USS Coates DE-685

[NTIB]

Spectacular! Gibbs and Cox would be envious.

Thank you sir

 

[NTIB]

USS Coates building progress, Mt. 51, ventilators, railings, open bridge detail fitting out continues

 

[Roger Pellett]

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

 

[NTIB]

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

Thanks Roger, good memory...