OI division leadership a need for as many as RDs they could spare. As I recalled they transferred 6 to 8 handpicked people into the OW division. The person that made the division was a 20 year old sailor from Los Angles CA named Dennis R. Smith. I remember doing everything I could do to keep him in the Navy but was unsuccessful. He was even selected as the sailor of the year and submitted as a 7thFLT candidate. I lost track of Dennis when he returned home to marry his high school sweetheart that had visited him while we were in Yoko. Judy and I put her up for a couple weeks. The remainder of the division came from the deck force. RD1 (0335) Gary Hanson had decided he wanted to return to CONUS and by my encouragement and interface with the Bureau I arranged a transfer for him to a destroyer having a former shipmate with the ECM designation. His name was Bruce Walker. When I went to work in the DC area Bruce, promoted to Electronic Warfare Senior Chief (the conversion finally happen in 1971) was assigned to the Pentagon filling the one enlisted EW billet in the EW sponsor's office.

Ironically, the job I'd mentioned I came to DC to look at was the development and fielding of the Electronic Warfare system replacement installed on OK City. After a couple years supporting the Navy as a contractor the Navy Program Officer hired me as a Civil Servant to be the installation and implementation coordinator.

Regarding Electronic Warfare and OW division development; on the Web in the history tab you mentioned the 06 level equipment room. That was where the ULQ-6 active anti electronic guided missile decoy and jamming equipment was located along with the passive tuners were maintained.

Hopefully I gave you what you asked for regarding the development of the OW division and EW. My wife and I enjoyed the photo section, brought back good memories.

Bob Cristobal, FTM
Talos missile System

Thanks for the links for the Talos missile system. As an ex FT(M)who worked on the SPG49B, it was great to see all that information about Talos system. I was not part of the OK city but on another great cruiser the USS Long Beach. Didn't know that the Okie City was the first to tango using the ARM. Did several shoots but was never part of the after action reports.

I was on the Long Beach from 67 to 72. I was a fire control tech who was trained on WDE equipment but never worked a day on WDE with the exception of manning the DAC after making E6. I was assigned to director 6 when I reported aboard because WDE spaces were overmanned and the 49s needed bodies. At the time I thought I was being punished but learned that 49er's tend to be animals and I fit right in. My first cruise was in 68. I remember entering Danang harbor and watching Monkey mountain for puffs of smoke. It was after the Tet and there were still some unfriendly up there. Imagine being 19 on a nuclear ship in the middle of that harbor during that time. What a big hole in the water we would have made if someone targeted us. Yeah, I know no nuclear explosion but to an imaginative young person -

After updating our radioman, you know silly crypto codes, procedures and briefing for our officers we sailed to north PIRAZ just outside of Vinh. I remember doing three turns for station keeping and rotating port and starboard watch. We would go to Talos alerts just before our evening meal and chow time Charlie became our standing joke.

Our division officer rigged a scope with a Polaroid camera to monitor the 49 R (ranger) scope just in case. I was assigned to take pictures during homing phase should that occur. Imagine in May of 68, when we received weapons free and finally had a chance to do what we trained to do. One of the techs was assigned to monitor the bearing and ranger resolvers in the C111 (Talos computer) to ensure the intercept point was below some latitude (DMZ). Rumor has it the computer tech held the dials at the moment of launch just to be legal. Director 5 and 6 were both tracking targets and their bearing and range information was different. System 5 fired first and system 6 fired next. As soon as I saw a secondary blip on the scope I took a series of pictures. I saw the first missile explode when both blips occupied the same space. The target blip bloomed in width and stayed that way for sometime. The second target was still viable but now was maneuvering rapidly. The second missile blip appeared to close on the target but went right by the target blip without a bloom to the target blip to designate a hit. The target blip changed directions and headed north. The scuttlebutt was that a radioman was monitoring the Migs and they were communicating right up until Talos hit the first guy.

CAP was in the air at the same time looking for bandits and spotted our nonsquawking friendly. They were told to veer off but being aviators they tried to follow the nonsquawking friendly and saw the intercept. With the exception of CAP being in area at time, the June shoot was just about the same as in May.

The Chicago was responsible for the third Mig credited to Talos. It was the day Nixon blockaded Haiphong Harbor and mined the entrance. Both ships the Long Beach and the Chicago were are general quarters and monitoring the air bases hoping they would launch aircraft. They did. Chicago must have nailed the Mig just as it cleared the airfield. I would like to see the particulars on that shoot. Hope you find this interesting. Just remember, I am getting old and that was 40 years ago.

Toward the end of my enlistment, I became more or less a system tech for both Talos and Terrier. The gun boss liked my work and assigned me to Director 1 such that I could have a space of my own and experience running a space. After that assignment I had system experience on both ends of the ship. Was invited on one occasion to look at some telemetring charts to determine why we lost a bird during a shoot. It was due to a mistake in the missile house. Someone released the launcher right after the bird cleared the rail causing the system to believe the launch failed and reset the W2 to sync up with the launcher and not the bird. The bird not receiving W2 information SD [self-destruct].

I remember steaming into the gulf with just our sps 10 operational and the rest of the equipment in standby including the 49s and W2. There was some work done in Pearl but it was "secret". We did notice new equipment on our mast above the big box but assumed it was for nav purposes. It would make sense that they would like us to look as harmless as possible. I believe that was in 72 which was my last cruise.

I believe the Long Beach was in the gulf during the Dong Hoi events. We went to GQ about that time and steamed at flank speed somewhere. I was working in CIC at time and could not go topside to sneak a look. Heard a ship was hit. When we returned to Subic, we looked at the Higbe and thanked our lucky stars it wasn't us. Guess it was lucky they had a cook off before the attack and the gun mount was evacuated before it was hit. Lucky too the Sterett was with her. How about a man o war going after two Migs and a couple of surface crafts (PT boats)? There were rumors of Styx missiles but I think that was just that rumors.

Remember the long periods of intense boredom punctuated by moments of extreme excitement. After GQ it was said that some of the water tight doors had to be opened with sledge hammers because the dogs were into their stops. You know the area never used.

Just one last thought and I'll disappear. Dad was in country doing his army thing and I was out in the gulf. My brother was in San Francisco protesting the war. Dad was fit to be tied and wanted to do bodily harm to him. I told him to wait until I got home. Once home, I asked him why he defended the constitution but got angry because my brother used it? My brother is alive today but has family in the sand box because Chuck wanted to do something about 9/11! Maybe one day we will all grow up and quit killing for God and country. Just a hope.

Fair seas and following winds.

Dennis Orem FM Division
An Okie City hello

Regarding details about the Talos system from an FTM prospective, I'm afraid my memory may not be to clear. One thing I do recall with great clarity is that during the time period we were on the Okie Boat, all of us FTM types were sworn to secrecy about the performance characteristics of the Talos missiles. I was subsequently amazed that the information I found during that time period in a copy of "Jane's Fighting Ships", regarding the Talos system, was "spot on"!

Best of Luck on you're endeavor.

Diane Kerr
USS Oklahoma City, 1975-1977, Randy D. Kerr

My husband Randy D. Kerr served aboard the USS Oklahoma City from 1975-1978 (not positive on the years). He was a hospital corpsman.

Do you have any information about the ship during those years, pictures of the ship, sick bay and their crew? I am trying to gather some information for his birthday.

Don Koop, GMM2 GM Division 68-73
Old times

I served aboard from 68 to 73 GMM2 missile house Those are some outstanding pictures. They bring back a lot of memories Thanks for the pics. I see Gordon Waterman and Alan Chittum every year Gordon lives in Maine and we visit each other every year Alan lives in Oklahoma and I see him at the OKie boat reunion every year. Hope to see you at the reunion this year we have a great time and you meet a lot of old sailors.

Dave Cooper, RD3

I was an RD3 in CIC and I remember you from those day. I worked both surface and air scopes and status boards. I eventually ended up in OW div. with CWO Schneider as our officer. and EWC Walker as div. chief. Both very squared away and talented guys. I was a short thin guy,(now short and middle aged spread guy).

Harry Bryant, RD2 OI and OW Divisions 69-72
Website

I love your website. Brought back memories. Do not know if you remember me. I was in OI division (1969-1971), then OW (1971-1972). I was an RD2 when I left the Okie boat in Aug. of 1971.

Before going into the EW group, I was supervisor in OI along with Charlie Vermillion, Phil Bobich, Wills, Holiman, and Ron Tracy, LPO Shohlbohm and Robinson. In EW, there was me, Doug Rasor, Jim Mccurdy, 1st class Walker (later Chief). There were others, but these only can remember last names.

I remember you from when you stood watch in Combat. Hope you are doing well.

[The guys in CIC used to kid me about the interesting shades of green I turned when we were in heavy seas. They were a good crew.]

Greg A. Simpson CWO2 USN (Ret)7th FLT 76-79
My Days on the Okie Boat

I was just reviewing your web page on the USS Oklahoma City (CG-5). I was attached to 7th Fleet Staff when VADM Baldwin was the 7th Fleet commander. I was on board from Sep 1976 - early 1979. My interest lies in the Talos missile system. I am a rocket modeler and your diagrams will be of great help as I build a launch able version of the missile. I have been building and launching model rockets since I was a teenager... Had to take 21 years off while I served in the U.S. Navy.

I very much enjoyed my tour on the 'Okie Boat.' I participated in the 'crossing the line' ceremony as a Wog. Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated reading and remembering those early days in my naval career.

I do remember getting a chance to witness a launch of the Talos, but I don't remember if it was as a target for other ship missiles. I remember a firing at a target. Perhaps that was one of the last firings as a guided missile test?

I was a YN3 when I reported to 7th FLT Staff. Left as a YN2. Rose to the rank of YNC(SW) and the year I was sure I was going to be selected as a YNCS, I was selected as a CWO - Ship's Clerk. My last ship was aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). I did half a tour as Personnel Officer and the Other half as Educational Services Officer. My last duty station was as Admin Officer, Naval Station Treasure Island. I was the last ADMINO before the base was officially closed.

Thanks for all the info and link to Buzz Nau's website.

Douglas Greig
Boatswain Mate 3rd class, 3rd Division
USS Oklahoma City CLG-5, 1971 thru 1973
Patches wanted

I have just recently begun to view this web site. I am enjoying the information provided. A little reliving the times. It feels as though all of this has just past. Reality is that was 35 years +! I enjoyed QM Rice's site.

I have been searching to purchase biker jacket patches. Can you help me locate the USS Oklahoma City CLG-5 embroider patch, the Talos missile patch, and any other that may be of interest. The small sew or iron on patch is what I'm looking for.

Gwages@xxxx 73-77
Okieboat patch

I served aboard the okie from 73-77 and I looking for a jacket patch can you help me?

Gordon A. Waterman GMM2 GM Division 69-72

Thanks for putting together an extremely interesting web site of memories. Many days have passed since 1969/1972 and many friends and shipmates lives have also passed but the bonds will always remain. Still in touch with many including Donald Koop GMM2 and Alan Chittum GMM3 - from the same era. Happy to see my lead officer still working hard on our accomplishments which remained so obscure for many years.

Thanks and a weary salute,

Harley Arruda
Brazilian Navy RET

Some remarkable thing for me was that I have been onboard General Belgrano just one year before its sinking in the Malvines War ( Falklands...). Just in 1981 I was embarked in some Brazilian ship at Montevideo, Uruguay, and Belgrano went to that port, I went there to talk to some Argentineans. There is a famous picture of USS "Phoenix" leaving the harbor in Pearl Harbor at 01.12.1941. She survived the Japanese but went down to English forces.

I have drawings for both Belgrano and Nashville, both Brooklyn class. 2 CLs were transferred to Brazil: Ex-USS St Louis and ex-USS Philadelphia, respectively named "Tamandaré" and "Barroso", and I have no references for these ships just a few pictures. In 1981 went onboard on the abandoned hull of "Tamandaré" prior to its sending to scrapyards, but the hull sunk near South Africa while under tow.

I'm a Brazilian Navy Officer, retired, 45 y.o, my passion for ships are at Fletchers, Allen Sumner and Gearings destroyer, I have been on board almost all of then that were transferred to our Navy.

I remember in your site when you told about your sword, that the ship was armed with missile but you could not understand why to engage enemy with a sword, I laughed a lot, and when I retired I donated mine to some midshipmen in our Naval Club. In 1983 we had two guys here in Brazilian Naval Academy from Annapolis, we made a lot of fun together, they spent almost 2 weeks with us in the buildings, I was in exams but we had time to talk a lot, and talk about different things of the countries, we had a party in the Academy, these guys laughed a lot with jokes and fun, nice times we had. When I saw your picture in white uniform, I remembered these guys, and Brazilian Navy internal or service uniform is grey.

Leo Hill GMM2 GM Division 70-72

Seems funny now 30+ years later to be sending a email about our time on the Okie City. We came aboard at the same time - give or take a few weeks - and left at the same time - give or take a few weeks. I came aboard as a GMSN and left as a GMM2. I seem to recall you as an Ensign and then as a Ltjg.

We first met in North Island. As I recall there were 5 of us in the class - 3 flew back from Yokosuka and 2 of us waited from November till February for the 1 week school. I think the other seaman was named Richard Honerlaw. A GMM2 (3 at the time?) named Koop and another - much taller - GMM2 - can't remember the name - attended the school too.

I recall a "Bent Spear" when testing the magazine sprinklers. I was in either area 2 or 3 at the time. As I recall [someone] did something wrong and put several inches of sea water in the warhead magazine. Shortly after this incident - minutes - I was on the fantail with the chief and I recall him saying/thinking his career was kaput! I distinctly recall the heat and humidity when down there cleaning up the salt water and wiping the warheads down with fresh water.

Have you been in contact with any other men from that era? Perhaps Wilcox? I wrote Gordon Waterman a couple years ago and received a reply. If I remember correctly, Jimmy Tragila is an undertaker in Pennsylvania and Waterman is in Massachusetts. He said that FTM2 Cliff Baker had died in an accident sometime ago - mid 80's? Sure played lots of $1 limit poker with those guys. Sitting on the deck in area 1 on a spread out blanket. I recall a crap game in the BT's compartment once where Jimmy Tragila won $2600 (I think) in about 10 minutes.

I left in May of '72 - so yes I was there during the gunfire support missions. I was actually looking out the blast port when the Higbee got bombed. Saw it happen!

Actually for us low level grunts in the missile house there wasn't too much info forthcoming about the ARM shots. We knew we'd hit the radar target but as I recall the details were skimpy at best. But I do believe your account is accurate as I remember it.

James Franklin FTM-2 62-66
Talos Discussion

I wanted to say that your discussion off the various parts of the Talos missile system on the OK City was very good and appreciated. Hopefully many other Talos people will find it and recall some enjoyable and not so enjoyable times they experienced.

I attended the first AN/SPW-2 class at Mare Island starting in Jan 1963 and was then assigned to the Galveston, a sister ship, in April. My assignment was for OJT for 4-5 months and then I would go to the OK City. Well, something happened and my move the OKC did not happen. Then in Jan 1964 I was transferred to the Chicago CG-11 where I was a plank owner. While on the Chicago I worked in the Weapons Department library and forward guidance for about 8-10 months. Then one night at sea the chief for AN/SPG-49, dir #1, came into the forward guidance control room and asked for volunteers to help with their radar as they had about one half of their people down with the flu or something. I volunteered and a few days later was told I would be working in dir #1 until further notice. It was quite a change but enjoyable. Somehow I managed to avoid most of the plumbing work (high voltage oil and the pink anti-freeze like coolant) and was involved in the electronics, testing and operation of the radar.

Thanks for doing such a good job of explaining the Talos system.

John Gilhuly LCDR RET 63-66
CLG5

I ran across this site while looking for something else. Well put together and interesting. I went aboard CLG5 in April '63 when the ship was in Long Beach. Was LTJG assigned to OE Div and Asst EMO. I left as LT in April '66 from Yokosuka.

We did much the same as you did only three or four years earlier. I was aboard when we made the trip to Saigon just before the Tonkin Gulf incident. In fact, we were in Yoko having a change of command when the word came in. We did spend a good deal of time in the Vietnam area and often joined YANKEE STATION as Air Defense Coordinator. We also did gunfire support; that was OK until C7F decided he had to go somewhere else right now....

I lived in the 4-man stateroom right next to the Officer's Barbershop. My roomies were the 1st LT, DCA & Asst SO; we were all LDOs so we had the place pretty well fixed up and free from uninvited intrusions.

I have been to a few reunions and look through the 'Association' website from time to time. Nagging question: When did the term 'Okie Boat' get a life? I never heard it during my time aboard.

Jim 'Blackie' Blackburn CR Division 68-71

John Sabo told me about your site for the ship! He is right, great job! The model looks very interesting, my wife asked me where in the world would we put an eight foot model in the house? I just said I would think about it, and assured her it wouldn't be in the way.

I was a Radioman in CR Division. I worked in main comm in the Teletype repair shop. I don't know if you knew any of us, we tried to get to know as many shipmates as we could. There were TTY repeater stations all over the ship. There was even one in the "CLGM" radio that they piped through the 1 MC!

We didn't take too may pictures in Main Comm. security frowned on it (to say the least) although if you have a copy of the '68-'70 cruise book they have a few pictures in it, I was going to tell you what page to look at but they aren't numbered! I guess you just go to "CR Division" then look on the back side of "Flag Mess" there are a couple of pics of some of the guys in Main Comm. Gee it's been so long let me try to name the guys... the pic in the lower left corner is "Fleet Broadcast" station. The first class is Sanger and the dude sitting in the chair is "Hick" Dave Barnes. Acosta is the guy trying to "eat the paper" and "spin up the tape" If you look over Sanger's head you can see the door to the "TTY" shop where I worked. The picture to the right of that is a Chief of the watch with a crescent wrench "working on the Univac 600 computer! Then the inside middle pic on the next page to the right is Tindel in "control"

Flip the page and you'll see another pic of the guys looking at the computer again. Acosta is the guy behind the Chief and Bill Parker is the one just over his arm as he is pointing. I can't believe I can't remember off hand the other guys in that pic. have to think on it! Hope all this helps, I guess it won't matter if you don't have the cruise book! Check also Joe Caruso's ship's website at www.ussokcity.com. He has a lot of this stuff there too!

Jeff Krob EW2
Talos Fire Control Equipment Documentation

I was in the Navy from 81-87 in Electronic Warfare and we had a Terrier system on my ship (USS Coontz DDG-40) but I have always been interested in the Talos system. I have visited the USS Little Rock in Buffalo, NY and seen the missile house. I wish they would open up the equipment areas above...I wonder if the fire control equipment is still there or if it was ripped out prior to decommissioning?

While I was in the navy, I came across a copy of NAVORD OP 3308 (Second Edition) and photo-copied several pages which explained the fire control systems of the Talos, Terrier and Tarter missiles with detailed views and cut-aways of the SPG-49 and SPG-55 radar antennas along with text explaining their operations. I've scanned the text and images so I can forward them along to you to enhance the Talos section of your web page.

You have done an outstanding job of documenting the layout and operation of the missile house!

BTW - there are a few slight error in your Talos engagement explanation. Under the SPG-49 section, you state: 'During target tracking the radar generated ordinary continuous wave signals. When the missile approached the target the radar switched to high power pulsed mode to illuminate the target for the missile's homing system.'

You have those modes backwards. It should say: 'During target tracking the radar generated ordinary pulsed mode signals to get the range and tracking data. When the missile approached the target the radar switched to high power continuous wave to illuminate the target for the missile's homing system.'

[Thanks Jeff. My brain was definitely asleep when I wrote that! Error corrected.]

Interesting you mentioned the Vandal system. I work here at Wallops Island, Va. for the Dept. of Commerce controlling the weather satellites (if you see your Weather Channel satellite images 'jumping up and down' when they animate them, you can blame me). At the NASA launch area on the island itself, they used to launch the Vandals up until the late 90s when I guess they used them all up. I've been out on the island before but I never saw any SPG-49 or SPW-2 antennas to support them (the launches). I always heard the Vandals were Talos which were modified to fly on a predefined flight profile via an autopilot so there was no need for external tracking support.

Another story - being stationed down at Norfolk while in the navy during the 80's, I saw the USS Albany in mothball storage on the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth just on the other side of Norfolk Naval Shipyard. With it's tall superstructure and macks, it stood out amongst all of the others. I had heard some city in NY was trying to get it as a museum ship but it fell though. Then, in the early 90's while working on a ship on the Elizabeth River, I saw it being towed out to sea. it was being delivered for scrapping...somewhere. I thought how sad it was for such a unique ship to go to waste like that...especially a 'dual-ender' (Talos on both ends) like that was. I guess the Little Rock is the only remaining Talos shooter, right? [Right]

Ken Lewis OE Div 65-66
Missile photos

Really great photos of the missiles, etc. Thanks for sharing

Michel Rozon
Electrical Power Requirements

First, I love the site. I was in the Canadian Navy many years ago (1978-1990, several different ships, first as a signalman then as a surface officer). I continue to have an abiding interest in things that float that make other things that float go 'Boom!'

Second, I have a question. I apologize if you've already covered this and I missed it. I already have the information on the ship's power generation facilities in her original configuration but I have been unable to find this information as a missile cruiser. Do you recall how many generators she had and of what types and power generation capacity they were? I was always curious just how much the power generation capacity of the ship had to be increased to meet the demands the conversion placed on it.

[Good questions. Anyone know about the generators on the Okie Boat?]

Your site has a lot of information I have never seen before in other sources, especially concerning the missile handling and magazine arrangements. The information on the anti-ship mode of Talos operation and the ARM variant was most interesting as I am slowly getting back into a couple of old hobbies: Naval Wargaming and building 1/1200 ship models.

Mark Pietz YN3 72-73
Okie Boat - what else?

Found your page - what great pix. My name is Mark Pietz and I was a YN3 in the Captain's office from May 72 to June 73 (Kanakanui had just become Captain). I was on the bridge during the May 10 Haiphong Raid. Had only been aboard six days, and that was my first watch. Quite an initiation. In 1999 I flew to Hawaii just to stand aboard her one last time before she was towed off and sunk (two other former crew lived in Hawaii and had the necessary connections). That day I was the very last crewman to stand on her deck, which was eerie. Found my old berthing compartment, office, etc. Got a bunch of pix of her as a wreck, a really sad thing to behold. If you want, I can share some of those pix for your site. Your picture of the bridge all spit-shined is great, just as I remember during our shore-bomb watches.

I tore off the very last scrap of teak decking (in a nook by the missile house) that was overlooked as they stripped her of all the wood so that when blasted and broken up, the flotsam wouldn't pose a hazard to shipping. I keep a piece of it here on my desk, along with the cut-down base of a 6 inch shell casing fired during one of my shore-bomb watches. I somehow got it through security when we flew out of Haneda in 1973. Great for holding paper clips.

As an aside, you never know who you are going to encounter in life. For a short time I worked with a young Asian woman who was a child of 6 and lived in Haiphong in 1972. She still clearly remembered the night 'the ships came in', and hiding in a cave as we shelled them.

Neil Hansen GMM2, GM Division ?-74
Okieboat awards/medals/ribbons

Thanks for the quick reply. Have all of the dates okay for everything but the AFEM and the Humanitarian Service Medal. I transferred to the USS Long Beach in January of 1974, so I will have to find someone that has some knowledge of the times we were over there. I do know we were there for the Mayaguez Operation in May of 75, but not sure about the evacuation of Vietnam in April. Really appreciate the help on this matter.

I realize it is 30 plus years late, but what the heck. Had some really great times while on the OKIE and will always remember them. Like going to your website and the okcity site just to bring back those memories. You have a really great website!! Thank you! There is a lot of really great info there and I will keep checking it for anything new.

Looking for the [shoulder] patch so as to complete my display case. Any help on this will be greatly appreciated.

Jim Smith HM 71-76
Your photos

USN 8/52-10/79 HM the entire time Served two tours with FMF 8/54-5/56 and 9/69-5/71 1st MedBn 1stLVTAS(KOREA)3rd LVTS Camp Pendleton 7th Marines (LZ Baldy RVN) 1st MarDiv Hdqtrs (Hill 327 RVN) 3 tours at NNMC Bethesda school Bainbridge MD and B school (Portsmouth Va)FasRon 104 (Rota Spain) NAVFAC SAN SAL TWI, LST 1175,LSD 25,AF 48 2 tours in RVN with MCB 133 CG5. AO146 NRMC JAPAN.

I reported aboard in Subic from the 1 MarDiv in RVN late in May 71 and transferred to NRMCJ in August 76. I came aboard when Capt Burkhart was the only doctor, Dr Michaels came aboard a few months later Painless Donnelly retired in Coos Bay OR and told me he saw Dr Michaels regularly while working in a hospital there. Painless died a couple of years ago.

Thanks for posting the photos, It brought back lots of good memories plus it's good way show folks here in Missouri what my other life was way back then. I really enjoyed slide show and showed it to me nephew and his 6 year old son last night.

I'm sure you wonder as I do about what happened to old shipmates. I seen GMGC Baily and BOS'N Black among others in the photos and wonder about Gross. In old age it hard for to put dates with shipmates HM2 Ordental is retired living here in Springfield Mo. HM1 Krill passed away about 10 years ago. CAPT Butcher who made VADM came thru here about 15 years go to give a speech to the Navy League and I was able to speak to him and his wife for few minutes.

I remember one trip into Subic when we had about 45-50 VD cases (usually it was in the 20's) which was higher than most ports but the exposure rate was a lot higher in Subic. CAPT Butcher went after VD and everything else. He processed a couple of young men out for unclean habits and started drugs test after each port. He also put some teeth in it be giving anyone who failed 3 sundowners liberty no civies and etc until they had 8 weeks of report negative test.

Were you aboard when the MIG made a run on us (missed) then hit the Higbee? We DID NOT get hits from the shore, the MIGs made a run on us and missed - one bomb on each side. We did have shrapnel on deck. The Sterett got one of them as he came around for another run on us. Dr Michaels and HM3 McCrery (who is still at sea as a HM on MSC Ships) were heloed over and lowered down to assist. They were later returned via hi-line if I remember right. I know McCrery tells sea stories about it and I'll bet Dr. Michaels does to.

The steak-sushi house out the gate left then all the way up on the first road to right was the Bonchi. There was a place where set around the grill and cooked your own okanomiyaki - I think it was called. did you ever try the Korean place the street up from the honcho left then up a little alley? You grilled your bulagi on a little burner in the middle of the table. The place had grease hanging from the overhead but it was great food, I brought my mother to Japan for Christmas in 79 (my last year there) and she really liked it. I also took her to train to Hemiji to see one of real old castles then on to Hiroshima and Mia Jima.

[Thanks Jim. I strained my brain trying to remember the name of the Bonchi. I really liked the okanomiyaki (octopus "pizza").]

Robert Barker 74-76
Okieboat lighter

Hello, I was stationed onboard the okie boat from 10/74-10/76. enjoyed it a lot being my first ship out of SM 'A' school. my lpo's were SM1 Blackerby and SM1 Winstead. I am writing to you in search of a ships lighter to put in a case to remember the great ship.

Bob Britton FTG 69-73
OKIEBOAT website

I would very much like to thank you for all of your efforts and pictures of my home for 3 1/2 years. I am Bob Britton and was onboard from Oct. 69 thru Feb. 73 so we have a lot in common. Your site gives great insight about our beloved ship.

I was an FTG working on the mark 37 gun fire control system...I learned a lot that we were never told about 'back in the day' and found your site very informative.It was another life time ago but seems like yesterday.I have very fond (and some not so) memories of my Navy experience.I have attended the past 3 reunions and will continue to attend as long as they are being held and I am able...it is good to be with so many people of common interest and love of HER.

Sorry to say, I'm not sure if I remember you....I spent most of my watches on "the gun line" in the gun director. I was radar operator hidden in the back by myself....We usually did a 12-12 hr split instead of 8-8 and 4-4. After reading thru your site, I don't know if I can tell you any more about the gun system than you already know. I did spend a small amount of time in the plot room (below CIC) and did actually fire the guns a number of times.

In 2007 the reunion was held in Buffalo and we visited the Little Rock CLG-4.. There are some subtle differences but it sure did bring back memories. John Baker and his team did a GREAT job on bringing these reunions together.

If you look at one of your posted pictures, I am the guy picking up the 6" HE rounds and handing them off during an unrep...some us us had to work and stand inspections while others walked around and took pictures......LOL

[It was a tough job but somebody had to do it]

Thank you and godspeeed

Rick VanHouten GMM
Launcher blueprint, etc.

I was sent to NUWEDS school in Norfolk in early '75. An eye opening experience to say the least. Odd that there were various "foreign" warheads available for our training. The most secure area I was ever allowed to enter. Sure had fun with the shaped charges.

Got to shoot 10 Terriers from the Luce (DLG7) in a huge US/NATO exercise in late '75, out of GITMO and Rosie Roads. There were nearly 100 missile shots from the combined force at various targets. The night shoots were spectacular. As well, the "rules" were that everyone would tune in a 5 degree deflection in order to avoid destroying the drones. As I recall, nearly all drones launched were damaged or destroyed. I was able to experience the shots from all the positions and topside. All of our rounds were past their rebuild dates, but they all fired. Don't recall how successful we were in hitting what we shot at. That was Fire Control's problem. We did our part. The worst part was our Chief had us sand and paint the blast shield and deck every day prior to liberty. All the other ships wore their burn marks with pride, but we had to look good. He was an ass.

Awesome pictures. Considering the clarity, I assume they were slides. [Yes]

We only did one missile unrep during my 4 yrs/2 ships. It was a major hassle, to say the least. Offloaded 120 rounds at Charleston when the Springfield came back from the Med. It was relieved by the Little Rock as 6th Fleet Flagship. About half of the GM division stayed in Gaeta with the Little Rock. I was ready to get back to the states. Went to the Luce after decommissioning for the rest of my enlistment. Did a bunch of Carib. cruises, usually 2/3 week stints and then one 6 month cruise back in the Med. Flagship duty was far superior, as far as port calls were concerned.

We had to have the XO approve all of our pictures. He tended to keep the ones with radars or munitions. After NUWEDS, I figured the Ruskies had a collection of our stuff, so pictures would be the least of our problems. Still have my camera approval card. What a joke. I did get away with one of me laying on a RIM-67N with the mag doors open. I sent that roll to my dad for development.

Have only met 2 GMMs since I left ('76) the world's finest. I think they're all just GMs now. The VLS and unmanned gun turrets require electronics types. No more high tech grease monkeys. Sorta takes all the fun out of it. Nothing like spending a July afternoon twisted up inside the launcher replacing accumulator bags.

A funny thing, when we got back to the states from the Med. we offloaded all our missiles at Charleston weapons station and then went on down to Norfolk. Bad thing was, we had 8 nuke warheads in the warhead mag and "forgot" to offload those while we were in Charleston. We ended up hauling them, by hand, in their cans, down the gangway and into the back of a pickup truck and drove them to Charleston. Me and another PO3. No guns. No security.

Drove to Charleston, where we were met by 4 Marines and escorted to a bunker/magazine where we offloaded them and headed back to the ship. Always thought that was a hoot. Wish I'd gotten a picture of that. The Weapons officer swore us to secrecy, as he obviously had a hookup at Charleston that was not prone to blowing the whistle on him. We got a 2 day pass out of the deal.

The tritium "banana" was the super duper top secret gizmo we were to guard with our life. We had half a dozen in a locker on the Springfield, as we did all levels of missile maintenance onboard. All we did on the Luce was missile/booster breakdown and a few circuit tests. As I recall, only about one in 10 ever tested out right. I always hoped it was due to our ineptitude instead of faulty missiles. They had started cutting budgets by that time, so there was a direct correlation between our attitudes and the lack of supplies and parts. DSOTs were never completed due to equipment failures. It's a damn good thing the Rooskies didn't try anything during that era. We would have lost. Things got worse, so I'm glad I left. I had a horrible short-timers attitude. My Chief hated that I made E5. He confessed that the only reason he had the obligatory re-up discussion was because the CO made him. I got along fine with the CO, XO and Weapons Officer. Of course, they had the advantage of NOT working directly with me. Not sure I would have lasted long as an E5. The Chief was an E9, and was getting very tired of me. Hope he's doing well.

I feel your pain on trying to get tech info on weapons. I'm trying to acquire details on the GAU-8 30MM rounds for an article I'm penning for an ammo collector organization I belong to. So far, no luck from any of the manufacturers. I understand their maintaining security and such, but am basically told no way, no how. It's not like its a new super-secret weapon system.

Bob Bianco YN3 R division TAD from X Divsion 63-65
Okieboat History

I reported aboard her November 62 and departed December 65. 1963 was un-eventful because we were at terminal island for refitting for radar and other installations. I was the log room yeomen assigned to the engineering department. The Chief Engineer was LTCMDR Charles Federico, other officers were LT Robert Camper, LT Hartmen, LT Cashen,CWO Frank Singer, LT Murray.

Robert Fitzsimmons 68-70
Talos Shot

I was on the Oklahoma city from 1968 until Nov. 1970. This missile shot had to be after that. Am I right? I can't remember it.

[My slides of that shot (the one that came back) were dated March 71]

Tony Pizza
CLG-5 Web Site

Your okieboat web site is an excellent description of the days when Talos was the Long Range Fist of the Fleet.

I may have crossed paths with you when I was a Talos launcher engineer with NSWSES. I visited Oklahoma City in Yokosuka a few times around '72/'73 to install ORDALTs. Also, I was sent to Subic Bay, and installed the launcher ORDALT for the J bird. To date that visit, there was a DD that had recently been hit with a bomb in the gulf. The only ship's crew I remember was GMMC Parra. Most of my time was spent working on the MK12 GMLS on the CGN/CGs.

My time in the Navy was as a Civil Engineer Corps ENS/LTJG in the Seabees, '62 - '65, after OCS.

Again, excellent website, great pictures.

George Skala FTMC FM Division
Great web page

I was in FM div and was also the Talos weapons system analysis. I remember you also. The pictures brought back many memories. A lot of things happened on the OKie and I will always remember her fondly. You know that her sister ship the Little Rock is a memorial in Buffalo, NY, Naval park. I spent 4 years aboard her.

After I left the Little Rock, I taught the Talos weapons system for the Officers Training course at Dam Neck for four years. (Polaris school was across the way in another bldg). I found one site a few years ago that carried the old training books for FTM3-6, will see if I can find it again.

I stood a few watches in WCS, but, mostly in the MK 37 director, if memory serves me right, the FT chiefs, both M's and G's stood watches in the Director, as you probably know most of the M's when thru Ft A school which at that time taught most of the active Fire control systems (44 week school) and my first ship I maintained the Mk 37 dir. and the Mk 25 radar.

You may remember a Master Chief Sala. In one of the cruise books they have our pictures misnamed, MCPO Sala was the chief Master at Arms for the ship.

Well this really got me thinking, and remembering about the OK city.

Tammy Lally
USS Oklahoma City CLG-5

I came across your story on the Scuttlebutt page of www.ussokcity.com, while looking for information about my father, who also served on that ship. His DD214 lists his service dates as 10/1969-8/1975, so your story caught my eye.

I know there were many men on the ship, but I wonder if you have any recollection of a man named Chris Servais. His form lists his grade as FTG3, and his Related Civilian Occupation as 620 Ordanance Mech. He was almost 21 years old when he enlisted. I hope you don't mind this request. My father passed away in September 2005, and my brothers and I are searching for information related to his service (which he never really talked about).

Thank you for your time.

Erik Tylczak
General thanks for a great reference

As a young-ish person, I've always found the 1950s 'our friend the atom' sorts of hardware fascinating. In particular, big intricate power-loading launchers enthrall me. I'm an engineer, and you and I both know the general philosophy of KISS, but I also feel drawn to the absurdly complex side of things. Looking at the workings of a Talos GMLS, for example, satisfy this craving of mine on my own time so I can resist the urge to think 'what if we added five more linkages here, here and here' in the workplace.

I don't mean to imply that VLS et al aren't sophisticated. It's just the kind of complexity that you can't really appreciate unless you already designed and built the damned thing anyway. A bunch of electronics that are difficult for even the educated passer-by to glimpse, let alone understand on an intimate level. On the other hand, my little sister, possibly my cat, can appreciate the fascinating macro-scale physics that go into rapidly moving and launching multi-ton 40-foot telephone poles.

I didn't know there were any such installations still extant. Thanks for the tip!

Angus McColl Midshipman 1979
Your USS Oklahoma City slide show

I really enjoyed your slide show about the USS OKLAHOMA CITY. Bravo! I served aboard her in the summer of 1979 as a midshipman just before decomm. She made a big impression on me as my first ship, and I have always looked back on that summer with great fondness. I went on to serve a full career in submarines, retiring in 2006 at the rank of CDR. I now work in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California. I followed OKC's history in decomm up to her use as a SINKEX target. I think that was a fitting end for a great ship.

I joined the ship in mid June 1979 while it was making a port visit to Beppu with JMSDF ship AKIZUKI in company. There were about ten of us midshipmen and we flew down from NAF Atsugi on an old C-117. It was quite an adventure. I WAS aboard for a 6"/47 gunex, but missed the TALOS shots. I observed it from atop the bridge. I can still remember the shockwave, blast of heat and watching the shells fly downrange. I also remember holy stoning the deck one afternoon before we entered port. Since none of us could envision the reactivation of the battleships in the 80s, we believed at the time we were probably the last group of mids to ever holy stone. During the time I was on board we did port visits in Beppu and Otaru, and a short upkeep in Yokosuka. On the way back from Otaru to Yokosuka we intercepted the brand new Soviet aircraft/guided missile cruiser KIEV along with two escorts in the Strait of Tsushima. After the upkeep we went down through the Inland Sea and the Strait of Shimonoseki to Inchon. I got off the ship when we returned to Yokosuka in mid-July.

I did one-week rotations in QM Division, FC Division, and then M and BT Divisions, and also stood some under-instruction watches as lookout, helm/lee helm, and one of the fire room and engine room watches. I met some amazing people, and a few characters, too. It gave me a lot of respect for the American Bluejacket, and I think it also really drove home that I liked being around ships and Sailors. I worked hard and played hard. It was a great ship in my opinion, and I was really glad to have been aboard her, if only for a very short time.

Thanks again for posting your pictures on the Internet and for making them available to me.

Kyle Fitzwater FTM3 USS Little Rock 71-75
Talos MK111 maytag

First let me say your writeup on the Talos system was the best I have ever seen. I have been thinking about how to explain what the MK111 did and how it did it. I left the Little Rock in 1975, so my memory is dim on the calculations that the computer performed.

The only information that I have is in my head, I don't have any documentation to back it up. I was a FTM3 in the computer room the whole time I was on the Rock (1/71 - 7/75). The reason I didn't advance was because I was always told if I made FTM2 I would be sent to topside repair on the 49 radars. Topside repair was a dirty job outside in the heat and cold and rain and the computer room was located on the fifth deck - C-503-M - where the climate was better and much cleaner. So as a PO3 I did not attend any system schools as the PO1 and chiefs did.

I do not have any idea where to find training manuals, and I have never seen any since I got out.

I did go to MK111 school with 3 sailors that were on the Okie boat when you where. Their names were Widaseck, Whittenton and Umbreit. Bob Mansur and Fred Azcarraga transferred to the Rock from the OK city in the early 70's, perhaps you knew them.

There were 2 MK111 computers. The Mod 0 which was installed on the CLG's - Galveston, Little Rock and OK city. The MK111 MOD 1 was installed on the CG's - Columbus, Chicago and Albany. The MOD 1 was also installed on the Long Beach, but was replaced with the first digital computer, MK 152, during the 1969-1970 yard period at Mare Island. That was the first digital fire control system that I know of. The W2, 49, and weapons control were also upgraded to digital or at least those parts that could be, such as the range packages.

The MOD 1 was a major upgrade from the MOD 0. By the time I went to MK111 school in 1970 at Mare Island, MOD 0 school had been done away with for several years. Had to learn the MOD 0 on the Little Rock.

The MK111 was divided into 2 channels that could be switched for any combination of director's 49-1 or 49-2, and guidance radars GT-1 or GT-2. There were 5 sections, or cabinets, to each channel and a cabinet for distributing power to the power switches for each section. The system was capable of guiding a missile to 2 different targets, although the launcher was capable of only firing at a single target at a time. The CIC or later Datacorts operator would select channel one or channel two for firing and the launcher was slaved to that channel. In the computer room was the system switchboard which was manually set for which 49 director and which GT was using which channel of the MK111.

The servo packages had servos, synchros, resolvers, potentiometers and motor generator sets to set the dials to the proper position, do calculations and also send/receive data to other devices in the system (another servo package, W2, 49 or launcher). The dials were the computers "readouts" of the various calculations performed by the computer or they could be an indicator of an input such as a director's bearing (in the relative plane) and elevation (n the deck plane). The packages could be removed from the cabinet and put on the bench and connected to a test set to check proper alignment of the components on the package. After connecting the oscilloscope to the proper test point on the package, the retaining screws were loosened very slightly and you applied torque to the component with your hand while tapping it with a screwdriver with the other hand. You watched the oscilloscope and kept tapping until it read correctly and then tightened the screws - making sure the display on the scope didn't change.

The various calculations the computer performed were done in planes. Deck plane was relative to the position of the deck regardless of roll, pitch or yaw. Relative bearing was relative to the ship's bow. The MK111 received data from the after gyro and calculated bearings corrected for true north and elevations in the true vertical and horizontal plane (corrected for roll, pitch and yaw). It received own ship's course and speed and calculated intercept point and whether the ship's superstructure would interfere during the missile's flight. It calculated where the booster would fall and sent those coordinates to Weapons Control to be displayed on a scope. It calculated launcher bearing and elevation and sent them to the launcher. During the first 6.5 seconds (I think) of the missiles flight it was not guided, after the booster separated the missile would respond to guidance signals. The MK111 had to correct for the height difference between the two GT radars. GT-1 was mounted much higher on the superstructure than GT-2. The signals generated for the launcher elevation had to take that height difference and correct for it. If I remember correctly for a long distance shot where the launcher was at the optimum 47 degrees elevation, the missile would fall 104 feet during the booster phase of flight(compared to line of sight), so the MK111 had to make that correction when it positioned the GT radar to capture the missile in its beam. The MK111 received data from the 49 radar, calculated an intercept point and sent the bearing and elevation signals to the GT radar to guide the missile to the intercept point. It generated the overall system gain, in that as the missile closed on the target and distance between them decreased, the response to target changes in bearing, range and elevation would increase the amount of response in the signals sent to the GT radar. In other words, if the range between the missile and target was 50 K yards and and the target dove 200 feet, the response would be very small. But if the range between them was 5 Kyards the response in guidance signals would be greater.

It did a lot of calcs that I just don't remember and I didn't understand everything it did back then. Some of the MK111 never needed any fixing and some was a continous pain in the butt. I hope you can understand most of what I put in this - it is off the top of my head. Didn't know I could remember that much until I started to write about it.

The Mk111 room was below FM and GM division berthing. Compartment C-503-M. It had to have originally been a magazine for the after gun systems when she was CL92. You could only get into the room by climbing down a vertical ladder, similar to a trunk. The MK111 was housed in two rows of double sided cabinets running fore and aft, and two more single sided cabinets on the port side near the fan room. The cabinets were over 6 feet high and bolted through rubber pads on both the top and bottom of the cabinet. That stabilized it some against vibration or shock.

The patch panel was used to route signals through the switchboard. There were several panels prewired that were used for certain functions. Just about every signal that went thru the switchboard was accessible at the patch panel. There was a panel that was used for normal operation, and two for "static test 1" and "static test 2" that routed signals to each dial. That was the way the computer was checked out. A signal was sent to each package dial and the dial would be set to a particular reading for static test 1 and another for static test 2. If the reading was not correct we would take the package out and align it on the test bench. We did the static tests each morning before the Daily Systems Operability Test (DSOT). We also had other prewired panels for other tests. The only person I ever saw making his own patch panels was Master Chief John Platt. He was the most knowledgeable MK111 person I ever met. He enjoyed toying around with the MK111 just for fun.

BTW, in the computer room were two 8 channel recorders that had heat sensitive paper going through them. They were removed from the Mk111 room when she was decommissioned. Each of the channels had a stylus that could be adjusted for heat to leave a mark on the paper. The recorders were turned on before just before launch and stopped after intercept (for both DSOT and real firings and we also ran simulated firings on whatever real aircraft we could find). The recorded paper was then removed and the signal on the paper of each stylus was evaluated. he results of that evaluation determined if the system was operating within specs or not. If something was found out of spec on the recording, then whichever piece of equipment (49 radar or W2) was out of spec was notified they had a problem. They would troubleshoot what was wrong and when they reported back that the problem was fixed, we would run another DSOT to make sure.

DSOT [Daily Systems Operability Test] is another subject in itself. We ran DSOT every morning. There were 3 short range problems (problem 1-3) and 3 long range problems (4-6) and we did one of each every day. We usually ran problems 1 and 4 one day, 2 and 5 the next, then 3 and 6 the third day and then start over with 1 and 4. Problem 2 was the worst, a short range problem with a target distance of 18K yards. The system did not function well at that short range and the distance between the missile and target at intercept was one of the signals on the recorders - we usually made the spec but often we didn't.

Didn't know I could remember so much!

Bob Bianco YN3 R division 62-65
History

I reported aboard her November 62 in R division TAD from X Division and departed December 65. 1963 was un-eventful because we were in the yards for 1-1/2 years for refitting for radar and other installations. I was the log room yeomen assigned to the engineering departmet. The Chief Engineer was LTCMDR Charles Federico, other officers were LT ROBERT CAMPER, LT HARTMEN, LT CASHEN, CWO FRANK SINGER, LT MURRAY, I have the ship's sailing manifest and crew list.

The ship was definitely top heavy as matter of fact she was bulging out so bad that when she came back the corrected her. In 1965 we went through the Banshi Straights off the coast of Taiwan and China and she was rolling pretty good. Frame 50 became un-attached and when we went to Yokosuka for repairs. After I left in January 66 there was some communications from shipmates who said they went back to Long Beach for another refit.

Discharged from the Navy 66. Attended college U of M graduated from Wayne State with a associate degree. Still going to school at age 66 Retired from ITW.

John Johnson PN3 1979
Okieboat final years

First, you rock. Your site is primo. I was part of the decom crew. PN3 at the time. f you have a copy of the ship's diary, you will see me as the last enlisted to depart. I know, I typed the damn thing!! I was looking at the diary you have and was surprised at what is NOT there. Like upon leaving Otaru we intercepted the Minsk on her way to Vladivostok. It was my understanding that their admiral and ours had graduated their respective naval academies in the same year, so we pulled along side and rendered honors. How do they not mention that? Plus, I crossed the line for the first time on the OKC 6 August 1979. No mention of that either. Any way, just thought I'd mention it since you are actually interested in this sort of thing.

Do you know where I could get a look at those cut away views that were located around the ship for Damage Control purposes? They were along the bulkhead in what was like a big book. Metal cover, and inside various views of the different decks, from above I believe, showing things like the vent system, etc. But it also showed the various compartments. I had my berthing space not to far from your own. I was down a couple decks from the main just aft of the 6 inch battery. The ships TV/radio station was accessed through our area.

Nothing particular. Just a way to refresh the ol' memory. I have been to Buffalo myself. Some things just seemed wrong. Like I entered the mess decks through a DOOR not a hatch. Maybe they did that for ease of public access. The diagrams would help me remember where things were. I took my boy. Thought he'd be bored but we were there for 3 hours. He got a kick out of me. As he put it later, "Dad was all over the place and he knew just where he was going." Not entirely true but...

I plan on going back one day and will remember to bring a flashlight. I'm sure someone will yell at me for going somewhere I shouldn't but I don't think I'm going to get lost or anything. I just want to go down to the old berthing area. They had that hatch open but chained off.

I have newspaper clippings from around decom time. I also have a portion (what happened to the rest I have no idea) of the decom program. I used to have a portion of the homeward bound pennant. I don't know what happened to that either. I do have my shelaliegh (fire hose) from my second time across the line (Worden). I no longer smoke but have a OKC zippo. My small piece of deck. A few other little things. Probably one of my favorites is a hard copy of a message sent to the White House Situation Room. It was meant as a joke. Not to be sent. But it was. Someone stopped it in San Francisco. The guy who put it on the tape got in no small amount of merde.

Jim Whelan
SPG-49

The 3Mw was the radiated, the CW was 5Kw I believe, and I don't remember what the frequency band was. Hope this helps. As far as maunals... not a clue.