harrisj@prism.CS.ORST.EDU (Jim Harrison) (04/28/89)
From: Jim Harrison <harrisj@prism.CS.ORST.EDU> Early in 1983 I was on a Coast Guard Ship undergoing Refresher Training with the Navy in San Diego. The new crash program was a major fire drill to simulate the large number of casulties and severe problems that would result from a missile attack. The drill required loss of power and loss of fire main pressure. The damage control parties were isolated from each other and were forced on deck. A successful grade required restoration of fire water (through portable pumps) and reestablishment of coordination between the fire control parties. This was a very difficult exercise and many ships failed to pass and many commanding officers were worried as a result. During our preparations I happened to start talking to a Navy ship rider who had participated in the New Jersey's shakedown training a few months before. I asked him about their attitute about cruise missile dangers and he said that he couldn't get them to take it seriously. When he asked what they would do if they were hit he was told that they would essentially ignore it until after the battle had finished and then they would send someone out on deck to sweep up the pieces of the missile. They were much more concerned with torpedo danger than cruise missiles. Jim Harrison