Rasta3d ago
I've been retired a few years, but the #Navy was part of me for nearly 70% of my life.
#RCN forever, but they won't let me in the dockyard anymore <le sigh>
Show threadThird spruce tree on the left

@Rasta hey, I caught your post from yesterday - were you on Annapolis or was that just plucked from somewhere. And what did you do?

(never served myself, just amrchair CForces and "I like ships" fan)

Mar 24 at 4:16pmWeb
Show threadRasta3d ago
@tezoatlipoca
I was indeed on Annapolis, from 73-77, and on Nipigon, Margaree, Skeena, Ottawa, Cormorant, Athabaskan, and Iroquois. And I *steamed* the St Croix.. 33 years
Show threadThird spruce tree on the left3d ago
@Rasta cool! some old and new(er/ish) - which was your favorite?
Show threadRasta3d ago
@tezoatlipoca
Oh, I think your first ship has sentimental value. 4 years is also a long time, it becomes YOU. But, other ships that were 4 years were painful, and shorter postings, appeared better, for various reasons. I think Skeena (then a french ship) was my second fave
Show threadThird spruce tree on the left3d ago
@Rasta I can imagine. While the ships appear to us as quite large I imagine if you live aboard they get real small, quick. Especially for 4 yrs. What did you do? seaman? machinist, aviation tech?
Show threadRasta3d ago
@tezoatlipoca I was a marine engineering technician.
In the Canadian Navy, that encompassasses all, not just one field. For example, all auxiliary machinery, all Main machinery, boilers,diesels, gas turbines, gearboxes, engines, AC (HVAC), Pneumatics, Metaluragy, Chemistry, Physics, Thermodynamics, Steering, Fueling, All fresh and salt water supply, Fresh *potable* drinking water from the sea. evaporator, ROD units, some emerg welding/cutting and Electrical Power distribution , 440v Switchboards, paralleling power supply and basic switchover for emergencies
That was just trade related. At the Senior CHARGE Ticket, you are the senior engineer aboard. They can sail without the Engineering Officer (Administrator) but not without the Chief Engineer. I was at that level in 16 years and went on to do many more mini-careers by themselves, from Quality, Man Management, Safety, and information systems
Show threadThird spruce tree on the left3d ago

@Rasta fascinating. Literally you were Scotty. So you got to know the ship almost as well as the people who built 'er. I'd say probably better because the dockworkers could afford to specialize in just the subsystems they installed.

Any particular fix-at-sea you look back on thinking how you totes saved the ship? Do the shipbuilders ever consult with CEs and their list of "here's what I think about YOUR ship design" when designing the successor class?

Show threadRasta3d ago
@tezoatlipoca
Indeed, we did. Even other departments ,because at that seniority, you are the head of your department. We have many times saved the ship, by machining parts to keep going, and installing new machinery mid trip, in foreign contries and dockyards.