I thought this would get the juices flowing! And it's so much more enjoyable than current events! - Jim

A reprint from "Our Book" - Thanks, Ed Smock.

If you have ever stood a watch, these words will kindle some of your deepest memories: (If they don't, you have missed something…Ed)

Walking the mats, venus unique, 10 points, parallel rulers, dividers, grease pencil, burn detail, grinding the styli, paper tension, styli fly-back, mid rats, chow run, swing back, paper change, standby, 2-2 -2 and 80, voice announcement, WWV, plus side - minus side, WECO rep, down-de-road, field day, buffer, green tile, carbon, carbon tetrachloride, on the roller, over the hill, cal marks, time fax paper, SOSS, liberty run, intruder alert, spring ops, horizontal plot, morning brief, WTH-kkk, Int ZYC, ZUG ZYC, POS, skeefy, gungy, anno, re-submit, ZEL, DEMP/DEL, PGD, 1106, FQQ, rolling grams, un-rolling gram, then again re-rolling grams, time late, jez monster, jap sheet, gut feeling, turn-over, special request chit, vacuum system, range liner, bunny tube, white-out, black ice,.....

ENSIGN, paper tray, out of phase, phase drill, lift the rollers, drop the trays, actuator, 3 styli belts (originally), 5 inch grams (originally), 9 inch grams, tape recorder, analog recording, heifer, birdie, flash, nugget, down range, the bird, mobilette, turn-over, time late, call them back in, you missed "this"?, TDFs using string, didn't happen on my watch, menu boards, SOSEX, CORMSO, OSS, COLD project, rainbow, spray grams with liquid krylon to save them (originally), photo lab, soup break, yellow book, big red, DPU, love point, Pro Pay P1 and P2, repeaters..... Whew!

ORI, we're here to help, NavFac FPO #s (no names), station designators Able - Fox etc.., 5 digit crypto message thru the comm. window, RTTF, TARF, TARFX, ATARF, MB, KAC 8, KAC 132, authenticate, roman numeral time code on grams, pilot tone, maintenance head phones, station P's, cutting/making styli from standard wire brush when supply was out, 40 quad - how many pairs in 40 quad = 42 - two were for temp and depth, how many points on 10 points = 11, weak magnetic plot symbols on vertical plots - (not to bright), iron filings-oil filled continuous loop paper experiment 1972 (not to bright), no music allowed in T Bldg, USO shows, operations people not allowed to berth with "upper base" crew - PW/Admin etc. - fear of talking in our sleep.... Really?

San Juan Ferry, Cape Verde Ghost, M-Boat, Tillamook,
Mississinawa, tellers, light pen, ECDAPS 3100, IEC/FTA, HP 9830, system drill targets via tellers, 3-3-3-72, JIG, ZYA, ZYJ, ZYK, MILS-BOA, SitReps, SitSums, eye integration, freq scale, reader’s cart, harmonics chart, parallel rulers, slide rule, beam numbers, hot beams, reference library, Lloyds Merchant Vessels, WECO Naval Ships Catalog, cable watch on beach, back room, diesel engine handbook, VP-SOSUS, galloping ghost of the African coast, “oollie”, NEGDEF, “Bernie”, plotting with grid system, data relay, UQM-4, DAC, MEC, ROC, "Watch in the Sea" (movie), bearing ladders, but Chief!, NESB, Sammy SOSUS, mark-on-top, convergence zones..... There's more!

"Bermado", Spring break, Bermuda frogs, HYRADS, Precipitron, GS19640, sand fleas, sand burrs, 64521, Harder, Darter, Trigger, Trout, Permit, Pomfert, blow away targets, sound-channel axis, SPA, LOB, SLOB, FLASH IT! “Z”, Emergency “Y”, ZEST, signature categories, GOBI, SUBNOTES, SSOAs, Band 13, Aeolus, Myer, Neptune, , Kingsport, Mizar, Long Line, Zeus, TAT-1 BFRM=214:1, 8X arrays, shallow water. King deep, NAN, elbow array. Honeywell 7600's new in the DAC center, roach coach, Change of Command in Norfolk - attention at the DAC center in Arg.

LTs from the Fleet, TTY, ZDK, CR, CR, Line feed, don’t lose the phase. Zoomies, VP tigers, 1st EAST TO WEST coast data relay, correlation, conversion, A18-UP. PDCs, SCAT, SNIFFER, P2 V, P3 A, Chiefs (untouchable), 1st Class (LPO; GOD; etc), 2nd Class (Array Supervisor; best pay-grade in the Navy), 3rd Class, (A Petty Officer at LAST, Assistant Plotter; where all the s--- landed). “Leadership Exam.” Tears on the watch floor 1968.

Comm chad, mice, dead this/that in bunny tubes, Sea Daddy, quick look/long look, Range liner, John’s run. Moose in your back yard, DEFCON, BDA storm bunkers, west end, east end, Annex. Pie in the face day, destroying old car for cash for Welfare & Rec, Electronic repair, “Black boxing”. “Dead Ants” We are here to help, Open Book, Closed Book, Oral Board, Plank Owner, Site closure, remote, FiFo, HJs, Copy Data Base, Check-Point, “Secure all non-secure lines…”, “Hey, check this out”…smoking actuators, beam-rolling contests, making BIG roman numeral time code on grams, phase-drills, “that can’t be a xxx”, upper-base, DART, SPEAR, “I need a SOWO Data Sheet”, “ASWOC, ASWOC this is NAVFAC”, “Red to go”, “in the trough”, sanding the stylus, GDF (Ground Defense Force), “I am data selecting” – “I am data selecting” you million dollar “POS” (on-watch lingo for how things don’t always work so well when they are new), mondo (rubber mat-stuff on the watch floor in Kef), BEQ 748 (Kef), Bering Hill, Bunker Hill,. ,...etc., just to name a few…

Each of you has a story about some of these words. Bring them out… Share them…

I may have missed it, but there was DPU-18, FV Fairtry II, Classification 65xx5 (WO experience, which always brought a chuckle from the STO 's),AFTAC, JEZ Monster, T-E Turbine.

3-3-3-72 was much easier on the nerves!

Weeeee doggies that boy sure can cypher!!!

The "Worm", the "Tail", RDA/TRU, Deck cables, Winch J-box, Stinger.
AN/OJ-326(V)13/UYK SID, TS-3984/AN/UYS-1 ASP, TX, DTC-2, AN/UYK-20, AN/UYH-3.
AN/WSC-6(V)3, Vinson LOS, R-1051, URT-23, 40' Whip, and the "Pesky-3".
"NOW" terminal, Orderwire, "CMUD".
Arctic Circle, International Date Line, Texas Jack's, Rota, Catania, Augusta Bay.

Q2P (original system)

....thought I might qualify my attempt at humor. Just know that I have only the highest regard and respect for the IUSS/OT community. I remember many was the time I walked through display doing temperature checks, etc. and everyone was busy with their work. Of course I remember walking by folks and the conversasion was the latest baseball scores or what's on at the movie theater...morale - gotta have it. Most folks in the world will never know the pride and dedication that went into your mission but by golly I'm one of'em who does.

jeff

A couple obscure one's that I remember: ESMC, ABF, VR, Mary Brown's Chicken, St. Johns Run. Great memories in this thread.

Harmonics charts. If I remember correctly, WO Otto used to challenge the a watch member to use a calculator and he would use a harmonics chart to see who got the answer the fastest. He NEVER lost.

I did not see these:
Tape-degausser, doublet, triplet, TDP, IAD-WBAR

Anyone out there from the 1959-62 era that might remember SMS (Sound Measuring Set) ?? I believe it charted the ambient sea noise, but would spike when there was an underwater disturbance (volcanic activity) - and when a "storm was brewing".

There was a glass vial with an integral glass tube, which had to be filled with a special ink (purple) when it ran low. As a watch section supervisor (brand new SOO2) I recall telling one of the new Readers to remove it and fill it with ink on a day watch in Pac Beach. He accidtally dropped it, and of course it broke into a gazillion pieces.

After chewing him out, I told him to fill out a supply requisition and "haul a_ _" up to the supply clerk to get a replacement. He asked me what he was supposed to put in the item description. I told him that he had better start "boning up" on his SOSUS terminology, since everyone knows that it is a "Fallopian tube".

About 5 minutes after he left the TE building, the OWO got a call from the supply LPO asking who sent this "dumb a _ _" after a Fallopian tube??

I would love to have had a picture of that LPO's face when he read the supply requisition !!

By the way, for anyone who might remember - the new Reader was OTSN Floyd Barry - a good ol southern boy from Missouri.

Well, I can verify that the old Fallopian tube ploy was still being used in Bermuda in early 1970. I can't remember for certain which one it was who sent me on that search, but Bob Smith, Hal Cook and Buck Wasserman were all there when I returned from an extensive search for one of them tubes identical to the cathode tube they'd sent me with. Not only had I searched throughout the T-Bldg compound for one, but they'd even sent me to Supply and a few other places down at the NOB. I still find it unbelievable that nobody cracked so much as a smile when I'd come in on my quest or when they'd suggest the next place to go inquire. Gawd did I feel stupid as hell when I arrived back with no Fallopian tube only to be directed to the open dictionary on the watch supervisor's desk!!! hahaha, good memories

Doug,
If memory serves, we also were sent to get some "relative bearing grease" How about talking to crashing P-3's and sinking Subs. All you early Bermuda guys must also remember RAYCOR. Many good times and good people.

Hey Doug. I bet Dennis Wanebo and Bob Wakefield were also in on sending you on that wild goose chase. I'll never forget Dennis "Spike" Tykzinski sending Vern Davis after a fallopian tube. Vern was a biology major in college and he told Spike exactly what a fallopian tube was. "Do you still want be to go find one?" he asked. Spike said, go get one anyway. Vern put down his red pencil and went good-naturedly to the ET's and came back w/ some kind of wire and said "Is this the right kind?" You were lucky. Bob Smith kind of took you under his wing and wouldn't let anything bad happen to you. Those were good years.

How about Troposcatter, Precipatron, Stylus Pressure Gauges, water catchments, quartz delay lines, MILS gear, Switchbank Multiple, Gertrude, BTR(Bearing Time Recorder), VIM, walking down the main fore and aft passageway when the fin stabalizers were active, nooners on top of the van, after steering drills, fantail fireflies, ISOPAR, and my all time favorite...winch pall(as in someone forgot to set it after a change in scope).

Here's an older one "birdie sweet/birdie sour.
Ed, as for the 65XX5 most enlisted really got a kick out of that one.

How about, CODAR TRACE and BFRM 214:1 or also known as Bi Facial Recorder Multiplier!!
CEC

Here are two stand-out SOSUSisms from my time at NAVFAC Bermuda:

1. Hermpt.
2. Concur JRV.

smart ass!

Add to that:

1. Smartass
2. NEW COMBO
3. Multi-Fladkins

"The SKAW"

I may have missed them... but did anyone list Staging, Split-plant, turbo-generator, or ESMC?

MILS, Pentagon Array, JEZ monster, thermite packs, Red/Black criteria, H2, Rangeliner, Fred Jones circular classification wheel, Smokies belt pipe holder! Sorry for any repeats

I don't think I saw FIRs, fin rate, XNAS, XNASN(et al), BEAR A/C, burn run, patch cords, and the most used term at 1968 Adak - GAZER!

US subs cruise - Soviet subs sneak! (Quote from a 1966 COSL newsletter)

gazer....... D a m n e d Wanebo and Dupuis

Hal -
I must really be getting old. I remember Wanebo and Dupuis, but do not remember where I was stationed with them - must have been BDA or Adak. What has me stumped though is the term "gazer" ?? Seems as though Jim Donovan connected with it though. I know that Jim was with me in BDA as OT3 at the time, and I was OPS LCPO.
So, clue me in - what did I miss?

Irv

Dee,
I recall "GAZER" being rampant at ARG 68-70 time frame.
I know it was freely used on watch, at the clubs, and certainly at the North East Arms Camp, just to name a few. It was a relatively simple jesture where on would lower their hand with the thumb and index finger forming a circle and place it just below their waste band and when the person they were talking to followed the jester they were called a "GAZER". I am sure there were many variations of this but this is the one I remember.
Hope this helps
Chuck

Dee, Either place, they were both in both places between 68-71. I was in BDA 68-70, Dupuis was my roommate in BDA 69-70,Wanebo was in BDA then Adak. Wanebo left BDA, I think, either late 69 or early 70. Didnt help you a bit did I?

Hal -

You actually did help jog this old sailor's memory(I turned 73 yesterday !!).

I was pretty sure that Dupuis and Wanebo were both in Bermuda, but could not recall if it was my first or second tour. Had to be the first - because I was there from 66-69, then transferred to Adak (also my second tour there) from 70-71. So, at that time in BDA I was Watch Section Coordinator, ODIV Training PO and MILS PO. I was OPS LCPO and Command SCPO on my second tour from 74-77.

It's strange that I do not recall you from my first tour in Bermuda, since you had to be there the same time I was. Were you in one of the watch sections, and who was your watch coordinator? I arrived Dec 66- left for Adak Dec 1969.
Also, I do not remember Wanebo being in Adak when I was there.

Thanks for your reply to my post. How do you like living in San Antonio? We spent a few days there back in 1999 while on a cross-country road trip that lasted 3 months and took us 15K miles. Visited a lot of former shipmates on that trip - it was fabulous. Thinking of doing it again - maybe 2013.

Best to you............Irv (Dee)

I kept a low profile.Pat O'Brien was my sup, Spike Tysinski the 2nd in charge. Ens Chip Pease was my OWO.I was lucky. Had a two year tour there (June 68-June 70)unlike most single guys who only stayed a year so even the detailers overlooked me. Dont know how I survived there, and how I never got in any trouble. I guess I had a lot of people hiding me too (I was the only one that knew how 4331 operated so they tried to keep me there).
It is too hot in San Antonio. We didnt have a winter this year.
sorta gotten off subject here so I'll add in an acronym.. How about DEMP? No, shoot, Jim had that in his very first entry. I tried.

Jerry, you and Hal are Nuts! lol - I had forgotten most of these terms.

And was FOGHORN or BCP listed?

How about phenomenon of Lofar and mirror cord failures? Was the L&N (Leeds & Northrup) recorder the 24 hour drum or was that the recorder with the purple ink?

Russ are you talking about the CORMSO equipment?

Hal,

I don't remember hearing the term Cormso during my time. I think the L&N was the round drum with white paper.

I still remember CORMSO and God Forbide you forget to change the paper on time. Seems like only a few sites had CORMSO.

Darel -

I remember CORMSO well, and I believe someone else had previously mention it - not 100% sure, though.

I am curious if anyone knows if "serrated effect" was ever mentioned?? I tried to recall what source from one of the Rusky subs exhibited that phenonenon, but at 73 (OMG !!) my memory is not serving me all that well. Maybe someone out there knows??

Also, what about AFTAC??

Dee:
You had better sharpen up on this stuff. Your oral board is scheduled for 1300 this afternoon!!! I'm really enjoying this string.
George

Not sure but may have referred to the Type I Nuc T-E turbine?

Hey Ed -

You know, that is what I was thinking, and I think you are correct. I didn't want to put that out there without some sort of confirmational reply - thought I might get embarrassed by someone who knows the "real answer".

George - NO PROBLEM !! I am not sure why I never got my EXPERT button (I do have the certificate) when I qualified as EXPERT and was OWO in Adak (70-71). Capt. McWethy was COSP Commodore at the time - and sat in on my oral board during an ORI. Nice to hear from you. I, too, am enjoying this string of posts, must remember to thank Jim Donovan for initiating it.

Take care ............Best to all............Dee

I seem to recall that serrated effect was used in conjunction with blade rate, mostly predominant on B1 after a knee-in steadies up. (I'm having flashbacks to my early NAVFAC years....... )

I kind of remember the CORMSO. Wasn't it used for pinpointing seismic disturbances?

I concur with Jerry's comment on serrated effect being associated with blade rate.
George----I regretfully never sat for a board other than the one at NFCB to qualify for ROC OWO/CDO

Concur with Jerry. Serrated effect was on blade rate signatures; predominantly on certain classes. But we shall not go there. Probably would be too much information.

Happy to hear you say that, Jim. Exactly why I didn't get too deep in the weeds with my response. Not sure where the classified/unclassified line is these days.

MILS=Missle Impact Location System, CORMSO= Correlating/Recording & Monitoring SOFAR???
I'm not sure of the last portion SOFAR. Barbers Point, (The Showcase of the Pacific) with a putting green lawn was where I first saw and had to perform quick looks and long looks on CORMSO as well as a paper change in some sort of superhuman time period. COSP ORI's would test and time these events during the inspection cycle.
Chuck

I think it was COntinuous Recording and Monitoring of SOfar. I recall Guam's CORMSO being rather important for support of a given event. Weeks of forwarded data.

Rick,
After reading your post, you are right COtinuous is correct. These two are for DLW "Home made bearing wheel", and "Sister Ships". DLW hope you are reading these posts.
CEC

Great string, all! What memories! I have a few additional things to add.

1 - How many grams could a Master Chief stuff into a Maxwell House 2lb Keywind Coffee Tin Can?

2 - What do TOPSY and Firring YANKEE have in common?

3 - SNAP Class/FOXTROT Relay/CDO Quiz/CPX.

4 - What is a HOFN?

5 - Ditto for WIDRIO?

6 - ELINT/FOSIF/OSIS; OKEAN exercises.

7 - What are Pinetree/Bathtub patterns?

8 - FDS........

When In Doubt Report It Out - WIDRIO

Fell like a kid at a Spelling Bee.

WIDRIO was responsible for getting my T/L under control but drove my false alarm rate into the stratosphere.

I probably missed most of these....

1. Benji (Antigua bartender)

2. Section oolies

3. EOZD

4. cadillac and swab

5. 400 cycle generator

6. phase drill

7. burn pit

8. boonie pigs

9. swing back

10. Daquiris at the Kensington

11. steel band

12. duty et

13. sab alert drill

14. gram cut log

15. pomsee p.o.

At JFCOM we were have this conversation with a Navy Capt. in my office, well, just talking about acronyms. The Capt is an SSN captain, so we were talking about this and I innocently brought up FTN! He gave me a "look" then I said "Fast Tracking Nuke!" This always controlled individual, just busted out! I loved doing that ;) Actually he was very surprised with my knowledge of "submarine anatomy?" It's all Good!