Hull (DD 945) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 9 text:

First light, Pier 1, San Diego. 27 February 1981. The ship has completed the long months of tests, inspections, train- ing and exercises that have pre- pared her for deployment to the Western Pacific. The decks are freshly painted. Equipment has been checked, re-checked and checked yet again. Stores have been brought aboard: The tanks have been topped off with fuel. A sense of anticipation hangs in the air. Last minute business is being quickly disposed of. The men and their officers have in some cases, worked around the clock in final preparation for the mornings de- parture. The mist begins to lift, and the first few well wishers ar- rive. . .

Page 11 text:

The Transit Steaming with the Canadians The transit from San Diego to Hawaii was made in the com- pany of four ships from the Canadian Na.vy: HMCS Cootenay, HMCS Sascatchauan HMCS 10 and HMCS Provider. The Provid- er was our mobile gas station, transferring fuel every third day in order that we could keep the tanks topped off. lt wasn't strictly necessary Qwe could of course steam longer than that without refuelingj but it was prudent to do so. One difference between the United States and Canadian navies is that l.l.S. ships sail dry, while the Canadian's sail wet. Translat- ed into plain English, the Canadians have alcoholic beverages aboard and are permitted to drink while underway: their CLS. counterparts enjoy no such luxury. That's not to say that a 0.8. sailor or two doesn't occasionally smuggle a beer aboard. lt would be naive to think otherwise. By and large, though, our men must be content with bug juice. . This difference was not lost on the Canadians. Engagins in a little one-up manship, their off-duty sailors would lounge con- spicuously aboat, a cold can of ale in hand, casually observing the proceedings eact time HULL would come alongside the HMCS Provider to take on fuel. Now. an underway replenishment, is conducted with the ships at a distance of about 120 feet apart. You have my solemn word that any sailor who cannot spot a cold can of ale at a distance of 120 feet has met his ultimate and final demise. The Canadians knew this, and took the opportunity to rub it in, in a good-natured way. During one of our alongside periods, the Provider sent over a package. Inside were two cold, cold cans of Canadian ale. After considerable discussion, the linehandlers allowed that finders keepers was not a very fair method of determining the disposi- tion of the ale, and a more equitable way was agreed upon. The ship would hold a raffle. Two days and 8152.00 later, the winner, 20, got to drink his beer. The proceeds of the most expensive can of beer of the entire deployment went to the Navy Relief Society.