News From Fort Schuyler

June 18, 1998 - Volume 2, No. 30

CRUISE LOG 98 A HIT - A most complimentary message was received from ED DANGLER, Class of 1949, addressed to everyone involved in creating the Summer Sea Term Cruise Log. Captain Dangler wrote: "It is almost like reliving the cruises I took as a cadet aboard the EMPIRE STATE II, ex USS HYDRUS -AKA 28, back in 1947, 1948, and 1949." You can check out the latest summer cruise updates at: http://www.sunymaritime.edu/SST/summer.htm

RECALLED TO NAVY DUTY - On June 8, RODNEY McFADDEN, Class of 1975, was recalled to active duty by the Navy as the new Assistant for Maritime and Merchant Marine Affairs. Rhetorically asking, "How many e-mail addresses is this guy going to have?", Rod explains that his title is a long and bureaucratic version of Merchant Marine Naval Reserve Program Sponsor (that's shorter ?) He notes that there are only two active duty billets in the entire MMNR program. Well done, Rod.

WEST COAST MARITIME DAY BRAVO ZULU - According to ED DANGLER, the recent Maritime Day celebration in San Diego was outstanding thanks to CAPTAIN WILLIAM J. BARTSCH, Class of 1984, who organized it. "Attendees included key local and state officials, most of the flag rank Naval officers in the area, and the keynote speaker, the Commanding General of TRADOC, who is sponsor of the pre-positioning vessels currently under construction at NASSCO. Captain Bartsch has also been very active in supporting the building of a Seaman's Center at our Tenth Avenue terminal, which took a major fund-raising effort and coordination with the various agencies. While few in number here in San Diego, our Fort Schuyler alumni members are becoming a major force in developing maritime policy in the area." (TRADOC = U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, established in 1973, responsible for preparing the Army for war and charting its future; NASSCO = National Steel and Shipbuilding Company.)

THAT 18" GUN AND TSES III - FINAL WORD? According to ERHARD KOEHLER, Class of 1987, "The only 18" guns produced by the United States were test guns which were re-bored from the 16"/50 rifles manufactured for the aborted SOUTH DAKOTA and LEXINGTON class battleships and battle cruisers in 1919. Those ships were finally canceled under the provisions of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which also limited capital ship main armament to 16". This doomed the U.S. 18" guns, which were proof tested at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. A 16"/50 rifle would have a barrel length of 66.7', much too long for a cargo hold on a C1-B. So the story probably is rumor, but it may have a factual precedent. One of the stories I have heard from our museum buddies of the classes 40-47 is that when the school moved to Fort Schuyler, many of the fort's civil war era cannons were used as ballast on either TSES I or II. This would make sense, as the II in particular is known to have been a stiff ship, and the absence of cargo would have made ballast a necessity. Naturally, a civil war muzzle loader couldn't have been sufficiently impressive in the 1940's, so maybe the word went out that it was an 18" rifle instead. One other possibility - whatever happened to the 12" coast artillery rifles mounted on the disappearing carriages behind what is today the chapel?

DOMERS ARE EVERYWHERE - Recent bridegroom MIKE BURKE, Class of 1986, reports that when he was doing some weekend shopping in E&B Marine "I heard someone in the next aisle mention Maritime. It turns out that the customer was from Mass Maritime. The salesman helping him was telling him that the saleswoman helping me was a junior at NY Maritime. Well names started flying." (So, who WAS the 3rd class cadet?)

MAKE A BIG SPLASH AT HOMECOMING - On Saturday, September 19, three of the original wooden America's Cup 12-Meter yachts will sail NY harbor for the 32nd Annual Mayor's Cup Race. According to PATRICK MURPHY, Class of 1988, the South Street Seaport Museum is seeking corporate sponsors for one-day charters. Sponsors "...are entitled to some very special privileges, including: exclusive use of the 12-Meter of your choice...on race day...exclusive invitations to the Mayor's Cup parties; and first right of refusal to charter your 12-Meter again on September 20th..Charter rates range from $10,000 - 12,000." Contact Ms. Shauna Stranks-Chabot, SSSM's Director of Corporate & Special Events for details at 212-748-8774.