Ran across this today. I was serving on the USS Stump DD-978 in 1984. We were in Valparaiso,Chile. I had just given my crew the weekend off after I held an inspection of the guns and magazines. Weps came down from Officers Country and we posed for the shot. I used a Mamia C-330 120 camera on a timer and developed the film on board the ship. I never printer the negative. I used my flat bed scanner today and saw the photo for the first time. boy was I young then. I'm kneeing in front.



We were a pretty good Gun Crew. I trained my guys that second place was not good enough. Everyone strived to be the best shooting ship in the Pacific Fleet. When the points were Talleyed up we had won the awards a couple of time. I miss those men.......
"March 1984 was highlighted by Stump's adoption as state flagship of West Virginia. Stump then traveled to New Orleans as the U.S. Navy's host ship for the 1984 World's Fair. Also in 1984, Stump won the James F. Chezek Memorial Gunnery Award by shooting an extraordinary 496 out of 500 during naval gunfire support qualifications.

Admiral W. L. McDonald, Commander in Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet, embarked in March 1985 for CARIBOPS '85. While in the Caribbean, Stump again shot naval gunfire support qualifications and scored 495 out of 500 winning the Atlantic Fleet "Top Gun" award for an unprecedented second year in a row. Stump then deployed for UNITAS XXVI/WATC '85. During the deployment, Stump showed the flag in port visits to eight South American nations and six West African nations. The year 1986 was significant for two reasons. First, Stump was chosen to become the test platform for the U.S. Navy's newest hull mounted sonar, the AN/SQS-53C. Using advanced technology, the "53C" will be the sonar for the U.S. Navy combatants well into the twenty-first century. Secondly, Stump was awarded the COMDESRON TEN Battle "E" Efficiency award for overall excellence."

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Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club '70-72
GMCM(SW) USN 68-89
1776-2012 USA RIP
President NM MILSURPS

Just found this, Great picture and thanks for your service.

You can't beat the toys that Uncle Sam gives you to play with, can you?

That's a neat photo and sounds to be a good crew.

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Only dead fish go with the flow.

Great shot!

from a PH that was in from 76 to 81, good job!

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Chinese Norinco SKS
NIB Chinese Norinco SKS, unfired
1873 Springfield Trapdoor

Glad to see the pic. Too many of the photos taken of military events are left in closets...again, thanks for doing so much for all of us.

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Sako M-39,'43, Mauser K98k,'44;Turk '93, '96;Swede'96,long infantry rifle,'03; NPM M-1Carbine;SA M-1 Garand '43;LE No 4 ,'54;Walther PP(vet bringback);Izzy91/30, '42; "11" M-44, '52,in the white;Vz 52; Tula PTG 1891 MN
Rom'69 trainer,'70.

Man we have a lot of Squids here.

Great Photo Rob!

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This is so easy, If my dog had thumbs, He could do it!

U.S.N. Retired 1985-2005

Thanks for posting the pic. Ahhhh the good old days. Was that good liberty in Chile? We spent over a week in Rio de Janeiro on our way to Nam.

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"Praise the Lord.....and pass the ammunition!"
Retired Navy. 1964-1990 (Viet Nam 1968)
26 years - 4 years active, 22 years reserve (Always ready..Sea Bag packed)

I always prided my crew with" Have fun where ever we go, don't make waves, treat everyone like you'd like to be treated". The liberty in Chile was good, not great. While we were there a 7.2 earthquake struck. The roads turned into liquid and undulated like a snake. Our ship powered the Navy bases critical functions for several days until normal power was brought back on line. I forget how many megawatts we could generate but it was a lot. We also set many speed records for a Spruance Class DD. with the new sonar dome we could chase a Russian sub at 50 knots at Flank III. We still talk about that to this day. I did meet some Chilean gun nuts who became friends to this day. The amount of 7mm Mauser ammo sitting in bunkers had to be seen to be believed. It was a good cruse.

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Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club '70-72
GMCM(SW) USN 68-89
1776-2012 USA RIP
President NM MILSURPS

Wow Rob, I was stationed on her sister ship the BRISCOE DD 977 during that time! Oh and the three generators were rated at 2000KW each.

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Mark
USN Retired 1981 - 2005
Proud Air Force dad!
"There's no such thing as too many Enfields!"

2000KW each can't be right...that's what a man-portable genny will push?

And cool pic, and story!

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Bubba really ticks me off...
and I sure wish he would give me the OEM stock for my 7mm Spanish Mauser...

Isn't there a land-locked Aegis destroyer out in the desert near you? Ever get them to come to your milsurp shoots? NEAT.

>>>
2000KW
>>>

2,000,000W = 2000KW

Regards,
Brian in CA

Edit: can't do math either

Doh! I apparently can't read or think, either...silly me. I claim temporary stupidity...

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Bubba really ticks me off...
and I sure wish he would give me the OEM stock for my 7mm Spanish Mauser...

Great pic, Rob. Thanks for sharing your story.

You haven't changed a bit... except for the missing teeth, glass eye and wheelchair.

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Curator, the Privett Museum of Unloved and Curious Milsurps. Founded 2006.

Outstanding!