SHIPMATES! 2004 IS THE YEAR! USS BRADLEY’S
FIRST SHIPWIDE REUNION!
0CTOBER
7-10, 2004, RED LION HANALEI HOTEL, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA!
ARE YOU
REGISTERED WITH THE ASSOCIATION? REGISTERED MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE THE NECESSARY
MAILINGS ABOUT THE REUNION AND HOW TO MAKE RESERVATIONS TO ATTEND.
DON’T MISS OUT ON MEETING AND SPENDING TIME
WITH SO MANY OF YOUR FORMER BRADLEY SHIPMATES!
CONTACT YOUR EDITOR TO JOIN AND ATTEND THE REUNION.
USS Bradley’s First Two
West Pac Cruises
By: William S. Whaley
Former Commanding Officer
I was asked to write an article of the BRADLEY’S
first deployment from the prospective of the CO. As meaningful as they were to me, my memory
of events 38 years ago is less than complete. The proper sequence of events is
the most difficult aspect. Having been CO for two BRADLEY deployments, I tend
to mix the two. Please bear with me. The
BRADLEY ASSOCIATION newsletters have, in one way, or another, pretty well
covered the itinerary of BRADLEY’S first deployment (July-Dec 1966) and her
achievements. Perhaps I can review these things adding some details, and my
thoughts and feelings.
It is important to appreciate that this was not
just the first operational deployment of the 1040 class, and a combat
deployment at that. The Chief of Naval Operations had designated the deployment
as a CNO Operational Evaluation Project to determine the 1040 class capability
to perform the operational tasks of a general-purpose destroyer. In this regard
the senior people in the destroyer community were strongly opposed to
construction of the 1040 class and were aghast that anyone would think of
replacing DD’s with 1040 DE’s. For these reasons most people were looking at us
with great skepticism and many openly hoped we would fail.
We sailed from San Diego on 2
July 1966
with DESRON 7, bound for Subic Bay, P.I. via Pearl Harbor, Midway and Guam. The transit time was put to good use
improving skills, developing teamwork, and gaining operational confidence. For
me, having been onboard less than a month, this was valuable time to learn the
ship and her crew, assess our effectiveness at various evolutions, and
determine areas that needed more emphasis. Right away it was apparent that the
crew was very self disciplined, had tremendous pride in BRADLEY, and were
highly motivated toward a successful deployment. The commissioning detail had gotten it right
with these people! This was reflected in the remarkable material condition and
the immaculate cleanliness of the BRADLEY day in and day out. Knowing that
these matters would be taken care of, I was able to devote time to more
operational things – the capabilities and limitations of the main plant,
maneuvering characteristics, functioning of the weapons systems, CIC,
communications, and bridge watches and the coordination of those maximizing our
ability to perform the tactical tasks anticipated. The transit went well and without significant
incidents but all the while our operational performance was maturing. Through
this preparation and assessing of performance, the work and advise
of the XO was invaluable. Additionally he and his navigation team got us to
where we were going. Quietly in the background the Supply folks were helping
moral by serving really good food. Also they were running the soft ice cream
machine with the good commercial mix – and it was free to all hands.
As we left Subic Bay for DIXIE station off the south
coast of Vietnam I just knew the crew and
ship were ready. Several weeks before
the Weapons Officer had shown me that both 5”/38 mounts could fire 18 rounds/min which was the fleet standard. I complimented them but mentioned that as a
midshipman I was on a 5”/38 that could fire 25 rounds/min.
At DIXIE station we joined INTREPID (CVS-11) and
three destroyers. Though a CVS, INTREPID had recently been converted from a CV
and was called upon to fill that role in spite of the conversion. She was
operating low performance aircraft such as F-8’s, A-4’s, and AD’s. In no time at all we had gained INTREPID’S respect
and special attention. Mostly it was
just small things that we did better, faster and more aggressively than the
other destroyers – screen maneuvers, plane guarding, helo
ops, HIFR ops. Communications, etc. Early in our time
with INTREPID we played an important part in the rescue of a downed pilot and
this caught their attention. We were in
screen station 4000 yds ahead when signals and CIC
detected that a plane had flown into the water astern of INTREPID and the plane
guard. The plane guard acted as though
he didn’t have a clue so our OOD did a fast break, announced his intentions,
and maneuvered to DATUN. A helo arrived to make the
rescue but we were there if needed. One
thing the helo crews liked about BRADLEY is that we
always sent ice cream up to them.
One night a Russian trawler began following
INTREPID close astern. INTREPID was not
comfortable with the situation and asked BRADLEY to leave screen station and
try to get rid of the trawler. We got rid of her all right. Rang up 29kts and
headed for a spot about 100 yds astern of INTREPID
and barely ahead of the trawler. The trawler saw what we were doing, took off,
and was never seen again. We passed so close to INTREPID’S port quarter that
they lost sight of us.
The CO of INTREPID thought so highly of BRADLEY
that he asked to send a few of his surface officers aboard to observe our
operations. We exchanged three officers for a couple of days.
From DIXIE station INTREPID and her
escorts were moved north to YANKEE station in the Tonkin Gulf. CV operations continued
with us screening and plane guarding interspersed with some UNREPS.
From YANKEE station operations the INPREPID’S
group went to Sasebo, Japan for UPKEEP. I felt that
the just completed TG operations had gone beautifully and the crew should be
very proud of themselves and the BRADLEY.
When I met with CO INTREPID in Sasebo he had nothing but
compliments for BRADLEY.
Sasebo was a nice break for the
crew. From there the TG went to Hong Kong, B.C.C. for a brief
visit. Hong
Kong
is always exciting and the crew enjoyed themselves.
From Hong Kong the TG returned to
YANKEE station. At this point BRADLEY was detached from the INTREPID group and
assigned to escort ORISKANY. This meant an increase in the tempo of operations
because ORISKANY was operating a busier flight schedule and higher performance
a/c (F-4’s, A-3’s), which required greater flight deck wind speeds. This would
put greater demands on the plant and on the skill of the OOD’s
and CIC. As we approached the ORISKANY TG we could see that there was a plane
guard and two screen ships but the screen ships were on the beams. There was no
screen ahead of the CV. We sent a light
to the screen commander saying unless otherwise directed we would take screen
station 4000 yds ahead of the CV. Screen commander
replied he appreciated our initiative but the CO of ORISKANY was not
comfortable with a DD directly on his bow. He assigned us station 45 degrees
off the bow and said if we wanted to edge in closer to the bow, we were free to
try – good luck. On these operations as the CV turned into the wind and then
out of the wind we would have to gain about 8000 yds
at each turn. Instructions to the OOD’s were that
each time we did this maneuver they were to take station a little closer to the
CV bow, but without frightening him.
Instructions in the night orders were that when I got up in the morning
we should be 4000 yds dead ahead of the CV. And
that’s the way it turned out. OOD’s and CIC had a busy night. A few days later when we were detaching from
ORISKANY the CO sent a light saying, “You are a slick fox but don’t think I
didn’t know what you were doing. Well done. BRADLEY is the best escort I’ve
seen”.
To this point in the cruise BRADLEY and crew had
done beautifully. Everyone had been
worked hard and all had responded. The
ship’s plant had really been put to the test. ORISKANY’S signaled speed was
always 30 to 31kts (We felt she was only doing 29-30) Our
29+kts handled her even when we had maneuvering distances to make up. The only
slow downs were for UNREP and the crew became very adept at those evolutions.
From YANKEE station BRADLEY went south to the
vicinity of Qui Nhon in the II Corps area of South Vietnam. We reported to the
Naval Gunfire Support Commander. He was an Atlantic Fleet Destroyer squadron
Commander. As we passed his flag ship in
the vicinity of Da Nang I boated over for a short
briefing. I invited him to come see the ship thinking it might help him
evaluate us. He said no. He had seen GARCIA DE 1040 on the east coast
and was convinced the class couldn’t perform.
– It was not long before he would be eating crow!
BRADLEY fired her first combat round on 6 Sept.
We fired missions for Army and Marine units including air cavalry, mortar
positions, trenches, and supply and infiltration routes. While
in the IICorps area we had to be manned to provide
gunfire support nearly 24hrs/day.
We eventually worked around to where we could handle it on a port and
starboard basis in CIC (augmented) and on the bridge. The gunners didn’t get it that good but were
able to get some rest somehow. The XO had always been a second in command but
from this point on, because we had so much 24 hr demand, he was frequently and
alternative CO. The speed with which we could deliver the first round, the
rapid rate of fire, the pinpoint accuracy, and the tight battery alignment
astounded the spotters and the troops ashore. Some spotters asked that we put a
small deflection so our shells wouldn’t fall on top of each other. Additionally, the BRADLEY was nimble enough
that we didn’t need to anchor. This
allowed us to take really optimum position for each mission and if need be we
could be headed for a new area at 29kts in minutes. BRADLEY was in such demand
that an AE was kept in our vicinity to keep our magazines full. Port and starboard gunfire, police brass,
replenishment stations, and repeat – port and starboard gunfire-----. Not all
of our time on the gun line went that way. One day the gunfire liaison officer
gave us a two-hour stand down about midday. Some of the crew went
to mess decks for chow (mess was 24 hours/day) and others turned in their bunks
to get some zzz’s. I was relaxing in my port wing
chair taking in rays, when suddenly I heard incoming shells. As I took cover
airbursts appeared nearby at a low altitude. The OOD hit the general alarm and
cautioned people to take cover quickly. CIC radioed ashore to the liaison
officer asking if he had anyone firing in the area. He replied no. The OOD had
the ship up to speed and maneuvering away from the airbursts. The burst didn’t
move and the fire seemed to come from a friendly area. Finally the liaison officer called us saying
it was an army 90mm battery. They fired there every Tuesday to register
their battery. There had never been any ships there before but henceforth they
would check to see if the area was clear.
From gunfire support the BRADLEY returned to
YANKEE station for more CV escort work. During this time BRADLEY was visited by
COMSEVENTHFLT for a brief tour. Perhaps
more importantly we had a different type of visitor. Sue Thompson, a country
western singer, was visiting the CV when the tactical situation changed so that
Sue couldn’t get back ashore and was going to be overnight with the TG. The CV’s CO said he thought BRADLEY was the
best place for her to spend the night. I didn’t know whether that was a
compliment or an insult but I agreed to host her. The XO moved out of his room and Sue moved
in. She was a great gal and the crew
loved it. She and some BRADLEY musicians did a show that evening. After Sue
left the next day the XO wouldn’t let anyone change his bunk sheets for a week.
Departing YANKEE station we went to Subic Bay P.I. There I visited with the deployed flotilla
commander who was coordinating BRADLEY’S evaluations. On entering his cabin he
said he had just received our evaluation from the gunfire commander and asked
if I had seen it yet. I hadn’t so he read it to me. It enumerated our
accomplishments and said BRADLEY was easily the best NGFS he had worked
with. He went on to say he didn’t
attribute our success to BRADLEY’S characteristics. Rather he said the CO of
BRADLEY was a wild man who had the officers and men thinking they were ten feet
tall. The admiral asked what I thought
of the evaluation. I said it was a good report but the gunfire commander was
wrong about one thing. -----I didn’t have the officers and men thinking they
were ten feet tall------they are ten feet tall! The admiral
agreed.
After Subic we participated in a
joint British/US anti-submarine exercise Silver Skate. All I recall of the exercise was the
excellent performance of the ASW team. It seemed most of the time as though we
were the only ship with a sonar.
From the ASW ops BRADLEY went to Kaohsiung, Taiwan for an upkeep period. I
believe this may have been the crew’s favorite port.
Upon completing the UPKEEP BRADLEY set course for
the Saigon River delta in the III Corps
area to provide additional NGFS. On this mission most of our fire was
harassment and interdiction at VC delta camps and their supply and infiltration
routes. One station we had was a short way up the Saigon River in very shallow water.
As we passed Vung Tau we
had winds to 50kts and horizontal rain. Piloting was very difficult but the XO
and his navigation team handled it. We were vulnerable to small boat attack
there so we had to set up machine gun and small arms strong points topside.
This was BRADLEY’S last NGFS assignment for the deployment. We had fired more
than 4000 rounds of 5’/38.
Upon completion of the III Corps NGFS duties
BRADLEY went north to join HALSEY DLG-23 as the northern SAR (search &
rescue) team in the Tonkin Gulf near Hiaphong.
The SAR teams were composed of a missile shooter, with a helo,
and advanced CIC facilities, and a shotgun DD to protect against PT boats. CO
HALSEY and I knew before leaving San Diego that we would be paired.
He asked that, despite lesser CIC sophistication, we do whatever we could to
keep the strike/air picture as a backup to HALSEY. Anxious to test ourselves I
readily agreed. This put a real strain on CIC (augmented) but they succeeded
beautifully. Supply was a big augment,
the Supply Officer and the Disbursing Officer did port and starboard in CIC
maintaining and displaying the massive and complex strike plan. HALSEY’S helo
actually preferred our flight deck and flight support. On one high visibility
rescue from way inland the helo was running low on
fuel and we were closer so he wanted to land on BRADLEY. HALSEY was having none
of that –lost publicity—and the helo did make it
safely to HALSEY. CO said we performed so well it was his opinion
that BRADLEY could be a single SAR station (Where is the Missile?).
After SAR duty BRADLEY was assigned for several
days to a specified location with shallow water. We were assigned a submarine
and conducted extensive tests of the SQS-26 to determine it’s
shallow water performance.
On leaving the Tonkin Gulf a typhoon that went
where it wasn’t supposed to go blocked our getting to Subic for fuel for several
days. This forced us to a high sea UNREP. The seas were so great we could see
much of the oiler’s keel clear of the water. To keep
fore and aft position alongside the oiler, instead of
adding and subtracting RPM’s we were making full bell
speed changes. From there we returned to San Diego.
It was a fabulous cruise. It was challenging
learning to adapt BRADLEY’S capabilities to the tasks assigned. Our missions
and tasks were exciting and demanding. It was with pride that I watched this
wonderful crew and capable ship meet every demand. No skipper ever had it so
easy.
In spite of the wonders of that first deployment,
I’ve got to say that the second deployment went just as well. That deployment
had some of the same challenges and some different ones –mad dash with CVS
across the Pacific into winter storms without a stop – northern picket outside Vladivostok for Pueblo Crisis—initial detection of Badger
over flight –designated to tow Pueblo out of Wonson
if it came to that – challenging Tiger Islands 8” guns on Market Time ops
–crossing the equator – forty days at sea –etc.
We at USSBRADLEY.COM
hope you enjoyed your holiday
season, and now that the new year is upon us, it is time to get back to work.
Well, lots of things
happening around here…
As the dust settles, you
will find that the website is undergoing a continual growth process, the latest
being a user friendly reunion information page.
This will hopefully make the
process of actually registering information concerning the reunion all the
easier for us to understand, and all the more accurate, to assure you get timely
information as we need to put it out.
The TAPS page is growing,
the membership page is undergoing continual transformation, the newsletter
archive is continuing to grow, everything is
expanding.
Our website is YOUR website,
and our object is to make the BEST website in Cyber-Space. We, as always, look
forward to hearing your feedback.
See ya
around the mess decks…
Thomas M Hyett
Former FC3(SW)
Webmaster – USSBradley.com
