USS Cochrane - USS Cochrane Documents

Battle of Brandon Bay

2009-04-24T19:21:56-07:00

This used to be available on the web from one of the USS Turner Joy's websites. The page is no longer available but I was able to obtain a copy.

USS Turner Joy (DD-951)

Battle of Brandon Bay
The Last Pitched Surface Gun Battle
12 JAN 73

From: LCDR Jim Chester (USN Retired)
Date: 14 May 1998

The USS Turner Joy (DD-951) was rushed overseas early in December, 1972 to use its new 5"54cal MK 42 Mod 10 gun mounts that could reliably fire 40 rounds per gun per minute. With the 3"50cal automatic twin mount rated at 50 rounds per barrel per minute, the Turner Joy could put out 220 rounds per minute. Quite a display of conventional firepower from a single destroyer. The barrels became so read hot, that the paint peeled off half the barrel and one could see the projectiles going through the now transparent gun barrel. The magazine crews couldn't keep up after three minutes and the rate of fire slowed to around 30 rounds per gun per minute for a total of about 150 rounds per minute; still an awesome display of conventional firepower from a single destroyer.

Originally assigned to the now "hot" gunline just below the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel, the ship was later reassigned to the Surface Striking Force (Commander Task Unit [CTU] 77.1.1) on about 6 January 1973 to participate in offensive operations in North Vietnam dubbed Operation Linebacker II. The ship did maritime interdiction operations of enemy forces going to South Vietnam from North Vietnam by day and at night did three waterborne surface strikes in company with the USS Cochrane (DDG-21) and USS McCaffery (DD-860). This routine along with replenishments and a lot of four boiler operation quickly exceeded the physical and psychological endurance of the crew. However, the crew was pumped up and adrenaline kicked in and everybody was on overdrive. The strike messages came with the latest intelligence on the enemy gun, missile and air installations. Usually we had light to moderate enemy shell fire that we were up against when we attacked inland targets.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE BATTLE OF BRANDON BAY.

The strike message received on the 11th of January was far different in scope in terms of our offensive effort, not to mention the defensive effort from the enemy. Intelligence had us up against at least 40 shore based guns; 130mm (5.1inch) or larger, North Vietnamese patrol boats, MIG-19's and MIG-21's and Surface to Air Missile (SAM) batteries. The battle plan was for TU 77.1.1 to conduct a coordinated strike with B-52's, numerous fighter-bombers and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) to attack Troop Staging areas and Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants (POL) storage sites in the vicinity of Vihn, North Vietnam about 100 nautical miles north of the DMZ. The plans called for a large number of B-52's dropping about 900 tons of bombs, and conducting a coordinated strike with the 3 destroyers attacking from seaward at high speed, followed by an attack from fighter-bombers. After plotting all the data from the strike message and the latest intelligence message concerning defensive installations, platforms and sensors, we became very concerned. We formulated our individual battle plan for inclusion into the coordinated battle plan. The battle plan had the 3 destroyers of TU 77.1.1 starting the seaward surface attack 35,000 yards from the beach at high speed (over 32 knots) on zigzag courses in a loose line abreast (approximately 2,000 yards between ships). Each ship would be on four boiler operation (split plant) with all systems operational by 2000. All engineering systems, gunnery systems, electronic systems and fire control computer systems, including our new Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) and new laser beam for instantaneous range to target that allowed us direct hit capability with the first round of 5 inch at ranges up to and slightly in excess of 10,000 yards, depending upon atmospheric conditions. The afloat Commander was embarked in USS Cochrane, which was the middle ship and the USS McCaffery was to the north. USS Turner Joy was the southern ship. The threat axis went from 240 degrees true clockwise to about 050 degrees true once we were inside Brandon Bay. Not a great proposition. The enemy also had some deadly B240Z J-band fire control radars that tracked the trajectory of our shells and through a fire coordination center, returned deadly accurate counterbattery. In addition, we had to worry about air threat, so the USS Cochrane was to have their Standard I SAM battery ready to go and the USS Turner Joy and USS Cochrane had to be ready to shift to Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) gunnery on short notice, backed by shoulder launched Redeye short range SAM's. If enemy patrol boats were encountered, those would be engaged as we encountered them.

The battle plan also had the 3 ships firing on our final approach leg at about 12,000 yards from the beach, prior to a high speed starboard turn that would put all ships in a loose line of column. We had our Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) system (AN/ULQ-6B) and chaff launching systems (STACK CHAFF) checked out and ready to go. Every GQ station above the main deck, with the exception of damage control parties had flak jackets and steel helmets, plus a number of personnel had side arms should it come down to that. All missile hazards were identified and stored or tied down, all radars and other electronic systems tuned, tweaked and peaked and our civilian techrep (Hal Settle) that we took into battle with us peaked and tweaked the FLIR and the laser. In case a ship was disabled by enemy shell fire, we had our mooring lines faked on deck for us to go alongside, lash the ships together and then get underway, all the while under fire. All the assigned targets had to be fired upon before the request to engage counterbattery would be approved from the Surface Strike Commander in USS Cochrane. The plan was briefed to all concerned and by 1830 or so we were ready to go.

BATTLE OF BRANDON BAY.

The 3 ships formed up in a loose line abreast about 1945, all at four boiler, split plant operation, running lights off and about 2030 we went to General Quarters (GQ), (Battle Stations) and we started our run at 35,000 yards from the beach building up to 32 knots. Soon we were at 32 knots and at about 28,000 yards from the beach we started zigzagging. The zigzag legs were about 3,000 yards long and all preplanned. TU 77.1.1 started taking counterbattery at about 28,000 yards from the beach with the USS Cochrane and USS McCaffery taking the brunt of it. I was plotting the navigational information and computing the indirect fire control data for relay to the Firecontrolmen manning the MK68 fire control computer. At 32-33 knots there is no room for mistakes. You get it right the first time or not at all.

At 22,000 to 24,000 yards the radar picture cleared sufficiently for the Combat Information Center (CIC) team to get accurate fixes and to start the indirect fire control solution. Ranges came down pretty fast. The information flow was fast and furious, but pretty smooth. Virtually everyone was operating at optimum performance, despite lack of sleep. The bridge forgot to pull in the after lookout and he was tucked down in the MK 6 Fanfare torpedo decoy aluminum deck shield with MT 53 going off right over his head with numerous enemy shells splashing close aboard and exploding in air bursts around him. He survived the battle, but I don't think his hearing was ever the same.

About 18,000 to 20,000 yards from the beach, we took a airburst very close aboard to the starboard CIC watertight door and we were all stunned. Close call! I immediately went back to work plotting the mission and checking my data. OS2 Bob Dunham was on the navigational radar scope and OS2 Steve Champeau ran the air picture. He kept a very close eye out for MIG's and did coordination with friendly aircraft in the vicinity, if needed. OS3 Benoit manned the surface radar scope, looking for enemy patrol boats. LCDR "Wild" Bill Hill, our Executive Officer (XO) was the Evaluator (now called the Tactical Action Officer [TAO]) and made the overall battle decisions in CIC on a command by negation basis. The Commanding Officer (CDR Bob Pidgeon), the Weapons Officer (LCDR Mike Austin) were on the bridge and I believe the Engineering Officer (LT Holland) was the Officer of the Deck (OOD).

A few minutes after the close aboard airburst, I heard about 15 explosions close aboard in the forward hemisphere of the ship. All of a sudden my mind drew a blank and heard ENS Chuck Hall yell at me to get back to work. I know it was only two or three seconds before I got back to work, but those were the longest seconds of my life. It has never left my mind. At about 14,000 yards from the beach, we did the final check on the indirect fire control solution and found that we were right on our primary target.

At 12,000 yards from the beach, we turned to our final approach (zigzag) leg before paralleling the beach and opened fire with MT 51 at the primary target. After firing about 15 to 20 rounds, MT 51 had a material casualty and the Captain and the Weapons Officer sent the great GMGCM Blaney forward outside the skin of the ship where shrapnel was now flying all over the place to fix the gun mount. In a very short amount of time he fixed MT 51 and we resumed firing. To us in CIC after running 7 miles under fire, it seemed like an eternity before we resumed fire. We finished firing the primary target just as we were getting ready to do a high speed turn to starboard to form a loose line of column. The high speed turn to starboard wound up in a loose line of column. By the way, I don't think anybody had done greater than 30 knots divisional tactics in battle since WWII.

We used about 15-20 degrees of rudder and heeled quite a bit. As soon as we steadied, we checked the indirect fire control solution once more, found that we were on target and then resumed fire, this time on our secondary target. By this time we were under extremely heavy fire at point blank ranges from enemy shore batteries (9,500-10,000 yards) from the beach. The bridge reported being smothered with shell splashes and often blinded by the bright orange air bursts of enemy Able Able Common (AAC) airbursts. I heard QM3 Ginsburg (now CWO4 Ginsburg, US Coast Guard) say over the sound powered phones, "Oooui, Eeee, Aaah, Wow Man" then he announced the ship just took about 15 airbursts over the forward part of the ship all at once. Everyone topside could hear the woosh of flying shrapnel. At this point none of us realistically thought we would see the morning dawn.......including me. As my Dad told me there are NO atheists in combat. He was so right!!! I remember OSSA Larry Bota, an atheist yell out about this point "God get me out of this". After the battle we reminded him of what he said. He was shocked and probably changed forever.

After checking our fire control solution for the third target, we started firing at our third preplanned target about 9,600-9,800 yards from the beach. Shortly after firing, the fire control director slewed around the horizon and from CIC we saw 40+ enemy guns firing at us from the remote monitor for the FLIR in CIC. As I looked at all the enemy guns firing at us, I counted as many guns as I could. I recall counting 44 enemy guns probably 130mm (5.1") or larger. The recent intelligence, less than 48 hours old was right on the money. About this time we took another pattern of shells close aboard and I heard the Electronic Warfare (EW) Specialists yell out "B240Z...J-band". After a second pattern of shells landed close aboard, the XO fired off Stack Chaff pneumatically from the remote controls in CIC. The enemy B240Z trajectory adjusting radar locked on to the chaff cloud and the highly accurate counterbattery fell off. If we had not been going 32+ knots, we would of been hit for sure. The chaff cloud showed up on the AN/SPS-10 radar screen with enemy counterbattery shells impacting all around it.

By this time all ships had fired their tactical targets, all of a sudden we thought we had sustained a direct hit. The ship shook violently. After checking all key control stations, we discovered we had not sustained a direct enemy hit, but it was the enormous blast overpressure shock wave of the B-52's hitting with some 900 tons of bombs. They had dropped all at once and as near as I can remember, we were 11,000 to 12,000 yards from the drop area. The blast overpressure shook us like we were a kid's rattle being shaken violently. About this time, the Surface Strike Commander ordered the high speed retirement of the USS Cochrane and USS McCaffery. We were ordered to stay behind with our vastly superior conventional firepower and cover their retirement. This was turning into a classic pitched W.W.II style surface gunnery battle for us. Over the next 10-12 minutes (probably longer), we engaged numerous counterbattery sites, often shifting to direct fire to take advantage of the laser beam for instantaneous range of fire control solution(s). We positively knocked out several enemy shore batteries to the North and to the West. We shifted back to indirect fire control and took out three or four more counterbattery sites. I saw many secondary explosions at the enemy counterbattery sites from nearby ammo cooking off.

Somewhere between the direct fire and the indirect fire, the ship did a high speed 180 degree turn to parallel the beach (Vihn, NVN) going South. After we steadied up, I looked at the ship's pit log (speed indicator) and we were doing 33 knots. Incredible! About this time I heard the Captain order the "TJ" the "hell out of there". I had heard him shouting this over the 21MC and other key command and control internal circuits. We did about a 90 degree high speed port turn to the East. Shortly after steadying up, again counterbattery became very accurate and was once again very heavy. Again the EW's announced "B240Z...J-band" radar and the TJ commenced violent evasive maneuvers to avoid counterbattery. After another pattern of enemy shells landed very close aboard, the XO fired another slug of Stack Chaff and again the enemy counterbattery fell off as the B240Z radar acquired the chaff cloud (erroneous target).

During this time, upon commencement of our retirement, we were engaging enemy counterbattery sites with our after gun mounts (MT 52 and MT 53). Our return fire seemed uncharacteristically accurate for a destroyer retiring on violently evasive zigzag courses in excess of 30 knots. Somewhere during this time frame, I believe we took a hit very close aboard, which I believe put a hole or a leak into a freshwater tank, but I am not 100 percent sure. We later lost a lot of freshwater due to a large leak or hole, so I am reasonably sure this was the cause.

During our high speed retirement, the throttleman nearly dragged the boilers and the generators off the line while firing the after mounts and doing the violent evasive zigzag maneuvers. The customary whine of the engineering plant started to wane as the load was beginning to be lost. I distinctly heard the Captain yell down over the 21MC to Main Control just two words..."NOT NOW". Right after that you could hear the whine of the turbines and generator's come back to their customary pitch. Believe me when I say that if we had dropped the load that night, we surely would have been sunk by enemy counterbattery being directed by those damn B240Z radars.

At about 28,000 yards from the beach, the heavy volume of enemy counterbattery finally fell off us and in another minute it was gone. At about 35,000 yards from the beach we secured from GQ (Battle Stations). I remember that Chuck Hall and I were so relieved to be alive, that we shook hands vigorously with huge smiles on our faces. Then I did the same thing all over again with the XO, Bob Dunham and Steve Champeau. I then lit up a well deserved cigarette. To this day it seems miraculous that we survived the amount of enemy counterbattery that was brought to bear on our ship. We all lived through this, worked as a well trained and veteran combat team and we all survived. By the grace of God we were very lucky.

This was the last fully engaged, totally pitched surface gunnery battle in U.S. Navy history. We had been outgunned 5 to 1 in sheer numbers of gun barrels. We had fought the entire action at speeds over 30 knots, had inflicted maximum damage on the enemy and emerged nearly unscathed. The next morning I was out on the weather decks, looked up and saw part of the AN/SPS-29 radar "bedspring antenna" shot away. However, the 29 radar performed great despite damage to the antenna and the waveguides from enemy shell fire. There was also a lot of shrapnel all over the weather decks. Somewhere around 2130 we started preparing for the night's next two surface strikes, but none like the Battle of Brandon Bay. Every surviving crewmember in those ships, especially the USS Turner Joy remembers the battle of Brandon Bay. It is forever etched in my memory.

Association Bylaws

2008-05-17T15:50:59-07:00

Bylaws and Constitution - At the annual meeting, 25 JUN 2001, the following Bylaws and Constitution were approved by the unanimous vote of all those members in attendance. The Bylaws and Constitution became effective that date and shall govern the operation of the Association henceforth.

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USS COCHRANE ASSOCIATION

DDG 21
Bylaws and Constitution

Article I Name

The name of the Association is the USS COCHRANE ASSOCIATION.

Article II Status

The Association is a nonprofit, volunteer membership, organization.

Article III Purpose

The purpose of the Association is to maintain and promote a strong cohesive organization comprised of shipmates who have served on board USS COCHRANE DDG 21 and shipmates who may serve on board any future vessel named USS COCHRANE. The goal is to foster the spirit of goodwill among its members and afford opportunities for communication, enjoyment, companionship, recreation and involvement, to perpetuate the comradeship developed among men and women who have served in the United States Navy and to preserve the ships' prominent place in history.

Other purposes include serving as the focal point for preservation of U.S. Naval ships and artifacts, especially those relating to the same class of Warship as the USS Cochrane DDG 21 and any future Naval ships holding the same name. The association shall be dedicated to the idea that these ships should be open to the public to remind them of the dedication of those who serve!

Article IV Membership

The Association was established in 2001 by shipmates who had served on DDG 21. All personnel, officer and enlisted, who have served on board USS COCHRANE DDG 21 and any persons serving aboard any future vessel named USS COCHRANE are eligible for membership as Regular Members. Wives, husbands, widows and family members of persons eligible for regular membership are welcome and eligible for membership as Associate Members.

Members wishing to avail themselves of a one-time membership payment may become Life Members. The fee for a Life Membership as well as all fees for all membership shall be set by a vote of the membership at the Annual Meeting.

Membership in the Association requires that annual dues, in an amount as may be prescribed by the vote of the Membership, be paid by the Annual Meeting. Those joining as Associate Members will be required to pay dues in the amount of one half the regular dues. Significant others are excepted and will be enrolled if so desired at no cost.

Money collected for dues shall be used for the purposes of furthering the work of the Association, Publishing and mailing a newsletter, supporting the web site presence on the Internet and such other Association business as may be determined by the general membership and /or the Executive Committee.

Article V Newsletter

An Association newsletter, the name of which shall be chosen by a vote of the general membership at the annual meeting, will be published once each quarter and at such additional times as the Executive Committee may deem appropriate. Distribution shall be made to all Regular Members, widows of deceased members, and such others, as the Executive Committee may deem appropriate. Distribution will be suspended to any Regular Member or Associate Member if their annual dues have not been paid by the annual meeting. The preferred method of distribution shall be by posting on the USS COCHRANE web site, however those members wishing to have a paper copy may do so by notifying the editor of the newsletter.

Article VI Reunion and Annual Meeting

A reunion of the Association Membership shall be held each year. The location of the reunion shall be determined two years in advance by majority vote of the Regular Members in attendance at the annual meeting. Associate members, Family members and friends are invited to attend the annual reunion.

An annual business meeting of the Association Regular Members shall be held in conjunction with the annual reunion. The purpose of this meeting is to act on such matters as may be presented and to elect officers for the following year. The conduct of the annual meeting shall be in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order. Except as specified elsewhere in these articles, the majority vote of those Regular Members in attendance shall determine passage of the matter under consideration. The order of business in the annual meeting shall be as follows:

Welcome and acknowledgement of members
Remembrance of deceased shipmate
Reading of minutes
President's Report
Treasurer's Report
Reading of Correspondence
Old Business
New Business
Election of Officers
Installation of Officers
Adjournment

Article VII Elected Officers and Executive Committee

The elected officers of the Association are President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and one non-voting Associate Member elected by the Associate Membership. This last position along with the Editor and Web Master shall serve in an advisory position to the Executive Committee. The Editor or Web Master, if a Regular or Life Member, may also hold another office. The officers are all volunteers and receive no pay. The term of office for elected officers with the exception of the Treasurer shall be until the next annual meeting. The Treasurer shall be sworn in at the Annual Meeting but shall not take office until The 1^st of July of the year in which elected. The Treasurer shall serve until June 30^th of the following year. There are no limitations as to the number of years that any individual may hold office.

The Executive Committee of the Association shall be comprised of the elected officers and the three Advisory members. The Executive Committee shall act for the general membership between the annual meetings. In the conduct of said business, virtual meetings consisting of mail, telephone and Email or combinations thereof will suffice in place of physical attendance at one location. Should one individual hold multiple offices, his influence in Executive Committee deliberations shall be as a single individual.

Article VIII Duties of Officers

The President shall:

Act as Chief Administrative Officer of the Association.
Chair the annual business meeting.
Chair Executive Committee meetings.
Appoint, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee: the Reunion Chairman, replacements for elected officers if required, non-elected officers, and such committees/chairs as appropriate.

The Vice President shall:

In the absence of the President, chair the annual business meeting.
Encourage participation of DDG 21 personnel and ensure publication of information/articles of special interest to DDG 21 personnel.
In the event of that the President is unable to permanently continue his duties, automatically assume the office of President.

The Treasurer shall:

Maintain records of all financial transactions and full accountability of the Association's funds. The Treasurer shall be bonded by the Association commensurate with the anticipated accountability. Such bonding shall be at the Expense of the Association.
Receive dues and send membership cards in acknowledgment of dues received.
Pay/reimburse those legitimate costs to the Association upon receipt of billings.
Maintain and distribute, as appropriate, listings of members who have paid dues.
At the Annual meeting, report those members who have failed to pay their annual dues.
Maintain and distribute, as appropriate, listings of Life Members.
Submit a copy of the Association's bank: statement and status of funds to the President each month.
Prepare Financial Report to be presented at Annual Meeting showing actual money on hand and anticipated reunion costs. Submit for President's approval prior to presentation.
Bring/send financial records to reunion for open inspection by membership at the annual meeting. Additionally, the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint two members attending the reunion, one from each ship, to audit the financial records and report their findings to the membership at the business meeting.
Maintain accountability of Association funds through 30 June following the reunion and transfer fund accountability to the new Treasurer on that date.
Prepare Annual Financial Report as of 30 June and submit it for President's approval and publication in the July issue of the Association newsletter.

The Secretary shall:

Keep a record of all proceedings of all meetings.
Coordinate with the President to insure an accurate record of Executive Committee virtual meeting procedures.
Initiate and answer correspondence as directed.
Maintain meeting attendance records.

The Editor of the Association newsletter shall:

Be appointed by the Executive Committee
Collect and edit material, print and distribute the Association newsletter on a schedule of one issue each quarter and such additional times, as the Executive Committee shall deem appropriate.
Send a letter of welcome and copy of the Association newsletter to potential members.
The Editor, in conjunction with the Web Master, shall be in charge of the collection of information of a historical nature of the USS Cochrane and shall help the Web Master disseminate this information to the members and to the public.

The Webmaster of the USS Cochrane Website Shall:

Be permanently the duty of John Freeman unless otherwise assigned by him, with the approval of the Board.
Maintain a listing of publications and Internet web sites that disseminate ship associations/reunion schedule information and ensure the Association's listed data is current
Be listed in various publications and Internet web sites and act as initial point of contact for potential members.
Sit as an ex-officio member and adviser of the board unless elected to another board position.
Assist any future web site belonging to any future ship named USS Cochrane.
In conjunction with the editor of the newsletter, collect and disseminate information of a historical nature concerning the USS Cochrane.

Article VIII Removal of an Elected Officer

If an Elected officer fails to properly fulfill the requirements and obligations of his office or if he were charged with dishonest conduct, that situation shall be brought before the Executive Committee for investigation. The Executive Committee, through the President, shall notify the accused officer and afford him the opportunity to offer testimony/evidence to disprove the allegations. Should the testimony/evidence or subsequent performance not support continuance in office, the President, with concurrence of the remaining members of the Executive Committee, shall remove that officer from office. The President, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a replacement to serve the remaining portion of his term. If the President is the object of the allegations, the Vice President shall chair the Executive Committee procedures.

Article IX Reunion Chairman

The Reunion Chairman shall be appointed by the President with the concurrence of the Executive Committee. The Reunion Chairman shall be appointed shortly after the location of the reunion is selected by the membership. The period of his responsibility shall run from his appointment until all accounts are settled after the reunion. He shall, with the concurrence of the President, evaluate and select the hotel facilities, arrange for the banquet and ceremonies, setup and stock the hospitality suite, prepare the reunion yearbook, arrange for the display of Association artifacts, and arrange optional tours and activities.

Article X Effective Date

These Articles shall be presented for adoption at the annual meeting 25 JUN 2001. If approved by two thirds or more of the Regular Members in attendance, they will become effective on that date. That fact and the vote count will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

Article XI Changes and Amendments

Once approved in accordance with Article X, these Articles of Bylaws and Constitution may be changed or amended at any subsequent annual meeting, if such change or amendment is approved by two thirds or more of the Regular Members in attendance. All proposed changes or amendments and reasons therefore shall be submitted to the Executive Committee in January and will be published in the issue of the association newsletter immediately before the reunion

NOTE: The Bylaws and Constitution were unanimously approved by the members in attendance at the annual meeting and became effective that date.

Newsletter V1 N1

2008-05-17T15:55:47-07:00

PLAN OF THE QUARTER
USS COCHRANE DDG-21
(Association)
C/O Commanding Officer
USS Cochrane DDG-21
FPO San Francisco, CA 96662

“VIRTUTE ET LABORE”

http://www.usscochrane.com

Vol. I No.1

1 NOV 2001

USS Cochrane DDG-21 (Circa:1980)

COMMANDING OFFICER

This is a letter written to me by my friend Dan Wasson

I could not have expressed how I feel any better.

Hit the buildings, Missed America . . . .

An open letter to a terrorist:

Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the Pentagon, but you missed America. You used helpless American bodies, to take out other American bodies, but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America.

Why? Because of something you guys will never understand. America isn't about a building or two, not about financial centers, not about military centers, America isn't about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of bodies. America is about an IDEA. An idea, that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to, live for the most part, like you envisioned living, and pursue Happiness. (No guarantees that you'll reach it, but you can sure try!)

Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany: "If you can not see my point, then feel my pain." This concept is alien to Americans. We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But you're free to have one. We don't have to listen to your speech. But you're free to say one. Don't know where you got the strange idea that everyone has to agree with you. We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter of pride.. We're a collection of guys that don't agree, called States. We united our individual states to protect ourselves from tyranny in the world. Another idea, we made up on the spot. You CAN make it up as you go, when it's your country. If you're free enough.

Yeah, we're fat, sloppy, easy-going goofs most of the time. That's an unfortunate image to project to the world, but it comes of feeling free and easy about the world you live in. It's unfortunate too, because people start to forget that when you attack Americans, they tend to fight like a cornered badger. The first we knew of the War of 1812, was when England burned Washington D.C. to the ground. Didn't turn out like England thought it was going to, and it's not going to turn out like you think, either. Sorry, but you're not the first bully on our shores, just the most recent.

No Marquis of Queensbury rules for Americans, either. We were the FIRST and so far, only country in the world to use nuclear weapons in anger. Horrific idea, nowadays? News for you bucko, it was back then too, but we used it anyway. Only had two of them in the whole world and we used 'em both. Grandpa Jones worked on the Manhattan Project. Told me once, that right up until they threw the switch, the physicists were still arguing over whether the Uranium alone would fission, or whether it would start a fission chain reaction that would eat everything. But they threw the switch anyway, because we had a War to win. Does that tell you something about American Resolve?

So who just declared War on us? It would be nice to point to some real estate, like the good old days. Unfortunately, we're probably at war with random camps, in far-flung places. Who think they're safe. Just like the Barbary Pirates did, IIRC. Better start sleeping with one eye open.

There's a spirit that tends to take over people who come to this country, looking for opportunity, looking for liberty, looking for freedom. Even if they misuse it. The Marielistas that Castro emptied out of his prisons, were overjoyed to find out how much freedom there was. First thing they did when they hit our shores, was run out and buy guns. The ones that didn't end up dead, ended up in prisons. It was a big PITA then (especially in south Florida), but you're only the newest PITA, not the first.

You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in America, America lives in US! American Spirit is what it's called. And killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it. Most of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit. Until we're crossed in a cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of Spirit.

Wait until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time.

Sleep tight, if you can. We're coming.

The only thing that I have to add is that all of us need to remember the lessons of WWII and how we treated our American/Japanese citizens. This too is a lesson that we as a country do not need to re-learn!Let us give all of the support we can to our armed forces and especially to those shipmates who are on active duty or may be called up through the reserves. Our hearts and minds go with them and we will pray for their safety.

Ken Keeler

QM2

SHIPS OFFICERS

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our new Association Officers, and the 35 shipmates that elected them.

President---Ken Keeler
Vice Pres---Horace Premeaux
Treasurer---Don Reed
Secretary---Richard Cooper
Webmaster---John Freeman
Editor POQ---Laurence Wilson

Complete Election results can be seen here:
http://www.pollcat.com/report/L42A9EAE00D0B71D88AF

OPERATIONS

Minutes - Board meeting #1
USS Cochrane Association
June 25, 2001

Meeting was called to order by President Ken Keeler at 8:50 pm on Monday, June 25, 2001. Those present after some difficulty connecting with ICQ were John Freeman- coordinator of website, Horace Premeaux- Vice President, Don Reed- Treasurer, and Richard Cooper- Secretary.

Due to some difficulty connecting all board members to ICQ, John volunteered to look into the use of Yahoo Messenger in the future. He will report back to the board on his findings.

1. Selection of chairmanships

It was discussed and recommended by the members of the board that the chairmen of each of the committees be part of board meetings if possible, and that they work with one of the board members. It was also decided that they will report to the general membership.

a. Historian/Newsletter editor - Larry Wilson was nominated and elected by the board.

b. Membership - Jim Leathers was nominated and elected by the board.

c. 2002 Reunion committee - Steve Comacho was nominated and elected by the board. It was also decided that the 2002 reunion will be held in
Bremerton, Washington. The date will be decided by the committee. It was further suggested that the reunions be rotated to different parts of the country from year to year, and that the 2003 reunion be held on the East coast.

d. Legal - Sal Cedillo was nominated and elected by the board.

2. Adoption of dues for the USS Cochrane Association

Dues were determined to be set at $20.00/yr. This was an amount that is in line with other ship associations.

There are also plans for ship’s store in the future which will sell Cochrane items.

3. Incorporation

Don Reed reported that banks he spoke to told him that in order for the association to have an account, we must first take care of tax forms and non-profit forms in order to incorporate. It was decided that we
would incorporate in the state of Texas, due to the fact that Sal Cedillo, our legal beagle, live in that
state and would have access to legal consult regarding our by-laws, and recommending any modifications as required by law for incorporation. It was also felt by the board that the endorsement cards should be able to be sent to the board members for signatures rather than requiring them to travel to Texas.

4. By-laws

The by-laws of the USS Cochrane Association were voted on, and accepted unanimously by the board.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:58 EST by President Keeler. Another meeting will be called at 9:00 pm on Thursday, June 27th on ICQ.

Respectfully Submitted,
Richard Cooper HM3 65-67
Secretary

DISBURSING

Once the association starts to collect dues, and formalize the membership. The treasurer will post ships financial status here.

WEAPONS

One of the systems installed in Cochrane in the early 70s that set her apart from her sisters was the Junior Participating Naval Tactical Data System (JPTDS). It was not really a weapons system so much as a weapons integration system. It replaced the Cochranes original WDS MK 11 (Weapons Direction System).

JPTDS was a destroyer version of NTDS built around a single UYK-7 computer. Originally planned for all DDG-2 and DDG-31 class ships, but only four DDG-2 class received it (DDGs 9,12,15 and 21).

As installed in DDG-21 it consisted of 8 UYA-4 consoles: 3 for detection and tracking, 1 for surface/subsurface, 2 for display/decision, and 2 for weapons control.

JPTDS and its big brother (Naval Tactical Data System) used a High frequency (HF) data link that allowed widely dispersed ships to share tactical data.

The system allowed Cochrane to share the information gathered by its radars and sonars with other NTDS equipped ships, automatically. It also allowed Cochrane to see what the other ships in the battle group could see with their sensors.

The Adams-class modernization (including NTDS) was to have continued in 1980 starting with DDG-3. Rising costs led to NTDS being installed only in 3 more ships (DDGs 19,20, and 22). They received the full NTDS with larger computers. In DDGs 19,20, and 22 the DESRON Commanders suite was taken over by the computers needed for the full blown NTDS.

ENGINEERING

The USS Cochrane was built to SCB (Ships Characteristics Board) Design 155. Based originally on the Forrest Sherman (DD 931) class SCB 85.

It was originally hoped that the DDG-2 class would duplicate the Forrest Sherman class hull ( but these plans where optimistic, although the 1200lb steam power plant of the earlier SCB 85 was retained, the hull overall had to be stretched, with improved access to the boilers with a 2 foot lengthening of the boiler rooms and a 19 foot stretch overall. This length increase resulted in a DDG-2 class design of 436 5/8’ oa x 47’ vice the DD931 hulls 418’oa x45’, and was justified on the basis of a need to maintain speed (which was permitted to fall to a design speed of 32.5 knots) and also in view of the need to accommodate the new SQS-23 Sonar, a larger CIC, and ASROC.

Eighteen inches of beam where added to preserve stability, given that DDG-2 class has an increase in 600 tons displacement over DD931. Hull depth (27 ¼’) was actually reduced to improve center of gravity.

SWO / ESWS

COCHRANEINST 1421.1A dated 3 April 1980.

Enclosure (1) ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS

Requirements for ESWS Qualification:

Be a Petty Officer.
Have 24 months cumulative sea duty.
Have maintained performance marks of 3.4 or higher.
Demonstrate effective leadership and supervisory ability.
Complete the following PQS:
1. Damage Control
2. DC PO
3. 3M System (To supervisory level)
4. ESWS (NAVEDTRA 43390)
Be qualified for those watch stations, both in port and underway, to which personnel of the rating and pay grade are normally assigned.
Be recommended for ESWS by chain of command.
Be recommended for ESWS by the ESWS board.
Be approved for ESWS designation by the Commanding Officer.

DDG MEMORIES

DDG Memories was originally found on the USS Buchanan DDG-14 web page and expanded to include favorites from the crew of USS Cochrane DDG-21:

Some DDG Memories:

Keeping me warm in cold climates
Warmer then I wanted in others
Ports of call that I still can see
Passageways in the dark
Condition Zebra
Firing exercises
Sitting on the fantail having a smoke after a meal
Sunsets I wanted to shared with those I love
Quarters in the morning
Eggs to order (Scrambled Everything)
The POD
Shellbacks and pollywogs
Coffee so strong you could chew it
Work parties?
Steel Beach Picnic
Smokers (Boxing)
Shower Hours
Underway replenishments
What do you mean, "we don't have a spare"
GQ
-Air-conditioned? Compartments
Sun bathing on the 01 level by MT 52
Star Gazing on the 01 level by MT 52
Naval Gunfire Support
Director One
Pearl Harbor
Hong Kong
Yokosuka
Guam
Singapore
Inter Director Designation
After Steering Watch
Security Alert, Security Alert
Going to P.I. (Subic Bay)
Ship's store is now open
Port and Starboard Watches / Condition III Steaming
Sweepers, Sweepers Man Your Brooms
Hurricane Eva
Cigars After 24 hours on the gun line
Do not rotate or radiate any electronic equipment while men are
Working aloft onboard the USS Cochrane!
Haze Gray and Underway!
Turn Two!
Bravo Zulu
Cochrane, Arriving!

CURRENT EVENTS

The following is an editorial written in the Miami Herald. It was written on the day of the attack on the World Trade center. I re-publish it below for I think it gives words to what we of the Cochrane (and all people) are feeling.

We'll go forward from this moment

It's my job to have something to say.

They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering.

You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard. What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn? Whatever it was, please know that you failed. Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned your cause. Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve. Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together.

Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae -- a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though -- peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.

Some people -- you, perhaps -- think that any or all of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.

In pain

Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel. Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably, the history of the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before.

But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice.

I tell you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future.

In the days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably determined.

The steel in us

You see, the steel in us is not always readily apparent. That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well. On this day, the family's bickering is put on hold. As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all that we cherish.

So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us? It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're capable of. You don't know what you just started. But you're about to learn.

LEONARD PITTS JR – Miami Herald

ERRATA

This is the Plan of The Quarter for the USS Cochrane DDG-21 (Association). It may be modified as so deemed by the officers of the association

It is classified confidential and shall not be removed from the ship.

EDITOR: Laurence Wilson

Meritorius Unit Commendation

2008-05-17T15:58:20-07:00

Under Fire

2008-05-17T15:59:52-07:00

Ships Specs

2008-05-17T17:54:35-07:00

USS COCHRANE DDG-21

SPECIFICATIONS

THE USS COCHRANE IS THE 20th SHIP IN THE CHARLES F. ADAMS CLASS AND THE FIRST SHIP TO BEAR THE NAME SAKE. THE USS COCHRANE WAS NAMED AFTER VADM. EDWARD LULL COCHRANE

COMPLIMENT:

22 OFFICERS

21 CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS

298 ENLISTED

GENERAL:

LENGTH: 440 FT. 3 IN.
Longest Adams Class Built.

BEAM: 44 FT. 11.5 IN.

DRAFT: 22 FT.

4,642 TONS FULL LOAD DISPLACEMENT

3,527 TONS LIGHT LOAD DISPLACEMENT

HULL MATERIAL: STEEL HULL, ALUMINUM SUPERSTRUCTURE

BUILT BY: PUGET SOUND BRIDGE AND DRYDOCK CO.

KEEL LAID: 31 JULY 1961

LAUNCHED: 18 JULY 1962

COMMISSIONED: 21 MARCH 1964

COMMISSIONING CO. CDR. F.W. BENSON JR.

SHIPS FATE:

DECOMMISSIONED: 1 OCT. 1990

STRICKEN: 20 NOV. 1992

DISPOSITION: SOLD TO INTERNATIONAL SHIP BREAKING.

TOWED FROM NAVAL INACTIVE SHIP MAINTENANCE FACILITY (NISMF), PEARL HARBOR, HI. TO INTERNATIONAL SHIP BREAKING'S FACILITY IN BROWNSVILLE TEXAS.

ARRIVED IN BROWNSVILLE 26 MAR. 2001 FOR DISMANTLING

ENGINEERING:

BOILERS: 4EA BABCOCK & WILCOX 1200 PSI SUPERHEATED STEAM MODIFIED D TYPE

MAIN ENGINES: 2 SETS GENERAL ELECTRIC HP, IP, LP STEAM TURBINES WITH DOUBLE HERRING BONE ARTICULATED REDUCTION GEARS, 35,000 SHAFT HORSE POWER EACH.

MAX SPEED: 30 KNOTS (I SAW 37 ON A FULL POWER RUN)
WE WERE THE FASTEST ON THE WEST COAST !

SCREWS 2EA 13'-6" DIAMETER 4 BLADED

GENERATORS: 4 STEAM DRIVEN 750KW EA.

EVAPORATORS: 2EA 2 STAGE FLASH TYPE 12000 GALLON PER DAY

FUEL CAPACITY: 736 TONS

ARMAMENT:

A SINGLE MK. 13 TARTAR LAUNCHER AFT WITH A CAPACITY OF 40 MISSILES COMBINATION OF BOTH SM-1 MR SAM'S PLUS ONE TRAINING ROUND CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING 6 MISSILES PER MINUTE

TWO MK. 42 5in./54 GUN MOUNTS 40 ROUNDS PER MINUTE, 13 NAUTICAL MILES MAX.

SINGLE MK. 16 (8) CELL ASROC LAUNCHER AMIDSHIPS WITH TRAINABLE MK.44 & 46 ASW TORPEDOES, ROCKET ASSISTED

TWIN MK. 32 TRIPLE TORPEDO TUBES WITH TRAINABLE MK.44 & 46 TORPEDOES

SURVEILLANCE:

WLR 1 ESM LATER UPGRADED TO AN/SLQ 32(V2) with SRBOC

SPS 10 C/D SURFACE SEARCH RADAR, G/H BANDS 65 NM. MAX

SPS 40 (2D) AIR SEARCH RADAR, UHF 150 NM. MAX

SPS 39 (3D) AIR SEARCH RADAR, E/F BANDS 150 NM. MAX

TWO SPG 51 FIRE CONTROL RADAR'S

AN/SPG53F GUN SYSTEM RADAR. RANGE 120,000 YARDS / 60 NM

MKk 114 ANTISUBMARINE FIRE CONTROL

GE/HUGHES SQS 23 BOW MOUNTED SONAR UPGRADED TO SQQ 23 (PAIR)
AMIDSHIPS SONAR DOME ADDED 1981.

JUNIOR PARTICIPATING NAVAL TACTICAL DATA SYSTEMS (JPTDS)