Following three days of glorious, spring-like weather with bright sun, gentle breezes, and temperatures in the mid-70s, the North Texas Battle Group convened pond-side for towed target gunnery practice.
The Fleet and Observers
The detachment consisted of:
- USS Missouri (Don Payne)
- USS Dallas (Jeff Burns)
- Waco Victory (Mike Newell)
Also in attendance were Jerry Ethridge, Todd Steglich, and Clyde Steglich.
Environmental Conditions
The group was met with challenging conditions: thirty-knot winds blowing from the north at 52°F. Despite the gusts, the water showed only small whitecaps. By approximately 11:30, the winds abated just enough to tempt the elements, and both the USS Dallas and Waco Victory were launched.
Operational Hazards
The sortie quickly took a turn for the worse. The USS Dallas passed under the gangplank toward the deck area; upon its return, it was discovered the ship had lost its topmost superstructure. The vessel was immediately stricken from further action.
The Waco Victory faced a more dire fate. As it passed under the gangplank and emerged from beneath the walkway, it was seen to be decks awash and rapidly sinking. Fortunately, Jeff was able to grab the ship by its bow just as the superstructure slipped under the surface.
Post-Incident Analysis
A subsequent inspection revealed a significant rip in the hull plating. While some jokingly attributed the failure to the quality of the Kaiser Shipyards, it was likely the result of a transport error. Unfortunately, the vessel was launched before the damage was noticed.
Conclusion
By 12:30, the decision was made to cease operations and get out of the gusty winds. The detachment retired to a warmer location for further discussions and to plan for the next engagement.