I had the distinct honor of serving on Ike when Captain Clexton and then Macke, were in command. Macke didn't screw around. If I remember right, he was a former F-4 jock who did a couple of tours in Nam. He drove the Soviets bonkers with his tactics, especially in foul weather. I remember one incident where a Soviet destroyer was trying to keep up with us in very heavy seas. We were pitching and rolling pretty good, but Macke changed course several times and got the destroyer compromised down in the toughs a couple of times. I mean, REALLY, compromised. Those sailors were walking on bulkheads, not decks. They finally threw in the towel and veered away to keep their bow in the wind. His other favorite tactics were 1), in fairly calm seas, he'd run to the horizon, come to a stop, and wait while the trawler or destroyer tried to catch up, smoke pouring out of the stack. As soon as they were parallel to us, he'd run to the horizon again and repeat the process. 2), also in good seas, he'd literally run circles around whoever was following us. Hilarious!
Capt. Clexton was CO when I was aboard IKE and Capt. O'Brien was XO. Funny story, while in Portsmouth naval shipyard my buddy and I were skylarking in the head adjacent to our berthing compartment, 2-44-0-L. It was around 0200 hours when Capt. O'Brien walks in and catches us and suggests that if we've got so much energy we might as well field day the head since we apparently couldn't sleep.
@@oldgoat142 Yours is pretty cool as well. I have a similar story. When we were in the Indian Ocean in 1980 after relieving the Nimitz we'd be shadowed by a Soviet Krivak class destroyer. Sometimes so close, I, up on vultures row on the starboard side could see their bridge crew. After sundown we'd set condition EMCON Alpha, no radar or radio emissions so they couldn't track us and then run at flank speed for a few hours to put some distance between us. I don't know if you were ever on the navigational bridge, but I on occasion would be and I noticed on the engine order telegraph there was a setting beyond flank that said War Emergency. Good times my friend. I'm still in touch with my buddies and it's been 40+ years. I'd go back if they'd have me. I think we all would.
@@gregoryleewalker No, I was never on the nav bridge. I made my living on the roof taking care of Tomcats; that and on the AIMD level, too. I knew there was flank speed but not war emergency. THAT must've been one ferocious ride! Some of the guys from my squadron made that IO deployment. Closest I came to be out there that long was 93 straight off Lebanon in 84. Macke was in charge then. Yeah, I bet we could swap sea stories all the live long day and yeah, I'd go back in a New York minute. Good times indeed shipmate. It's a beautiful thing when you can stay in touch with some old salty dogs.
We did on the IKE. It was a requirement during what's called INSURV, Inspection Survey. We'd run at flank speed and we'd do 35° max rudder deflection and we'd be heeling hard a port or starboard.
I was on the Nimitz for a Gulf of Oman Cruise in 1980. US Embassy hostages. Going around the Cape of Good Hope, South African Gunboats tried to mess with us. The late great Captain Batzler called out heading and speed changes to go around the South African boats. Just like Admiral Manzinar. Captain Batzler made Admiral. He was a great Skipper.
One of the GOATs
Hello I'm sorry to ask but what does it mean goat?. What does it stand for?
An amazing warrior! (And a great story teller.) On so many levels: Thank you, sir!
ADM Manzir was my XO on the USS Carl Vinson.
I was a Vinson man. Great ship!
I had the distinct honor of serving on Ike when Captain Clexton and then Macke, were in command. Macke didn't screw around. If I remember right, he was a former F-4 jock who did a couple of tours in Nam. He drove the Soviets bonkers with his tactics, especially in foul weather.
I remember one incident where a Soviet destroyer was trying to keep up with us in very heavy seas. We were pitching and rolling pretty good, but Macke changed course several times and got the destroyer compromised down in the toughs a couple of times. I mean, REALLY, compromised. Those sailors were walking on bulkheads, not decks. They finally threw in the towel and veered away to keep their bow in the wind.
His other favorite tactics were 1), in fairly calm seas, he'd run to the horizon, come to a stop, and wait while the trawler or destroyer tried to catch up, smoke pouring out of the stack. As soon as they were parallel to us, he'd run to the horizon again and repeat the process. 2), also in good seas, he'd literally run circles around whoever was following us. Hilarious!
Capt. Clexton was CO when I was aboard IKE and Capt. O'Brien was XO. Funny story, while in Portsmouth naval shipyard my buddy and I were skylarking in the head adjacent to our berthing compartment, 2-44-0-L. It was around 0200 hours when Capt. O'Brien walks in and catches us and suggests that if we've got so much energy we might as well field day the head since we apparently couldn't sleep.
@@gregoryleewalker Yep, typical old school deal. That's a great story.
@@oldgoat142 Yours is pretty cool as well. I have a similar story. When we were in the Indian Ocean in 1980 after relieving the Nimitz we'd be shadowed by a Soviet Krivak class destroyer. Sometimes so close, I, up on vultures row on the starboard side could see their bridge crew. After sundown we'd set condition EMCON Alpha, no radar or radio emissions so they couldn't track us and then run at flank speed for a few hours to put some distance between us. I don't know if you were ever on the navigational bridge, but I on occasion would be and I noticed on the engine order telegraph there was a setting beyond flank that said War Emergency. Good times my friend. I'm still in touch with my buddies and it's been 40+ years. I'd go back if they'd have me. I think we all would.
@@gregoryleewalker No, I was never on the nav bridge. I made my living on the roof taking care of Tomcats; that and on the AIMD level, too. I knew there was flank speed but not war emergency. THAT must've been one ferocious ride!
Some of the guys from my squadron made that IO deployment. Closest I came to be out there that long was 93 straight off Lebanon in 84. Macke was in charge then.
Yeah, I bet we could swap sea stories all the live long day and yeah, I'd go back in a New York minute. Good times indeed shipmate. It's a beautiful thing when you can stay in touch with some old salty dogs.
There will come a day I fear, when the two biggest kids on the block square off. When it does happen? I hope our skippers are like this gentelman.
@@peteparker7396 I served and flew with Nasty when he was CAG Paddles (Head AirWing LSO)…he saved my ass many times on those tough nights!!!
@@TomcatTales
Were you there when Nasty waved the half-in/half-out A-6 B/N? Legendary stuff.
Adm. Mike Manzir, reminds me of the Hollywood actor, Brian Cranston. Anyone else notice that ??
yep.
Always a pleasure listening to this gentleman.God bless you Mr.Manazir.
Ramming speed
BZ Nasty!
Un-alive! Good word.
Yeppers....those " Nantical Cowboys " are 1 big pain in the rudder...
Drifting a carrier... welp that had to be fun.
We did on the IKE. It was a requirement during what's called INSURV, Inspection Survey. We'd run at flank speed and we'd do 35° max rudder deflection and we'd be heeling hard a port or starboard.
Only Pilots can command a carrier. They go back to Nuclear Power Training when they screen for Command post CAG.
NFOs also
I was on the Nimitz for a Gulf of Oman Cruise in 1980. US Embassy hostages. Going around the Cape of Good Hope, South African Gunboats tried to mess with us. The late great Captain Batzler called out heading and speed changes to go around the South African boats. Just like Admiral Manzinar. Captain Batzler made Admiral. He was a great Skipper.
As the son of a career VS pilot, squadron, commander, carrier commander, WE'LL AGREE TO DISAGREE.
As a former US merchant mariner, I’ve had my share of close calls with USN warships clearly conned my lesser men…