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