AT SEA ON ATLANTIC OCEAN & CARIBBEAN

Leaving the Scandinavian countries, the Midshipman summer 1955 training cruise shifts to the open Atlantic Ocean and down into the warmer Caribbean sea.  These are the best of the few "at sea" action photos taken aboard the USS Damato DDE-871.
1

This was a special destroyer escort in our group, the Snowden, as Keith's brother-in-law's brother, Lt. Com. Allen Craig, was CO at the time.
2

Refueling at sea from our support ship was an interesting & dangerous experience. One member of our crew was seriously injured at the end of this activity.
3

Higher level medical care was available on board the much larger cruiser Albany which is seen coming along side here.
4

Not for the faint of heart, much coordination is needed to transfer personnel between ships at sea.
5

Names of equipment & process are long forgotten, but images are vivid of a wounded sailor being sent between moving ships.
6

Not a great photo, but one taken during exercises with this carrier as we neared the Caribbean.
7

The destroyer USS Moale DD-693 comes along side.
8

Personnel transfer between the 2 destroyers was the activity here, but the reason has been forgotten.
9

As the Damato was primarily an anti-sub ship, maneuvers with a Navy submarine were of particular interest.
10

Rolling depth charge cans off the fantail was a dramatic show of destructive power that actually disabled one of the ship's screws (drive propellers).

Back to 1955 Cruise Index

Brought to you by a member of Veterans for Peace,  Chapter 56