USS Saufley DD465

| August 18, 2019

This is an official overview of the adequacy available of facilities for the crew of the USS Saufley DD-465, a destroyer converted after World War II to an antisubmarine warfare ship (DDE) and later to EDDE.

 

Film produced by the Naval Photographic Center, NAS Anacostia, Anacostia, DC, 1952.

This film was produced for the purpose of showing Congress that the budget for better (and bigger) facilities for the crew were not just needed, but imperative.

History of USS Saufley, per the information provided by “braintrusts”:

Saufley earned 16 battle stars during World War II, making her one of the most decorated US ships of World War II. US Navy Documentary about living conditions aboard this Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Saufley was re-designated a DDE in 1949 and then an EDDE (experimental) and used for experimenting with new Sonar systems until 1962 when reclassified as a DD, then participating in the movie PT109 as well as the Blockade of Cuba.

Saufley served admirably in the Pacific in WWII, instrumental in the sinking of two Japanese submarines as well as participating in several key operations. The future Commander, Naval Opertions, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt was Executive Officer of the Saufley 1945 – 46.

If you read the comments on Youtube, there are some from ex-crew members who served on ships like Saufley, and one who was a Sonarman aboard Saufley in 1962.

And sailors think they have it rough now?  I think they should take a gander at how things used to be. Maybe they could run this by recruits at Great Mistakes, in case any of them are whining about “accommodations”.

Many, many thanks to ‘braintrusts” for posting this on YouTube.

Category: Historical, Navy

16 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

I watched the video last year and the conversion took up a large part of the ship including the living quarters and mess which were also the crew quarters. Amazing the confined space that they had to live in.

5th/77th FA

No way, no how. If you weren’t already claustrophobic, you’d get that way.

Interesting film. Thanks Ex.

AW1Ed

The Helo Det had forecastle (pronounced foke’ sul) berthing when I was on a LAMPS Det onboard a Knox Class Frigate. That’s the pointy end of a ship for our nautically challenged friends. This was a major player in me shifting to P-3s; the active Sonar array was right underfoot, and the skimmers loved to ping that bastard all night long…

5th/77th FA

P-3 Orion, for our nautical aviation challenged friends, that’s a C-130 Herc with the wings on wrong. (dodges a thrown log book, grabs a cookie from mid-rats and beats feet)

AW1Ed

The wings are on just right. It’s the -130 that has the engines upside down.

Dick.*grin*

Kind of a moot point as the mighty Orion has pretty much flown its last for the US Navy, but the lineage lives on in the Herky-bird.

Which is fine. My my new ASW bird is the P-8A Poseidon. With jet engine goodness, bay-bee.

mr. sharkman

Much respect for all you VP guys-

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66 A Gang Snipe

How about anchor pools when the ship dropped the “hook”. I remember the racket that the anchor chain made coming out of the foke sul’s hawser pipe when the deck ape hit the pelican hook with a sledge hammer releasing the chain.(term was let go starboard or port anchor) I never won an anchor pool when the 1 MC came over with ship anchored nor when we tied up to a pier.

AW1Ed

That was pretty much a black-shoe thing, Jeff. Ships company really didn’t like us Helo Det guys- used up too much fresh water keeping the bird corrosion free (and a daily shower for us LAMPS Det bubbas). Know how I know fresh water wash-downs were a good deal? The Det’s four O’s would join right in with us E’s.
My SAR gear needed a weekly wash, too. With me in it, of course.
We were heros when we brought mail and ice cream over from the flat top, though.

Walter

Life on a tin can everything space sleeping in a compartment with forty other men all farting at the same time that was living

Cameron Kingsley

Now that I have to see.

timactual

It’s not the sight that makes the biggest impression.

Mike W.

Went aboard a Destroyer about 2001 or so out of Pearl Harbor and saw the “accommodations” for crew [ USS O’Kane ]. HELL NO. Once in my new job [federal prison C.O.] after I got out of the Army infantry, I got a navy vet to explain the term ‘hot bunking’ to me too.
NO chance in hell would I join the Navy ! Bless you all who do ! ! ! !

timactual

True, dat. I had the opportunity to see the accommodations on several ship types as a child. That was strong motivation for me to join the Army. The accomodations weren’t any better, just a bunk and a footlocker and walllocker, but at least we had more room and lots of fresh air (Sometimes too much fresh air).

mr. sharkman

Good stuff.

A lot of the young guys’ SNCOs were veterans of real-deal Surface Warfare and anti-Kamikaze picket duty.

Can you imagine the Sea Stories?

Lucky Bastards (the young guys).

NHSparky

Until you’ve hot racked in the Torpedo Room of a 688 for a few months, pfft. Bitches, please.

timactual

Never hot racked, but we did co-rack occasionally, particularly in cold weather. Still, even a hot rack beats no rack at all.