We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:55:52 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification We're packing now to head to the airport and home. It will be a long day, as I'm routed via Charlotte... I've shown you the condition of the Cuitlahuac/Rodgers, which was really pretty good. Just to make that point clear... here are some shots, without the flash, that give you a better sense of what we were working through in the bowels of the other destroyer - the ex-USS Voegelgesang - when we were taking usable parts for the Rodgers or trading purposes. The heartbreaker, for me, is that this beautiful instrument is going to go to the bottom of... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:17:55 -0600 I don't know about any of those stories, nor do I care. Those guns were put under my charge. There was a MI-8 flying by. I had fun. 'Nuff said. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48560 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48560 Wed, 02 Aug 2006 07:49:07 -0600 Not to throw a wet towel on things, but didn't twin 40s turn out not to be so effective against kamikazee attacks during the Okinawa campaign? On the other hand, there's the the story of the destroyer crew -exasperated by Flying Crysanthemum pilots who dived on the first ship they saw, usually a destroyer or destroyer escort on radar picket patrol- who put up a giant sign on the side of their ship saying JAP PILOTS: TASK FORCE 52 THIS WAY!, with a huge arrow under it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48556 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48556 Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:55:21 -0600 HAHAHHAHAHA!!! Ry nailed it. Oh man... can't you just see our Drunken Sailor/Armorer, taking a swig o' 'rita and then taking a swipe at the HIP? LMAO.... now *that's* good television! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48546 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48546 Tue, 01 Aug 2006 08:29:47 -0600 "a HIP flying by, and all my career those were... targets." Bwahahahaha. I can see the film version now. "Feed me! And for Gawd's sake bring me a cold 'ritta!"(cue heroic music and wind machine) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48539 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48539 Tue, 01 Aug 2006 01:09:43 -0600 JTG, mostly, I was reveling in how smooth she worked in train and elevation - especially once I freed up the bearings in the hand grips, and was just enjoying the side to side motion while someone saw me and took a picture. It had nothing at *all* to do with the fact there was a HIP flying by, and all my career those were... targets. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48538 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48538 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 23:47:11 -0600 If we're talking the large chutes sticking up top - those are indeed the feed chutes. The ejected empties come out of tubes at the base of the mount and pile up around the base of the mount (which is geared inside, I assume to minimize jamming issues but I'll leave that to Sailors who manned these guns). They are indeed larger than the chutes on the Duster. They're meant to hold more in readiness for firing. Unless I missed something (and it's late, I might have). http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48537 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48537 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 23:16:58 -0600 Amen, Trias, and let's not ask him what he was thinking. Unless he chooses to share, and then of course we'll be all over him. In a polite, sensitive, understanding way. Snork. Nah. That ain't right, either. JoA is playing Mr. Fellers, Major League baseball player and 40mm gunner, gittin' them Kates and Judys before they can git him. Or something. I dunno. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48536 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48536 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 23:15:52 -0600 1sgt Keith- Thanks for your service. The large chutes folded up above the gun are (I believe) chutes that are folded down prior to firing. They guide the fired cases out away from under the mount where they may pile up and jam something. Facilitates housekeeping to be able to throw the fired brass overboard. Navy guys like to keep things "ship shape", you know... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48535 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48535 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 23:11:34 -0600 You look very much at home by those guns. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48534 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48534 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:33:47 -0600 Oh, Neffi, I've written at other places (maybe TheHighRoad.org was one of them) that I'm *theoretically* in favor of bringing back duelling, but then I remember the many times I've been horribly rude to people who nonetheless let me live. I do admit to having some 18th-century feelings about that, uh, genetically similar person I have referred to. I will and shall, of course, observe and obey all of the laws of the State of Florida and the United States of America in my dealings with that, uh, "person." However, "Die Gedanken sind frei!" and I'll continue to think whatever evil nasty thoughts I like, about anybody. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48533 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48533 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:30:27 -0600 Very cool 40's, John. That's the same as we had on the M42 Dusters. Looks likes they did a little modification to the loader. Would make it very difficult for a cannoneer to load while firing, which kinda defeats the purpose. Nice setup anyway. Wouldn't mind playing with THAT pair...... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48532 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48532 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:15:05 -0600 Bugger deloping, JTG- put it through the heart! You might not get another chance... ;) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48531 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48531 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 21:08:02 -0600 74: Shame on you! JoA: Do you need a second? (You'll have to find yer own surgeon.) Just kiddin', but I hear you can still get away with it in Paraguay. Sorry, sometimes I think about the ex-brother in ways of which my lawyer would not approve. There seems to be some crosstalk into my other thoughts. To delope, or not to delope; that is the question. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48530 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48530 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:31:34 -0600 That last picture brings new meaining to the phrase "gun tub." ;-) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48529 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48529 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 18:38:57 -0600 Can anyone tell me what's in the 3rd and 4th picture? just kidding, John- the Castle Echo catches ALL of us. Thanks for the info! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48525 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48525 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:25:09 -0600 What you are looking in the 3rd and 4th pictures is a MK 1A fire control computer. My first job in the Fire Control gang on USS Henry W. Tucker DDR875 in 1955 was to run the daily tests on the this mechanical work of engineering art. John Shaffer CWO3 USN Ret Fire Control Gunner http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48523 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48523 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:31:50 -0600 What you are looking in the 3rd and 4th pictures is a MK 1A fire control computer. My first job in the Fire Control gang on USS Henry W. Tucker DDR875 in 1955 was to run the daily tests on the this mechanical work of engineering art. John Shaffer CWO3 USN Ret Fire Control Gunner http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48522 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48522 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:31:19 -0600 What you are looking in the 3rd and 4th pictures is a MK 1A fire control computer. My first job in the Fire Control gang on USS Henry W. Tucker DDR875 in 1955 was to run the daily tests on the this mechanical work of engineering art. John Shaffer CWO3 USN Ret Fire Control Gunner http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48521 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48521 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:31:12 -0600 John, you look very at home between those twin 40's. Great reporting. I am sorry you are returning today and the stories stop. Get some linament. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48520 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48520 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 09:31:37 -0600 Just gimme a crowbar, and this little Rican will pry it out like a set of hubcaps on a Lincoln. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48519 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48519 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 09:24:51 -0600 Too bad you didn't bring a b-i-i-i-ig suitcase; a twin 40 would look mighty nice on the donjon... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48518 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48518 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 09:05:18 -0600 DAMN! They're gonna scuttle that huge instrument? What a shame. It does look rather large and difficult to remove though. DARN! Safe travels, John! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48517 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/07/end_of_the_road_trip_1_bringing_the_rodgers_home.html#comment-48517 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:56:22 -0600