US Navy USS Saufley DD465 1952 Living Conditions
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Saufley earned 16 battle stars during World War II, making her one of the most decorated US ships of World War II.
US Navy Documentary about living conditions aboard this Fletcher Class Destroyer . Saufley was re-designated a DDE in 1949 and then an EDDE (experimental) and used for experimenting with new Sonar systems until 1962 when reclassified as a DD, then participating in the movie PT109 as well as the Blockade of Cuba.
Saufley served admirably in the Pacific in WWII, instrumental in the sinking of two Japanese submarines as well as participating in several key operations. The future Commander, Naval Opertions, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt was Executive Officer of the Saufley 1945 - 46
I bet they ban this film at the navy recruiting offices
Nah, why ban this? If anything it shows how far and nice our current ships have come.
I think it's not too bad. I just watched a documentary about the living conditions of crews in 17th-century sea-going ships and galleons. This looks so much better.
What was wrong. Everything looked clean, the food was good and after a day working with steam turbines, all you would want to do in your bunk was sleep. The most noticeable part was the spirit of comradeship among the crew. This is far more important than a fancy cabin and computer games.
I wonder what would happen if anyone snored !!!
It's a weapons platform not some phukking Holiday Inn Motel.
I was a FC2C, aboard DD40 in WWII. I was a plank owner, and finished the war on her. HERE IS THE DAILY ROUTINE. We went to General Quarters every morning, from one hour before sunrise, to one hour after. The same thing every evening, at sunset. We also had two 4-hour watches, each day. If bogies ,or an attack took place,we stayed at GQ until the threat passed,for one additional hour. I spent about 40 minutes every day, checking out,and servicing 40 millimeter guns and sights, #41, and #45. Also spent maybe an hour a day repairing headsets,with broken wires. Then, if we were under attack,or bogies in the area, it was back to GQ plus one hour after the threat, and the all-clear was announced. Now, add in one hour for chow lines and eating. No comparison with peace-time duty! We were truly exhausted from this schedule. But, we came back alive! I am pushing 99 years old. 41/2 moths to go!
Awesome post, swabbie!! Your testimony is a terrific testimony of how hard sailors on fighting ships must work, and, it is hard, tedious work. Thanks for your service in WWII and hope you make it to 100!!
Did ya make it to 99?
I'm 4th generation Army, my hat's off to you sir.
Good for you. Thanks for sharing
"The farts... The farts... Dear, God, the farts..."
I spent eight weeks on board of Fletcher class destroyer in 1969 for midshipmen’s training. It taught me what Navy life was all about and gave me a life long respect for sailors.
Jack: There weren't many Fletchers left in '69, but it sure gave you a taste of how rugged that life really is. As you also learned, I imagine, is that the officers really didn't have it any better, other than the wardroom food service and slightly more comfortable sleeping quarters. Being at sea on a Tin Can in heavy weather is a great equalizer for the discomforts/hardships that that brings. Thanks for postings!!
Utmost respect. There would be a scandal if any prison put inmates through these conditions, yet these guys did it freely and kicked ass all over the world with high morale and competence.
"The cook's left shoe, also doubling as the ships chapel, is well above the navy standard capacity of three square millimeters per man. Meals are prepared in the head, where here you see a stew brewing in the toilet. In fair weather, men can be seen throwing a football down a three foot long passageway, that also doubles as storage for ammunition, fire fighting equipment, office supplies and dirty laundry."
@Commentor1 They didn't show me this video in the recruiters office, and am sure no one else saw it either. The Gearing class destroyers had very similar living conditions through the mid-70's. Newer ships did have better conditions, but not ideal.
Understated by a long shot.
For real.
I miss 688 life. Sometimes.
@@davidpayne9336 I had to smile when you said " sometimes" as I myself served on an FFG that was finally decommissioned however I do miss my shipmates mainly.
Lmao!!!
Thank God, I joined the Navy 40 years later!! GO NAVY!!
Thanks for your service in the USN!! You must have been on a newer ship, as I served 68 - 72 on a Gearing DD. the Myles C Fox, but aside from berthing with A/C, little had changed. Thanks for posting.
Dreadful conditions. I served in the Royal Navy and one of my ships was an ex WW2 Destroyer. We didn't have bunks, just hammocks which did give more living space when they were stowed away but was still cramped. No air con and when we visited the Far East it was like living in an oven. Strange but true. We just accepted it and got on with our job. Sailors are sailors so well done my American friends. (At least we had a tot of rum everyday to help ease the pain)
Was it a WW1 destroyer?
A chap who had been on the Arctic convoys said they had a frozen horse strapped to the after deck, from which the "cook" of the mess sawed off a hunk for the actual cooks to boil to shreds, then collect it and a tub of ruined veg and cart it to the mess... All whilst being bombed, strafed and torpedoed, with no chance of survival if you hit the water!
...we had weed...
@@dzikijohnny 1950s.
Thank you so much for finding and posting this. My grandfather was on this ship during his service in WWII.
Nothing but total respect for these brave submariners and the dangerous jobs they do in the name of their Country, and folks within it, many of us lack the basic realisation, the dangers involved with such an occupation. But because of discussions from ex naval family members, It gave me an insight that many never even hear about.
Just to be clear, this is a USN Fletcher class destroyer commissioned 29 August 1942. It was one of the most decorated ships serving in combat in WWII.
You are correct, though, that most people have no understanding of the sacrifice of those who serve in the military under adverse conditions. While they often complain, they look back on their service with pride and most would say they'd do it again.
@@braintrusts Appreciate the feed back !
During the 60s, the navy had the fletcher, and other classes of ships modernized. Few fletchers were still in service for fram conversion. They went from tin cans to fram cans.
But you got through it...and your better for it...you served your nation. Well done.
Right on, Fred!
If you enjoy naval fiction I highly recommend David Poyer The Circle. It takes place on a Fletcher Class. The book made such an impression on me that I read it 10 years ago and have sought out video of the Fletcher Class from time to time to marry the visuals of the ship to the wonderful detail of that book. I am grateful for this video for the same reason.
One of my favorite naval novels by Mr Poyer about the fictional DDG Fletcher Class Reynolds Ryan. Great ending!
The USS Kidd, the USS Casin Young, and the USS Sullivans are all museum ships worth visiting.
Agree on the book. It left me with the constant pounding of the waves on the hull. That guy can write. Right up there with Red Storm Rising abd anything by James Lee Burke. But I digress...
Thank you for your service!
I served on CG-51 GATES of hell. I've toured ww2 Era destroyers. I was spoiled. A Tico Cruiser is basically a luxury ship when compared. Still lack of privacy. But, you could go most anywhere without using the weather decks.
I took a tour of a WWII destroyer in Boston harbor. I was supersized at how little living space was available. Almost as bad as a sub. The subs got better food but the DD's could breath fresh air. God bless these men because neither was a great option.
Oh my!! I am glad I did my service with the Seabees and Flags!!
CE2 here. I'd rather sleep in a Quonsett Hut in D'Ville than this poor excuse for living quarters. Living out of a tent was better. D'ville, rest in peace. I wonder what they did with that place after it was decommissioned.
Great collection of Videos! ENJOY!! Don't repost as if you have 'special knowledge! ENJOY & LEARN!
I wish there were MORE documentary videos like these, as the public needs to see the sacrifices of those that served.
Had my Father, Uncle and 2 Cousins on the DE527 USS O'Toole, DD492 USS Bailey. DD365 USS Cummings and DMS10 USS Southhard all WWII.
Everyone saw action and they were great men to know.
Pretty roomy compared to submarines of that era... I served aboard both Subs and surface vessels during the end of the Vietnam War and the cold war. The accommodations on some classes of both subs and surface vessels had improved from these depicted somewhat but by no means could be considered spacious or luxurious. Bottom line it boils down to a matter of perspective and what you're accustomed to for in comparison to a combat soldier in the field we had it pretty nice... Fair winds and following seas, Pappy MMC(SS)
I visited a type 7 submarine of the german kriegsmarine and acutally went inside. That ship doesn't look big outside and looks even tinier inside. Probably as tight as it gets on any warship. Was really hard to imagine 48 men living inside this iron hull for several weeks when attacking allied convoys in the atlantic.
one year late but thank you for serving
Yes we did sir, that is why I joined the navy and volunteered to be a submarine sailor. IC 1 SS Paul Jamerson
Nautical PappyStu, thank you for your service.
Nautical PappyStu it's a destroyer not a submarine, you idiot
God Bless And Gods Speed to All our Military and Service Members, KEEPING America Safe, so we can sleep tight at night 🇺🇸👍🌹
Thanks for the kudos! We have people in uniform all over the World making personal sacrifices, mostly for the love of country.
I was aboard a Sumner Class DD (DD693) for 3 years as a FT...loved it...during the Korean Conflict...thats all I will say about it...just that was there...
Thanks for your service in the USN in the "greyhound fleet". Haze grey and underway!
This is about what my Dad remembers; really cramped bunks, and privacy was a joke. He served U.S.S. St. Paul, 1952-1954, then was at Lakehurst, NJ until 1964. He said the liver had bones in it and smelled like the head. Like this film says, though, there was plenty of it!
Kudos to your dad for his Navy service in the Korean conflict!!
After a short time, you don't think about privacy much but value the few times you can have alone on deck or on watch.
We, too would find bone chips in various hamburger, liverwurst and bologna.
Yeah, there was plenty of food and one had to be careful or you'd gain lots of weight.
Thanks for posting!!
I served on 2 tin cans back in the 60s. It amazes me to this day that the galley (kitchen) was one deck above the mess deck (dining area). They didn't even have anything like a dumb waiter to make the mess cooks job a little less miserable.
Fred: You're right! They had apparently tried dumb-waiters without implementing them fleet-wide. Also, there were some older 'cans' that the food had to be transported partly via the main deck. Am sure you'll remember how hot, sloppy food coming down the ladder caused crewmen to "make a path" to avoid the steamy spillage. Ehhh, these kids today don't know how good they got it...
I was on the USS Preble DDG-46 (DLG-15) and it sure was a lot different than this boat. We had bunks that had curtains and were solid, not folding up. The mess deck was modern and spacious. At first we had movies, but later we had CCTV with TV's throughout the ship. Toilets were divided by barriers with curtains in the front. I don't see how the crew on this ship could have gone to GQ without everybody falling all over every one. Glad I was born in 1952 and not in the Navy then.
during gq directions of movement were regulated, typically port and starboard sides ran opposite direction, and doors, hatches and passage ways had dedicated directions of travel, wherever possible and practicable
This is pretty accurate I served on the Larson DD-830 on it's last trip to Vietnam in 71 with six months on the gunline working in the engineroom and in the forward gun mount during general quarters,fired 10,000 rounds through the 5"/38 guns providing fire support off the coast had to be refitted with new barrels in Singapore it was an old ship and was decommissioned when we returned home.I made two more trips overseas after that.
Ken: Thanks for the post! Yeah, the Larson and the rest of the Gearings were just a little bigger than the Fletchers but with single gun 5" mounts and older torpedos, etc. While post-FRAM, the Gearings got A/C in berthing spaces and the mess deck,
My ship, the Myles C Fox (DD-829) was same class as the Larson and was in Vietnam in '67 and '72. I was aboard in '72. Also worked in the gun mounts at one point prior to that deployment but was on the Stable Element in Plot (final key in firing both mounts) while working in the Tonkin Gulf. Tons of fun. Made 3 major deployments and two GITMO refresher training trips on the Fox. Wouldn't trade those DD experiences for anything.
Thanks for posting!!
@@braintrusts The Larson was known as the Last of the six guns I was a snipe but they pulled me out of engine-room and put me in the merry-go-round of MT 51 feeding the hoist because the Filipinos were not strong enough to lift the rounds and powder. We worked up and down the coast drawing fire to give the Newport News something to shoot at fun times.
6:32 "this space.....is considerably superior to the forward crews washroom, which was too small to be photographed."
...physically or morally? 0.o
That must have been the "Officer's Club"
I did that for four years. It is not as bad as it seems here, but one thing is certain: You get to know your shipmates very well! And taking a dump with 20 others in plain sight is something I didn't care for. And while you are sitting there, there are a line of men waiting for you to finish. Dump & hump!
One has to truly live it to understand it. In this modern world of young people with refined sensibilities, they would think destroyer sailors lived in the stone age. Am sure none of them know what a "courtesy flush" is all about.
Served on DD 651 67-68 then was transferred to CLG 6. Remember it well. Didn’t mention that in bad weather main deck would be closed, had to use 02 level to get foreword and galley could be closed, ate cold cut sandwiches more than once. What a ride! No need for Disneyland.
Excellent. I really enjoyed this!
Think of it as it was in its time. The tongue-in- cheek tone was heard right through the film, not too delicately either. And so, everyone on the home front is thinking, "Boy, we need a bunch of new ships!" Just a little PR from the Pros in the Navy!
Morale has been too low lately so we will be berthing 25 more men in this compartment until morale improves.
8:00 - looks like they're having seaweed soup again today.
Damn! Glad I was on a carrier..we had two swimming pools, a racket ball court and a 4 lane bowling alley..prime rib twice a week and a sushi bar..
Seeing all those guys sitting on toilets reminded me of basic training except we had six toilets, three to a side and they faced so close that you would bump knees with the person sitting across from you.
The Gearing class destroyer (DD-829) had five toilets, four of which faced each other and knees did indeed either touch or crossed. If you both leaned forward to wipe, you could bump heads.
Thanks for your service!!
@@braintrusts I bet the fifth one was the favored one.
I joined the Navy in 1982. As an AW.
Glad I joined the air force. My brother retired from the Navy and he was the one who told me never join the Navy.
Assigned to a destroyer or aircraft carrier would probably get you deployed (at sea) for six months out of every year. It isn't for everyone.
I got out after 4 years for that reason, as I wanted to keep my family.
While the USAF has a few remote bases where families can't be taken, the majority are places (aside from combat duty) that have nice facilities, on land, near towns, and have nice barracks/housing.
I do understand why the USAF is preferable to the USN for some, but I wouldn't trade my many deployments around the World on a destroyer for anything.
Yeah! Looks a lot like DD507, The Conway! Even the First Class Petty officers bunked in these conditions along side the E3s. Our bunks were 4 high and to roll over you had to push the guy above you up! I mentioned this to the XO during the shipping over interview! We spent 9 months out of the year out of our homeport! I knew I didn't want to spend 20 years doing that!
You're right, Leland! The only crew that had better racks were the CPO's. I felt the same way even though I served aboard the Gearing Class DD, the Myles C. Fox DD-829. Lots of sea time and crappy living conditions: who could ask for more?
On our Sumner class can (DD 701) in the 1960's, we didn't berth in the mess hall, but the rest of it looks somewhat familiar.
40 years in the mob. Mine was RAN; but looks pretty standard to me. When I served in Darings, couldn't open locker doors if anyone was already in their rack (bunk). Part of the job. :-)
Thanks for your service in the navy of our greatest ally. There's a reason there is similarity to UK vessels: we copied the Brits, as they set the standard as the greatest of shipbuilders in the 20th Century.
Thanks for posting!!
@@braintrusts Cheers mate. Early on our ships were mainly RN based. My service was initially DE's, (based on RN type 12's) and I also served in Darings (Vendetta and Vampire - Vampire is now the last remaining Daring in the world - museum ship in Sydney.) But then we moved to our DDG's (Charles F Adams class base) and then our FFG's (Perry class), so we had our share of US designs - and by all reports they were great ships for us. I went straight from DE's/Darings to our Meko based FFH's, so never served in any of our US design ships; but had many mates who did. I served in the first 2, but ended up sea riding all ten of those Anzac class. They are pretty good ships as well. Due to our locality, and our RIMPAC trips, we often find ourselves hooking up with your guys. When I was in "Torrens" (last DE) we saw "USS O'Brien" a lot, and saw a lot of the Chiefs on there. Seeing we have bars in our senior NCO messes, and your ships are "dry" - we extended an open invite to the O'Brien Chiefs. In some ports it was a long way to the nearest bar ashore............ so some days the O'Brien guys just about lived in our mess; and they just "fitted in" - like they'd always been there!! I remember to reciprocate, they hired a bar in our next port and hosted us. Great times with great shipmates. My last Rimpac was 2000 in Arunta. The Chiefs at Pearl took turns picking us up from the ship, hosting BBQ's.............. they really looked after us. The best part of my service was the people you met/worked with - from both my Navy; yours; and the others I met. We do share a common bond. Thanks for your kind words. :-)
@@KJs581 Yes, most of my lifelong friends I met while serving in the Navy.
Fair winds and following seas, mate!!
"Too small to be photographed." This film is very interesting because it is, effectively, an uncensored look at the shipboard life of enlisted sailors in the US Navy of the mid-20th Century. Bear in mind that this film was made in 1952 but it wasn't until the 1960s that the Navy started building larger ships with, presumably, better living conditions. It seems like was made by an officer who was a "social reformer". I wonder what became of him.
Forward head had two showers, ~7 sinks, 2 urinals and five shi-- er, toilets, all crammed into a space about 12' X 15'. A crowded, stinky, steamy space when, at sea, and we were permitted only one hour a day to take a shower. About 85 men used that head.
I bet those admin guys really appreciated the laptop replacing the "filing system", I'm sure the officers that stored the documents appreciated it too!
I grew up near a navy base/port and inherently knew the service wasn’t for me but I ended up getting drafted into the army.
Dam i thought us commercial fishermen had it tuff..lol the sailors of this era were as tuff as they come mentally and physically
@jubjub247 😂😂
@jubjub247 Am not sure where you observed this, but I've never seen it.Real men aren't interested in what you're tallking about.
Commercial fisherman DO have it tough, that being the most dangerous job in the USA.
Living on a warship did cause crewmen to have a certain amount of discipline as it was also a dangerous workplace, especially living on a vessel that carries 250,000 gallons of fuel, a few ton's of high explosives and few hundred pounds of solid rocket fuel. All for fun.
Thanks for posting!!
Sleeping in a hole under a poncho seems like a life of luxury after watching this.
And we thought we had it bad in 1968 ! Those close quarters had to cause fights every now and then. On my ship in our space we had an air conditioner unit that worked we had to keep it guarded so the engineering dept. would not steal parts off of it.
I was on the DD829 '69 - '72 and while not as close quarters as those Fletchers, it certainly wasn't comfortable. What ship did you serve on?
@@braintrusts LST 1168. Went to Nam to move a CB unit. We had to be at our GQ stations in under 3 minutes. For the life of me I cannot believe those guys on that destroyer could do that. We at least had enough space to dress individually. Check out Tom Hanks movie Greyhound. Someone finally showed what happens on the bridge of a Navy ship.
Had a friend who was on a carrier and he told me slept in the vent pipes because they didn't have any other place to put him. This was during Vietnam.
On the USS Loeser DE 680 1952/1955:, we ran out of space ,so most slept standing up . They designed the ship ,and forgot about the individuals needed to run the ship!
Amazing
I am not going to complain about CVA-41 or SSBN-642 ever again! Our elders had it bad! Ciao, L Navy Retired
My dad served a short stint on the USS Benjamin Moore DD747, also a Fletcher I think
Am sure your dad valued the experience on that destroyer. No one walks away unchanged.
DD-747 was a Sumner class Destroyer which was the next upgrade from the Fletcher class. Much of the living/working/sleeping conditions were similar. The Sumner and Gearing class ships didn't get much creature-comforts like air conditioning until upgrades in the early 1960's.
Compared to a baleo class submarine this is like a luxury hotel. Well maybe at least a motel six.
Sub duty on diesel boats was indeed worse than pretty much ANY surface ship. My hat is off to all submariners.
My Dad served on a similar ship in World War II. USS Shannon DD73/DM25/MMD25.
If you think that looks bad, just imagine serving aboard a Clemson class!!!!!
Or in aboard of the Constitution in 1798...!!!!
8:05 "Thence" Now _there's_ a word I haven't heard in forever.
Good catch on the "thence" word, as hadn't noticed it before, and then only when I clicked on closed caption.
It is funny how language changes over time and gives a clue to how much more formal language was only 65 years ago.
Thanks for noticing and posting!!
It is a good ad for why one should consider being an officer versus an enlisted
Yes, but they carry the responsibility of all that happens, which is plenty. Crewmen, from my experience, had a lot of fun both aboard the ship as well as on liberty in home port or overseas.
The phrase you've heard "...an officer and a gentleman..." is just what they are supposed to be, as well as confident, well-trained naval officers.
All that being said, the ship needed a competent, well-trained enlisted crew, which the Navy provided.
My recruiter failed to show me this film - No Regrets though - AD27/DD878 - An Action Packed four years 69-73
Short version: "Our destroyers are too damn crowded. Give us more space or smaller crews!"
Yeah, and not much improved for many years. But, that kind of life sure proved to create shipmates that were as close as family and friends for life. Living with those apparent hardships makes one appreciate the little things in life.
Thanks for posting.
My hat's off to those guys. When I was choosing a service forty years ago, the Navy was always on the bottom of the list. I traded living like this to living in a tank!
Tank is worse, I think. I can't imagine being inside a dumpster with a 105 howitzer attached being fired.
One would hope things have changed a lot in todays ships.
Yes, they've changed for the better, but the size of the fleet has dropped by ~65% which means that it stretches the time at sea, which puts additional stresses on the crew and ships.
Watching this makes me claustrophobic.
Yes, it certainly is not for those who can't handle "close quarters". Even boot camp didn't prepare us for these conditions. But, one can get used to almost anything, including this.
I believe he served in the Philippines and not aboard a ship.
ALso, people of that persuasion were not tolerated well during that era.
My hat’s off to those guys
a bit more crowded than the DE & DD I served on in the late 60's early 70's but pretty accurate otherwise!!
@4:40 "Hey ma! I'm gonna be in a recruitment video!"
Not that they could control where the video got viewed, the crew simply did what they were told, I imagine. Most of this crew is now 81 years old or older (or passed on) but their lives as underwear models lives on here on TH-cam.
I made 5 WESTPAC cruises on FF's and Adams Class DD's. Was an MM, the last two cruises were Port and Starboard watch standing... miserable !!! Sailors may not be on the ground with the boot pounders, but being at sea and maintaining combat readiness has it's trials and hardships also.... doing more with less does not work , period .....
Thanks for serving, David! Even though the crew "comforts" on the Fast Frigates and the Adams-Class dd's were not too much better than shown. The real pain, as you stated is the hardship of 18 hour days and keeping your head screwed on straight during long days and weeks at sea.
Thanks for your service in the greatest navy in the World!!
Don't know if anyone noticed, but in the officers ward room, they were being served by African Americans. That was institutional racism. I served on a Coast Guard cutter and the same thing was there, except the servers were Filipinos. It isn't much said nowadays, but we've come a long way!
Because Pres Truman integrated the US Military in July of 1948, these African Americans may have been career men who chose to stay in that job. They were regular members of the enlisted crew with combat jobs in gun mounts and firefighting duties. They were not subservient positions.
Filipinos got those jobs and at the end of six years of service, got U.S. citizenship. That was apparently payback to the Philippine government for their support in WWII.
Thanks for your service and for posting.
They did go by the rule of port side hose down starboard side goes up
Fuck that!
At least when I was in Army, I had all the room that I needed.
Fascinating, hear trying to learn about my great uncle. He served in US Navy as a ET1 during WWII. Sadly he passed away when i was only 10 years old from Leukaemia. Is it possible it was from being a ET1? Maybe Electromagnetic radiation? If anyone has any insight please let me know. Thanks :)
An ET works on radio and/or radar equipment repair and maintenance. If safety measures weren't taken, yes, large doses of RF radio frequency radiation can cause health problems, but I wouldn't know which ones. The US Navy has always had a top notch training program as well as a strong history of safe operating practices. Am guessing he would be astute enough to NOT subject himself to exposing himself to RF.
@@braintrusts Thanks for responding i think it could have been a number of work related things. He served on USS Avery Island AG-76 which was at the Bikini Atoll Atomic bomb testing. Could have been the Asbestos which was used alot on the Ships. I guess i'll never really truly know tho. He was a 1st class Petty Officer within his 6 years of his service so i would think very astute.
@@planisphere2044 Older friend of mine was also on USN ship at Bikini and he had some form of cancer, but died at 84 or so, so no telling the cause.
I have a form of cancer associated with the agent orange I was exposed to in Vietnam, but no way to be proof positive
And, yes, an E6 in USN in a technical rate is almost always a sharp dude. Thanks for your reply.
@@braintrusts Take good care, and thank you. :)
As a kid I used to see sailors milling around the Long Beach pier looking miserable. Decided then not the life for me.
"hey mind if i record you guys taking a shit for historical records?"
Not sure if those guys had a choice and may have been "volunteered" into that duty. Sure glad they made the film, however.
Thanks for posting, and now, after seeing these awkward bathroom conditions, you can feel extra luxurious in your private times in the head.....
They would have way more space in prison. lol
its a very hardlife, who wants to live like this anyway--many of these men really joined the navy for a stable salary &
to see the world free.
When this film was made, the U.S. still had an active Military Draft; many of the men either volunteered for the Navy before getting drafted or joined after getting their draft notice. Yes, there were some who joined the Navy to "see the World", but most did not have that motivation.
Also, many, many men do NOT get assigned to ships and are in the larger group of men in Navy departments who were on basic and other training bases, communication sites, shipyards, supply divisions, etc. There were about 800 active ships during that period and over 800,000 men, and destroyers like these only had about 300 men each.
In other words, there were some men who NEVER got assigned to a ship and others who ended up making four Med Cruised in a four year enlistment, and others who simply sat on a repair ship and never went anywhere. In my case, my ship went to 35 countries in my 3.5 years aboard; indeed, I saw much of the World.
+braintrusts So you had been a destroyer man, and lived in a cramped space like these, a space who fits a normal size guys, well being one with all these ape decks Could be awesome, but being a tin can sailor isnt easy at all, The only rewarding thing is that you could see a lot of countries for free, So i think those sailors who served on shore duties could be more comfortable as it may seems, although they never went so far, than the docks.
I told my Watch Crew to never touch any sailor to wake them....just speak to them.
It could be dangerous to wake some shipmates, as they woke up startled and swinging.
@@braintrusts ...Exactly
The stink of the head as dozens of bowel movements are processed must have brought tears to the eyes.
Heads were ventilated, but busy times were indeed bad, as there were five $hitters for 75 men.
Haze gray and underway Shellback....
2:23 - to think that all this computing power is less than what I carry around in my pocket cell phone.
And, in spite of that, the bureaucracy continues to slog on; also, Navy just decided to dump touchscreens because it somehow made for confusion in critical operations. If you remember, they had two different deadly collisions where people were found guilty of mismanagement leading to disasters.
All the software and hardware in the World can't stop human error; in fact, it can make it worse.
Thanks for posting!
Thanks for posting.
DDGs. didn't have to use ladders to get food to the mess deck. And nobody slept in cots. I thought we had lousy quarters for berthing.
The DDG's are indeed better engineered for a crew and more spacious, kinda. The Arleigh Burke Class makes these old DD's look like relics, but they really are relics. Thanks for your service in the Navy, and thanks for posting.
You have to appreciate the honesty in the video, no pretending that things are ideal when they aren't.
Yeah but this film was only intended for viewing by a select few people working in the Navy Department, probably some kind of advisory board or some such thing. Notice the first words on the screen: "Confidential." This wasn't interned for viewing by the common man, that's for sure!
for sure. Even so, being willing to learn from mistakes is a way of achieving excellence. plenty of establishments will ignore unpleasant truths until they bite them in the arse.
Well this was a confidential film for the war department not for showing the general public.
This was probably made to explain why the Navy needed new destroyers when they had dozens of WWII built ships with low time in mothballs; some mothballed right after they were accepted from their builders.
Yes, intended mostly for Congress, attempting to convince them that creature comforts are important for the well-being of the crew, which affects battle-readiness as well as re-enlistments.
That's whats great about this film: an honest attempt to improve living conditions. Yet, am sure Navy recruiters in that day wouldn't and really couldn't convey how "cozy" destroyer conditions were. Also, the old diesel submarines' "accommodations" were more sardine-like than any destroyer.
Actually, the larger ships had MUCH better accommodations for the crew and recruiters didn't know where men would be assigned.
So much respect for these guys. My grandfather, CPO Franklin W. Shrack, ran the electronics shop on a destroyer tender (USS Hamul/AD-20) around the time this film was made. He first enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1932 as a radio repair tech for a fighter squadron in the Panama Canal Zone. He stayed in the Ohio National Guard, reenlisted in the Navy in WWII, was all through the Pacific (in The Solomons, Russell Island, Guam, etc) running radio sites. After WWII, he worked for the Post Office, going back on active duty during Korea. He then worked for the CAA/FAA as a radar maintenence supervisor until the 80s. 47 years of government service!
You have much to be proud of in your Grandfather Shrack!! It is men like him who make this country great!
Thanks for posting.
I was a Sonar Man aboard the Saufley in 1962. She was my first ship -- right out of sonar school in Key West. She was a great Ship! She fought her way through almost every major sea battle in the Pacific during WWII.
Way too cool!!! Thanks for your service the our USN and to our country! (I, too, was a sonarman, but on the USS Myles C Fox DD-829)
Ah yes! Fleet Sonar School, right across the road from beach at the southern tip of the island if you were at the one on Truman Annex. I actually played for the Fleet Sonar School baseball team in Military Little League. Great times!!!
braintrusts: Just wondering, what kind of work did you do when you got out? Was considering going Navy nuc back in the '70, thought Navy schools were most comprehensive in Electronics, actually.
and also to you Key West: what kind of work did you do, when you got out? did you use your electronics background?
I realize I wasn't very clear in my post. I was just a Navy brat who grew up in Key West. I did my time in the Army and unfortunately my only background was the M16, M203 and M60. Coincidentally I did go to college on the GI Bill and now run a team of electronics technicians in the Charlotte area.
Joined when I was 17 yrs old out of high school, and served aboard 5 ships during my career ('71 - '92). They consisted of an AO, FF, AD, ARDM, and an ARS, in that order. Four of them were WW2 era vintage, and one was a new FF that we commissioned in 1973. The living conditions on the older ships were okay, but nothing spectacular. "Character building" days for sure that have served me a lifetime. Go Navy! 🇺🇸👍
Thanks for your service in the greatest Navy in the World!!
Yes, I agree that serving on any Navy ship will build character, but serving on a old Greyhound will teach one things that can't be taught anywhere else.
My four years on a Gearing DD helped launch a productive working career in technical things.
Thanks for posting!!
This is the ship my Dad served on during WWII. He worked in the boiler room, and his battle station was on a five inch gun. I wish he were alive to see this.
Our great country is grateful for your your dad's service aboard a USN destoryer! It's a wonderful and life-changing assignment. Am sure he had some great stories to tell of his time aboard. Am glad you enjoyed the video!
My grandfather served on uss saufley during ww2 they probably knew each other
weird that he worked in a boiler room, but his battle station is a gun
@@isaacdestura7495 not at all.
I saw this in 1970, I joined the Air Force.
Can't say I blame you!! But, living under those conditions for a few months or years helps create very lasting bonds between shipmates that often last a lifetime.
And i the ARMY...
"living under those conditions for a few months or years helps create very lasting bonds between shipmates"
Thus the saying that 264 men went to sea, and 132 couples returned. ;-)
braintrusts don't ask, don't tell?
Indeed. The Royal Navy commissioned Capt Donald Macintyre in about 1968 to investigate homosexuals in its ranks. The conclusions were hysterically funny.
He quoted Winston Churchill who was First Lord of the Admiralty at one time when he said (wtte) the traditions of the Royal Navy are rum, sodomy and the lash.
(Churchill's reference below but Macintyre used it in his report)
www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,,-1433,00.html
Macintyre found if they removed homosexuals and the 50+% of men that sinned homosexually then the Royal Navy would cease to operate.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sacking-gay-sailors-would-have-scuppered-fleet-8955972.html
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk/2378811.stm
www.theage.com.au/world/secret-british-files-give-cause-for-a-little-naval-gazing-20021101-gduqv8.html
Stribling and Boardlon 1966 to 1970 BT2 Boilerman. All of this look very familiar. Nothing much had changed. As bad as it was, my 4 years taught me a lot. Had time to grow up. Realized that we had it pretty good compared to the rest of the world. Today I think we still do.
Exactly!
No fat dudes. I'm old enough to remember when most young guys were skinny. Sure has changed.
Yeah, most of us were pretty thin, but some were a little heavier than others. Seems now, among the young, being thin is not a goal. Obesity and sloth seem to be the unintended consequences of video games.
Recreational standards have changed as well as the ease of fast food family meals. It’s sad really.
"I think we'll wait to show this film until after they sign the paper."
As you can imagine, the newer and newest ships are much more accommodating to crew comforts. They are indeed more like cruise ships now. Had to be with an all-volunteer Navy.
Yes I believe you are right.
Thank you to all that served , each and every one a true patriot and hero .
Amen!
Thank you also and please keep in mind that although my years in the US Navy are in the past I have made an oath to almighty God to continue serving the people in peace and in truth. I ask for strength to increase during these times please.
Thank you for remembering us. You're the people we do it for.
is your space bar key okay?
I rode destroyers (tin cans) in the 60's and nothing much had changed since this film was made.
Forrest Sherman class DD's were a world of difference (DD-931, 1962-3)
the DD I rode was 731, I suspect 931 was as different from 731 as 731 was from the film. Great days, what the hell happened?
By 1980 Forrest Sherman was tough living. Heat didn't work, water leaks in berthing compartments. Went to a Perry class and that was plush.
Me too. Although Royal Navy. At least we had our daily tot of rum. Dam, I can't imagine serving on a 'dry' ship.
Was it as miserable as it looks?
WOW I thought I had it bad when I was on the Nimitz! It was like Heaven compared. These men are Heros!
Man, you had to really love the Navy to live in conditions like these - either that or you were drafted and had no choice. My father was on board the USS MISSISSIPPI from 1947-1951, and I've listened to hours of his tales of life aboard the old battleship. It started out life as BB-41 and was built during World War I, and after serving in World War II it was reclassified as an Experimental Auxiliary Gunship and was marked as EAG-128. Since the ship was built in the early 1900s there was NO air conditioning, with the only ventilation being forced draft ventilation. Below decks in the summertime was like being in an oven, and all of the sailors took every chance they got to go topside on deck. The living conditions were tight as well, with 5 sailors to a row of bunks. His locker consisted of a 12x12 inch door in the wall with the locker being about 2 feet deep, and what couldn't fit in there went into his seabag. I've seen the pictures he took, and I admire him and any other sailor who lived in conditions like that.
Q: What did the submarine say after being depth charged by this ship? A: You're killing me Saufley. 🤣
Oh boy oh boy oh boy he he he
Lets keep a sober mind through these days for we shall indeed receive all the loving promises of God through what christ has already done once and for all. The labours are few and I myself am asking for faithful prayers please.
That’s a dad joke right there. But I assure you a depth charge in those days was not very soft. 😉
. . . . . a Submarine killed by Flack ?
Back in the days when they didn't maintain social distancing.
I hate to clue you, they don't in todays ships either knucklehead.
That's called brothers in arms, total team work and brother hood, creates good fighting spirit
This pretty much changed by the late 70's early 80's. Most of the surface (as opposed to sub-surface) fleet had been re-fit with curtained racks. They aren't much bigger; you still can't sit up in bed, but you at least have a feeling of some privacy. The curtains are blue which blocks the red lights that burn all night in birthing compartments. There was the threat of having to "hot rack" (two guys sharing the same bed alternately) during deployment to the Red Sea for Desert Storm, but it wasn't necessary - thank God! The heads were also updated to have individual stalls. One of the B.S. parts of this film was the air conditioning being installed for the comfort of the crew. TOTAL B.S. It was installed to insure that electronic equipment, then working on heat emitting vacuum tubes at the time this film was made, remained cool enough to operate. The fact that it also helped the squids be a little more comfortable was completely unintentional. The comfort level of a sailor today is 500% better today than it was 70 years ago but it took about 30 or 40 years from the time of this film to accomplish that.
My Dad served in the U.S. Navy at this period on the U.S.S. Rainier. They resupplied ships with ammo off the Korean peninsula during the war. He said ship life was crowded and either miserably hot or freezing. Still he was very proud of his service. Coincidentally my Uncle Jack was a Marine that earned a Silver Star at Chosin. He never talked about his service.
Sounds like your Dad and Uncle Jack served our Nation well!! The veterans from the Korean conflict are often ignored, but their work was no less valiant than any other conflict. You have a right to be loud and proud about their work for this great Nation!! Thanks for posting.
Air conditioning??? NOBODY cared about the comfort of the personnel working here! They had to somehow dissipate the tremendous heat generated by the (relatively-2017) primitive electronics! Not to make the sailors comfortable but to keep the vacuum tube technology running!
Gary Clouse Jhulliam
That’s why berthing areas on those old ships were adjacent to the weather decks. They would open the doors at night to allow some circulation of cool air
I have a lot of respect for the tin can sailors, especially the guys who served aboard the WWII era vessels. I served on a carrier (USS Ranger) during the Vietnam war, and while it was cramped, (over 5,000 men) it was way better than what these men are dealing with. We had a lot smoother ride as well. If I had it to do over though, I would still join the Navy.
Should have tried out the Army's living conditions, dig your own space, eat out of cans, live in the rain, mud, dust, cold and heat.
Thanks for your service !
I was on the Ranger in the early 80s (CAW-13). My berthing compartment was 03-244-1L. Amazing that I still remember it.
Ranger crewman here as well, early 80's. Machinist Mate in engine room number 4. Survived a major fire that killed seven of my shipmates. Not good times.
I agree,USS ORISKANY always felt sorry for our plane guard destroyers in heavy weather!!!!
Salt water showers, saltwater laundry, relentlessly clogged toilets, powdered food, monotonous boredom, uncomfortable quarters,, no AC in living quarters, endless,,
What a helluva way to go sailin'!
Dive Bar Casanova Yes absolutely true, can’t forget long 3 years aboard 1986 to 1989, that period make me harder and passionate. No life can be compared with this size ship at rough seas. Can’t sleep, can’t eat but yes work hours always must meet. Lol
The ships were designed for war time use in 1942/1943 and they even had more men on them at that time. And seeing as how many Fletcher's were built during WWII. and the battle records this class of Destroyers had. They were damn fine ships!
The head looks scary. No partitions or curtains. Hard to get a good bowel movement with someone staring at you.
On the Gearing class dd, the forward head has small partitions, but the toilets faced each other, and when the five toilets were occupied, knees often touched the other guys'; the partition only separated you from the guy next to you. Wish I had taken a photo of that head.
The ships I was on, neither had partitions, just a long line of commodes all open to the world.You just get used to paying no attention to anyone but your own business.
zane lile -- well said agreed.
onetruekeeper Gays weren't allowed in the military in the 1950's. 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃
I feel bad for you tin can types.
I was on a AOE(USS Camden(AOE-2)
Motel showers and heads(especially for us MM's).
I ran around for a week straight plugging all the minor steam leaks so the MMR was nice n cool and the evap guys were happy.
Chilled water plant was top notch.
Enough room for everyone to go thru the ship in a "race track pattern": STBD side goes fore and aft, PORT goes aft to f'wd. This was actually dictated by the main galley.
Engines were from the unfinished Kentucky. Top of the line steam, never gave us any major issues. Kicked like a horse when you opened the throttle.
Accurate to the N't degree. Lived the Fletcher Class Tin Can sailor's life for 3 years. SCPO USN (Ret.)
Thanks for your service, Chief!! Sumner and Gearing class were only a slight improvement, aside from berthing space A/C; sure needed it in the Mid-East.