some bumpFrom: 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