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What I do these days seems to change every few months. I'm kind of a jack-of-all-trades, some of which I've mastered, some - not so much.
But this is one of the wee beasties I've had the privilege of working on for the past decade, not everyday mind you, but quite a lot.
She looks pretty cool and she has a great deal of potential.
We shall see...
I've had quite a few cool jobs since I left the Air Force, never had a dull year, had some frustrating ones yes, but never a dull one. Here's a few of the other things I've had the opportunity to work on.
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Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine (Source)
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Virginia Class Attack Submarine (Source)
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Collins Class Attack Submarine (Australian Navy) (Source)
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Patriot Missile Battery (Source)
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Makes me feel like I'm still doing my bit, such as it is.
Pay ain't that bad either.
Keeps me and The Missus Herself comfortable.
While the "behind the scenes" work isn't always sexy, it is interesting.
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Cool stuff. I tend to regard the Zumwalts as more of a technology demonstrator than a true warship, but others may not agree. As you say, we'll see.
ReplyDeleteI am cautiously optimistic. I agree with you Cap'n.
DeleteLooks kinda like a cross between the Monitor and the Merrimack (CSA Virginia).
ReplyDeleteMost of the old time tin can sailors don't much care for it.
I'm withholding judgement
It's not really a destroyer nor is it a cruiser. I'm not sure what it really should be called. Neither fish nor fowl in some respects.
DeleteAs an old tin can sailor myself, I'm glad to see you say that. It looks like an interesting experiment in low-drag coefficient and perhaps stealth technology, but a fighting ship? Okay, okay; so I'm hopelessly old-fashioned. Sue me. :)
DeleteNo way to repel boarders. Cutlasses and boarding pikes? I didn't see any racks for 'em.
DeleteOkay, you're not that old-fashioned. :)
The Collins, eh? There are few things more entertaining than watching the Bruces argue about that sub on the koobecaf!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see those lasers work out. Any progress on the Mk-99 photon torpedoes yet?
We stepped away from that many moons ago. The politics on that project were strange to say the least.
DeleteViewing your photos, I'd like to travel in your back pocket for a while. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeletePaul L. Quandt
It's not as exciting as it looks, but interesting it is indeed.
DeleteSpent some years in the reserves working in the repair shop of a sub tender, learned how the boats get rid of their trash, and I still don't understand why walking over containment on older fast attacks creeped me out, and walking next to containment on newer boats did not bother me.
ReplyDeleteIt was all interesting.
Interesting indeed.
DeleteHmm...the Zumwalt looks rather like a cheesebox on a raft!
ReplyDeleteYou're not the first to say that. You won't be the last.
DeleteDo they even have cheeseboxes anymore? (So I Googled it, and yes, that is still a thing.)
Well, I thought personally it looked like a miniature dirigible hanger on a raft, but I thought I'd be in the minority if I said that!
DeleteHahaha! (That works too...)
DeleteHeh, that it is... Sometimes, REALLY interesting...
ReplyDeleteSounds familiar!
DeleteOne of these days I'll be able to say that one of the projects I worked on made it to the fleet. Because it's an LCS system it may not work but I'll be able to say it.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope it works.
Delete:)
You are still serving. Good thing the country has people like you.
ReplyDeleteThanks WSF.
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