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Counter Pain |
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| USS Haynsworth DD700 |
| * Scuttlebut & Memories * |
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Counter Pain |
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While steaming south in the Red Sea, heading for independent patrol duty in the Persian Gulf, a seemingly minor equipment failure occurred.
In CIC (Combat Information Center) there were, attached to the DRA (Dead Reckoning Analyzer), three small mechanical counters, each about the size of a large walnut. They were gear driven by small (stepping) motors on the DRA, receiving inputs from the pitometer log (measuring ship’s speed through the water) and from the ship’s gyrocompass (indicating course being steered). The three counters indicated miles traveled: one East/West, another North/South and the third total miles traveled. These data are obviously vital to the Navigator, Executive Officer and the Captain. The East/West miles counter had failed (fallen apart). These devices were made by the Veeder-Root Company and were not repairable. We had no spare aboard nor, it turned out, did any other ship in the Sixth Fleet to which they were willing to admit by message. Two new counters were ordered through the Supply system immediately. As we steamed on station in the Persian Gulf, it was necessary for the Navigator to calculate the missing data, using trigonometry and other magic. As days turned into weeks with no counter arriving, he became increasingly irritated with it’s non-arrival. The pressure was mounting. In desperation I penned a letter to the President of the Veeder-Root Company, enclosed a 10- dollar bill and begged for a counter to be dispatched to me. One day, weeks later, my prayers were answered when a small box arrived in my mail from the Veeder-Root Company with a “good luck” note from the President. This trumped any food package from home and even trumped a perfumed letter from my girlfriend. David J. Oberholzer LT(jg) 57-59 |