North Atlantic – Norway to Germany to England

USS Scott DDG-995

Feb 1991-Jan 1992

North Atlantic – Norway to Germany to England

The storm we ran into out of Norway was pretty crazy.  Tore up the fo’c’sle badly and cracked the hell out of the ship.

In Germany, we sat in a lock separating the base in Wilhelmshaven from the rest of the area’s shipping business. An interesting fact about this area, the German Battleship Tirpitz was built there. I am a big history nut, so that to me is a high light.

I was still on mess cranking duty in Germany, so the day was spent really not doing much. I remember the crew took off as soon as liberty was called, so there weren’t too many onboard for lunch or dinner.

HT1 and his crew were putting new railings back on the fo’c’sle, and we were taking on fuel. Those two activities so close together needed permission. The welding crew did a great job getting it done, and by late afternoon you would never have known the railing was torn away.

When the galley crew assembled, the cook told us, we would do all of the serving, and he would clean. Since it was out the only night in Germany, he wanted max liberty. I have no idea why, but they had turkey that night. I think Cheney was the cook on duty too. He carved up some of the birds and went about cleaning as we served. I ran out of turkey, so I got to practice my skills carving.

Off on liberty, we went. I remember the taxi was a kick-ass Mercedes and the drive was a former German Sailor. A quick drive and we were in town. Where do sailors new into a town go when they want something to eat? We went to McDonald’s. Then, of course, we hit a couple bars while in tow too. We found one with no other Scott sailors in it and started to have a fun time.

We were told that pretty much everyone in town spoke English or passable English. At the first places, we went this was true. At McDonald’s, the young lady even made sure I gave her the proper coins for the meal I bought. But, at the last bar, we went to, the bartender didn’t speak a word of English.

I tried to order beer, but she replies to me, “Which type of beer” in German. I reply, “Nein sprechen sie Deutsch” To which she tosses her hands in the air and walks off. A guy sitting next to me tells me she wants to know what brand.

This man and I start talking, and he helps me order a round of beer for my table. Then he orders us a round of schnapps. This starts off more conversations, and we find out he, too, was a German sailor. He actually had been on the operation with us and seen Scott off Norway. We had a great time drinking and talking. Whatever that schnapps was, we drank the bar out of it after a while. It was red and really kicked ass.

So, all in all, I got to spend maybe 6 hours on liberty in Germany. Sure, more time off would have been great, but it is what it is.

We left and moved down the English Channel toward an unexpected stop in Portsmouth. The battle group anchored in the harbor, and we sat there for 2 or 3 days. No liberty! WTF? Serious!?! Yeah, we sat there on Scott anchored within sight of land, but no liberty. That did really suck.

For the most part, the European portion of North Star 91 was engaging.