Gently twisting Authorities' tails

Boasun · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2010

Many years ago when I was sailing on a USNS Reshearch vessel in a Navy Op area. We started getting by flashing light "ALpha Alpha" from a Navy destroyer. The AA is their lingo for "Who are you and why are you here."
I replied via our flashing light: This is the USNS DeStieger, We have neither Signalmen or pubs on board, therefore can not send or receive flashing light." That ship rogered my flashing light message.
The rest of my watch in that Navy op area, we didn't receive another "AA" from any of the other Navy ships there. And there was about eight in the area.

So do you have any tales to tell about gentle twisting of authorities tails??
After all you don't want them coming after you or yours...

SVAuspicious · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010

You weren't on the OI by any chance were you?

Boasun · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVAuspicious

You weren't on the OI by any chance were you?

OI?? what's an OI?

I was third mate at that time and a Retired USN Boatswain mate.

SVAuspicious · #4 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010

USNS Observation Island

Boasun · #5 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010

I sailed on the Observation Island also. A couple of their tankers and Cable layers to boot. My last USNS vessel was a fleet tug. The only reason I left MSC is because my son was growing up to fast. Should have stayed... The Ex left as soon as he graduated from HS.

BubbleheadMd · #6 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010

Well...when I was on submarines, we were involved in an anti-submarine warfare exercise, playing "rabbit" for a sub-hunter aircraft.

We had a native American torpedoman, who upon directions from my CO, recorded a message in Navajo that said in essence "All Naval Aviators squat to pee" into a radio message bouy. I loaded that bouy into a signal launcher and ejected it where it broadcast that message for about 3 hours.

SVAuspicious · #7 (**permalink**) 10-03-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boasun

I sailed on the Observation Island also.

I did some work on the OI in the mid-80s, mostly the fixes for the cracks around the antenna foundations and some of the cooling upgrades for the instrumentation rooms. I think I did an inclining also but I was doing a lot of IX back then and could be confused.

Boasun · #8 (**permalink**) 10-03-2010

I was on board as Third Mate, when the OI went through the incline tests. That was an interesting evolution.
The only ship in the world with giant golf balls on top of its superstructure.

SVAuspicious · #9 (**permalink**) 10-03-2010

Aircraft carrier IX are even more interesting. Since we know the exact weight and centers of the aircraft we use them as inclining weights, pushing them back and forth across the flight deck. Expensive weights but reduces the coordination and logistics.