| USS Vreeland Log, March 2005 |
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| Name : Starr King
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1 Mar 2005
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| Rate/Rank : Captain, U.S. Navy |
| Years Onboard : 85-87 |
| e-mail : ssking@nps.edu |
| Alt e-mail : sking77657@aol.com |
Comments : Captain Starr King, U.S. Navy
From 1985 to 1987 I was assigned as Weapons Officer in USS VREELAND
(FF-1068). A KNOX-class, 1200 psi steam powered "McNamara-era" frigate,
VREELAND's primary capability was Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW). The
main-battery included the SPS-26CX sonar, the hydrophone array of which
was enclosed in a huge, bulbous bow. The SQS-35 Variable Depth Sonar
(VDS) was towed by the ship, lowered by a long, faired cable through the
ocean's acoustic strata. An SQR-19 towed array sonar system could be
attached to the VDS "fish" to detect hostile submarines in their patrol
areas. The weapons suite included both rocket-thrown (ASROC) and
over-the-side torpedoes. The capability to reach out was provided by an
SH-2G SeaSprite helicopter: the Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System
(LAMPS). Under specific environmental conditions, the ship's systems could
detect a nuclear submarine in a narrow ring or "annulus" at about 30
nautical miles. VREELAND's systems represented the penultimate evolut!
ion in the class's capability since its Initial Operating Capability
(IOC) in the 60s. We were a killer in the first "convergence zone."
My tour in VREELAND corresponded to what, in retrospect, may have been
the last gasp of Cold War ASW. In the 60s and early 70s, Cold War ASW
cat-and-mouse had been played relatively close to the United States --
boxes a thousand or so miles from the our western and eastern coasts.
Soviet submarine capability lept forward in the 80s, driven largely by
what we later learned was spy Walker's trechery. Soviet Type III and
Type IV nuclear powered submarines became ever quieter, their operations
focused on protecting their ballistic missile submarines operating in
bastions closer to the Soviet homeland. By the early 80s, the
advancement of Soviet submarines and their longer range, submerged launch
ballistic missile capability shifted the focus of the cat-and-mouse game "out
of area."
There was, however, a brief re-emergence of the earlier operating
patterns. The Soviets responded to the Reagan administration's decision to
base nuclear tipped cruise missiles in western Europe. In what was
then termed "analgous response," the United States perceived that the
Soviets shifted their operations back to earlier patterns. The "Deltas"
might be operating in the old "Yankee Boxes," and the threat of a
low-elevation, short-notice ballistic missile attack against United States
cities was again an element of the strategic calculus.
Commander Thomas J. Barry, USN, Commanding Officer, USS VREELAND, took
his responsibilities seriously. He instilled in the wardroom a sense
that war with the Soviets was nearly inevitable. We talked about,
trained to, and spent many days countering the Soviet submarine threat.
VREELAND saw action in OPERATION EL DORADO CANYON during the summer of
1986. Assigned to the USS AMERICA carrier battle group, the ship patroled
in the Gulf of Sidra to protect the three US carriers from a possible
sortie by the Libyan "Foxtrot" diesel-electric submarines. On the
second dog watch on the afternoon prior to the bombing raids, Captain Barry
gave his "clean underware" speech. In an "All Hands" announcement on
the 1MC, he reminded the crew they'd be better equipped to fight
infection following the casualties we might sustain if they all took a shower
and put on clean underware. The Libyan Foxtrots did not sortie. I
recall an early morning watching the flashes of Tripoli on the horiz!
on. Our more-modern sisters, TICONDERGO-class and SPRUANCE-class
ships, conducted missile engagemens against Libyan patrol combatants. But
the events in the Gulf of Sidra were but noise to Captain Barry's life
mission: our enemy was the Soviet Union. VREELAND's mission was hunting
down Soviet submarines.
The summer and fall of 1986, VREELAND spent countless hours assigned to
allied ASW forces in the Mediterranean: making six knots good, quitely
towing the VDS and the attached acoustic array through the Straits of
Sicily. The Straits provided a brief opportunity to detect Soviet
submarines in operating in the Med. They were relatively confined in this
choke point as they tranisted east toward the entrance to the Black Sea
or west to the Straits of Gibralter. Details of our mission
effectiveness were highly classified. Suffice it to say that VREELAND's crew, on
the whole, found time moved slowly during protracted ASW operations.
The Captain expressed his frustrations in recriminations and
remonstrations directed at watchstanders on the sonars' "stacks." The LAMPS
pilots got more grief than they deserved, too.
Captain Barry found an interesting way to inject some excitement and
satisfy his desire to take the fight to the Soviet enemy. The Soviet's
5th Eskadra, its ships assigned to the Med, spent the majority of its
time in several anchorages in international waters. With intelliegence
of two soviet combatants' pressence within 8 steaming hours, Captain
Barry set us out on a hunt. With considerable malice of forethought, he
led us in planning a early morning raid on a Soviet "KASHIN" and "KYNDA"
quietly swinging on the hook in international waters. With all radars
off, observing strict radio silence, we recovered the VDS "fish" and
towed array then headed at best speed toward the anchorage. Our plan was
to catch them sleeping.
As professional mariners, VREELAND's wardroom fully understoond COLREGS
-- the international rules of the road. As U.S. Navy officers at the
height of the Cold War, we were fully trained in the provisions of the
INCSEA agreements. We understoond the letter and spirit of agreements
between the Soviet Navy and allied navies to prevent "Incidents at Sea."
For the most part, the interactions among Soviet and allied ships in
the mid-to-late 80s fell within the proscriptions of the evolving
strategic relationship: "Trust, but Verify." The U.S. Navy minded its
business and the Soviets minded their own. Soviet electronic intelligence
fishing trawlers dogged our moves, but from distances and with courtesies
quite different from the 60s' games of chicken. There is, however, the
notable 1986 exception of USS VREELAND under the command of Commander
Barry (nick-named "Mongo" by his crew).
The plan was a tremendous tactical success. VREELAND approached the
sleeping Soviet combatants from the east, out of the rising sun. We came
at them at flank speed, with both boilers on-the-line. The huge sonar
dome forward was responsible for a tremendous wake as VREELAND steamed
close aboard the Soviet ships, executing full rudder turns as we
circled the anchorage for an hour. We sounded the ship's whistle and played
music at the maximum volume of the ship's topside speakers. The Soviet
sailors tumbled topside, dressing as they came up to take a look at the
mad Yankees, their ships rolling twenty and thirty degrees in the flat
calm of a late summer morning in the Eastern Med. None of the topside
watchstanders will ever forget watching the generally taciturn Captain
Barry laughing joyfully at the top of his lungs. "We'll show the Red
bastards!" he screamed as he repeatedly pulled on the whistle handle,
centerline in the overhead, just forward of the helm and lee helm!
watchstanders.
The Soviets remained cool. Other than an impromptu reveille, there was
no reaction whatever to our antics. To this day, I believe our crew
thought the Captain's actions part of a broader plan for watching the
Bear in the Mediterranean. VREELAND's Department Heads and Executive
Officer knew, however, the Flank Run Through Kithra was but an expression
of one Cold Warrior's ire.
1 March 2005
Naval Postgraduate School; Monterey, California
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| Name : Teri Luke
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9 Mar 2005
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| Rate/Rank : AD2 |
| e-mail : Antares0001@yahoo.com
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Comments : I was stationed at HSL-36 from Oct. 1979 to Mar 1981.
I believe you were upstairs with Steve the other Parachute Rigger. I seem to
remember you, but it has been years. Glad to make contact with a
fellow HSL 36 squad mate. I hope to make contact again, but must get a move
on for now.
Take care, Teri
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| Name : Mike Meyers
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18 Mar 2005
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| Years Onboard : 87-90 |
| Rate/Rank : ET2 |
| e-mail : meyersx4@hotmail.com
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Comments : What a great web site. I found it a few weeks ago and had to
rummage through my house looking for old photos. I have a great picture
of the Vern ( 8x12 official Navy picture ) that I, lets say aqquired. A
few of unreps and sea and anchor detail. I will send them as soon as I
scan them.
I remember when I check aboard, the Vern was in a mini SRA. They showed
me my rack in ST berthing even though I was an ET. That did not go over
well with the St stuck in aft berthing. I couldn't find my way off the
ship, and DUDE came to my rescue. I can still remember his words. "
Dude, don't worry about it, I still can't find my way around ".
When Joe Marshke's freinds came to town, I slept under the stabin Cabin
because if you fell asleep inside, you might get your head shaved. That
was teh last time I stayed ther over night. I am not sure how Andy and
the boys managed to stay alive or out of jail in those days.
Does any body remember Ralph Schindler, ( XO ). It was hump day of the
88 Med. We had an unrep in the morning. The ETs handled the phone and
distance lines on the sig bridge. The CO and XO where on the bridge wing
and the XO looks up and says, Hey Meyers, do you have a skit ready for
the cook out this afternoon. I said no and he told me I had better have
one ready. I asked if there would be any reprisals and the old man (
CMD. Orr ) screams out, no reprisals.
Old Ralph was a real pain during his daily heads and beds inspection.
At that time, the ET's were responsible for the forward head. Other
Div's helped, but we got a daily chewing from Ralph.
Three of us decided to get even. Our Divo let me borrow one of his
uniforms, and I got some aluminun foil from the mess deck to make cluster
with. Mike Kelly put a latex glove on his head and then covered it with
masking tape. MA1 Blanco went with the XO on inspections, took notes,
and carried the XO's flash light. Blanco shaved his head every few days
to keep the smooth look. The last member of the trio was Devin Rankle
and he played himself as one of the poor ETs getting a daily ripping
from Ralph.
Ralph was about 5" 5' and walked on his tip toes. Our skit started with
me walking onto the flight deck on my tip toes, and Kelly right behind
me as close as possible. The crew errupted with laughter and I scanned
quickly for Ralph. He was beat red and I could almost see the steam
coming out of his ears. Good thing for the 3 of us that the old man was
standing right beside him laughing his head off. I progressed by going
through the inspection just as Ralphed had for so many months. It ended
of course with Devin getting chewed out. The next time I had teh head
detail, Ralph walked through with out saying a single word. The last
inspection of the week he stopped and said that this was last free pass and
that the next time I was on Head detail, he would be his old self
again. Trust me, he was.
Then there was a USO trip to Rome to see Jethro Tull in concert. I can
remember bits and pieces. Brad Stallings, do you remember what Ralph
was screaming at us in the back of the bus ?
Bill Pierson, So many hangovers, so little time.
I have tried to email ETC Johnson, Rich Hansen, Mike Kelly and Dale
Zalke. I got email errors on them all. Guys, email when you find this
post.
For those of you know me, Michelle and I have been married for 15 years
and have two kids. We live in the Atlanta area.
Thanks Myron and
Ginger.
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