From:
Bradley Bau, FM, 1963 - 1967
To: SenorSilk
Subject: that bump
Steve;
I'm not sure but I think it was 1966, and we were in the Caribbean
at the time, it was a very clear night. I was on midwatch in the
aft fireroom at the time (burners) The top watch was 3rd class
McCaskill. We were steaming at 2/3 speed, when we received an
full back emergency. After what seemed like five minutes, we struck
another ship with such force it knocked us all down. We later
learned that we had hit a large troop transport. I can't recall
the name of it now. I know that the officer on the bridge at the
time was Ensign Johnson. After the collision they did emergency
repairs at sea because we had damage at the waterline. We then
went to Puerto Rico for about a month for repairs, it was great
liberty every day. For some reason the name Yorktown rings a bell
as the ship we hit. I hope someone else remembers. I remember
that we spent Christmas in Puerto Rico. I also remember that wasn't
our only collision we had another in Malta, but that's another
story.
Your shipmate,
Brad