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that the Silversides got in position to fire, a vessel would come into the area and the shot would be called off.
By late afternoon, it was decided to wait for another day.
On the fourth day, all went well, so to speak. We fired up #4 engine and proceeded to get underway. We were clipping along, at 6 knots, steering a course towards the sun, at least we knew what direction that was (east I think) when we saw the first helicopter coming in. This was the time for Gary the Master Chief and I to make a final inspection of the interior of the ship to insure that all WTD's were secured open. The last thing that we wanted to happen is for the ship not to sink after it was hit. As we went below we found that the fuel filter on #4 engine had sprung a serious leak. Choices, we could shut down to repair the filter and delay the shot which should be in less that 20 minutes or we could just get the hell out of there and let the Silversides take care of our problem. We figured we had over an hour's fuel left. So. Being the "in charge" people we were, we got the hell out of there and went topside to wait for lift off.
After the first two were lifted off, the second copter came to pick up the Master Chief and myself. Gary went first and then they lowered the cable for me. Most of you know what happens if you touch the free end of a chopper cable. Well, for those of you who don't if you don't, I'll tell you. You get knocked on you ass with an electrical shock. Being smarter that the average sailor, I wasn't about to let that happen to me so I used a piece of wood and knocked the hook aside as it came down. And come down it did and proceeded to get jammed in the safety track back by the after engine room hatch. Now the helicopter is hooked to the TIRU and this is not a good thing for Peter. I knew that if the helicopter pulled on the cable and found it caught up they would cut it and I would be stranded because the first helo. was loaded with people and mine would have no hook to use. It was a mad scramble for a minute until I got the hook loose. I was finally on my way up up and away. Just me and my remote control.
Only ten minutes to go once I was on board, so we circled around the TIRU and waited. After an hour went by, we figured another ship must have come into the area. I kept adjusting the rudder with the remote control unit to keep her on an easterly course. "Remember the fuel leak, Me to". After another half hour we had another problem, the helo was low on fuel and had to go back to the ASR to refuel. The only problem was that I had the only means of steering the TIRU. It was decided to bit the bullet and get refueled and get back as quick as possible, so off we went, "Remember the fuel leak, I was having trouble forgetting it at this point! It took us another hour to go out the 25 miles, "Rules of Engagement", refuel and return. By the time we got back on the scene, the area was clear and the exercise was going down.
As hard as this for me to say, watching the explosion was a beautiful thing to see.
As the Skipper of the USS Silversides aptly said, 89 seconds later it was all over and we headed back to Norfolk.
EPILOG
Thank you for allowing me to bring this story to you. It has been a wonderful experience to resurrect all these memories after all this time.
Thank you again!
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