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USS Coates DE-685

  • Thread starter Thread starter NTIB
  • Start date Start date
  • Watchers Watchers 12
The nicely detailed 5”-38 gun mount brings back memories. I was commissioned via the NROTC program at the University of Michigan. It was housed in an older building on a hill overlooking the campus. In front of the building was a fully functioning 5”-38 gun mount. I expect that the mechanism that fired the shell was missing! The gun was connected to a functioning fire control computer in the basement of the building so it could be “aimed.” Next to the gun was a loading machine.

The gun was used during the weapons class. We also practiced on the loading machine; mostly chaos. This was in the early 1960’s so there were still ships in the fleet like your USS Coats using this weapon, but sessions were so brief that I really did not see the point except that it was a nice break from classroom instruction.

My wife and I returned later to the campus many times for football games. Both gun and building were gone. hopefully in front of a VFW or American Legion Post, but probably scrapped.

Roger
 
Roger Pellett said:
The nicely detailed 5”-38 gun mount brings back memories. I was commissioned via the NROTC program at the University of Michigan. It was housed in an older building on a hill overlooking the campus. In front of the building was a fully functioning 5”-38 gun mount. I expect that the mechanism that fired the shell was missing! The gun was connected to a functioning fire control computer in the basement of the building so it could be “aimed.” Next to the gun was a loading machine.

The gun was used during the weapons class. We also practiced on the loading machine; mostly chaos. This was in the early 1960’s so there were still ships in the fleet like your USS Coats using this weapon, but sessions were so brief that I really did not see the point except that it was a nice break from classroom instruction.

My wife and I returned later to the campus many times for football games. Both gun and building were gone. hopefully in front of a VFW or American Legion Post, but probably scrapped.

Roger
Click to expand...
Thanks Roger, good memory...
 
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