1952 Stopping in 600 Ft

I first reported aboard in June of 1952 and left her at the completion of the Brooklyn Navy yard overhaul just prior to the Eaton collision. During that time I worked through Nav, ops, 2nd and 5th divisions, then, I was assigned First Lt., a LCDR billet while still an Ensign. Just prior to beginning the preparations for her second deployment to 7th Fleet, and remained there until I was detached this greenhorn was very lucky. I had Bos'un Duff and 5 of the greatest Chiefs I was blessed with the best, I had early on learned the lesson "listen to your Chiefs, they will see you through." They sure did! I remember in particular Chief Bos'un Beason, a survivor of the Bataan Death March. First declared a collaborating traitor, and then vindicated as a real hero. But to the point, In the section Ship's length, etc. The info given is really only the design specs, not reality. For instance, in calibrating the turrets and the 5" batteries, the exact location of each mount had to be surveyed in. This was done during my first overhaul.

At that time the WHISKY measured in at, length- 887ft, 9-1/2 ", Beam, 108ft-6" while our closest competitor, the Big Mo, came in at 887ft- 2", and Beam 108ft -3". I can still hear Captain Bob Foley announcing over the 1MC to welcome our guests aboard on a dependant's cruise from GITMO to Port-o Prince, Welcome aboard the largest battleship in the world. We are 7-1/2" longer than our closest competitor, and you all know how much fun you can have with 7-1/2" much to the amusement of our guest dependents. As to the speed, design speed was 33kts, but I can personally swear to a high-speed run made in 1953, since I was the OD, of 39.5 knots. I remember this well, because, upon completion of the second pass, while still at top speed, we closed the "barn doors" and brought her dead in the water in 600ft. You can go back and read that in the logbooks. For those interested, the commands were SOUND COLLISION ALARM! ALL STOP! ALL BACK ALL BACK EMERGENCY FULL! SHIFT STEERING CONTROL TO AFTER STEERING! SPLIT YOUR RUDDERS! CLOSE THE BARN DOORS! At the sound of the collision alarm, the 1st Div BOS'UN thee a paint chip from the eyes of the ship to starboard. When everything came to a stop, the chip was abeam of turret 3, 600ft. The only damage to the entire ship was all the crockery in the general mess was broken against the forward bulkhead. That must have been a site to see!