I commissioned the Elm, was my second buoy tender, the first being the Gentian till she was decommissioned in 98. Still looks the same, except they got rid of the sjk in the kitchen. Loved that kitchen, I was an fs3
Semper Paratus mates. CGC Fir WLM-212 1985-87. Black Hull Workers. Love your Tender. Banjo music gives it the blue collar reality! Hope to see your Golden WLI-313!
Great tour and fascinated at the changes in utility spaces from the time I served aboard the USS Shreveport (LPD-12) back at the close of the 1970's to the modern LPD presented in this video. The first thing that caught my eye was the well deck. The original designed well decks had hundreds of heavy oak, railroad-tie like, "batter-boards" running longitudinally on port and starboard bulkheads and heavy oak planks on the well deck floor. Whereas what I've seen here the Portland is using newer technologies and materials which I can see as possibly "rubber" like that could function better than the batter-boards on earlier LPD platforms. Having driven LCM-6 boats in and out of my old ship and under extreme weather conditions and having destroyed the oak boards in the process, I can see how the new materials might actually do a better job, thus reducing the need to carry the excessive amounts of wood timbers we used to carry. The only two other areas were the bridge or pilot house and what in the video is called boat valley. On the Raleigh class (LPD 1 - 3) and Austin class (LPDs 4 - 15), We carried two LCPLs and two LCVPs as opposed to rigid inflatables. Not sure how these factor in in to running as liberty launches, but the LCPL worked well in this capacity also functioning as captain's and officer's gigs. the other thing that caught my eye was the bridge. The wheelhouse in my days we had a chart table because all we had were paper charts. There was a clear path from bridge wing to bridge wing. The SPS-10 (SPA-10?) and 30 radars were forward under the windows. There was a binnacle that held the ship's magnetic compass and Flindar's bar just forward of the helm station. to the left of the helmsman was the "lee-helm" or engine order telegraph. To the helmsman's right was the stat-board. I didn't see these in the abbreviated tour, but I'm sure that the Portland and her sister vessels have more than made up for the changes in technology. Gone are the days of Sea-Farers, replaced by digital camo BDUs, but as the the tour officer brought us in through the side-port it stirred me positively to see him turn and salute the national ensign before he boarded the vessel. A great video for a great ship. BZ Portland!
As an MM in the aft engine room of DD708 ( '65-'68 ) I gotta say USN warships have changed far more than anything else I"ve seen in the last 50 + years . Our boys ( and gals ) always have deserved the best .
I boarded this during Los Angeles Fleet Week 2022, so amazing, so advanced, so deadly. The sailors were so kind and friendly and you get to learn so much yet so much is kept secret. The laser on that ship is insane.
Ii decided that I want to be this years rose festival QUEEN. I'm a GOOD ROOKING manly male who needs the help of Portlandians social justice warriors to pull this coup off. ❤️
I skipped a day of my senior year at West Albany High School in 1973 and watched the Yaquina Bay Coasties wash boats and play volleyball. Sure looked like more fun than work. Station Yaquina Bay planted the seed - 2 years later, I joined. 30 years later I retired. It was a lot of work, a lot of fun, and lifelong memories and friends & I'd do it again (not boot camp). Semper Paratus!
A coastie's life has changed since my days doing drug intradiction / SAR operations (EM2). They would send us to the Modesto Police Academy, for (5) weeks of officer survival / firearms training. I spent (7) years in the USCG (1980 - 1987), and used what I learned to further my law enforcement career as both a police officer, and eventually getting into the Justice Dept, to which I retired from. Semper Paratus / Go Ducks!!
Remember Bellingham well when myself & a 41' crew of (3) were sent up to relieve the 41' crew there for a week. At that time I was stationed at Coast Guard Station/Group Seattle - (EM2). Back then we were sent to the police academy in Modesto, California for 5 weeks of L.E./Officer Survival training - good times! I enjoyed my time in the USCG (1980 - 1987), but I went on to more adventures after getting out. Semper Paradus!!! 👊
Though I'm a supporter of body markings (I don't have any myself), I never understood how the comdt could allow so much body paint but beards are still frowned upon. Yeah, I'm from the day of the beards and I was on watch when the message came in saying OFF WITH THE BEARDS. We knew the Comdt of THEN had a hardon for getting rid of them, but seriously, wrist to whatever is tattoos, but no facial hair. Just mucked up. Nice video. Always wondered who had the first 47. Wonder if all the "1st" small boats are gold lettered. Nice idea though. 73's
On the other hand, we could actually do more. If we fix all our money leaks in our gov machine and put it in military, we would get a 3-4% GDP military, on par with UK or France.
