Nautical things to do in the cold

As I sat in last night enjoying my hot buttered rum and White Christmas (it isn't Christmas unless Bing Crosby is dancing with Danny *frickin* Kaye) leafing through volumes of Chapelle and huge sheets of drawings spread over my coffee table, when I suddenly thought - this CAN'T be it - there must be something a little more nautical and hands-on that I could do to get out and away from the books if I wanted to. Not that I'm uncomfortable, but there is a certain part of me that definitely doesn't like sheltering inside.

So after using time thinking about this prospect to help me procrastinate on my other work (as usual) I came up with several options for those of you who want to get out to the water this winter.

Obviously, you have the polar bear clubs. I've done this several times, but the only one I regret was the time I went a$$ over teakettle into New York Harbor in March. It wasn't about the cold - it was about the East River Whitefish and the dead bodies. *shudder*. Shifting back to the original subject, some of these are a good time and are set up to support some very good causes.

Of course for those who live in colder climes where large waterways freeze over, you have the option for some additional fun. Where I'm from in Upstate NY you have several options for winter playtime on the ice. First, you have the classic sport of ice fishing. Never underestimate the recreational value of walking out onto the ice - way out in some cases - cutting a hole through the ice, then sitting around it barbecuing while you drop your line. Some days you'd be amazed what can emerge from that tiny bore.

Another great ice-top past time is ice boating. These racehorses are a long way off from the days when mariners strapped blades to the hulls of their summer boats - it's now a fully-developed sport on its own. And for those who love going fast under sail, I don't think you can beat this for speed. In fact, check out this short video from the Netherlands - some of those cool little gaff riggers appear in Chapman's Navalis Mercatoria (see "what I'm reading" on the right) - 18th century! Now THAT'S what we need! We could use it for about one day a year on the one tiny ice flow that might pop up in Hampton Roads, but the coolness factor is so high that it all balances out.

At any rate, I hope everyone gets a chance to go play outside and enjoy whatever aspect of the winter climate in their area that you're able!

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Its Friday but I'm busy...

So here's your video for the week - a little bit of awesome courtesy eBay:



BT

This weekend at the Dockyard, I'm still clearing up from Great Bridge and getting Monomoy No. 1 stowed for the winter. Some severe weather might keep me locked inside for a while, so standby for possible weekend updates!

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FULLBORE FRIDAY - Loyal subjects (I trust they weren't too expensive)

Two weeks from today - after that blighted family affair we call Thanksgiving, when the hearth has cleared away and you're thoroughly sick of all relations - the Naval Heritage Society will assemble in Chesapeake VA for the 2010 reenactment of the 1775 Battle of Great Bridge. The most foreign aspect of our participation - if you've not done it before - is that we're dressing up as the British. Yes, the bad guys in red coats (well, about half of us will be in red anyway). And as inherritors of the "evil empire" as we Americans are so often viewed abroad, it would do well for us to examine the roots 'from wence we came'.

Of course the early American naval and marine forces took their first military examples from the British land and sea services. Of course, they added their own distinctly American touches, many of which were brought on by the necessity of building a fighting force from scratch and directly under the noses of a vastly superior and infinitely better organized enemy. Needless to say, their organization, tactics and methods are well worth studying to get a better understanding of what our early naval and marine forces faced, what they adapted from them and what they changed.

That said, for the next two weeks until the conclusion of Great Bridge, I am reverting BACK from wence NHS came, to the enthusiastic LOBSTERBACK - loyal to the rightful soverign of this land, King George the Third. So break out your corniest British accent, we have a rebellion to crush and populace to oppress!

BT

As the first installment of propaganda - I mean encouragement - for you, I'm going to use my semi-regular and moderately obligatory Friday movie-link post to get you all enthused about being royal subjects again.

The navy to which you now belong is one of the largest sea-going fighting forces in the world, equipped with dozens and dozens of great hulking wooden star-destroyers known as Ships of the Line. These powerhouses, although quite nearly useless for any effective inshore work in the colonies, were still quite intimidating. The navy, and the army for that matter are highly efficient fighting forces, quickly adaptable to many forms of irregular combat. They are both highly competitive but work together closely when called upon to do their nation's bidding.

And as if your military might were not enough to get excited about, there is always your elevated status as a crown subject and citizen of the empire. It is definately something to be proud of, that sets you above the rest of the world - including your own colonies - that is worthy of note.

The downside, sadly, is that you'll never seem to get the girl. But come on, really? That's not too bad. As a Brit, even if you're not wearing a smashing red coat, you can still cut one damnably fine image.

Take a few moments to drink it all in. After all, it's already done, and you don't really have a choice in the matter.

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The stuff of nightmares

Today's Fullbore Friday is dedicated to Halloween, and all the little things that scare us.

Before I get to the videos, I had my own little nightmare already, just this morning. Imagine if you will another place. Norfolk, Virginia. An unsuspecting Dockyard. An unsuspecting Commissioner. Going out to start his vehicle, everything goes normally. That is, until backing out into the middle of the street. Dun dun DUUUUUN! The engine sickly conks out. In full uniform, ready for another exciting day at US Fleet Forces Command, our commissioner is suddenly filled with fear and anxiety.

After several minutes heaving and hawing to get my car out of the middle of the street, I went inside to call AAA. Then.... NOOOOOO! Even you, American Automobile Association - even you have farmed out consumer services to... PAKISTAN! Argh.

Yeah, read your mail from the manufacturer. If you had, you'd know your fuel guage had been recalled and you wouldn't be waiting all morning for a tow to a Nissan dealership for your fuel pump to be replaced.

BT

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, primarily because it is the only holiday that draws on all of our irrational fears and sugar-coats them in a generic 'dress up your kids and hand out candy' sort-of atmosphere. Just remember, that under that frivilous exterior, there lurks a canker-worm which is slowly but surely eating its way into your very heart.

Side note: that might be my first ever non-movie entertainment quote.

But seriously. When was the last time you sat down and pondered the things that REALLY scare you. I do, almost every day. In the Navy we call it ORM, but I call it "visualizing the worst case scenario, and my court-martial." That's because I'm continually plagued by this nagging notion of things in my professional life gone horribly wrong. Extend that to things like ghost ships - those found adrift at sea without a soul onboard - and even routine ship breakers, where ships themselves go to die. And worse yet, what happens when things at the shipbreakers go awry. Yes, I know its lame but these things scare and creep me out on a deep, internal level.

Now, my colleague on the other hand, he scares to much more conventional things. Some of my other colleagues and I have enjoyed scaring the crap out of him with early stop-motion animation. We just enjoy the crazy responses we get from him. Happy Halloween Facebook bomb, Wayne!

And then there's the category of the just plain wierd. I won't go so far as to subscribe to this, but the recently uncovered footage from the premiere of Charle Chaplin's "The Circus" in 1928 and what appears to be a woman talking on a cell phone - that's right, a cell phone in 1928! At least that's what it looks like. Of course, it was probably something perfectly mundane but this has even me puzzled. There are just some who wierd themselves out with crazy theories.

So go forth and enjoy yon scarring and frighting, and have a Happy Halloween!

BT

This weekend we will continue the process of taking lines off Monomoys No. 2 and 3 in preparation for stem and sternpost removal and replacement. In another strange Halloween scare of sorts, we recently found out that all of them are misshapen in one way or another, and oh yeah, those curved scarphs that connect the stem and sternposts to the keel - yeah - they're curved. In the words of one trusted authority who's been helping me out "good luck with those".

Be afraid.

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A musical FULLBORE FRIDAY

This week, your motivational, inspirational, educational videos are all musically themed.

There has been much discussion about the adaptation of traditional sea shanties to our programming. And not just singing, using it to coordinate work and pull every last ounce of spring and effort out of your sore and weary backs. Because after a while, no amount of yelling and cursing helps, and we can't use the cat o'nine, kindler, gentler Navy and all that.

Sea shanties have that unique effect. When exhausted, a lively and out of tune shanty can do wonders to revive a crew. I use the effect while driving long-distance. In fact, on one 14-hour drive recently another motorist on the NY State Thruway thought it absolutely hysterical that I was belting out "Bound for the Rio Grande" at the top of my lungs. That's right home spice keep rolling.

Our Historical Director, Vic Keranen, known to you all as the salty old fella who out-pulled the rest of the crew at Conquer the Chesapeake, has been researching rowing shanties - yes they existed, but no they weren't well documented. So he's been digging up some great finds, and the web master is building him a page on the website where the best ones can be put up for your listening pleasure.

But as much as I like the idea of singing, I have to say, the songs I like are few and far between. Like everything else in NHS, oughtn't it be fun? sarcastic? worth the effort? I certainly think so. And while there are many shanties that have dirty connotations, like "A' Rovin" - which, by the way, has some VERY dirty renditions floating around - most seem dull as dishwater. By the way, if I catch any of you dancing like that blokes in the last video, I'll crack you with the steering oar. I am, however, always willing to pay top price for Indian heads (feathers, not dots).

The last thing I want you all to associate with NHS sea shanties are people like these guys, whose primary role is to entertain the kiddies. Instead, I want you to think of the most kick ass songs that have some rythm and are catchy as all get out. From my end, I prefer the work of my favorite Yankee-Irish pub band, Ceann, who are known for such songs as 'Youre Pretty on the Inside' and the 'Worst Pirate'. But whatever is catchiest, and everyone knows or can learn, will do.

You can even take a popular tune and make up your own lyrics. Just do your best to keep it family-friendly, please.

BT

This weekend at the Dockyard - we're tackling the fiberglass removal on the No. 2 Monomoy. Come on out and lend a hand, but remember, disposable coveralls (including old Navy coveralls that you're okay with throwing away) and respirators and goggles are a must. See you out there!

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Fullbore Friday

What is it about the combination of oar and sail that is just so sexy? The teamwork, leadership, and the drive to push harder, faster, farther with the power of the wind and the sweat of the crew - all of it combines to create a highly unique experience that is not for the faint of heart.

It's been several weeks since Monomoy No. 1 hit the water - she's been cleaned up and is waiting for a stint in static display land where we're hoping to recruit some fresh bodies to top up the operational crew to maximum strength. And so, in the interim and with the Winter construction season rapidly approaching, new projects coming on line and fresh initiative put into old ones, I want to throw a little inspiration back into the mix.

BT

Around the world there are several other organizations who've found religion in boats and programs like ours. On the US West Coast, you can find plenty of organizations who utilize boats that should look quite familiar. Granted, they are primarily rowing, but it sure looks like fun to me!

I have to say, though that if you're looking for the epitome of bad assed-ness, you need to check out modern surf-boat rowing. Of course, the Aussies totally step up the whole mess by attempting it in bikinis and speedoes - but as I've always contended, to each thier own.

When you start talking about sailing AND rowing, you start finding organizations that go farther, stay out longer, and really start to combine familiar NHS elements to create some pure awesomeness of their own.

And of course, the pièce de résistance of sailing and rowing - the Atlantic Challenge. These 38-foot gigs are incredible, and really push the concepts that NHS strives to master and in the coolest of ways. The regular international races cover miles of open sea under oar and sail, racing in a one-design concept entirely based on mastery of age-old seamanship skill. And boy does that look like FUN!

Of course, NHS is a slightly different spin on all this, but all in all we have so much to learn from, to dream about and push toward - the possibilities in these and in our own unique sphere are infinitely exciting!

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FULLBORE FRIDAY - pure awesomeness!

Today is Friday the 13th - traditionally my lucky day. Seriously. I always have the best of luck on these days. Might have something to do with the original Friday the 13th was only bad luck for the Templars, but good for the King.

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BT

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This week, I am taking plagiarism to a whole new level - not only do I call my Friday entries Fullbore Friday, after the practice of my favorite navy blogger - but today I am stealing his content too. Well, sort of. Today's video is this one (yes there's a link here) entitled "the US Navy of 1915". It is possibly one of the coolest snapshots of everyday naval history on film. Of course, my particular favorite comes around in the last minute or so of the film, when the racing crew of USS WYOMING shows up in their beautiful 32-foot racing cutter. But other points of interest are early S-class submarines, flush-deck destroyers, the presidential yacht Mayflower as well as many many other great platforms and details.

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Enjoy.

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BT

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The Dockyard will be closed next week while I take a vacation. I'm going to upstate New York to play with my dinghy.

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FULLBORE FRIDAY - the smoking lamp is lit in all authorized spaces

Well, it is time again for Fullbore Friday. Yes, yes, I know its a cheap rip off from CDR Salamander but his are way better anyway. Besides, my shenanagins are cheeky and fun... nevermind. Studies have statistically shown that 9 out of 10 people don't get these references.


BT


Smoking, and tobacco use in other forms, is undoubtedly a common habit among modern Navy sailors. In fact, it's pretty common throughout the armed services. That's not to say it's a good idea to start, or that this trend should continue. And in all seriousness, there are many in NHS who should quit eh-hem... yeah. It is your legal right, and you are free to choose, but there is no mistaking the irreparable damage you are doing to your body, and hence a vital piece of miltary equipment, when you choose to light up.

Now I know that many Sailors pick this habit up before they enter the military. Many have parents or other outside influuences that promote the habit, actively or passively. But the culture of the modern Navy - where smoke decks are regular places of temporary refuge and even unofficial business transactions - can do little to correct the situation. Just know that smoke decks are dangerous places - and not only for the company.

And for those of us who feel that smoking doesn't impede our work, we should take a quick look at all the time we spend "thinking things over" while puffing away. The Launch would probably be done by now, if not for the frequent breaks. Unfortunately I know what happens when I curtail those...

BT

Okay I've completed another Friday entry. Some of it was funny. If you are a smoker, you need to SERIOUSLY CONSIDER taking steps to quit. The Navy's tobacco cessation course is actually quite thorough, and might be able to help you. Think about it, that's all I ask. I am.

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Fourth of July FULLBORE FRIDAY!!!

Because the computer is the last thing I'll be working on this weekend: Happy Independence Day! Be safe, have fun - after all, that's what NHS is all about.

BT

There have been a couple of really fun videos out lately. One came out just this morning from Navy Recruiting Command, and was posted on Facebook. Public speaking has evolved a great deal in recent days, and I dare say we are reaching more of our younger sailors than ever. As I've recently pointed out, humor is a great teaching tool.

Another video, recently posted on a respected and highly dependable news outlet, unveils new research concerning the Star Spangled Banner. As it turns out, Francis Scott Key had some serious anger issues when it came to the British. Or possibly he was just a product of his time. In either case, this just goes to show you that there are some very interesting things yet to be learned from our history.

BT

One week until the Blackbeard Pirate Festival! As one of our sailors recently pointed out, this year we're going to start calling it, the Pirate Abuse Festival.

Have a great holiday weekend!

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What? Doing what I planned on? Can't be!

At long last... it's FULLBORE FRIDAY! Yes, thats right, I remembered my regularly scheduled but seldom published Friday blog entry where I highlight something awesomely nautical and motivational. This week, I'm keeping with the spirit of yesterday's entry and highlighting some of the awesomeness that is the Brig Niagara. But first, a word about a word that I intend to change the meaning -or at least use of, slightly.

When I set out to paint my living room, I decided to be slightly different and cool, so I chose a color of turquois called nautical. It was very quickly agreed by all concerned that this was a very good choice in not only color, but that the color is aptly named, most of my interests being nautical. That word came up more and more as an adjective - make that a little more nautical, more nautical here. At one point someone said it like a surfer says radical - that's nautical, dude! So yes, from this point onward, when something would be said to be awesome, cool, radical etc.... it is nautical.

Yeah, okay I know.

BT

Without further adieu - Fullbore Friday, your Moment of Zen... can I steal more terms for this?

The Brig Niagara was discussed yesterday, and I hope at least some of you now have an itch to go up and see her. But one thing I didn't go into too much detail about is her use of her carronades. Originally the ship carried 18 or 20 32-pdr carronades (I'll wait while you decipher that). Today, she has six, but usually carries four. Those, however, she makes spendid use of. Aside from the regular "for the kids" shoots, they also fire LIVE occassionally - that is, with not only powder but with a ball as well! In fact, one of my favorite things about the homeport museum (as I stated yesterday) is that they reconstructed the side of a period ship using period tools and techniques, then took it out to a range and shot the living crap out of it with the ship's guns.

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And my personal favorite was a page out of the chapter from last year's trip to Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Some of the crew found a candy shop and purchased an enormous jawbreaker - I mean that thing was massive. It also happened to fit the bore of the carronade perfectly. So one day - and I can imagine how this must have gone - there's these crewmembers in front of the captain, holding out the jawbreaker - "please?" Of course, the skipper being an awesome guy and never short on imagination or nautical know-how, agreed. And from the firery jaws of the smasher that day flew a giant ball of sugar. Just like a regular ball, it skipped at least twice, but held together.

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I can only take off my hat and bow respectfully, even at the memory of those fun days.

Hoping to do that again this year,

Will

I like the cut of your jib, sir!

We have great weather forecast this weekend at the Dockyard - and so we are finally ready to paint the interior of the Monomoy Pulling Boat! Today and tommorrow we'll be prepping all interior surfaces, first blasting them with the new pressure washer (Tim Allen 'ho ho ho') then sanding every surface before a final chemical wipe-down. Sunday, we'll start applying paint - provided we can come up with a plan for covering and heating the boat should it rain on Monday as predicted and keep it all above 50 degrees. Hmm. Well, more time for that as we prep. But special thanks to the volunteers from the spar team, gunner's crew and carpenter's crew who are assisting with this project.

BT

Now, on for another edition of the twice forgotten (appologies) FULLBORE FRIDAY. PS - I stole that term from CDR Salamander, a navy blogger whose opinions I greatly appreciate. Sorry, sir, but imitation is, in fact, the sincerest form of flattery.

This week's anecdote comes from a long-forgotten engagement off Samar made famous in recent years by James D. Hornfischer's book Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors. If you haven't read this book yet, get hot, especially if you're in the navy.

The action was a minor note in the annals of history, but as the book's subtitle describes, it is trully "the untold story of the US Navy's finest hour." Japanese Admiral Kurita, with a force of four battleships, six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and eleven destroyers, aimed to attack the US landings in the Phillipines as another force of Japanese aircraft carriers distracted ADM Halsey's much larger battleship and aircraft carrier force. To most, it would seem a hopeless fight-

The very powerful force of Japanese battleships, cruisers, and destroyers commanded by Admiral Kurita engaged a US task unit of six escort carriers, three destroyers, and four destroyer escorts. The Americans were taken entirely by surprise because the Seventh Fleet had firmly believed that its northern flank was being protected by Admiral Halsey's immensely powerful 3rd Fleet, which consisted of eight fleet carriers and six fast battleships.

The brunt of the Japanese attack fell on the northernmost of the escort carrier units, Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague's Task Unit 77.4.3 (usually referred to by its radio call-sign "Taffy 3"). Ill-equipped to fight large-gunned warships, Taffy 3's escort carriers attempted to escape from the Japanese force, while its destroyers, destroyer escorts, and aircraft made sustained attacks on Kurita's ships. The destroyers and destroyer escorts only had torpedoes and up to 5 in (127 mm) guns, nonetheless they had radar-assisted gun directors; the Japanese had heavy caliber weapons up to 18.1 in (460 mm) but relied upon less accurate optical rangefinders. The US also had large numbers of aircraft available which the Japanese lacked. The ordnance for the escort carriers' aircraft consisted mostly of high-explosive bombs used in ground support missions, and depth charges used in anti-submarine work, rather than the armor-piercing bombs and torpedoes which would been more effective against heavily armored warships. Nevertheless, even when they were out of ammunition, the American aircraft continued to harass the enemy ships, making repeated mock attacks, which distracted them and disrupted their formations.

In all, two US destroyers, a destroyer escort, and an escort carrier were sunk by Japanese gunfire, and another US escort carrier was hit and sunk by a kamikaze aircraft during the battle. Kurita's battleships were driven away from the engagement by torpedo attacks from American destroyers; they were unable to regroup in the chaos, while three cruisers were lost after attacks from US destroyers and aircraft, with several other cruisers damaged. Due to the ferocity of the defense, Kurita was convinced that he was facing a far superior force and withdrew from the battle, ending the threat to the troop transports and supply ships.

The book analyzes the battle from the perspectives of several participants, many of whom went on to have ships named after them. One such person is Gunner's Mate Third Class Paul Henry Carr:

Japanese shells from several ships finally found their mark, knocking out all power, compressed air, and communications on the destroyer escort. During the battle, Paul Carr kept his gun mount operating continuously, firing over 300 rounds until power and air were lost. Carr then began firing rounds by hand, accepting the risk that without air the gun would not cool down between firings. With seven rounds left in the magazine, the tremendous heat in the gun breech "cooked off" a round, exploding the projectile loaded in the gun and killing most of the gun crew. When a rescue team member made his way into the shattered mount, he found Paul Carr, literally torn open from neck to thigh, attempting vainly to load a shell into the demolished gun breech. The rescue team member took the round from Carr and laid him aside as he began to remove the bodies of the gun crew. When he returned to the mount, he again found Paul Carr, projectile in hand, trying to load his gun. Carr begged the sailor to help him get off one last round. The sailor pulled him from the mount and laid him on the deck. Paul Carr died a few moments later, beneath the gun he served so well. The crew of the SAMUEL B. ROBERTS finally had to abandon ship, but they did see the Japanese force turn away, believing by the ferocity of the attack that they faced a large and potent foe.

Paul Henry Carr was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. He is survived by eight sisters, who keep an active interest in their brother's ship, USS CARR (FFG 52).

Complete as this description is, it doesn't do Hornfischer's narrative justice. Read the book - you'll feel like a better American for the appreciation of the navy you'll have. And present day sailors - you'll want to throw on your dress uniform and go have a drink to honor these guys - it will make you that proud of our heritage.

See some of you in the Dockyard tonight! Be ready to get dirty!

Will

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No birds were injured in the making of this mast

IT'S FRIDAY!!! And I'm getting pretty excited for the weekend - lots of work going on. For starters, we have the Monomoy mast being laminated. It's being made in a "bird's mouth" technique that produces a hollow mast weighing a fraction of what a solid spar does with only marginal strength loss. The mast is 16 feet long and is 5" in diameter at its widest point, tapering to 3.5" at the masthead and heel. The pieces are already made, for the most part, and the spar team will be making final touch ups and laminating tomorrow. In the paint shop for some varnish next week and hopefully we will have the finished reproduction mast ready to go.

Also this weekend we have the naval carriage for the 3-pdr being fleshed out a bit more. Depending on shipping and logistics, we may have the gun itself in time for GCH. Sorry, guys, she's not going even if we have her - doesn't fit in with the program.

The foot and leach of the sail are now complete, sans roping and grommets. Corner patches are installed at the tack and clew. Tonight I plan to cut the tabling for the tack and head, and get them started as well. The Manila line that was on the stretch in the rigging cage came out yesterday, and will serve quite nicely to rope the sail's edges. All in all I think a mid-march finish date is more than practicable.

So, in closing, I intend to start a tradition here on the NHS Dockyard Blog - in tribute to one of my favorite Navy bloggers, I'm going to call it FULLBORE FRIDAY - something like Jon Stewart's 'Moment of Zen' but a little faster paced. This week's subject is brought to you by those crazy Aussies at Ocean Thunder pro surf boat racing. Because nothing says cool like rowing through pounding surf and having your boat flipped and oars broken - while wearing speedoes. Rock on, Australia.

Will