Comments on: Mine countermeasures

By: lex

lex — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:03:26 +0000

I was a member of a MINEX that our airwing had goofed, and had to participate in the “re-fly” the next week. The A-6 bubbas briefed a “no system” heading, altitude, airspeed/timing run, “just like we did in Vietnam!”

Voice from the back: “Didn’t we lose that one?”

By: badbob

badbob — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 14:51:36 +0000

re Mining- One of my few fortes’ Lex. They call me: “One Pass-Bad A$$”, Bob. Hdg-Alt-Aispeed… In da basket!

Never trust da system- use the force my son! LOL.

BTW- I think the guys that brought up those mines and graded us-I think they were our own Frogmen- recreating.

By: Curt

Curt — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:14:28 +0000

Da Yopper;

I’d add the same advice if it’s a roomful of industrial psychologists PhDs trying to tell you how to train sailors….oh, with only one of the 6 having ever set foot aboard a haze gray vessel before…

By: Da Yooper

Da Yooper — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 01:19:58 +0000

Oh those darned blackshoes – always messing up a good time.

I saw the presentation for this system(actually a system-of-systems since there are other parts involved) and thought it was pretty cool. Still, what if one of those thingys hit an endangered turtle or a Northern Right Whale or, God forbid, disturb the nesting sight for a Snowy Plover )

I usta work “range issues” with the fellas at SOAR and SCORE and have a word of advice: If you ever find yourself on an advisory board that includes environmentalists, archaeologists, and the Navy, just shoot yourself. I mean, can’t a guy just blow something up every once in a while?

By: yak

yak — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:09:52 +0000

Ahh, yeah – mining. Always one of my favorite missions in the Light Attack Whisper Stoof.

Great mission profile: Fly straight and level, 500 feet off the deck at 360 kts (330kts if we were carrying the “trashcans”). Exactly my idea of a good time to be had in a bad-guy harbor. Especially since our trusty “A” models were bereft of such luxuries as chaff and flares…

We were pretty good at though. But then we usually won the “lay-down” portion of the airwing bombing trophy competition. Of course it didn’t hurt that some of the A-7s couldn’t even hit the right target…

Although I always figured that hitting the target with mines meant that the mines got wet,

By: Theodore

Theodore — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 21:43:31 +0000

I didn't know the Hornet could play aerial minelayer. Interesting. Probably better than having a surface ship or submarine do it - the Navy named its one purpose-built minelayer USS Terror - but at least they won't make you tow a giant sled behind you when you go to play aerial minesweeper..