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Post by warrior1972 on Jul 31, 2014 3:55:16 GMT -8
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Post by Sailor on Jul 31, 2014 17:25:22 GMT -8
RIMPAC has always been a big deal. When the 1974 exercise took place, IIRC we had Japanese, S Korean, and Aussie warships in Pearl for the weekend after the end of the exercise. 4 carriers ( Enterprise, Kitty Hawk, Constellation and the Aussie Melbourne) plus all of their escorting cruisers (including gun cruisers,) destroyers and subs. I heard it made for an interesting weekend for the Honolulu cops and shore patrol  I found out after a later exercise you never, ever try to outdrink an Australian sailor, you'll lose.  In the 1976 exercise the Aussie Melbourne was part of OPFOR and won an engagement with the mighty Enterprise. Somehow she and her airgroup caught Enterprise with her planes on deck. Big "E"s battle group claimed the Aussies cheated but the referees were left rolling on deck laughing their asses off. And in 1978 USS Midway drew the Soviets into the game, though this took place after RIMPAC ended and the Aussie and Japanese fleets went home. Japan based Midway was playing OPFOR against Enterprise and Constellation in the North Pacific. Midway was operating between the Kamchatka Penninsula and the other 2 carriers. The Soviets initially were curious but tended to focus their attention on the bigger carriers (of course.) After several hours, while the Soviet planes were checking on the other ships Midway and her escorts slipped under a weather front ... and stayed there with nearly all electronic emissions (radar and such) shut down. It didn't take the Sovs long to realize they were missing something, a nuclear armed carrier. I was still in Hawaii and read some of the reports of the Soviet reaction. The Soviet fleet air arm went nuts trying to find Midway. The Midway group commander kept the group under the weather for more than 12 hours until it moved on and no longer covered the carrier. The Soviets showed their displeasure in their typical way, they buzzed the ship repeatly. I wonder what the fleet practiced doing this time since IIRC the PLAN was invited to play? Oh, and the PRC had an intelligence ship off Oahu to boot. |
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Post by warrior1972 on Aug 1, 2014 5:31:49 GMT -8
Old Sailor,
Besides the camraderie, the thing I miss the most since I've retired from the military is knowing what the hell was going on, instead of reading the news like mere non-military mortals.
All you have left is the ability to be able to pick up on what's being said as a reslt of your past experience. (sigh)
"You know, Rock, it's a damn shame we have to get old...."
Apollo Creed, Rocky III
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Post by Sailor on Aug 1, 2014 5:35:27 GMT -8
Yeah man, getting old sucks.
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Post by 101ABN on Aug 1, 2014 6:29:43 GMT -8
Yeah man, getting old sucks. Until you consider the alternative. |
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Post by Sailor on Aug 1, 2014 9:13:38 GMT -8
Yeah man, getting old sucks. Until you consider the alternative. Very true 101. How does that go? "One foot on a banana peel ... " Another - "Any day the good Lord lets me wake up is a good one." May you all continue to have many "good days." |
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Post by 101ABN on Aug 2, 2014 6:39:37 GMT -8
And you, Sir!
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I found out after a later exercise you never, ever try to outdrink an Australian sailor, you'll lose. 
