Naval Incident in Puget Sound?

[Robert L.]

Has anybody in the Puget Sound region heard of anything going on with the Navy near Suquamish today?

At about 8:10AM as I was going over the Agate Passage bridge I saw what sort of looked like a Navy Fleet Ocean Tug (could have been something else, I am not too familiar with Navy vessels) passing under the bridge going at a pretty good clip. About 45 min. later going back through Suquamish I was right behind a Navy Technical Rescue vehicle and a Federal Fire truck both traveling very slow looking at street signs. They then pulled off the road and as I was going by they were met by another fire-truck coming in from the North, again going slow no lights or anything. Interestingly enough there didn't seem to be any Suquamish fire-trucks trucks on the road.

http://72.41.23.68/images/NavyTech.jpg
OK pict. could be better but it is not easy taking pictures while driving on winding rural roads.

As soon as I could I shot down a local road to get a good view of the Bay to see what was going on. Nothing. Went back out to the main road and the Navy trucks had turned around (good trick turning a fire-truck around on that road even with a pullout) and gone back towards Suquamish. Unfortunately I didn't have time to head back and get in the way.

So any info on this?

[Dryfeet]

Might have had something to do with the Pt Townsend ferry Steilacoom II hitting a log. See the http://bitterendblog.com today for a teaser pic. I'd like to know more myself.

[TimH]

This happened yesterday or the day before

http://bitterendblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/CA-Sinking-0012-300x234.jpg

[Robert L.]

Hmmm local news says they are out due to generator problems (http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/oct/28/mechanical-problems-knock-out-port-townsend/).

The weather in the picture looks a little too good for the past couple of days but if that image is currant it would certainly explain that Navy tug. That sucker looked big enough to load the Steilacoom II on deck. 'Course it doesn't explain what the Federal fire-truck and the Navy Technical rescue truck where doing lost in Suquamish. Must of taken a wrong turn in Poulsbo trying to find the Hood Cannel bridge.

[TimH]

interesting.

I know the ferry system is sure against any bad PR.

There were some post cards of one of the old steel-electrics full of cars and sitting high and dry on the beach. I believe the ferry system got them taken out of circulation because they were worried about what people might say.

[Robert L.]

Well, back to square one, the Bitterendblog (http://bitterendblog.com) admits that they were duped by a hoaxer, the Steilacoom II isn't half sunk at the dock. Now I am back to wondering what all the quiet excitement was about. I suppose that when one lives in one of the more heavily armed counties in the country, Naval Station Bremerton, Sub Base Bangor, Naval Undersea Warfare Center at Keyport and then of course Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, one probably has to learn to put up with these things. On the other hand you always know ahead of time when something interesting is going on in the world when one of those Whidbey jets flies overhead at treetop level on its way south.

[TimH]

Maybe Bangor dropped a nuke from a crane again :)

[Paul Girouard]

On the other hand you always know ahead of time when something interesting is going on in the world when one of those Whidbey jets flies overhead at treetop level on its way south.



What would that tell you about "something interesting is going in the world"?

Training goes on constantly all the mission we fly in this OP area are training missions.

Which is more than likely what you "saw" the other day , a training exercise / mission.

Unlikely related to the Port Townsend / Whidbey Island ferry being out of service. Although IF a ferry sank SAR helo from NAS Whidbey/ the coasties out of Port Angeles would be part of the rescue effort.

[Michael Beckman]

Training goes on constantly all the mission we fly in this OP area are training missions.

Aside from when they're fending off alien spaceships you mean.

[TimH]

Aside from when they're fending off alien spaceships you mean.

Or crashing their sky pigs over near Forks :)

[Paul Girouard]

Or crashing their sky pigs over near Forks



We've "auger-ed in" our share over on the OP. Back in the early to mid 80's it got pretty ugly in the Prowler community.

My first squadron lost one over there and one behind the boat. Dangerous business fly-in tactical jets.

[Paul Girouard]

Aside from when they're fending off alien spaceships you mean.



Maybe they should look up Uranus. :D

[Thorne]

Some guy named Griffin complained about his pig being shot...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Vancouver1798map-SanJuan-Gulf.png

Oh! You mean a CURRENT naval action...

[Robert L.]

By Paul Girouard:

What would that tell you about "something interesting is going in the world"?

I am familiar with the training flights, spent about five hours on a beach near the Whidbey base one time trying to get about five minutes of usable footage for part of a documentary about Northwest Native American Dance, you guys keep pretty busy up there.

Down here at the North End of the Kitsap Peninsula about the only thing that flies overhead are eagles, owls, and ravens oh, and some jerk with a small plane who practices stalling out and restarting his engine, and occasionally, say every few months or so a really big helicopter fly's back and forth for a while. Generally things are so quiet that you can actually hear the wind flutter through a ravens wing tips. There have been a few exceptions, maybe 3 or 4 times that I have noticed in the past 15 or so years when a jet has come down from the North very low. Strangely enough a couple of these training missions just happened to take place immediately preceding things like the beginning the of Afghan and Iraq wars. If there were a lot of jets going over, or we were getting involved in lot's and lot's of conflicts perhaps I wouldn't find it unusual. Usually when I get awakened in the middle of the night it is to chase a bear out of the apple tree outside my sons window, or to dig a raccoon out of the freezer on the back porch. Generally not much is going on in the world the next day. But when a jet flies overhead in the middle of night and the next morning we are at war or something else exciting is going on, well after the second or third time one starts to notice.

[TimH]

For a time before we went into Iraq the Prowlers were training every night for hour after hour. It was pretty obvious soething was in the works. Prior to that they were practicing once a week.

[Robert L.]

By Thorne;
Some guy named Griffin complained about his pig being shot...

And it's not like they know which part of the pig to make bacon out of anyway.

[Robert L.]

By TimH:
For a time before we went into Iraq the Prowlers were training every night for hour after hour. It was pretty obvious soething was in the works. Prior to that they were practicing once a week.

Yeah that is something you probably would notice also. For me I tend to get my news by going out in the street to see how many people are running up and down screaming. Of course that doesn't work real well when you only have one neighbor within a mile circle and he is deaf. When you only have one real plane fly overhead every three or four years or so it kind of draws your attention. If the next morning people are running up and down the street screaming one might be lead to the conclusion that the two events are connected. (just so some of the more excitable members of the forum don't misunderstand I don't mean this literally, people running up and down the street would scare the wildlife so we tend not to do it here)

[Paul Girouard]

For a time before we went into Iraq the Prowlers were training every night for hour after hour. It was pretty obvious soething was in the works. Prior to that they were practicing once a week.



We've been over this before , we train year round , there is always the "Next" squadron to deploy, the assets used in theater are in said theater. End of the quarter tends to be a heavy flight hours time due to burning gas to spend money.

About a month ago the Coupeville people where complaining, again, about aircraft noise. {{{What they thought when they purchased land near a NAS outer laying field used for FCLP's ( Fleet Carrier Landing Practice) is beyond me, }}}} but thats yet another subject:rolleyes:, so was that some "build -up" in your opinion?

Why "Santa" noticed "low flying jets" in conjunction with the "start" of the Gulf war may have more to do with his faulty memory and connecting the two things that may have not really taken place on the same night.

Here's a question for you Tim, why are the anti-war folks not out on the highway waving thier signs these days. Hell last week we lost what was it 14 people in country, are those deaths justified under Pres. Obama?

[TimH]

I live a mile from OLF (Outlying Field not outer laying field) Paul. Only an idiot wouldnt have noticed something was up.

[Paul Girouard]

I live a mile from OLF (Outlying Field not outer laying field) Paul. Only an idiot wouldnt have noticed something was up.



Sure, what the F$ck does practice at a field thousands of miles from the battle field have to do with starting a operation?

You can think what you want , but you're wrong. Nice quiet night tonight I bet nothings going on in Iraq or Afghanistan. Prolly all sleeping eh:rolleyes:

[TimH]

Not a thing Paul.
They surely wouldnt be putting in some heavy duty excercises before an actual attack.

[Robert L.]

By Paul Girourard:
Why "Santa" noticed "low flying jets" in conjunction with the "start" of the Gulf war may have more to do with his faulty memory

Paul, jet singular. In the 17 years I have lived in this area other than a couple of small planes now and again out of Mirth Airport (I think it may be the grassy path on the right)

http://72.41.23.68/images/Mirth.jpg

there have only been 3 or 4 planes go overhead that one could hear and they were low and loud, we actually don't even see all that many contrails from the ones up high. Not that there might not have been more when I am in Seattle or perhaps the North Pole, it just doesn't seem to happen all that often. Perhaps there is a training schedule that sends a jet out low this way every 5 or 6 years. I wouldn't know, just know it isn't something that happens every day, or week, or month. Heard one a couple of years ago but nothing cataclysmic happened. Just like seeing a very large gray boat that was really pointy on the front end and long and low and tug-boaty on the back side, tearing @$$ through Agate Passage the other day throwing all sorts of wake up on shore. Lived in Suquamish for 7 years, and have gone over that bridge 2 to 4 times a day for almost 17 years. Never seen it before, but it could happen 20 or 30 times a day when I am not there although I would think that the rich folks on Bainbridge Island might have made a fuss if it were a regular event. Of course with my "faulty memory" maybe I am just confusing it with an ice-cream truck. Do they still have those things? I haven't seen one for decades.

[Paul Girouard]

Not a thing Paul.

They surely wouldnt be putting in some heavy duty excercises before an actual attack.



Not FCLP-ing, all that is for is to get back on to the ship. Just about everything done at the bounce strip is about landing the aircraft on the ship. A small detail of the overall mission.

Yes there is a jamming radar practice "Dolly" at OLF Coupeville , BUT when they are "bouncing" that part , the jamming part isn't being done.

Bouncing is a PITA , they (pilot's mainly) have to have a required number of "hits" , those hits are graded by a LSO who's "waving" that night or day. The "hits" simulate a OK landing, they have to have a set number of OK hits "before" they head to the ship. Once they get to the ship , more practice happens , each pilot have to have a set number of cats and traps , which we call CQ-ing every pilot of every squadron has to "pass" the CQ cycle before the ship can "move on". Of course some might fail, seldom happens , but sure once in while one of two pilots in a CAG might "wash out" fail to either get the required number of cats and traps , or might not get enought OK passes , that pilot would maybe be sent back to the RAG (training command) for more practice , or he or she might wash out entirely from being a pilot.

So all this training is on going, you don't just "Go to Coupeville " to fly FCLP mission "cuz we're goin to have us a shootin war".

It take months to "work-up" to a cruise , many other missions , scenario's NAS China Lake , NAS Fallon , trips to the ship to CQ , work with the rest of the CAG. Back to Whidbey , more local low levels , more FCLP at OLF Coupeville , maybe a "Red Flag" exercise down in Las Vegas , or Puerto Rico. Back to the ship for more / another round of CQ-ing , EVERY time the ship pulls out after maybe it's a month of being away from ship board flying the whole CQ process happens again , every pilot , set number of cats and traps , before the other "regular training" working as a unit with the rest of the CAG ( Carrier Air Group) can happen.


So a few jets flying down at OLF Coupeville , or a lot of jets flying at OLF Coupeville have very little to do with air strikes that are going to happen even next week in the Op area.

It takes time to get all the training done , documented , time to get the jets to the ship either Norfolk or San Diego , load all the gear , test equip, bodies , tools etc on-board. Put the ship to sea , CQ AGAIN !! Then head across "The pond" which ever way the ships goes , some go around via the I.O. Some do the ditch Suez Canal , yadda yadda yadda. It takes about a month to get to that area , all the while your training.

maybe you'll never get the bigger picture , but jets over OLF Coupeville are a LONG way (time wise) away from dropping bombs on Baghdad.

But you can still think what you want. They give you that right.

[perldog007]

To get a grip on activities we aren't supposed to know about, to find out what the bleeding edge of the spear is doing - - keep an eye on the oldest profession. Somehow working ladies always seem to know when and where the fleet is moving.

[Paul Girouard]

To get a grip on activities we aren't supposed to know about, to find out what the bleeding edge of the spear is doing - - keep an eye on the oldest profession. Somehow working ladies always seem to know when and where the fleet is moving.



That would be a better indicator than NAVAIR FCLP Ops.

The ladies in the P.I. aways knew when we'd be back in port at Subic Bay.:D

[LeeG]

But you can still think what you want. They give you that right.

little man syndrome

[TimH]

:rolleyes:

[Paul Girouard]

little man syndrome



Ya little:rolleyes:

[Robert L.]

Boy, this sure has gotten uh, interesting. All I was wondering was if anybody knew if there was any local news about anything happening that would explain a few pieces of fairly specialized Navy equipment in the neighborhood. Suquamish wouldn't seem to be a likely destination for a training exercise from either Bremerton or Bangor and quite frankly is small enough that anything flashier than a UPS truck is going to be pretty noticeable, especially when they seem to be lost (can't say for certain that they were indeed lost, but it did appear that they were asking the guy who guards the traffic cone for directions). Anyway my intent is not to try to start any conspiracy theories or trolling for attention, but look at it this way, if the Goodyear Blimp lands in your back yard I think most people would at least consider asking why.

[TimH]

I had everyone going with that sunk ferry picture anyway! :)

[Robert L.]

By TimH:
I had everyone going with that sunk ferry picture anyway!

Yup that was pretty good and would have tied everything up in one nice package. If whoever created it had just pasted in a cloudy sky I would have been happy.

[Paul Girouard]

Boy, this sure has gotten uh, interesting.

Interesting is good right? Would you rather have boring?


Anyway my intent is not to try to start any conspiracy theories or trolling for attention,

All I gave you where facts , facts bother people I guess.



but look at it this way, if the Goodyear Blimp lands in your back yard I think most people would at least consider asking why.



A fire truck isn't really "the Goodyear" blimp. Maybe life on the Oly. Penn is more "boring" than one would think. :DIf the blimp and a fire truck can be equated as "odd" or interesting in the same way.

Now IF you break out Rudy and the rest of the team , now that might be interesting.

[TimH]

Maybe life on the Oly. Penn is more "boring" than one would think.


Look at your map Paul. Kitsap county is on the Kitsap Peninsula :rolleyes:

[Thad]

Does the Kitsap Peninsula include everything from Case Inlet to Skunk Bay?

[Robert L.]

Originally Posted by Paul Girouard
Maybe life on the Oly. Penn is more "boring" than one would think


Originally Posted by TimH
Look at your map Paul. Kitsap county is on the Kitsap Peninsula

Actually, I like boring. And I would put up my part of Kitsap against just about anywhere on the OP for boring. In fact the family is going to Port Townsend this evening for an exciting night out. ;=)

And Paul, this is hitting below the belt.


Now IF you break out Rudy and the rest of the team , now that might be interesting.

You're an adult, you know I can only take the team up one night out of the year. Besides you guys take unauthorized fly-overs pretty seriously. ;=)

(for those of you who take everything in every post seriously and personally I just would like to point out that much of the above is a joke ((well except for the boring part)), for some reason that I have yet to figure out Paul frequently calls me Santa. I take no offense to it.)

[Robert L.]

Originally Posted by Thad
Does the Kitsap Peninsula include everything from Case Inlet to Skunk Bay?

Here's a map from the visitkitsap.com (http://www.visitkitsap.com/other/pages_list.asp?id=1) site.

Bainbridge Island folks kind of distance themselves from the rest of the county and hardly anybody south of Brownsville realizes there is anything North of Silverdale/Bremerton.

[Thad]

Thanks.

[dpincus]

Call the fire department and ask them.

[Pitsligo]

FWIW, I was at Poulsbo Cenex that day and saw the Fed Fire engine come roaring through, code 3, headed in the general direction of Suquamish --but through downtown, not on 305. "WTF?" Don't know why they chose the busiest possible route by which to traverse the teeming metropolis of P'bo, or where they were headed, but yes, something was certainly up.

I'll ask around Liberty Bay Marina, tomorrow. Need to go down there anyway. Someone might have heard something.

Alex