THE FALL OF 1954,

Saving the USS New Jersey. BB-62

During operations off the coast while serving as flagship for Com Second Fleet, under the command of Capt. Patrick, we received a drill message, Stating that the New Jersey had sustained severe battle damage, and was dead in the water at coordinates so and so. TO: Moonlight 4,

From: COM 2nd Flt.

You are ordered to proceed at best speed to the position of Moonlight 2, and take her in tow to the nearest repair base for overhaul and repairs.

This is of the utmost urgency. Be prepared to receive many casualties, and to provide Damage Control assistance as required.

Com 2nd Flt.

Her position was some 25 nautical miles to the north west of our position, so we went right to work. The towing cable was removed from storage, wrapped around turret 3's barbette. The tow2ing swivel taken aft from the Boson's locker, and then the towing cable was manhandled, doubled out the stern pope, and all the way forward, tying it off to the rail stations, all the way up the starboard side, to about turret 1. The massive towing swivel was secured to the bitter end, and a messenger was attached to it. Now Captain Patrick had us mark the center of the cable with a 4" band of white paint. He also had a sextant set up, with a clear view over the stern.

The maneuver was for us to slowly come up the port bow, pass the messenger to the bow crew on the Jersey, who would pass it through the connecting swivel, attached to the bitter end of an anchor chain, and then pass the messenger back to us. We then would pull in her anchor chain, attach it to the towing swivel, and as we proceed away, we began to cut the towing cable from where she was tied off along the starboard rail. So far, all went smoothly, aside from a pinched finger or two. We had a scare, when three stops suddenly let go at once, Now I could see why Boson Jim Duff, had every forth stop tripled. That is what stopped a runaway, and the outboard screw never had a chance to get fouled in the cable. Boy, what a mess that would have been.

Soon, everything was in place, and we slowly added turns. By no, the Jersey was being moved just by the weight of the towing cable itself. As we added speed, the cable soon became visible, and we could see the white center mark. We added turns slowly, until it was clear of the water. Captain Patrick took over the sextant, focused on the center mark, and kept adding turns. We were really moving through the water.

All hands, not assigned a task, clear the fantail, now. Now there were only 5 of us left, the captain, Boson Duff, with his foot on the cable, feeling for any sign of breaking wires in the cable, 2 phone talkers, and myself, as First Lt. Now the cable was 10 ft in the air, and still we added speed. Captain Patrick began to explain, he had calculated the catenary would come all the way up to 3/8ths of a inch at breaking point, so, to maintain a safety factor, he was not going to let the cable come up to more than ½" from level. The cable would rise up as we added turns, but then it would drop again, as the acceleration was passed to the New Jersey's hull, so we would add another turn or maybe two, and watch and wait some more. Capt. Patrick asked for a pit log reading. The answer came back, slightly above 25 kts.

That's enough. Bridge, take a message.

To: COM 2nd FLT,

FROM:

Moonlight 4.

CC: Moonlight 2

Subj: Salvage of Moonlight 2

Have taken Moonlight 2 in tow astern. Making 25 Kts. proceeding to repair facility. Have taken on board no wounded personnel. No damage control requested. Problem seems to be limited to main propulsion only.

Request instructions.

FROM COM2nd FLT

TO: Moonlight 4

SUBJ: Salvage Exercise.

Mission completed. Secure from exercise, BRAVO ZULU, 25kts, really? Splice the main brace.

Some days, we did have fun.