It was a nice gig, wasn’t it?
The downsizing of the Navy continues. The Captain’s gig is going the way of teak plank flight decks and AvGas.
Carrier skippers are losing a traditional status symbol under a Navy directive issued in January. The captain’s gig, the motorboat set aside to ferry commanding officers to shore when their ships are anchored away from land, is being phased out of the fleet.
Under a directive issued by Naval Air Forces, all 11 carriers will be required to turn in their captain’s gigs before June 30, 2009. “Removal of the captain’s gig will reduce maintenance costs and free up valuable hangar bay space,†the message reads.
Despite never having ridden one I’ll miss them. Another long standing tradition becomes “Old Navy”.
Posted by SJBill
On February 10th, 2008 under relics, Travel and Leisure.
Comments: 5
Comments
Comment from ManlyDad
Time: February 10, 2008, 9:15 pm
Sad, but time marches on…
As usual, every tradition has a sea story associated with it. This was told to me, and I’ll keep it brief. I presume it’s true (as I presume all sea stories are!)
A carrier (can’t recall which one) was pulling into San Diego harbor, and the Admiral’s Gig was being lowered on the port side, aft. As they got it to the water, something got snaggled and they couldn’t quickly loose the boat from the Boat. Shortly, the carrier started its slow turn to starboard which pressed the gig hard into the port side. Able to neither raise nor lower the gig, the sailors were confronted with an increasingly perilous situation. The gig started bucking and fighting against the press from the carrier, leading the sailors to abandon their small ship. The gig eventually turned to driftwood as the carrier slowly swept over it.
Quite an auspicious, but memorable! welcome home.
Comment from Retired AC1
Time: February 11, 2008, 9:20 am
This story brings to mind another Admiral’s barge story. T’was the spring of 1980, the Saratoga was relieving the Forrestal and CTF60 was crossdecking to Super Sara. Both ships were at anchor, if I remember right, near Cagliari. Both ships boats were in the water to move a$$’s and trash between the ships for the turnover. The dolly for the CTF60 barge was on FID’s flightdeck awaiting the H53 that was to lift it to us. In readiness for the lift, the dolly was not chocked or chained. Did you know the rotor down wash from a 53 can get one of those big dolly’s moving pretty quick. I think the dolly is still in about 20-25 fathoms of water. Not to be out done, the Sara’s flight deck scrubber was also given a float test the next day by an inexperienced AB. Ah yes, for the memories.
Comment from HummerDude
Time: February 12, 2008, 2:55 am
Another tragic sacrifice to economy. Since when has hangar space been a concern in the light weight CVW’s we’ve been deploying with, sans real estate hogs like Toms, Hoovers and ‘truders? It’s funny that they’ll kill something symbolic, but the ubiquitous “they” won’t pour no-wax decks beyond the readyrooms, which would save another valuable Navy commodity: Sailors’ time.
The Navy is and always has been one of the most recognized ambassadors of the United States. There are intangible benefits to bringing VIPs out to the big ship on the gig. Yes, there’s still the barge, but the Flag’s priorities go beyond tours of the Flagship. And what’s wrong with perks? We put a tremendous burden on the shoulders of CVN CO’s. Shouldn’t the Captain be able to transit to and fro without having to wait for a liberty boat or a whaler? We spent a tremendous amount of time and money re-tooling the Foreign Area Officer (FAO) community because there was a point in investing in the intangible concept of trust-building. The guy ferrying our 5 to 6 thousand ambassadors around ought to get something for his efforts.
I’ll have to concede one benefit to the disappearing gig: one less place for romantic getaways on our co-ed cruise ships! I don’t know how many times I was on the elliptical on USS Boat and watched one boy and one girl enter and exit the canvas-covered conveyance. I guess they’ll have to look elsewhere to get the old brightwork polished.
Comment from badbob
Time: February 15, 2008, 8:06 am
re- “free up valuable hangar bay space”
Ain’t that a hoot SJ…with only about 65 aircraft aboard Big Deck ships designed for about a hundred…
Ironical ain’t it? Enough room in thar for an entire boat dealership!
The “Enterprise” strikes again. I wonder who got the fitrep bullet for this one? LOL.
“Dude-
re- “and watched one boy and one girl enter and exit the canvas-covered conveyance”
Coulda been a boy and a boy…LOL #2.
BTW, as an “O”, why didn’t you do something about it? OOps, sorry I asked. Dino here. Nobody stopped the dope smokers of my JO era much either…
b2
Comment from badbob
Time: February 15, 2008, 8:17 am
OBTW Hummer,
re- “Light weight CVW’s” (I like it)
The Turkeyhad a big deck spot footprint. Won’t talk about Intruders- also big. With wings and tail folded the Viking is smaller than a F-18C! All the more amazing is we cruised w/95 aircraft in the olden days and we carried Gigs and P-boats and U-boats (no contracted ferries much before detente came along!)! Ain’t it? Amazing they even have crunches nowadays!
On the other hand we exhibited “bad behavior” and got too many traps! Un-Enterprise like endeavors, eh? I know what they teach the young’uns nowadays…..It’s a cryin dam shame.
O’course if’n that bright idea of bringing Ospreys aboard ever meets the light o’day (hopefully never…) things will get crowded agin!
B2
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