Incidents remembered from the Shakedown cruise

On the first morning after leaving Boston, during breakfast, we encountered some fairly rough seas. It was estimated that 80 percent of the crew had never been to sea before. They sure turned "green" that morning. The scene in the chow hall was total disaster - food all over the place and the head was overflowing with sea-sick sailors.

During our stay in Bermuda we were busy undergoing all types of exercises at sea, usually with other ships.

We did get a few liberties while we were there, but not to many. Christmas day was spent at anchor in the harbor. Some of the crew went swimming off the ship.

On our way back to Boston, off Cape Hatteras, we encountered some heavy seas. It was reported that we took a 58deg roll. The ship was designed to take a maximum roll of 75deg. We took green water, not spray, in the hatches of the main battery director which is located on top of the pilot house and is 54 feet above the water line. By the time we got into Boston, we were covered with ice.