USS Oriskany: First & Last Thoughts

Time is cruel to the body, but memories never fade. I will forever be 19, standing on the flight deck of the USS Oriskany - CVA34, watching the sun set over a calm sea. The smell of salt in the air, its taste in my mouth and the feel of hard steel beneath my feet and an eager anticipation in my heart as I looked out across the sea to my newest adventure. With the coming of the next morning's horizon and the dawn of each passing day I lived like it was a given that I would be there to see it through with each rising sun. 

Now I lay my head down each night in anticipation of the next adventure that my dream will create from the gallant stories of that young man. For my body can no longer sail the seas, but my heart and mind will forever be aboard the rolling deck of a ship of war headed for the battle line.

I was stationed at Naval Schools Command, Treasure Island. That's a small flat island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It was my first duty station. I was maintaining electronic test equipment for an Electronic Technician "A" school on the island. I just received my new orders. Sea Duty aboard the USS Oriskany CVA 34. I had never heard of Her so, I started asking others on the island if they knew anything about this ship. The "CVA" told me that she was an attack carrier of some kind but no one I talked to had ever heard of this "Oriskany" thing.

The orders also stated that before reporting aboard I would spend a few weeks in a "C" school learning something called NTDS (Naval Tactical Data System) SRC-16 radio transmitter - receiver system (one of the Navy's first all digital data communications networks) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, somewhere close to San Francisco.

When I got to Mare Island and started the school, I also started asking around if anyone knew anything about this "Oriskany" ship. I found one old instructor that knew about her. He broke out into a huge laugh when I mentioned I was going to the Oriskany. He asked me who I pissed off. He said she was the OLDEST THING AFLOAT! Her SRC-16 system was serial number XN1 #1. That meant it was experimental model number 1 and was nothing like the machine I learned in school. Well, at least I now knew something about this thing called "Oriskany."

On the 17th of April 1973, I stood at the head of a pier in Alameda California. On my port side stood the USS Enterprise. Pride of the Navy, Queen of all the seas. She was all decked out to start her sea tour tomorrow. Today she stood tall sleek and shinny. A necklace of aircraft around her island, She looked like an Ensign standing inspection, not a scratch or bruise on her skin, wrinkle in her uniform, and not a hair out of place. So beautiful and "sexy" - A sailor's "dream boat". I could almost feel her tugging at me, whispering a beautiful sea chantey in my ear, trying to lure me away from my destination on the opposite side of the pier.

On the starboard side, stood the Old Bitch of the Sea - Oriskany. Just back from her sea tour yesterday. There she stood, Her uniform of grey: dirty, torn, wrinkled and tattered. Her skin scratched, bruised, covered in soot, salt and seagull crap. As I walked up her after-brow I could smell her sweat. Sweat from hundreds of miles in scorching sun and rough stormy seas, sweat from dozens of weeks at Yankee Station with flight ops sometimes going 24 hours a day. She was old, ugly and decrepit and she smelled of death.

At the head of her brow I stopped, turned and saluted her ensign. As I turned a 180, grabbed my packet of papers to hand to the Brow Watch, I thought: What the hell am I doing here? Did I piss off God? Why couldn't I be ridding that sleek young thing across the pier? The world knew her name and who's girl she was. Why am I, not even 20 years old yet, why do I have to ride this lonely Old Bitch of the Sea that no one knew, and from the looks of her, no one cared about?

On 14 June 1976, I stepped out on her flight deck for the last time. Slated for decommissioning instead of being cleaned up primed and painted, she was being stripped of all of her equipment. As I looked around I saw Her uniform of grey, still dirty, torn, wrinkled, tattered and Her skin scratched, bruised, covered in soot, salt and seagull crap from Her last Westpac. She was older and probably a bit uglier, but she wasn't the old bitch of the sea that I thought she would be. Once you got to know her she became a Fighting Lady. "The Mighty 'O' "is what we called her. A bitch to her enemy, but a Mighty Fighting Lady to her crew. She was the last of her kind, the last Essex Class Carrier, the last of the mighty fighting ships that took back the Pacific from the Japanese. From Alaska in the north to all the little islands that dot her south, the Essex Class Carriers fought and won the Pacific war. No, Oriskany wasn't the old bitch of the sea, She was the proud mother of the modern carrier, the first "SUPER CARRIER." Without the Essex Class Carriers like Oriskany, we would not have the sassy, sleek and sexy carriers of today.

As I walked down her after-brow for the last time, I walked slowly so that I could savor her sweet sweat from missions to Korea and Vietnam, all the flight-ops involved in those wars along with the storms and typhoons we weathered. Along with her sweat is the always welcoming aroma of Subic bay with just a hint of Olongapo bar-maid perfume mixed with the breeze off shit-river.

...Sorry, I just couldn't help a little Westpac reminiscing. 

"I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, 'I served in the United States Navy'." - John F. Kennedy at the commissioning ceremony of the USS Oriskany in 1950 (my first ship).

ETN3 Harbit - Proud to say "I served on the USS Oriskany CVA 34"

       

 

 

January 28, 1973 in the South China Sea…The nuclear-powered attack aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) (Center), the attack aircraft carriers USS America CV-66 (left of center) and USS Oriskany (CVA-34)(above & behind Enterprise), the escort ships USS Bronstein (DE-1037) and USS Fanning (DE-1076) and the destroyers USS Corry (DD-817), USS William C. Lawe (DD-763) and USS Cone (DD-866) cruise together in the multiple aircraft carrier force at the end of the hostilities with Vietnam." Photographer: SA Larry Hayes

 

As I grow older I realize the magic of "belonging" to some place or time. I was on the USS Oriskany CVA-34 for an incredibly short time considering the length of my life at the present moment (74 years) and I remember the day I came aboard and the day I saluted her ensign for the last time. I did not realize it but I was taking a part of her with me and leaving some of myself behind. I now realize that I will never truly leave her, nor will she ever leave me. She is in my makeup today. The things she taught me I have used through out my life. Of all my education, the 4 years aboard her was by far my greatest learning experience. 

She was decommissioned on 30 September 1976. The old girl was slowly torn apart but she did not whimper or cry, she realized she had stood her watch and it was her time to be relieved.

 

She did not die because she lives with in the 10's of thousand of sailors that have crossed her deck during her watch and to me she will always be "the Grand Old Lady ...... the Mighty 'O'. The last Essex Class ship made. The last Great Warrior of WWII. 

ETN3 Harbit OE division, May 1972 - July 1976.

For more information visit:

A Day in WestPac Aboard the Mighty Oriskany

 

America's Mighty Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers Were Almost Invincible

Oriskany (CV-34)

Wikipedia - USS Oriskany (CV-34)

Angels of the Oriskany - Fire, 26 October 1966

USS Oriskany CVA34 on YouTube 

A SAILOR'S WORST NIGHTMARE - A FIRE AT SEA!

 For more on the Oriskany Fire: 

 

How Fire and Fatigue Almost Destroyed an American Carrier

 

USS Oriskany fire

 

The USS ORISKANY (CVA-34) fire and munition explosions

Hell Afloat 

"Fire, fire, fire in frame 42 This is no drill! This is no drill."

 

Fire in Hanger Bay 1

 

"I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, 'I served in the United States Navy'." - John F. Kennedy 

 

Endurance - Found

"Lost for Over a Century: The Incredible Discovery of Shackleton's Sunken Ship"

In 1915, the ship of legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, The Endurance, sank after being trapped in sea-ice. Over a century later, a team of scientists made a groundbreaking discovery in the depths of the Weddell Sea. The remains of the ship were found to be in remarkably good condition, shedding new light on Shackleton's expedition and providing an opportunity for scientists to learn more about the ship and the conditions it faced during its final voyage. This incredible discovery is a testament to the power of modern technology and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Click the link to learn more about this historic find.

 

Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew took bitter defeat and turned it into heroic survival.Early this century, members of the imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition watched as their ship, the Endurance was crushed by the frozen sea.They were left with no radio and no hope of rescue.For more than a year, they drifted on packed ice, surviving on seal, penguin, and eventually dog meat, while battling freezing temperatures and mind-numbing boredom.When Shackleton, along with all 28 members of the expedition, emerged at Stromness whaling station in May, 1916, almost two years after their departure, the world was shocked.

Queen Anne's Revenge

 

Named after Anne Bonny, the pirate queen, Queen Anne's Revenge was an early-18th-century ship, most famously used as a flagship by Edward Teach, better known by his nickname Blackbeard. Although the date and place of the ship's construction are uncertain, it was originally believed she was built for merchant service in Bristol, England in 1710 and named Concord, later captured by French privateers and renamed La Concorde. After several years' service by French sailors (both as a naval frigate and as a merchant vessel – much of the time as a slave trading ship), she was captured by Blackbeard in 1717. Blackbeard used the ship for less than a year, but captured numerous prizes using her as his flagship.

 

In May 1718, Blackbeard ran the ship aground at Topsail Inlet, now known as Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, United States, in the present-day Carteret County. After the grounding, her crew and supplies were transferred to smaller ships. In 1996, Intersal Inc., a private firm, discovered the remains of a vessel that was later determined to be Queen Anne's Revenge, which was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The shipwreck was discovered off Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina. 

 

https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/queen-annes-revenge/

 

https://ancientnc.web.unc.edu/exhibits/shipwrecks/queen-annes-revenge/

 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/queen-annes-revenge-blackbeard

 

https://www.dncr.nc.gov/programs-services/featured-programs/blackbeard-300-pirate-portal

 

https://www.qaronline.org/

 

https://www.archaeological.org/conservation-of-the-queen-annes-revenge-shipwreck/

 

 

USS North Carolina

 

USS North Carolina, the lead ship of her class, emerged from the horizon, slicing through the waves with determination. Her nine 16-inch guns thundered, hurling 2,700-pound shells toward the distant enemy. 

 

The Imperial Japanese Navy fleet approached without hesitation, her for the dominion of the Pacific. With her engines throbbing, North Carolina charged guns blazing to open a gap in the enemy lines. 

 

North Carolina’s objective was easier said than done: protect the US Navy’s aircraft carriers at all costs. As both task forces clashed, her mission turned more difficult. 

 

Japanese aircraft swarmed the US vessels, ready to strike them down with either conventional bombs or devastating kamikaze attacks. Still, North Carolina, in her protector role, did not flinch and opened fire with more than 40 guns from her secondary armament. 

 

The sky soon turned into a deadly maze of anti-aircraft fire, smoke, and gunfire from American and Japanese fighters. 

 

Despite the relentless Japanese waves, North Carolina's thick armor openly defied the enemy bombs and torpedoes, with her crew focused on safeguarding the task force from being scattered by the enemy. 

 

 USS North Carolina fired salvo after salvo until her barrels ran hot, fending off her attackers as the sun went down…

The USS North Carolina (BB 55) was commissioned April 9, 1941. During her shakedown period she steamed into and out of New York Harbor so many times she earned the nickname "The Show Boat". She more than earned that nickname during her service in World War 2. The North Carolina participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific Theater carrying out 9 shore bombardments, sinking an enemy troop ship, shooting down 24 enemy aircraft and survived being torpedoed. Earning 15 battle stars, USS North Carolina was the most decorated American battleship of the war. The ship survives today as a museum in Wilmington, North Carolina.

 

North Carolina was the first battleship built by the USA in almost 20 years. First in Class and the first “fast battleship”. As such there were lots of adjustments to be made before it was fully operational. The more powerful drive caused lots of vibrations. That’s why she was in and out of port so much. The extra shake down resulted in the rear rangefinder being reinforced with extra braces.

 

 

 

The "Other" USS North Carolina 

USS North Carolina SSN-777 Virginia class attack submarine US Navy

 

North Carolina SSN-777 Virginia class attack submarine is the fourth ship of the Navy to carry the name North Carolina. The original was USS North Carolina (1820-1836), the second (ACR 12) (1908 - 1921), and the third (BB 55) (1940 - 1947). North Carolina received 12 battle stars for World War II service.

North Carolina (SSN 777) was built by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division in Groton, Conn., and Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., and joined the fleet in December 2006.

As the Navy's next-generation attack submarine, the Virginia class provides the U.S. Navy with the capabilities it requires to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. North Carolina has improved stealthiness, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and Special Warfare enhancements which enable it to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.

Virginia class submarines are able to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; special forces delivery and support; and mine delivery and minefield mapping. With enhanced communications connectivity, the submarine also will provide important battle group and joint task force support, with full integration into carrier battle group operations.

North Carolina's keel was laid May 22, 2004. The first major milestone for the submarine North Carolina was the keel authentication ceremony held at the shipyard on May 22, 2004. The submarine's sponsor, Mrs. Linda Bowman, wife of Admiral Frank "Skip" Bowman USN (Ret), the former Director, Naval Reactors, inscribed her initials on a section of the pressure hull that were, subsequently, duplicated in weld by a shipyard worker, who, uniquely, resides in North Carolina. The pressure hull welding completed in September 2006, with work on the interior of the submarine continuing.

In October 2006, the ship's Commanding Officer, Cdr. Mark E. Davis reported aboard.

On May 5, 2007, the submarine was lowered into the water for the first time and moved to complete her construction.

On December 12, 2007, North Carolina got underway for her first builder's sea trials. The successful trials led to her second builders trials just before Christmas. Following the third and final round of builder's sea trials in February, Northrop Grumman delivered the submarine to the Navy on February 21, 2008.

The ship was brought to life during her commissioning ceremony at the Port of Wilmington in North Carolina on May 3, 2008. More than 6,500 guests, including submarine veterans and battleship North Carolina alumni attended the ceremony welcoming the submarine as the 4th vessel named after the "Tarheel State."

John Philip Sousa

 

On May 1, 1925, “The March King” visited “Old Ironsides.” John Philip Sousa—renowned composer, conductor, and the creative force behind “The Stars and Stripes Forever”—visited USS CONSTITUTION, a fitting meeting of two enduring American symbols.

Sousa’s connection to the U.S. military ran deep. He began his musical career in the United States Marine Band, eventually serving 12 years as its director before founding the Sousa Band. During World War I, he accepted a wartime commission to lead the Naval Reserve Band and was later promoted to lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve.

With compositions like Semper Fidelis (the official march of the U.S. Marine Corps) and The Stars and Stripes Forever (the National March of the United States), Sousa helped define the sound of American patriotism.

His 1925 visit to USS Constitution brought together a legendary musician and the nation’s most storied warship—both built to inspire.

Photo Credit: Painting of Sousa by Capolino. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2023864822/

Meet the Essex-Class the Carriers that Made the U.S. a Superpower

This black & white film "Carrier Operations at Sea" details the life of the crew aboard a fleet aircraft carrier operating in the Pacific during WWII in 1944. Includes footage of aircraft operations including Grumman TBM Avengers, Curtiss Helldivers and Hellcats, maintenance, take-offs and landings, and the mundane side of crew life. For whatever reason the aircraft carrier shown in the film has its identifying number painted over. It appears to be an Essex-class fleet carrier, possibly one on a shakedown or training cruise. 

Opening titles: U.S. Navy Presentation - Carrier Operations At Sea (:06). Flight deck on a Essex class carrier (:15). Planes including Hellcats parked (:37). .50 caliber ammunition belts (:41). Moving bombs by elevator (:58). Men carry shells for the fighter's wing guns (1:24). Ordnance men (1:44). Carrier at sea (1:53). Ship's navigation staff on bridge (2:04). Pilots sit and listen in ready room (2:17). Sailors and pilots get ready (2:33). Pilots enter their cockpits (3:00). Pilot signs check sheet (3:21). Carrier turns into the wind to launch aircraft (3:40). On the flight bridge (4:00). Plane propellers start (4:05). F4U Corsair plane's folding wings extend (4:32). Engines start for the planes (4:57). Plane captain instructs planes and they start to take off (5:03). Avengers take off (5:45). Down to the hanger deck where aircraft are stored (6:28). Planes are maintained (6:48). Work done down below deck (7:05). Relaxation on the ship (7:41). Inside the cruise quarters (7:58). Cooking in the kitchen (8:21). Men eat (8:44). Church (8:55). Weather measurements (9:10) by launching a weather balloon. Anti-aircraft drill, as guns fire (9:38). Watching our planes return to the ship with binoculars (10:10). Ship turns into the wind (10:38). Landing signal officer uses flags (10:56). Navy Avenger Planes land on a carrier (11:13). Landing signal officer makes a lot of motions and waves off a plane from landing (12:30). Planes in the sky (12:49). Carrier at sea (13:11). End credits (13:19). 

Details the life of the crew aboard a fleet aircraft carrier operating in the Pacific during WWII in 1944. Includes footage of aircraft operations including Grumman TBM Avengers and Hellcats, maintenance, take-offs and landings, and the mundane side of crew life. We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference." This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

The fact that the ships could be upgraded and used for decades gave them an edge.

Here's what you need to remember: "There is something that just captures our imagination," added Fabey. "When these ships were designed the United States wasn't yet a superpower. These were the ships that helped win the war and then put us on top."

The role that the Essex-class aircraft carrier played in World War II can't be understated. The ships have been called the backbone of the United States Navy—which ordered thirty-two of the vessels. As the war wound down, six were canceled before construction began while two were canceled while still under construction. A total of twenty-four were built between 1943 and 1950 at shipyards in Newport News, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Norfolk and Braintree.

"They were the most popular carrier ever and really did serve the purpose for which they were built," said Mike Fabey, Americas Naval reporter for Jane's.

"Carriers, in general, proved their worth in World War II," Fabey told The National Interest. "In the Pacific, it was very much if you were the first to find and first to fire you could probably come out the winner. We had very good carriers and that made a huge difference."

One of the most important factors was the role that the "Arsenal of Democracy" played—the United States produced not only a very good class of aircraft carrier, but a lot of them as well.

"Getting the ships built and out to sea made a huge difference," said Fabey.

It is a testament to U.S. industry that it was able to complete so many of the carriers quickly, beginning with the 30,000-ton USS Essex (CV-9), which was commissioned on December 31, 1942. The ship was 870 feet long and was outfitted with four twin and four single five-inch gun turrets. With its two fire-control radar systems, the Essex could hit targets up to seven miles away with proximity-fused air-bursting shells—and it also had a total of sixty 20mm cannons and seventeen quad-barrel 40mm Bofors guns for close-range fighting.

Not a single one of the Essex-class carriers built during World War II was lost to the enemy, though several had sustained intensive damage.

"This was because of how well built the ships were, but also how well the crews were trained," explained Fabey. "This damage control capability, with both watertight hatches along with a crew that could address a problem made a huge difference. This also allowed the ships to not only survive but to get back into the fight—that changes everything as the enemy needs to throw more at you each time."

After the war, the ships served in various configurations for decades to come. Many of the ships were extensively modified as part of the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) upgrades, and this included a reinforced, angled flight deck to accommodate jet aircraft.

The fact that the ships could be upgraded and used for decades is also noteworthy.

"They were built incredibly quick, but also so well," said Fabey. "The Navy did a great job of making these ships last well past their time."

Most of the Essex-class carriers were decommissioned in the 1970s, the USS Lexington operated out of Pensacola as a training ship, providing deck-landing and takeoff experience for Naval aviation cadets for twenty years prior to being decommissioned in November 1991. She along with the USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Intrepid (CV-11) and USS Hornet (CV-12) are now preserved as museums ships, and serve as reminders of what was arguably the greatest class of aircraft carriers.

"There is something that just captures our imagination," added Fabey. "When these ships were designed the United States wasn't yet a superpower. These were the ships that helped win the war and then put us on top."

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and website. He is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.