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USS Manley DD940 on my unusual road of life - Part 1 of 2
** This was the third destroyer I served on... Had several new adventures and experienced things that impacted the rest of my life... **
Date: 12/10/2013 7:13:21 PM ( 11 y ) ... viewed 10822 times USS Manley (DD-940)
* General characteristics
Class: Forrest Sherman class destroyer
Displacement:
2,800 tons standard empty.
4,050 tons full load.
Length: 407 ft (124 m) waterline, 418 ft (127 m) overall.
Beam: 45 ft (14 m)
Draft: 22 ft (6.7 m)
Propulsion: 4 x 1,200 psi (8.3 MPa) Babcock and Wilcox boilers, Westinghouse steam turbines; 70,000 shaft-hp
(52 MW); w. 2 shafts.
Speed: 38.5 knots (70 km/h)
Range: 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km)
at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement: 15 officers, 218 enlisted.
Armament:
- 3 x 5 in 54 Cal(127 mm)dual purpose{ Rapid Fire} Mk 42 - main battery guns;
- 4 x 3 in (76 mm) 50 caliber Mark 33 anti-aircraft guns;
2 x mark 10/11 Hedgehogs;
6 x 12.75 in (324 mm) Mark 32 torpedo tubes.
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SS Manley (DD-940):
named for Captain John Manley (c.1733–1793), was a Forrest Sherman class destroyer built by the Bath Iron Works Corporation at Bath in Maine. The keel was laid down on 10 February 1955.
Manley was commissioned on 1 February 1957 and sponsored by Mrs. Arleigh A. Burke, wife of then Chief of Naval Operations, the principal speaker at the commissioning ceremonies, and with Commander William H. Rowen in command.
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History.
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- Manley departed Newport, Rhode Island on 11 April 1957 for shakedown cruise in the Caribbean. On 7 June, Manley got underway from San Juan, Puerto Rico for a goodwill tour that took her to Lisbon, Amsterdam, Kiel, and Copenhagen. The destroyer returned to the Boston Naval Shipyard - July for repairs and alterations.
- Manley left Boston August 1957 and sortied with an attack carrier strike force destined for a large scale NATO Fleet Exercise "Strike Back." She arrived in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland on 14 September for a liberty stop. Three days later, she was underway conducting simulated war tactics as it steamed off the coast of Norway north of the Arctic Circle. After exercises with the carrier force, Manley returned to Norfolk on 24 October 1957. Later, assigned to DesDiv 41, she became the flagship for DesRon 4.
- December 1957, Manley set sail for a tour with the Sixth Fleet accompanied by the Gearing, McCard, and Vogelsang. Manley practiced simulated antisubmarine warfare attacks with the squadron while en route but was diverted on 11 December through heavy seas toward the Azores where an aircraft had been reported down, Manley took her position in a futile search.
** Major Damage:
- Then In the early morning hours of 12 December, the destroyer was broadsided by a tremendous wave, killing two, injuring several others, and impacting heavy damage to the galley, radio and radar rooms where she suffered flooding. Enduring northwesterly gusts up to 80 knots, Manley battled through heavy rain squalls and mountainous seas toward Lisbon to arrive at night on 13 December for emergency treatment of the injured and repairs to the vessel.
She then moved to Gibraltar on the 18th and underwent much needed voyage repairs in the Royal Dockyard of Gibraltar until 4 January 1958, then headed via Bermuda for Norfolk arriving on the 15th. Eventually, she entered the Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia for more permanent repairs. Four months later on 29 April, Manley returned to Norfolk and resumed her role as the flagship of DesRon 4.
- June 1958, Manley set sail with the squadron for an Atlantic Fleet operation that included midshipmen training, implementation of the President's people-to-people programs, and visits to foreign ports of call. She visited among other ports, Kiel, Germany and Copenhagen, Denmark, and Antwerp, Belgium while escorting the aircraft carrier - USS Lake Champlain (CV-39).
- Returning to Norfolk in October, she was soon underway with the USS Intrepid (CVA-11) to join the Second Fleet in maneuvers off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Following those operations, she took her position as plane guard for the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) during operations up the eastern seaboard to the Virginia Capes.
** Plane Guard was Frequent duty for Destroyers operation in a Carrier Task Force!
{One or more destroyers take station 1000 Yards astern of the Carrier as a plane guard; some times it is positioned to the port side and clear of the carrier, or at a point intersecting the carrier's final approach line.
- Destroyers positioned in the latter position provide the advantage of providing an additional point of reference to landing approach of the aircraft.
One of the ship's boats was prepared for launch and recovery. If an aircraft ditches or crashes, either while approaching the carrier to land or following a failed landing, or a cold Cat launch - the ship is in the approximate position of the aircraft, and the prepared boat is deployed to rescue the aircrew.}
* The plane guard role is dangerous for ships, as aircraft carriers must often change speed and direction to preserve optimum take-off and landing conditions for their aircraft, therefore any lack of awareness or any incorrect maneuvers on the part of either ship can place a plane guard ship in extreme collision danger under the bows of a carrier traveling at full speed.
** Note: Two destroyers - HMAS Voyager (in 1964) and USS Frank E. Evans
(in 1969) were lost in collisions with Australian aircraft carrier
HMAS Melbourne while incorrectly maneuvering during plane guard duties @ Dixie Station in the South China Sea, off Vietnam.
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- Role of Helicopters:
After World War II, amphibious aircraft were experimented with for plane guard duties and search-and-rescue roles.
However, after the Korean War, helicopters were discovered to be more efficient and effective in both roles. Helicopters came into more common usage, they supplemented and at times {except for heavy weather, rough seas or during night operations} Helos replaced plane guard ships, as they could retrieve crashed aircrew faster and safer than the ships.
- Then during night operations it is required for a ship to be in the plane guard position.
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- The first part of 1959 saw Manley with the Surface Antisubmarine Development Detachment at Guantanamo Bay Cuba.
In March, Manley's and DesRon Four home port was officially changed to Charleston, South Carolina.
After six months of upkeep and maintenance, the squadron was underway for the Mediterranean and anti-submarine deployment. She participated alongside her British counterparts in "Long Haul," and with the French in operation "Boomerang."
- After an extensive overhaul in the Charleston shipyard, Manley was again underway on 21st July 1960 for firing exercises off Culebra Island in the Caribbean. Then on 27th July she took her position at station #5 on the North Atlantic Missile Recovery Range for the test firing of a Mercury space capsule.
Afterward, she headed eastward to Cardiff, Wales and participated in experimental antisubmarine warfare patrols and attack team exercises en route to stateside.
After completing a short stint of operations off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, Manley proceed to Pollensa Bay, Majorca, Spain in the Med. Then joining the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) task force at Beirut, Lebanon, she joined in Sixth Fleet maneuvers.
- In November '61, she rendezvoused with the Franklin D. Roosevelt to take part in patrols south of Hispaniola. Part of a task force which monitored riots and political troubles in Haiti...
- Early in 1962, the destroyer spent a fortnight on Project Mercury NASA recovery operations followed up a week later underway in support of the Carrier Independence CVA 62 in night operations in the North Atlantic. Then twice within three days her crew rescued 3 downed pilots at night.
One of those pilots, now retired Captain Bill Brandel of Fairfax, Virginia, appeared at the Capitol 2001 Reunion on Sunday, 28 October 2001, nearly thirty years later, to extend his gratitude to several of those who participated in his rescue.
- On 28 September 1962, Manley headed for Guantanamo Bay for refresher training and rescued a downed helicopter pilot. She spent most of October and November operating in the waters of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Then while skirting a Hurricane - upon returning toward home port, the destroyer came to the sea rescue of three men from Jamaica (NYC) NY; on the yacht, Avian, adrift in the Atlantic.
{They had left NYC harbor even though there was a hurricane forecast (a very stupid idea), headed for Puerto Rico; but then lost all sails except a storm jib, and had used all diesel fuel then were dead in the water when Manley came to their aid..
After rescue of the men; they requested that their Yacht be taken in tow by Manley - While the Capt. recommended they wait for Coast Guard Tow and recovery... They adamantly requested Manley take their vessel in tow -
(another stupid idea ) Which resulted in the sinking of the Yacht!
** This is when I transferred aboard Manley!
- Late in January 1963, she sailed to the Caribbean for operation "Springboard '63." After ASW exercises with the USS Essex (CVS-9) -
While in the Caribbean there was a request for Manley and 2 other destroyers to stand by off Haiti moving back and forth in a line at 3 knots, for rescue operations - take part in patrols south of Hispaniola. Part of a Task force which monitored riots and political troubles in Haiti...
We encountered a Haiti Navel patrol boat - Which came out and addressed our reasons for being off shore Ile de La Gonave - Port au Prince! We replied that we were just fishing - They ask how long we would be fishing"? The Commodore told the Haitian Navy vessel -
" we will be here as long as the fishing holds out! " - with that the Patrol Boat departed!
April'63 Manley then joined HMCS Bonaventure {CVL-22}
in joint US - Canadian ASW exercises took her to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Career (Canada)
Name: HMCS Bonaventure
Namesake: Bonaventure Island
Builder: Harland & Wolff, Belfast, UK
Commissioned: 17 January 1957
Decommissioned: 3 July 1970
Home port: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nickname: "The Bonnie"
General characteristics
Class Majestic-class aircraft carrier
Displacement: 16,000 tonnes
Length: 629.9 ft (192.0 m)
Beam: 79.9 ft (24.4 m)
Draught: 24.5 ft (7.5 m)
Propulsion: Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines, four Admiralty 3-drum type 350 psi (2.4 MPa) boilers, two shafts; 40,000 hp (30,000 kW)
Speed: 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h)
Complement: 1,200 (1,370 war)
Armament: 4 × 3 inch (2 barrelled) guns
8 × Bofors 40 mm guns
Aircraft carried:
34 MD F2H-3 Banshee jet fighters
4 Grumman CS2F Tracker ASW
6 Sikorsky HO4S helicopters
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First of October '63, Manley again departed Charleston Navel Base for a Mediterranean deployment. First port was Gibraltar @ Royal Naval Dock along side the Canadian Carrier
" HMCS Bonaventure CVL-22 "
- Manley then proceed to Cagliaria, Sardinia, Italy.
* She was honored to be selected as SIXTH Fleet's flagship - taking The Fleet Admiral into Tunis, Tunisia for a trade Fair. - Manley rendezvoused with 6th Fleet Flagship at sea.
USS Little Rock Guided Missile Cruiser CLG-4
CLG-4's specifications are:
Length: 610 feet 1 inch
Beam: 66 feet 4 inches
Draught: 25 feet
Crew: 1,400
Displacement: 10,670 tons
Max Speed: 33 knots (38mph)
Fuel Capacity: 492 tons of fuel oil
Range: 6,500 nautical miles
Current Armament:
Three 6 inch guns in one Mk 16 turret
Power Plant: 4 oil fired boilers powering 4 G.E. steam turbines driving 4 screws with 100,000 Shaft HP
The Guided Missile cruiser USS Little Rock was originally launched as a Cleveland Class Light Cruiser in 1944. In May of 1957 the Cruiser was converted to the Galveston Light Guided Missile Cruiser configuration it has today.
CLG-4 the Little Rock did serve as the flagship of the US Navy sixth and seventh fleets in both the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
In 1957 it was converted to Light Guided Missile Cruiser configuration with a dual stern launcher for the Talos missile system. The Talos missiles could either have a conventional high explosive warhead or a nuclear warhead dial-able from a 2kton to 5kton yield. In comparison the Little Boy atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima had a yield of about 15kton. The missiles could be used in either a surface to air role against enemy aircraft or surface to surface against warships or land targets.
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We came along the port side of Little Rock and Hi-lined the Vice Admiral - Com6th Fleet aboard for the
three-day Trade-fair visit to Tunis. Where I acted a a French Translator for the US Navy Shore Patrol at the Central police station.. Was able to see the city.. Had diner at the home of an American Diplomat in Tunis, saw my first Camels and got a up close of the Arab - Islamic people!
We returned the Admiral to the Little Rock in August Bay Sicily, Italy.. where I saw the entire 6th Fleet at anchor - {just like in the old WWII pictures in the Pacific.}
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Manley then proceed to Naples Italy; where I became a Duty Drive every third day - Driving our Flag Officer - it was liberating since I had use of an American Automobile and could drive around Italy after dropping the Commodore off at the NATO Base just out of Naples.
We then went up to Genoa on the Italian Revearia.
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Manly then proceeded to Athens Greece to operate with the Greek Navy -
Then on to Egypt and Suez canal transit!
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Transiting the Red Sea we stopped at Jidda S.A.
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Then we stopped for refuel in Aden, Yemen
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Proceeded up into the Persian Gulf.
In December, she saw operations with the Middle East Force. Admiral out of Bahrain ...
Operating in the Persian Gulf;
visiting: ARAMCO in Ras Tan nuria S.A.
And then Kuwait
*** more details later...
We then steamed south to Mogadishu Somalia
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Our next port of call was Mombasa Kenya, birth place Of Pres. Obama.
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Then at 05:30 on 13 January 1964, Manley arrived after an emergency over night passage from Mombasa, Kenya; due to the Riot and rebellion in Zanzibar on the 12th January. Manley then sent an armed Landing Force of sailors ashore under; her Executive Officer, Lt. Commander Joseph E. Murray, Jr. After some deliberations Murray went on negotiate with the armed rebels in Zanzibar.
Which resulted in the release of the NASA Zanzibar Tracking Station personal and families, plus the US Foreign Officials family. Also removed several foreign Europeans for a total of 91
persons. {which included men, women and children} citizens; who had been held hostages by the guerrillas. The rescued families were taken to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for flights home...
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While there we operated with the British Royal Carrier bringing Royal Commandos from Aden to Quell a Rebellion of native troops.
** more details later...
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Returning to Mombasa and then Aden for Refuel and some R and R.
---- Transiting the red sea and Suez once more we then proceeded to Beirut Lebanon.
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Refueling near Greece we then Exited the Med and headed back to Charleston SC.
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Following routine upkeep in Charleston, she resumed operations off the Atlantic coast in May and on 6 January 1965 returned to the Mediterranean, representing the United States during the tenth anniversary celebrations of CENTO in Iskenderum, Turkey.
During her homeward voyage, Manley spotted the collision of Kaskaskia and the Liberian tanker SS World Bond near St. Helena. Manley rescued 23 World Bond passengers and crew from the murky waters. Her emergency teams fought on board fires and flooding and saved the ship.
On 9 August, Manley took her recovery station for the space flight of Gemini V. For the next year, she operated in various combat scenarios off the Carolina coasts in preparation for then unknown operations in Southeast Asia.
Departing Charleston on 5 October 1966, she joined DesRon 20 at Gitmo, and soon afterwards set her bow for Vietnam. En route, she assisted the ill captain of the Greek merchant ship, Marcetta.
On 21 November, Manley relieved USS Hull (DD-945) in Da Nang as a unit of TU 70.8.9, a gunfire support group of the Seventh Fleet.
Manley provided distinguished support of the ground forces until 7 December when a powder case ignited in the breech of mount 51, her forward gun mount. The resulting fire and explosion tore the mount apart and endangered the magazines. There were casualties.
Damage control snuffed out the blaze before extensive damage occurred. The casualties were evacuated by helicopter and the destroyer steamed to Da Nang to disembark the visiting Senator Henry M. Jackson.
After Subic Bay repairs, Manley joined up with Enterprise (CVAN-65) and Bainbridge (DLGN-25) in the Gulf of Tonkin and operated there until assigned to TG 77.4 for ASW work with Bennington (CVS-20). Awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for sustained meritorious service in operations against the enemy during her deployment in Southeast Asia, Manley returned to an open-arm reception in Charleston in May 1967.
After a brief stay in her home-port, Manley again departed for the Western Pacific and combat duty in September. Her second Vietnam engagement was to last eight and one-half months until she returned to Charleston in June 1968.
The destroyer was decommissioned on 31 January 1970 to undergo prolong antisubmarine warfare modernization at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Extensive improvements to sensors, weaponry, communications, and crew habitability were accomplished.
Then on 19 April 1971, she was recommissioned and joined CruDesFlot 4 in Norfolk. Following her shakedown deployment in Guantanamo in the spring of '72, Manley joined DesRon 12 and took part in the program to forward deploy ships in overseas homeports.
DesRon 12 and Manley entered their new homeport, Athens, Greece, on 1 September 1971. During the next thirty months, she was called upon frequently to participate in speed contingency exercises: the October 1973 Arab-Israeli and Cyprus crisis of 1974. Manley became the first United States warship to visit Izmir, Turkey in December 1973. On 22 July 1975, the destroyer headed for a scheduled upkeep and maintenance in Philadelphia and in December 1976, was home ported to Mayport, Florida.
After finishing refresher training in March 1977, she commenced operations as a unit of the Second Fleet followed by a Sixth Fleet deployment from November 1977 until July 1978. Her operating cycle was continued with another Med and Northern Europe run. On 1 October 1979, the crew became designated "Blue Noses" when they crossed the Arctic Circle.
With an increasing naval presence in the Caribbean Sea, the destroyer operated throughout the area visiting Curaçao, Antilles, Limón, Costa Rica, and Santo Tomas de Castilla. In 1980, she departed Mayport for overhaul in Boston.
Following a successful refit and sea trials, Manley was assigned to Newport, Rhode Island and conducted workup ops in the Narragansett area preparing for REFTRA in Gitmo.
From 3 April to 3 May, she conducted FEDEX operations in and around Puerto Rico. {delivering much needed packages to the outer islands} On 8 June 1982, the USS Manley departed for what was to be her last cruise. She visited all of the Med ports, assisted in evacuation of civilians from Beirut, Lebanon during terrorist activities, and transited the Indian Ocean arriving after fifty days at sea in Karachi, Pakistan. From 16 October until 24 November, she joined in MidEastFor exercises. At long last, the Lady headed home arriving on 22 December in Newport to commence decommissioning. On 4 March 1983, the USS Manley (DD-940) was struck for the Navy's active rolls.
When the Fore River Shipyard went bankrupt in the early nineties she was resold to N. R. Acquisition Incorporated of New York City by the Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court and scrapped by Wilmington Resources of Wilmington in North Carolina.
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