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39

The ship I served on from '79 - 82

submitted by con77 to TellUpgoat 2 monthsFeb 13, 2025 11:23:08 ago (+39/-0)     (files.catbox.moe)

https://files.catbox.moe/dkp7oq.jpg

USCGC Morgenthau. 378' High Endurance Cutter. 2 Turbine engines and two diesel engines. 4500 tons. Crew of 150.

I was a Quartermaster. Which in a seagoing service is a Navigator. Defined as an art. not a science! Although theres A LOT of math involved when using a sextant.

Homeported in Alameda Ca. across the bay from San Francisco. Which wasnt a shithole in the early 80's.

Primary mission. Enforcing fisheries laws in the Bering Sea and Search and Rescue.

Crossed the Arctic Circle and the Dateline. Sailed through a January typhoon. 55' waves -75F windchill.
Ships sank in that storm. And if it had gone on much longer we might have too.

Ive seen more whales than 99% of the population. Orcas pacing the ship and walrus where they live.

Living in a 30 man berthing area my personal space was the size of a phone booth! A hard life but a great experience!


51 comments block

oldguy 1 points 2 months ago

The ship was that old not me. In 1977 the coast guard was still using a ship built in 1936. Steam powered. Kinda famous in that she rammed and sunk a uboat. That was not what i was on. conn77 was on one of the newest ships built a real high speed hauler at times.