Any one have a most embarsing moment while serving in the AG? Mine happened while standing dog watch on the Starboard side on the bridge. There was a lot of phosphorus in the water and Porpoise left quite a wake when swimming. I watched a wake comming in on the starboard side I thought is this a porpoise or a torpedo, whe the wake was about 30 foot from our hull I pulled the Alarm,as the wake dissapeared at the hull I waited for the sound of a large expolsion but all I could hear was the alarm ringing needless to say I was the butt of jokes for a week
Re: False alarm
Posted by John Haynes on April 27, 2011, 9:29 am, in reply to "False alarm"
Bob, my most embarrassing was not a False Alarm but a real one. Off loading at the docks in Murmansk we had been under air attack almost constantly. During a lull I went forward to my quarters in the fo’c’s’le and fell into an exhausted sleep. Another air attack, and when GQ was sounded I did not hear it. A bomb exploded just off our port bow, the concussion of which threw me out of my bunk. Dazed and terrified I grabbed my jacket and helmet and ran to my gun tub only to find it already manned and firing at enemy aircraft. I could only stand there, shaking with fear, embarrassed and ashamed that I had failed to be at my post at GQ. John Haynes
Re: False alarm
Posted by Rick Pitz on May 8, 2011, 10:34 pm, in reply to "Re: False alarm"
My dad was on the USAT General George W. Goethals as an Armed Guard signalman. From the Armed Guard report, I found the following story from June 7, 1944, when the Goethals was part of the Normandy invasion force:
At 0800, a wake was spotted, apparently from a submarine periscope, about 2500 yards on the port bow. The wake continued towards the Goethals, but due to choppy seas was not visible at all times. The #2 3/50 gun was ordered to open fire with point detonating shells. A hit was made on the fourth shot and the order for rapid fire was given. What appeared to be the bow of a submarine broke the surface. The #4 3/50 gun opened fire as well as the transport immediately astern. After repeated hits, the object appeared suddenly on the surface and was identified as an overturned landing craft (from the Normandy invasion that started the previous day). 36 rounds were expended.
Some red faces all around that day.
I am sure similar things happened to many Armed Guard crews.
- Rick
Re: False alarm
Posted by Francis Kent on May 9, 2011, 11:03 pm, in reply to "Re: False alarm"
One morning in late 1943, on the tanker Cherry Valley, steaming independently in the Pacific, we shot up a log. I have no idea how many rounds were expended, or from what guns, and there were no red faces. Better safe than sorry. I watched from the bridge, where altho I was a radioman I had the signal watch.
Re: False alarm
Posted by Roy Brown on May 16, 2011, 7:09 pm, in reply to "Re: False alarm"
We didn't fire any weapons but we were awakened (I was already on watch I think), by the sound of the general alarm. A "fire" off the Starboard bow had been spotted. It appeared as though a ship had been hit. Well...it was actually the volcano Stromboli showing off. It was a rather "pretty" display in the blackness of night off the West coast of Italy. No use taking chances! Roy Brown