Military Pictures & Info

Homesteading & Country Living Forum

Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Sorting old photos today, found these. Replenishment at sea, bringing on 2 types of fuel.

No sure where this was, Caribbean, Atlantic or the Med. Seems to be a nice calm day, that was unusual. Seems we replenished during storms most of the time. I saw it attempted once in the Med, seas were running 30ft, a little rough. They called it off thankfully, would have lost someone over the side with waves over the weather decks.

N Refuel 01.jpg


N Refuel 02.jpg
 
Peanut said:
Sorting old photos today, found these. Replenishment at sea, bringing on 2 types of fuel.

No sure where this was, Caribbean, Atlantic or the Med. Seems to be a nice calm day, that was unusual. Seems we replenished during storms most of the time. I saw it attempted once in the Med, seas were running 30ft, a little rough. They called it off thankfully, would have lost someone over the side with waves over the weather decks.

View attachment 81271

View attachment 81272
Click to expand...
That looks like the sister ship to the USS Detroit (AOE 4) that I was on.

I took care of NSSMS (NATO Seasparrow missile system) that visible forward of the superstructure. During UNREP my task was to man the fire control radar that had low light tv cameras that could focus at 5 miles. If someone went overboard, I was supposed to find him and track until he was retrieved. A cushy job while everyone else what busting their bu++s.

Ben
 
Peanut said:
Sorting old photos today, found these. Replenishment at sea, bringing on 2 types of fuel.

No sure where this was, Caribbean, Atlantic or the Med. Seems to be a nice calm day, that was unusual. Seems we replenished during storms most of the time. I saw it attempted once in the Med, seas were running 30ft, a little rough. They called it off thankfully, would have lost someone over the side with waves over the weather decks.

View attachment 81271

View attachment 81272
Click to expand...
I have been working a model of the Detroit. Here are 2 images of about the same views showed in your pictures.

20220227_183829_HDR.jpg


20220227_183841.jpg


As reference to illustrate how small this model is...

20220227_183942.jpg


Found my photo album and this is the view from the other side...

20220227_184400.jpg


20220227_184437_HDR.jpg


If you have other pictures of the Seattle (AOE 3) please post them. I tried very hard to get detailed pictures to help me get the details right. Things like to color 5he rungs of the ladders were painted... Black, white, gray... or a combination?

Thank you!

Ben
 
I'd forgotten I even had these photos. I sorted through 50 years of photos the last year. Today I finally got them in 3 containers that make sense. One for the years I was in the military. I just happened across these. I don't remember which ocean or sea they were taken in or the year.
 
I learned something when I stumbled across this photo. This isn't a German Messerschmidt Me-262. It has no weapons.

It was built in Czechoslovakia after the war ended. They built several of them behind the iron curtain. The Russians were probably experimenting with jet engines.

M chez af.jpg
 
Hard to see, but those guys in a group are Scots in kilts. And they were playing bag pipes. Sounded great! I think we were in Holland. What Scots were doing on a pier in Holland playing the pipes next to a German ship? I have no idea!


N Bag Pipes.jpg
 
dademoss said:
You got to surface and see sunshine? :p.
Thank you!!
Click to expand...
You Navy guys get my respect. I’m claustrophobic, so submarines would scare me, and I don’t like being out of sight of land.
I’d rather have a rifle and be in enemy territory, or as we called it Indian Country.
 
rice paddy daddy said:
You Navy guys get my respect. I’m claustrophobic, so submarines would scare me, and I don’t like being out of sight of land.
I’d rather have a rifle and be in enemy territory, or as we called it Indian Country.
Click to expand...

I'm not claustrophobic but I didn't serve on subs. I served on a destroyer designed to hunt russian subs. We were pretty good at it. There were times we trailed a sub for a week and they never knew. This was before clinton gave our propeller technology to the chinese.

Sort of funny I remember one sub we picked up and trialed. After 10 or 12 hours we got flash traffic about another concern and had to break off. The captain gave the order to ping the sub, rub their face in the fact we were there and they didn't know.

I was in CIC when we pinged and heard it... we pinged but got 2 returns! There were 2 subs under us! Everyone freaked!

Didn't know until later... The 2nd sub was ours and they, like us, were trailing the russians. And they didn't know we were there either! Our subs were as quiet as our destroyers...
 
It's been so long I'd forgotten it's name "Prairie-Masker". It was a noise supression system built into Navy ships when I served... No one in combat systems worked on it so all I ever heard were bits and pieces from guys I knew in engineering. But I knew of its effects because sonar guys were in combat systems, in CIC. They tracked our own ships occasionally.

Prairie-Masker is actually 2 systems. The Prairie system, forced air into the blades of the propeller. The Masker system, forced air through 2 bands along hull the length of the ship. Millions of tiny bubbles that effective stopped any noise from inside the ship.

Sonar guys (when listening to our ships) said it sounded like a rain shower several miles away. It's no wonder our own subs didn't know we (my destroyer) were there on many occasions.

Here's a bit of data I found on the net about how it works. It's no longer classified.
----------------------------------------------

Prairie Masker

A noise reduction system called "Prairie Masker" was developed by the US Navy for several classes of its warships (including the Spruance, Perry, Arleigh Burke, and Ticonderoga) to reduce or mask their self-noise. The Prairie system is fitted to the ship's propellers, while Masker is fitted to the external hull in the vicinity of the propulsion plant. Air bubbles can be employed to mask potential targets or to provide alternate targets. The large difference in characteristic impedance (c) between the air bubbles and the surrounding water make them very efficient as reflectors of acoustic energy. Very little sound will penetrate a curtain of air bubbles, making them very efficient as masking for noise sources. Prairie-Masker is used during both active and passive undersea warfare operations. Gas turbine ships routinely operate systems inport and at sea, to avoid marine growth from plugging holes in blade tips and masker belts. During ASW operations, there is no instantaneous way of determining if the airflow rates are accurate at any given time. Improper Prairie/Masker airflow rates are an ASW mission degrade. MACHALT Proposals Under Development will replace Prairie/Masker air system portable flow meters with an electronic airflow monitoring system.

The Prairie Air System supplies air along the propeller blade leading edge to reduce the hydrodynamic noise originating at the propeller. This fills the vacuum left by the rotating blades as the water "boils," allowing cavitation bubbles to contract more slowly as area of underpressure is minimized. Prairie Air is drawn from the bleed air header, sent through a cooler then through the propulsion shafting to the propeller hubs where it is emitted from small holes on the propeller blades. Each engine room has its own prairie air system to supply air to its associated propeller. The air passes through a network of apertures along each stabilizer's leading edge, suppressing flow noise and cavitation.

For instance, on the FFG-7 Prairie air flows at 400 SCFM from a branch of the bleed air system through the prairie air cooler. The cooler uses seawater from the Firemain system as a cooling medium. From the cooler, prairie air flows through a flow meter into the roto-seal at the Oil Distribution Box (OD Box) and into the prairie air tubing to the propeller. At the propeller hub after end, the air enters drilled passages in the hub body. The passages direct the air to the base of each propeller blade. Air reaches each blade through a bushing connection between the blade base and the hub body. Air then flows through an air channel in the blade leading edge and discharges through 302 orifices. Two check valves prevent entry of water when the air supply is secured. The Fin Stabilizers use prairie air supplied directly from the discharge side of the prairie air cooler.

For example, on the FFG-7, customer bleed air extracted from the Gas Turbine Engine (GTE) compressor's 16th stage, provides gas turbine anti-icing, prairie and masker air, and start air for the other Gas Turbine Engine (GTE). Bleed air used for cross bleed starts, masker air, and prairie air passes through the bleed air reducing valve, reduceing bleed air pressure from 250 to 75 psig. Bleed air then passes through the bleed air cooler that uses sea water from the firemain to lower the bleed air temperature to below 400o F. After air passes through the bleed air cooler it splits off into two branches, one for starting air and the other for prairie/masker air.

Compressed air is forced through machined perforations to create air bubbles that form a barrier around the propellers and hull, thereby shielding their radiated noise, and interfering with the ability of enemy passive sonar (particularly submarine sonar) to conduct analysis of the sound to classify or identify its source. It is reported that the acoustic signature of Prairie Masker sounds like rain to a passive sonar.

One area where noise is a major problem is the propeller. In this case the Prairie (propeller air-induced emission) system feeds air down the propeller shaft and through small holes in the propeller's leading edge to delay the onset of cavitation. Each machinery compartment has its own Prairie system to supply air to its associated propeller. Prairie also feeds air to the leading edge of the ship's stabilisers to reduce the onset of cavitation.

The "Prairie Masker" system that blows pressured air (approx. 28-75 psi) into the water through thousands of small holes on the bottom of the hull. By blowing bubbles, the air bubble against the hull absorbs the sound emmitted by the hull. Being flexible, the bubble would absorb the noise but not transfer any energy to the water on the other side. Thus reducing the total amount of noise introduced into the water.

While a nominal pressure is between 75 down to 28 psi, the volumn of air is massive. The air is supplied through a system of small tubes welded to the exterior of the hull. These small holes bored in these tubes emitted an envelope of bubbles around the hull's exterior greatly lowering hull noise emissions. This system reduces the noise by at least 10%. The decoy system has a 35% chance of fooling military type sonars.

On a frigate like the USS Perry Class the Masker air system discharges through each connection at a rate of 425 cubic feet per minute (CFM) at approximately 12 psig. Perforations in the emitters allow discharge of Masker air from the keel to the water line.

The prairie air tubing to the propeller. At the propeller hub after end, the air enters drilled passages in the hub body. The passages direct the air to the base of each propeller blade. Air reaches each blade through a bushing connection between the blade base and the hub body. Air then flows through an air channel in the blade leading edge and discharges through 302 orifices.

Prairie and Masker come into play only for passive sonar searches. They make the ship sound like a rain storm to the submarine. The sub knows something is making noise but can not identify the noise as any type of a ship. Prairie and Masker systems are effective against active sonar.

Prairie Masker is very effective. Even American submarines have a difficult time locating our CG's, DDG's DD's, and FFG's when they are operating in condition 2AS (ASW stations) with prairie masker active during exercises. A carrier operating with an effective acoustic deception plan can still be detected at long ranges, but can be mistaken for a different target i.e. a merchant ship or a smaller combatant. Acoustic deception plans have been used it in exercises very effectively.
 
What a great Vietnam story.

Rare photo of the man who is believed to be the deadliest sniper of the Vietnam war Adelbert Waldron:
FB_IMG_1649113252781.jpg

During his single deployment in Vietnam, Staff Sergeant Adelbert F. Waldron III made 109 confirmed kills in just six months, making him the most lethal sniper in the history of the U.S. Army.

Adelbert Waldron preferred working in the shadows. During the Vietnam War, he became the conflict’s most prolific sniper while fighting in the dense jungle as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. And after returning home, he didn’t discuss his record-breaking 109 kills.

Though snipers generally don’t brag about their records, some, like Chuck Mawhinney and Carlos Hathcock — both Marines — have become well-known for their combat records. Waldron, on the other hand, quietly returned home in 1969 and remained mum about his service for the rest of his life.

But his military achievements speak for themselves. He had 109 confirmed kills, making him the deadliest sniper in the history of the U.S. Army. And he finished the war with two Distinguished Service Crosses, three Bronze Stars, one Silver Star, and a Presidential Unit Citation.

And until 2011, when Navy SEAL Chris Kyle eclipsed his record, Adelbert “Bert” Waldron was the deadliest American sniper who had ever lived.

Adelbert Waldron’s Path To Vietnam
Adelbert F. Waldron III developed his shooting skills at a young age. Born on March 14, 1933, in Syracuse, New York, Waldron dealt with his parent’s divorce and subsequent remarriages by hunting in the woods around nearby Baldwinsville.
“[Bert] always told me how lonely he was as a child,” his ex-wife, Betty, told author Paul Kirchner. “He was so unhappy in his home life that he spent all his time hunting in the woods… I’m sure that’s when he learned his marksmanship. He could mimic wild animal sounds perfectly.”

But Waldron didn’t spend all his time alone. By the time he was 23, he’d married three times. And in 1953, Waldron escaped his solitary existence for good by enlisting in the U.S. Navy, where he served in the Korean War.
Waldron spent 12 years with the Navy, serving in the Korean War, eventually becoming a petty officer second class before accepting a discharge in 1965. But he seemed restless in civilian life. Less than three years later — and with war brewing in Vietnam — the 35-year-old enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Attached to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division, Sgt. Adelbert Waldron trained in Fort Benning, Georgia, and shipped out for Vietnam in November 1968.

How Adelbert Waldron Became Vietnam’s Deadliest Sniper
Upon his arrival in Vietnam, Adelbert Waldron learned how to be a sniper at the Army Marksmanship Unit. He then accompanied his unit deep into the dangerous Mekong Delta — a labyrinth of streams, canals, and rice paddies — and quickly proved his mettle as a marksman.

When Waldron and his unit came under attack by the Viet Cong on Jan. 19, 1969, the newly-trained sniper sprang into action.
“While his company was being resupplied near Ap Hoa, Kien Hoa Province, approximately forty Viet Cong unleashed a heavy barrage of small arms and automatic weapons fire,” explained Waldron’s commendation for the Distinguished Service Cross award.
“Courageously exposing himself to the fusillade, Sergeant Waldron killed a number of the aggressors and was instrumental in forcing them to break contact.”

Three days later, on Jan. 22, Waldron dignified himself again. That night, he suddenly spotted Viet Cong activity. So Waldron aimed — and fired.
“Disregarding his own safety, Specialist Waldron courageously engaged the enemy for over three hours before his position was detected and he was forced to withdraw from the area,” his commendation for the Silver Star award said.
“As a result of his heroic acts, eleven enemy were mortally wounded.”

Waldron shone as a sniper again and again. On Jan. 30, he took out eight Viet Cong fighters with eight shots — from 500 yards away and at night. On Feb. 3, he killed six Viet Cong who’d attempted to outflank American troops. And on Feb. 14, Viet Cong fighters shot at by Waldron withdrew in confusion, unsure how many shooters were crouched in the jungle.
But Adelbert Waldron’s most famous moment as a sniper came on Feb. 26. Then, while patrolling the Mekong river in a Tango boat, Waldron and his fellow soldiers suddenly encountered sniper fire from the shore. As his commanding officer, Major General Julian Ewell, recalled it:
“While everyone else on board strained to find the antagonist, who was firing from the shoreline over 900 meters away, Sergeant Waldron took up his sniper rifle and picked off the Viet Cong out of the top of a coconut tree with one shot… such was the capability of our best sniper.”

His fellow soldiers soon dubbed Waldron “Daniel Boone” after the famous frontiersman. But Waldron had more advanced weaponry than Boone did. He favored an XM21 rifle that was 44 inches long, weighed about 12 pounds, and had a range of 900 yards (as Waldron proved).

By the time his tour in Vietnam ended and he shipped home on July 21, 1969, Waldron had 109 confirmed kills in just eight months. That made him the deadliest American sniper of all time, a record he’d keep until the Iraq War.

But Adelbert Waldron never bragged about his record as a sniper. Indeed, he rarely spoke publicly at all. He spent the next few decades of his life living as he always had – in the shadows.
The Legacy Of The Deadliest Sniper In The U.S. Army
Following his service in Vietnam, Adelbert Waldron returned to civilian life. But though he was honored with two Distinguished Service Crosses, three Bronze Stars, one Silver Star, and a Presidential Unit Citation, his transition from war proved rocky.

“Bert was a wonderful soldier,” his ex-wife, Betty, said. “He loved his country, he would have died for this country, but he had a lot of problems as a human being.”
He divorced, remarried, and divorced again. Meanwhile, Waldron worked as an instructor at the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit before taking a job as an instructor with Mitchel WerBell III’s Cobray International school, a mercenary, firearms engineer, and former CIA operative.

Waldron toiled in quiet obscurity, never seeking fame for his record-breaking service as a sniper. When he died to little fanfare of a heart attack on Oct. 18, 1995, Waldron was still the most prolific sniper in American history — besting better-known snipers like Carlos Hathcock and Chuck Mawhinney.
He kept that record until 2011. Then, Iraq War veteran Chris Kyle wrote in his book American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, that the Navy credited him with 160 confirmed kills.
That number — and Kyle allegedly had even more unconfirmed kills — broke Waldron’s decades-old record.

In the end, many details of Adelbert Waldron’s service remain lost to time. He never gave interviews or wrote books. Waldron never publicly recalled how it felt to kill or how he dealt with the terror and glory of warfare. His record — his confirmed kills and awards — must speak for themselves.
As his Silver Star award states: “Sergeant Waldron’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Military Service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”

The Giant Killer book & page honors these war heroes the book details the incredible life of the smallest soldier, Green Beret Captain Richard Flaherty along with the harrowing stories from the men of the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. The Giant Killer FB page honors these incredible war heroes making sure their stories of valor and sacrifice are never forgotten. God Bless our Vets! Available now on Amazon & Walmart.

Story By Kaleena Fraga
 
phideaux said:
What a great Vietnam story.

Rare photo of the man who is believed to be the deadliest sniper of the Vietnam war Adelbert Waldron:
View attachment 83850
During his single deployment in Vietnam, Staff Sergeant Adelbert F. Waldron III made 109 confirmed kills in just six months, making him the most lethal sniper in the history of the U.S. Army.

Adelbert Waldron preferred working in the shadows. During the Vietnam War, he became the conflict’s most prolific sniper while fighting in the dense jungle as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. And after returning home, he didn’t discuss his record-breaking 109 kills.

Though snipers generally don’t brag about their records, some, like Chuck Mawhinney and Carlos Hathcock — both Marines — have become well-known for their combat records. Waldron, on the other hand, quietly returned home in 1969 and remained mum about his service for the rest of his life.

But his military achievements speak for themselves. He had 109 confirmed kills, making him the deadliest sniper in the history of the U.S. Army. And he finished the war with two Distinguished Service Crosses, three Bronze Stars, one Silver Star, and a Presidential Unit Citation.

And until 2011, when Navy SEAL Chris Kyle eclipsed his record, Adelbert “Bert” Waldron was the deadliest American sniper who had ever lived.

Adelbert Waldron’s Path To Vietnam
Adelbert F. Waldron III developed his shooting skills at a young age. Born on March 14, 1933, in Syracuse, New York, Waldron dealt with his parent’s divorce and subsequent remarriages by hunting in the woods around nearby Baldwinsville.
“[Bert] always told me how lonely he was as a child,” his ex-wife, Betty, told author Paul Kirchner. “He was so unhappy in his home life that he spent all his time hunting in the woods… I’m sure that’s when he learned his marksmanship. He could mimic wild animal sounds perfectly.”

But Waldron didn’t spend all his time alone. By the time he was 23, he’d married three times. And in 1953, Waldron escaped his solitary existence for good by enlisting in the U.S. Navy, where he served in the Korean War.
Waldron spent 12 years with the Navy, serving in the Korean War, eventually becoming a petty officer second class before accepting a discharge in 1965. But he seemed restless in civilian life. Less than three years later — and with war brewing in Vietnam — the 35-year-old enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Attached to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division, Sgt. Adelbert Waldron trained in Fort Benning, Georgia, and shipped out for Vietnam in November 1968.

How Adelbert Waldron Became Vietnam’s Deadliest Sniper
Upon his arrival in Vietnam, Adelbert Waldron learned how to be a sniper at the Army Marksmanship Unit. He then accompanied his unit deep into the dangerous Mekong Delta — a labyrinth of streams, canals, and rice paddies — and quickly proved his mettle as a marksman.

When Waldron and his unit came under attack by the Viet Cong on Jan. 19, 1969, the newly-trained sniper sprang into action.
“While his company was being resupplied near Ap Hoa, Kien Hoa Province, approximately forty Viet Cong unleashed a heavy barrage of small arms and automatic weapons fire,” explained Waldron’s commendation for the Distinguished Service Cross award.
“Courageously exposing himself to the fusillade, Sergeant Waldron killed a number of the aggressors and was instrumental in forcing them to break contact.”

Three days later, on Jan. 22, Waldron dignified himself again. That night, he suddenly spotted Viet Cong activity. So Waldron aimed — and fired.
“Disregarding his own safety, Specialist Waldron courageously engaged the enemy for over three hours before his position was detected and he was forced to withdraw from the area,” his commendation for the Silver Star award said.
“As a result of his heroic acts, eleven enemy were mortally wounded.”

Waldron shone as a sniper again and again. On Jan. 30, he took out eight Viet Cong fighters with eight shots — from 500 yards away and at night. On Feb. 3, he killed six Viet Cong who’d attempted to outflank American troops. And on Feb. 14, Viet Cong fighters shot at by Waldron withdrew in confusion, unsure how many shooters were crouched in the jungle.
But Adelbert Waldron’s most famous moment as a sniper came on Feb. 26. Then, while patrolling the Mekong river in a Tango boat, Waldron and his fellow soldiers suddenly encountered sniper fire from the shore. As his commanding officer, Major General Julian Ewell, recalled it:
“While everyone else on board strained to find the antagonist, who was firing from the shoreline over 900 meters away, Sergeant Waldron took up his sniper rifle and picked off the Viet Cong out of the top of a coconut tree with one shot… such was the capability of our best sniper.”

His fellow soldiers soon dubbed Waldron “Daniel Boone” after the famous frontiersman. But Waldron had more advanced weaponry than Boone did. He favored an XM21 rifle that was 44 inches long, weighed about 12 pounds, and had a range of 900 yards (as Waldron proved).

By the time his tour in Vietnam ended and he shipped home on July 21, 1969, Waldron had 109 confirmed kills in just eight months. That made him the deadliest American sniper of all time, a record he’d keep until the Iraq War.

But Adelbert Waldron never bragged about his record as a sniper. Indeed, he rarely spoke publicly at all. He spent the next few decades of his life living as he always had – in the shadows.
The Legacy Of The Deadliest Sniper In The U.S. Army
Following his service in Vietnam, Adelbert Waldron returned to civilian life. But though he was honored with two Distinguished Service Crosses, three Bronze Stars, one Silver Star, and a Presidential Unit Citation, his transition from war proved rocky.

“Bert was a wonderful soldier,” his ex-wife, Betty, said. “He loved his country, he would have died for this country, but he had a lot of problems as a human being.”
He divorced, remarried, and divorced again. Meanwhile, Waldron worked as an instructor at the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit before taking a job as an instructor with Mitchel WerBell III’s Cobray International school, a mercenary, firearms engineer, and former CIA operative.

Waldron toiled in quiet obscurity, never seeking fame for his record-breaking service as a sniper. When he died to little fanfare of a heart attack on Oct. 18, 1995, Waldron was still the most prolific sniper in American history — besting better-known snipers like Carlos Hathcock and Chuck Mawhinney.
He kept that record until 2011. Then, Iraq War veteran Chris Kyle wrote in his book American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, that the Navy credited him with 160 confirmed kills.
That number — and Kyle allegedly had even more unconfirmed kills — broke Waldron’s decades-old record.

In the end, many details of Adelbert Waldron’s service remain lost to time. He never gave interviews or wrote books. Waldron never publicly recalled how it felt to kill or how he dealt with the terror and glory of warfare. His record — his confirmed kills and awards — must speak for themselves.
As his Silver Star award states: “Sergeant Waldron’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Military Service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”

The Giant Killer book & page honors these war heroes the book details the incredible life of the smallest soldier, Green Beret Captain Richard Flaherty along with the harrowing stories from the men of the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. The Giant Killer FB page honors these incredible war heroes making sure their stories of valor and sacrifice are never forgotten. God Bless our Vets! Available now on Amazon & Walmart.

Story By Kaleena Fraga
Click to expand...
That is quite a record. Never heard of Sgt Waldron before. Hathcock (White Feather) on the other hand is well known. It's sad that Sgt Waldron had so much trouble back home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top