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October 2001.
AS much of a wreck as
the ORLECK was, her ASROC spaces looked pretty good. ASROC was a great
system. Rugged, sailor-proof, simple. You could count on her it to
work when needed.
As long as I had air pressure I knew I could load and
fire a bird.
I had a weird feeling being back in the ASROC shack
after a 21 year
absence. I needed just a few minutes to familiarize myself and then I
recalled what switches to flip - and which ones not to- to fire up the
launcher for my daily checks. I checked for the P1 firing plug-it wasn't
there. I checked for power available. There was none. I checked for air
pressure. None. I happened to glance over to where my striker, Arthier,
would be sitting. He wasn't there. There wasn't a butt-kit to be
found. Nor a spit-cup. It didn't matter. I was home.
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Dave Hood with Steve Davis, reliving the ASROC days
on USS ORLECK, docked in Orange, Texas |
Steve Davis was a GMG who was an ASROCKETEER
on the ORLECK back in late 60's.
Once again he is in charge of her ASROC spaces. He said
that he really felt
weird when he saw the ORLECK again.
Dave Hood.
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With many built by the Diamond Match
Company, the MK-112 ASROC launcher (as seen above on USS ORLECK) was referred
to as the "Matchbox" ASROC launcher. |
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With the "Matchbox" Launcher in the foreground,
Dave Hood's " ASROC shack" can be seen in the background with
the blast windows. USS ORLECK (DD-886) berthed in Orange, Texas. |
 
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