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(10-22-2010)
Jim King GM1(SW/SWCC)
Jim, I was at SBU-12 From 94-99. GMM1(SW) when I
got there GM1 (SW/SWCC) when I left.
I
was training on the 30' I-rhib when the 10M P-rhib had
come to SBU12. Once I got use to the notion of the
wind and water in my face and I kind of started to
like the rhibs. (I just moved from the PB's) Anyway
I liked the maneuverability of the I-rhib, |
but you had to be careful of the buckets. The P-rhib on the
other hand still had the hydraulic assist on the
stronger buckets of the Kamewa jets. I really liked
that. The fact you could use the buckets to
maneuver and stop.
I guess one of the most impressive things about the
10M (to me anyway) was the ability to do a crashback.
If it was done right you would shower anyone near
you. The tour boats loved this in the harbor when
we would be coming back in to the unit, the tour
boats could easily coax me into doing a impromptu
dog and pony show for the tourist of San Diego.
(Only got my butt chewed once or twice for this,
but called it training anyway).
So, one day the det goes out for a photo op and
training of some new guys to the 10M boats, past 1
S.D.. On the way back in, the water was smooth,
hardly a ripple and not so many seagulls either.
Beautiful day for a boat ride.
Now, as we are returning to the unit we decided to
show the new guys how to maneuver using the
buckets. And, of course how to do a crashback. Now
when you do a crashback you want to make sure
everyone is holding on. So, after I showed the new
guy how to do a crashback he said he got it. Ok !
The first attempt at the crashback was not
successful, he throttled down first, we slowly came
to a gentle stop. Ok let's try this again, a couple
more show hows and verbal explanations later we were
ready to have another try at it. Second time, no
joy, but a nice gentle stop. So, I told him to get
up to step. Once on step I hollered "DO IT!" Bam,
He pulled those buckets down just as we came off a
small wake. Excellent crash back... except the
engineer wasn't ready. He flew over the console,
onto the engine compartment, over to the sponson and
into the water. I had the driver turn the wheel
slightly to the left (buckets still down) to keep
the jets away from the man in the water. The man in
the water came up patted his head so, we know he was
ok. I started laughing my ass off, until I realized
he had my miniature voice recorder and the duty pack
of cigarettes. Then the other boat radioed to ask
what happened. Yeah when we got back, I got another
butt chewing. But, I still think it was kind of
funny. I think O'Brian laughed about it too, when
he dried off...
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I'm currently living in Independence, Missouri, and
work at the local bullet factory as a gunsmith.
Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.
Jim King -
My contact info is
RHIBDRVR@HOTMAIL.COM
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