| Clear
Baffles by Jim Combs, STS1-SS, USS George Washington Carver SSBN-656 Gold |
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A new Ltjg was on the conn alone, possibly his first
or second time. I was on watch in the sonar shack and picked up a 50hz tone on
the toad array that might have been a possible Russian. I turned to Chief
Kennelly who was the sonar sup at the time and said "Chief we may have
something here". He reported the contact to the conn, and was recommending
some immediate course changes to confirm my contact. The OOD, this new LTjg,
walked from Conn to the sonar shack and said with a cocky tone in his voice
"Are you sure we have to make a course change now?" At this point
Chief Kennelly barked at the young officer "HEY!.... I may not be GOD, but
I am qualified to stand the watch! Now get out there and do a baffle clear
NOW!" The officer did not speak a word, he turned and walked back out to
Conn, and could be heard loudly saying HELM come right 90 degrees!
I will not confirm or deny any 50hz contact or
how and when we performed baffle clearing maneuvers. I *WILL* confirm though
that Chief Kennelly could chew a new asshole into any officer or enlisted that
doubted his abilities to perform his job as a sonar man. He *WAS* damn good and
he taught us to be that good too. :) |
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