Last week’s SM-3 shootdown from the perspective of the Lake Erie’s CO:
“You’ll see the first booster falling off,” (Captain) Hendrickson says as he narrates the video. “It just comes right back into the ocean.” Seconds later, someone calls out, “Transition! Transition!” This is the signal that the missile is about to reach its target. Those in the control room are quiet for a moment, eyes riveted to the video monitors in front of them.
“Bang!” one operator says, breaking the silence. “Yes! Yes!” shouts another, to cheers, high-fives, and pumped fists.
During a replay, Hendrickson points out where the flames shooting from the missile’s afterburners have singed the ship’s bell during takeoff. “We haven’t shined it yet,” he says. “As a reminder.”
Good story. Great job.
Now shine that bell.
“…missile’s afterburners…” Uh huh.
CO Randy Hendrickson was my first XO aboard DECATUR in 1998. Good guy for the most part, had a real temper when pushed. Glad to see he lead the charge on this one. He deserves it.
Now shine that bell.
*heehee* Someone should forward that order to the ship.
Uh, Cap’n?
Missiles don’t have afterburners. Solid fuel rockets yes, afterburners? Not even Talos.
Who decided to put the Ship’s Bell behind the VLS system in the first place. He or She should be shining the bell and not some poor GM or BM.
..and shouldn’t you just paint the darn thing with a flat matte gray paint anyway… it would save “un-tolled” hours of Brasso work.
“Who decided to put the Ship’s Bell behind the VLS system in the first place.”
I served aboard 4, and rode quite a few more while at ATG, and that was the typical spot. We used them in conjuction with a rather uglier cousin made of steel mounted aft. They were used together when we posted fog lookouts… something about the different sounds fore and aft. Anyway that’s usually where they are on the tin cans. Besides, the focs’l is a nicer place to dunk new babies.
Leave the bell dirty, and spray some clear Krylon over the smudges, to preserve them forever!
And I wanna see a broom lashed to the masthead when she gets back to port!