Garry, the Navsource reference to "2 Weapon Alfa ASW" is a printing error. The Farragut/Coontz Class had no Weapon Alfa system installed. I served on the Dewey DLG-14 and can tell you there were no Weapon Alfa's on the ship. I noticed the precceding entry in Navsource is for the Mitscher Class DDG's which did carry Weapon Alfa's - maybe it's just poor editing.
snipechief wrote:Garry, the Navsource reference to "2 Weapon Alfa ASW" is a printing error. The Farragut/Coontz Class had no Weapon Alfa system installed. I served on the Dewey DLG-14 and can tell you there were no Weapon Alfa's on the ship. I noticed the precceding entry in Navsource is for the Mitscher Class DDG's which did carry Weapon Alfa's - maybe it's just poor editing.
Thanks, snipechief!
But Navsourse not reference to Alfa ASW for other ships of this class.
May be, this weapon was used (or planning for use) only first ship of series?
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And, "4 x 21" TT - printing error too?
Yes, same thing - a printing error. There were no "21 in. TT's" on these ships. All ships in the class had 6 MK-32 ASW torpedo tubes installed after shipyard modernizatons in the early 70's.
Garry, your question that a preliminary design for the DLG-6 could have included Weapon Alfa and torpedo tubes prompted me to double check Norman Freidman's book "U.S. Destroyers." There is nothing stated about torpedo tubes for the DLG-6. The ASROC launcher was the primary anti-submarine defense system.
As for additional information - The Farragut had the misfortune to be the lead ship of a new class with a new main propulsion system design. The 1200 psi boilers were controlled by a new pneumatic control system known as the Automatic Combustion Control System. It was a nightmare for the fireroom crews to operate until the "bugs" were worked out. As a result of many problems with the Automatic Combustion Control System, DLG-6 became known as "Building 6" because it spent so much time along side the pier for repairs.
Carl, thanks for the kind words. I too was a MM. I opted to not volunteer for the nuke program because I did not want to sign on for a six year obligation program when I entered A School in '61. It never entered my mind that I would serve a whole lot more than six years ....as a conventional monkey mate.
snipechief wrote:Gary, your question that a preliminary design for the DLG-6 could have included Weapon Alfa and torpedo tubes prompted me to double check Norman Freidman's book "U.S. Destroyers." There is nothing stated about torpedo tubes for the DLG-6. The ASROC launcher was the primary anti-submarine defense system.
All,
Cliffy is correct; on Preble ours laid down on the 01 deck. It was used when we did weapons unreps at sea. It wasn't used for a normal stores unrep as there was an unrep station located just forward on either side of the aft 01 deckhouse (hint: its where the 01 deck widened). If necessary I think I've got some pictures of our's in the stowed position if they're needed.
best,
Bruce
USS Preble DDG-15/46
Bruce
OSC USN-Ret
Currently on the building ways:
1/144 USS Stevens DD-479
1/144 USS Cook Inlet AVP-36
1/144 USS Walke DD-416
1/144 USS Preble DDG-46
Not those little portholes specifically, but that whole deck house is yes. The arrow pointed directly to the portholes so sorry for the confusion. I'd say that those might be blow out panels in the case of a mag explosion. Don't quote me on that though. I know they're not portholes per-say but I used that for lack of a better term.
Farragut was the only member of the class to ever receive the reload magazine. There are hatches on the front side of the deck house for the loading rails to slide out and hook into the the launcher. The launcher needs to elevate slightly in order to line up with the hatches. That re-load method is similar to the system on the Knox-class FFs. To my knowledge there would be no more than 2 full re-loads IE 16 missiles in the mag.
Sorry for the long winded answer
Drawing Board:
1/700 Whiff USS Leyte and escorts 1984
1/700 Whiff USN Modernized CAs 1984
1/700 Whiff ASW Showdown - FFs vs SSGN 1984
Slipway:
1/700 Whiff USN ASW Hunter Killer Group Dio 1984
Cliffy B wrote:Not those little portholes specifically, but that whole deck house is yes. The arrow pointed directly to the portholes so sorry for the confusion. I'd say that those might be blow out panels in the case of a mag explosion. Don't quote me on that though. I know they're not portholes per-say but I used that for lack of a better term.
Farragut was the only member of the class to ever receive the reload magazine. There are hatches on the front side of the deck house for the loading rails to slide out and hook into the the launcher. The launcher needs to elevate slightly in order to line up with the hatches. That re-load method is similar to the system on the Knox-class FFs. To my knowledge there would be no more than 2 full re-loads IE 16 missiles in the mag.
Sorry for the long winded answer
Tony Bunch pointed out those same blowout ports, to me, on the Knox class FFs and told me the same thing. Magazine Explosion Blowout Ports. Nomenclature maybe wrong, here, though.
I also wonder if they are for loading weapons through them, as well.
The basic reason that all ships in the class didn't receive the ASROC magazine was due in large part to weight. During the 1970-77 class upgrades all ships received their AAW modernizations. What this required was superstructure extensions to accommodate the NTDS equipment; it also required larger ship-service turbo generators to accommodate the electrical requirement increases. And finally, the SPQ-5A radars were replaced with the SPG-55 to improve the capability of the Terrier system. All of this tied in with the SPS-48 radar on the foremast meant that the class was getting top-heavy. With the Farragut they found that the instability wasn't desirable and made the decision not to equip the remaining nine with the magazine.
Now, on a personal note; I can attest to the class being top-heavy! On Preble, when we got underway you could feel the ship rolling almost as soon as we passed the mouth of the channel! It was always good for laughs to get boots watching the inclinometer in CIC; even in relatively clam seas our normal roll was in the area of 10-12 degrees from plum. Add some cigars and greasy lunch and the job was done!
Good times,
Bruce Ross
OSC(USN-Ret)
USS Preble DLG-15/DDG-46
Bruce
OSC USN-Ret
Currently on the building ways:
1/144 USS Stevens DD-479
1/144 USS Cook Inlet AVP-36
1/144 USS Walke DD-416
1/144 USS Preble DDG-46
