ACVA GOES ABOARD USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2

The ACVA received permission from NAVSEA to go aboard ADAMS to perform a complete ship evaluation of all 335 spaces. ACVA had 15 DDG crew members from many Adams Class ships on board May 22 and 23.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The ACVA recently performed a comprehensive material condition survey of the ADAMS. A Survey Team, comprised of 15 ACVA members (chosen for their varied technical expertise) and a Marine Surveyor, surveyed ADAMS 21-23 May in Philadelphia. The results of the Survey, while not yet complete, indicate that even though the ship is in pretty “rough” shape, she can be restored. The Team did not see anything at this point that would prevent her from becoming an excellent Naval ship museum. This report also includes details of the very successful meeting with Gloucester City officials. The report below describes some findings which may seem disheartening (some areas of the ship are in need of repair, refurbishment), but keep in mind that “overall” the Team found ADAMS to be in pretty good shape.

ACVA hired a professional marine engineer to go aboard Monday May 21st and perform hull tests and carefully go over the ship with a professional eye. We met with him Tuesday morning May 22 before beginning our ACVA evaluation and received a verbal summary of his survey. His full report is expected soon. The thinning hull in several places was previously known and documented. This will require the ship to be dry docked to make repairs to hull plates, before it goes to a museum city.

ACVA Evaluation Teams
Overall, it was an exhausting two day effort. The fifteen member evaluation team arrived in Gloucester City, NJ and met at the Quality Inn Monday evening May 21. Two members flew in, one from Tampa, FL. and one from Phoenix, AZ; The remainder drove in, Two from Jacksonville, FL.; Two from Maine; One from NY; Three from Virginia; Two from NJ; One from Ohio; and two from PA.

Our team included 4 main space engineers, 2 electricians, a hull technician and a damage control person, 2 weapons chiefs, a electronics warrant officer and radar technician, and a storekeeper. The diversity of experience included 2 former DDG commanding officers, 1 former FFG & CG commanding officer, four warrant officers, two chiefs, and various rates of petty officers. Volunteers were broken into 6 teams:
Main Space Engineers (4) EM/IC (2) DC/A Gang (2)
Weapons (2) Supply (2) Operations (2)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR THE EVALUATION TEAM:
These folks drove and flew long distances, paid all of their own expenses, and provided the sweat labor to survey and document the ship from the keel to the 03 level, and bow to stern.
No one has ever developed a complete evaluation like this.

Jim Aldrich (FL) Tom Crosser (AZ) Bob Rumney (VA) Dick Feckler (VA)
Bill Hunteman (VA) Wayne Misenar (FL) Jim Donaldson (FL) Rick Watson (ME)
Bob Branco (ME) Stephen Weber (PA) Bill Reinard (PA) Dave Myerly (NJ)
Jim Doster (NJ) Day2 Only Harold Strassner (NY) Day1 Only
Bob Fox (OH) Became ill Monday night and could not participate

We completed a tough task in less then two days that had been planned for three full days.
Great Job guys! And thanks for your dedication and all your hard work.

THE TEAM
THE EVALUATION
Bob Branco, ex Adams CO, obtained a set of deck plans and a compartment list for the 335 compartments a week before we came to the ship. Each group was responsible for assigned departmental compartments to locate, record safety and material condition, missing equipment, and take photos to document the conditions. The groups submitted evaluation sheets and turned their photos into a central contact for collection to place them on CD’s.

“Demilling” is an Ugly Fact:
The shipyard was ordered years ago to "demilitarize (demill) the ship." Much of the equipment was ruined in various ways and is sad to see. This method was used to prepare the ship to go to a scrapper and is a process where workers go through and bash equipment with hammers and cut wires to make it non usable.

The two 5 inch 54 gun barrels were cut off and the Tartar missile launcher rails were notched with torches. Countless pieces of electrical and electronic equipment wiring has been cut and gauges, radar repeater glass faces, gyro repeaters, were broken. The SPS-39A radar antenna is sitting on the fantail with an outer layer section cut out. Some pieces of equipment were removed from the ship, and sent to depots or other fleet ships for use.

Engineering spaces & shaft alleys:
Below decks all overboards are blanked off in the interior spaces and the bilges are in good shape for the age of the ship. Almost all equipment is still in place, and looks like it is ready to get underway. All tanks except one were found to be dry from previous cleaning. NAVSEA will take care of cleaning the tank found with about of 3 feet of oil and water in it.

Hull/DC/A Gang:
Almost all fire fighting stations on the ship had strainers and CO2 systems removed and/or disabled. All hoses, nozzles are gone, and almost all battle lanterns are shells, glass broken and no lights. Some ladders are dangerous and have missing pins, loose
and missing rails and topside rusted stepping plates. Many hatches and scuttles are in good condition, and major equipment - steering gear, emergency diesels etc. are OK.
A large cut out has been made in the bulkhead in the DCC area to remove equipment.

Electrical/IC:
General condition is good and lights were on in most spaces. Electrical switchboards are mostly intact, except the main breakers have been removed. Some equipment is in good shape, but all IC switchboards, Gyro & Main Telephone Switchboard were bashed.

Weapons:
Gears were ground off gun mounts and the ASROC launcher to prevent moving them. The ASROC launcher, and launcher station and maintenance room needs TLC. Many pieces of equipment have been removed, and if present gauges and components were smashed. Most fire control antennas remain in place but are missing parts. The ships boats, gig and whaleboat, were sent to Norfolk years ago.

Operations:
Many pieces of equipment in CIC, Radio, Bridge, Navigation and Electronic Warfare areas had equipment removed and/or demilled. One CIC DRT and radar scope have been removed through an 8x7 foot cut out in the side of CIC which has a temporary patch over it. Many deck plates are raised with chairs overturned leaving many cables lying around. The air search radar area has 3 scopes remaining that have been bashed. Status boards and air tracking plot boards are in place and operable.

Supply:
Crew berthing spaces were in good shape. Storerooms, laundry, scullery and galley look like they had just been vacated and could be brought back into service today. Mattresses are removed from all berthing compartments and staterooms and one berthing compartment has oil on deck that made for tricky walking. The CPO Mess, starboard side after of the scullery, was totally gutted. The main deck galley, scullery and mess decks were mostly intact and mess deck chairs and tables are in place as is the wardroom galley. Office equipment, and chairs throughout the ship are gone. Crew compartment and officers racks and lockers are in place.

Documentation:
A search of the Global Associates contractor's records resulted in finding some lists of the disposition of equipment that was removed from the ship, certification that all ship's tanks were emptied and left dry, asbestos inspections, etc. No ship's equipment remains stored in Philadelphia, as far as could be determined.

Evaluation Results:
On Tuesday May 22 from 8-11AM & 12-3PM, and Wednesday May 23 from7:30-11AM, our team visited all spaces in the ship that we could visit. There were a dozen spaces that were wired closed, but most of those were storerooms that had no significant interest.
For a 47 year old ship, the Charles F. Adams was in pretty good shape. There was the obvious rust and corrosion in deck house joints and areas on the main decks that are exposed to the weather. Paint is cracked and flaking all over the ship, and inside the hull, but re-preservation can be addressed later. Wednesday PM, the six teams met off ship and discussed the results of the evaluation.

Gloucester City Meeting:
On Tuesday night, Jim Aldrich presented a briefing to Mayor William James, Councilman Jay Brobhy, President of the Business Association Dave Stallwood, Vice President of the Business Association Kenny McAdams, and former Mayor Bob Bevin from Gloucester City, NJ. The city has a fine possible area on the Delaware River not far from the Walt Whitman Bridge from Philadelphia that has possibilities for development. A marina, fishing pier, and park with a river walk provide a couple of options for mooring the Charles F. Adams. The town is small, about 14000, and is a mostly a working class population with many small businesses. The cost of achieving their interest and ours is the main issue under discussion.

Corporate sponsorship and significant fund raising would be needed to make this project a reality in Gloucester City, NJ or any city we would partner with. Pastor Jim Doster, is a retired warrant officer, an ex Adams crewmate, and a local resident who runs the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Gloucester City, NJ. Jim Doster was our introduction to the city officials and did an outstanding job getting the team to and from the NAVSEA shipyard facility in his bus, and arranged special rates at the local Quality Inn. We are continuing discussions with Gloucester City, NJ.

Other Cities:
We continue talking with contacts at Jacksonville, FL. where there is a plan to expand the local Maritime Museum to include a ship, and Savannah, GA. has expressed an interest as well. Other cities are still talking with us about possibilities.

The bottom line of all our discussions is that the ACVA needs to raise some significant money, and work to engage corporate sponsorship for both the restoration of the ship, and to establish the berth where she will be moored.

Dave Myerly
ACVA Executive Secretary