Had an opportunity to light fires in a boiler, long, long time ago as a Midshipman. Yeah, sounds unlikely, but I did. Pushing that flaming torch into the furnace was something I will never, ever forget. Started my career as an MMFN and went on to serve on submarines as an officer. Never, ever, did I forget my roots as a Snipe.
Thanks for your service from a BT3 VN Navy Vet. I was on the USS Rathburne DE-1057 from Pearl Harbor! West Pac July ‘72 to Feb ‘73. Agent Orange (dioxin) in our water is our legacy! Bravo Zulu Lt Commander! 🙏
I worked on the USS Sacramento from 2001-2004 and was in both MP-2 and MP-1 divisions as well as worked in the oil lab. One of my fondest memories as Checkman was forgetting that the feed check valve was reverse seated when I was trying to take manual control. Needless to say, we lost fires on that boiler lol
I was a medic in the Army. I'm so much more comfortable with the human body than trying to control a fireball. I'd buy these guys each a 6-pack of beer. I don't know if I could control my fear doing their job.
A modern gas grill has a more advanced piezo igniter. And even if a piezo igniter can't ignite that sludge they use for fuel, they could have something like butane stored up to help it out. Not unlike a modern cigarette torch lighter that uses butane. Shoving a lit fuel-soaked rag in there is tacky, IMHO.
Great memories! BT2 On the USS Seattle AO-3 June 75 to Dec 79 ended up as the PO in charge of the ACC shop which gave me great experience that transferred to a career on the outside.
Command responses for lighting off? After 12 years aboard CVA's, DD's, DE's, the only time I ever heard this type of responses was in BT School at GLNTC. FM's came aboard, stood watch as the messenger, then to the burner level, learned the practice, and advanced to the upper levels. Never like this.
my dad was a BT from 1951-1955 on a Destroyer Escort, then a High Speed Transport (converted DE on the ways with 12 Navy Frogmen instead of rear armament) and then as watch stander on a Command and Control ship (converted LST) got out as a 3rd class and went back to work on the railroad as a welder/carman... he said they never had leather coats or face shields. some guys had dark goggles but gloves were the only PPE they had. and as hot as it got in there, transiting the North Atlantic during a November storm, they STILL stood with their backs against the boilers to try and stay warm... thanks for the video!
Saw a BTC light fires off of a glowing back wall of the firebox, after #1 boiler lost fires. The front wall of the casing moved about two inches forward and then back, but it worked! Chief then said that if he ever saw a fireman try that he would throw him in the brigg and deep six the key! RIP Chief Dupree!
I did that on the supper heater when I lost fires on it. For some reason the mic valve totally cut off the fuel. A little puff then I was back in order.
Chuck wagon … being that i was never a BT , im not familiar with lighting off a back wall . How does this process work … and why is it so dangerous ?? Why would you favor doing this over using a torch like in the process i just watched ??
That’s why you have to make sure you grease the Sliding feet. That happened to me once the message forgot to put a sprayer plate in the burner barrel And when I turn the burner on The boiler slid out and met my hand as I went to grab my micrometer valve
BT on Sacs sister ship, Camden AOE2, Nov 1966 to May 1970, only snipes knew what made the ship run. worked in a hospital boiler room from 1970 to 2012, got to thank the Navy for my experience leading to a great job on the outside.
You were smart, I separated as a BT3. I made BT2 but Nixon put a pay freeze on all feds, including military, when it lifted I didn't have enough time left to get advanced and I sure as hell wasn't gonna ship over for a measly few bucks extra per month to get it either. I had taken out a DeVry electronics correspondence course while in, we were on Yankee station, I sent all my course stuff back from there because it was free franking privileges. Looking back now, as a snipe I could have easily landed a gig in any city or municipal water management position, put in my 20 there and retire fat & happy- like you☺
Good Notice by Harstrip. # of people did not catch my attention - but Looks to spacious to me. When wide shot look at what seems like back wall above and behind boiler - does not look like a ship.
Drips and lose material. When transferring flame DO NOT want them to drop off somewhere (IE BILGE) or as turning flung in route to burner front and get missed until they come back with a BIG friend.
I lite many of boilers, I was a BT2 when I got discharged, we where always observing safety, I was on an old Carrier that still had 8, boilers. Hot as hell,
I call them armchair rambos. “Man I can do that easy!” “Bullshit kid sit down! You’d piss yourself first bang you hear!” They have no idea how dangerous that job is and that screwing up can get someone severely hurt
her engines came from BB66 that did not end up getting built when the Iowa class when back in service a lot of the black gang when to those ships past on how to run them
My God! What a farce! That BT wouldn't need a face shield if he got his head out of harms way. It's like they never saw a burner before. Where are the Chiefs? They should be showing the young kids how it's done.
I was an MM on the USS Juneau (LPD-10) from 1977 to 1980 in #1 MMR. As an MM2 standing MMOW I've observed the ships boilers being lit off many times. Safety was always paramount. For the sailors lighting fires, safety protection was mandatory and included as a minimum the fire proof vest, gloves, safety glasses and a face shield in case of a Flare Back. To the guy that posted comments mocking and ridiculing these guys for donning safety protection, The Navy had to make it mandatory because of guys like you that lacked the common sense and self preservation to protect yourselves.
I was an MM on the USS Juneau (LPD-10) from 1977 to 1980 in #1 MMR. As an MM2 standing MMOW I've observed the ships boilers being lit off many times. Safety was always paramount. For the sailors lighting fires, safety protection was mandatory and included as a minimum the fire proof vest, gloves, safety glasses and a face shield in case of a Flair Back. To the guy that posted comments mocking and ridiculing these guys for donning safety protection, The Navy had to make it mandatory because guys like you that lacked the common sense and self preservation to protect yourselves.
I was an MM on the USS Juneau (LPD-10) from 1977 to 1980 in #1 MMR. As an MM2 standing MMOW I've observed the ships boilers being lit off many times. Safety was always paramount. For the sailors lighting fires, safety protection was mandatory and included as a minimum the fire proof vest, gloves, safety glasses and a face shield in case of a Flair Back. To the guy that posted comments mocking and ridiculing these guys for donning safety protection, The Navy had to make it mandatory for guys like you that lacked the common sense and self preservation to protect yourselves.
I was an MM on the USS Juneau (LPD-10) from 1977 to 1980 in #1 MMR. As an MM2 standing MMOW I've observed the ships boilers being lit off many times. Safety was always paramount. For the sailors lighting fires, safety protection was mandatory and included as a minimum the fire proof vest, gloves, safety glasses and a face shield in case of a Flair Back. To the guy that posted comments mocking and ridiculing these guys for donning safety protection, The Navy had to make it mandatory for guys like you that lacked the common sense and self preservation to protect yourselves.
People who never served as a BT or MM have no clue how dangerous an exercise this is. We had a girl panicked and throw the torch. She also didn't close the door. As DCPO, I had to replace a few fire extinguishers that day.
One thing to think about is, look at the years he was in. Back in those days lighting off was not as structured as it became to be from the 80's on. I stood watch with a lot of guys that wouldn't think twice about lighting off the back wall, no purge etc. There were a lot more boiler explosions back in those "Good Old Days" Stay safe!
I was a BT on your Sister ship the Camden AOE-2. Over 20 yrs ago. So not during the same time but we raced the Sac just after wog day in yr 1999. Sac won grrr. Great race though. We threw in the sliding feet an the Boilers where Roaring!!
Had an opportunity to light fires in a boiler, long, long time ago as a Midshipman. Yeah, sounds unlikely, but I did. Pushing that flaming torch into the furnace was something I will never, ever forget. Started my career as an MMFN and went on to serve on submarines as an officer. Never, ever, did I forget my roots as a Snipe.
Thanks for your service from a BT3 VN Navy Vet. I was on the USS Rathburne DE-1057 from Pearl Harbor! West Pac July ‘72 to Feb ‘73. Agent Orange (dioxin) in our water is our legacy! Bravo Zulu Lt Commander! 🙏
My CO of USS Rathburne was Commander Ming E. Chang! Google his name and you’ll see he was Adm Chang b4 he passed away from Parkinson’s disease.
The reason I’m giving you a Bravo 👏 Zulu was when you said you’ll always remember the lighting off boilers experience as a middie cadet!
Thank you for these Videos, brings back memories of being a Fearless Flame Handler (BT) 1977-81
Light 🔥 v#1 main propulsion IAW LOBF main control
I was a BT on USS Semmes DDG18.. been there done that..the good times..to all BTs and MM happy life guys...
Lighting off BB-66's boilers.
i assumed they were being watched by OPPE or someone as we didn't have face shields, leather jackets,, maybe never wore a shirt!
I worked on the USS Sacramento from 2001-2004 and was in both MP-2 and MP-1 divisions as well as worked in the oil lab. One of my fondest memories as Checkman was forgetting that the feed check valve was reverse seated when I was trying to take manual control. Needless to say, we lost fires on that boiler lol
I was a BT on a 1200 Lb Tin Can out of Norfolk the last 3 years of Nam
BT 3rd class. Missed the noise and heat. Didn't bother me at all.
I was a medic in the Army. I'm so much more comfortable with the human body than trying to control a fireball. I'd buy these guys each a 6-pack of beer. I don't know if I could control my fear doing their job.
cool video. i'm a former MM2 top watch from the USS JASON AR-8
Thanks for the upload...bought back memories and allowed me to show my children what their mom did many many years ago..:)
BT-3 1970-74 USS Midway.
A modern gas grill has a more advanced piezo igniter. And even if a piezo igniter can't ignite that sludge they use for fuel, they could have something like butane stored up to help it out. Not unlike a modern cigarette torch lighter that uses butane. Shoving a lit fuel-soaked rag in there is tacky, IMHO.
If it aint broke dont fix it ...
was BTOW USS RANGER CV61 2MMR saw EOSS manuals in my sleep.
Great memories! BT2 On the USS Seattle AO-3 June 75 to Dec 79 ended up as the PO in charge of the ACC shop which gave me great experience that transferred to a career on the outside.
I served aboard her from 78 - 83. P-1 division.
@@JR-vi4rl I ended up in P2 after the big shuffle by CWO Parrish when he split up the compartments that were BT's and MM's.
I was a BT on the Seattle in 75'
@@fig1954 I didn’t come on board until June when the ship was in Gitmo for shakedown.
Command responses for lighting off? After 12 years aboard CVA's, DD's, DE's, the only time I ever heard this type of responses was in BT School at GLNTC. FM's came aboard, stood watch as the messenger, then to the burner level, learned the practice, and advanced to the upper levels. Never like this.
Much respect for BT and MM, they are some of the hardest working sailors in the Navy. I was an EM on the USS Steinaker DD-863
The BT rate is no more in the Navy… The few non nuclear steam ships left have civilian Merchant marine officers and men running the boiler rooms.
my dad was a BT from 1951-1955 on a Destroyer Escort, then a High Speed Transport (converted DE on the ways with 12 Navy Frogmen instead of rear armament) and then as watch stander on a Command and Control ship (converted LST) got out as a 3rd class and went back to work on the railroad as a welder/carman... he said they never had leather coats or face shields. some guys had dark goggles but gloves were the only PPE they had. and as hot as it got in there, transiting the North Atlantic during a November storm, they STILL stood with their backs against the boilers to try and stay warm... thanks for the video!
Saw a BTC light fires off of a glowing back wall of the firebox, after #1 boiler lost fires. The front wall of the casing moved about two inches forward and then back, but it worked! Chief then said that if he ever saw a fireman try that he would throw him in the brigg and deep six the key! RIP Chief Dupree!
I did that on the supper heater when I lost fires on it. For some reason the mic valve totally cut off the fuel. A little puff then I was back in order.
Chuck wagon … being that i was never a BT , im not familiar with lighting off a back wall . How does this process work … and why is it so dangerous ?? Why would you favor doing this over using a torch like in the process i just watched ??
The burner yoke came out and hit me in the chest, to my surprise
That’s why you have to make sure you grease the Sliding feet. That happened to me once the message forgot to put a sprayer plate in the burner barrel And when I turn the burner on The boiler slid out and met my hand as I went to grab my micrometer valve
BT on Sacs sister ship, Camden AOE2, Nov 1966 to May 1970, only snipes knew what made the ship run. worked in a hospital boiler room from 1970 to 2012, got to thank the Navy for my experience leading to a great job on the outside.
You were smart, I separated as a BT3. I made BT2 but Nixon put a pay freeze on all feds, including military, when it lifted I didn't have enough time left to get advanced and I sure as hell wasn't gonna ship over for a measly few bucks extra per month to get it either. I had taken out a DeVry electronics correspondence course while in, we were on Yankee station, I sent all my course stuff back from there because it was free franking privileges. Looking back now, as a snipe I could have easily landed a gig in any city or municipal water management position, put in my 20 there and retire fat & happy- like you☺
I was an oil king on the Camden. ‘89-‘91 good times!
I was a BT and then MM when they combined. 1996 - 2000. USS Camden AOE-2. The Mighty Pachyderm.
I was a BT on the Camden 80-81.
Was bt, 77-81, remember a destroyer lit thier boiler and alot of guys got burned because something went wrong, was in jacksonville.
Good Notice by Harstrip. # of people did not catch my attention - but Looks to spacious to me. When wide shot look at what seems like back wall above and behind boiler - does not look like a ship.
Why does he shake the torch so many times? I've never seen a boiler lit off as I was a topside sailor
Drips and lose material. When transferring flame DO NOT want them to drop off somewhere (IE BILGE) or as turning flung in route to burner front and get missed until they come back with a BIG friend.
Good question as we never did all of that. To much drama.
I lite many of boilers, I was a BT2 when I got discharged, we where always observing safety, I was on an old Carrier that still had 8, boilers. Hot as hell,
M DIV. 3MMR JOHN F. KENNEDY...
i was on the america a cv carrier like the kennedy you are right the main spaces were hot as hell
I worked on the other side of that bulkhead, spent too much time on those damn throttles!
All these wannabe super snipes on here talking their sh!t! You can tell they are internet Rambos! I am sure they have no idea what EDRE is!
I call them armchair rambos. “Man I can do that easy!” “Bullshit kid sit down! You’d piss yourself first bang you hear!” They have no idea how dangerous that job is and that screwing up can get someone severely hurt
best cover your ears.....
her engines came from BB66 that did not end up getting built when the Iowa class when back in service a lot of the black gang when to those ships past on how to run them
My God! What a farce! That BT wouldn't need a face shield if he got his head out of harms way. It's like they never saw a burner before. Where are the Chiefs? They should be showing the young kids how it's done.
Kind of neat as those were two engines from the incomplete USS Kentucky BB-66 Iowa class.
And the other two went in SACTO's sister, the CAMDEN. Great units.
@@iowa61 I was on the Camden, but worked topside
I served on Camden and Sacramento. Westpac 94 on Camden joined Sacramento in Todd Pacific after there collision with Lincoln
I also served on the Camden 80-81, BT3 Steve Povkov [pops]
Should have shown them light it off the back wall. Did that a few times.
My first ship blew up a boiler doing that
Yep boiler explosion USS Denver I was down there.
We made a video on AS-40 Lighting off. I stood burners then. Wish I had a copy of it somewhere.
Just like in locomotive practice, you don't light or relight from the flash wall.
Only as a last resort as that will cause a lot of refractory problems.
I was an MM on the USS Juneau (LPD-10) from 1977 to 1980 in #1 MMR. As an MM2 standing MMOW I've observed the ships boilers being lit off many times. Safety was always paramount. For the sailors lighting fires, safety protection was mandatory and included as a minimum the fire proof vest, gloves, safety glasses and a face shield in case of a Flare Back. To the guy that posted comments mocking and ridiculing these guys for donning safety protection, The Navy had to make it mandatory because of guys like you that lacked the common sense and self preservation to protect yourselves.
Still no reason to spam it four times....
We never had protective gear . Even lite them off with the inner door open to scare the hell out of midshipman.
I was an MM on the USS Juneau (LPD-10) from 1977 to 1980 in #1 MMR. As an MM2 standing MMOW I've observed the ships boilers being lit off many times. Safety was always paramount. For the sailors lighting fires, safety protection was mandatory and included as a minimum the fire proof vest, gloves, safety glasses and a face shield in case of a Flair Back. To the guy that posted comments mocking and ridiculing these guys for donning safety protection, The Navy had to make it mandatory because guys like you that lacked the common sense and self preservation to protect yourselves.
Cccccc
I was an MM on the USS Juneau (LPD-10) from 1977 to 1980 in #1 MMR. As an MM2 standing MMOW I've observed the ships boilers being lit off many times. Safety was always paramount. For the sailors lighting fires, safety protection was mandatory and included as a minimum the fire proof vest, gloves, safety glasses and a face shield in case of a Flair Back. To the guy that posted comments mocking and ridiculing these guys for donning safety protection, The Navy had to make it mandatory for guys like you that lacked the common sense and self preservation to protect yourselves.
I was an MM on the USS Juneau (LPD-10) from 1977 to 1980 in #1 MMR. As an MM2 standing MMOW I've observed the ships boilers being lit off many times. Safety was always paramount. For the sailors lighting fires, safety protection was mandatory and included as a minimum the fire proof vest, gloves, safety glasses and a face shield in case of a Flair Back. To the guy that posted comments mocking and ridiculing these guys for donning safety protection, The Navy had to make it mandatory for guys like you that lacked the common sense and self preservation to protect yourselves.
I was a BT 75-78 USS Badger FF-1071, looks like a lot for the camera.... far less dramatic away from cameras, at least it was for us...
What a fuss! far too many people in there and no need of the shouting. Could have lit all burners in the time it took them to light 1!
+Si Smith Looks like a LOE in progress
From the number of people, it was for an Engineering Dept inspection.
I was a BT on the Hotel Sacramento from1984-1987.
Yes sir!!! 4MMR! UssKittyHawk. BTs/MM !!!
3MMR BTOW
2MMR BTOW Kittyhawk 2002-2004
mbow82- thumbs up brother! Lit alot of fire's as a BT!! "Pit" Snipes Rule!!
People who never served as a BT or MM have no clue how dangerous an exercise this is. We had a girl panicked and throw the torch. She also didn't close the door. As DCPO, I had to replace a few fire extinguishers that day.
That because girls have NO BUSINESS being in the engine room of a warship.
Whoops-forgot the torch after light off.
what an amateur light off! HA couldn't open the torch port, didn't have SPS aligned...
One thing to think about is, look at the years he was in. Back in those days lighting off was not as structured as it became to be from the 80's on. I stood watch with a lot of guys that wouldn't think twice about lighting off the back wall, no purge etc. There were a lot more boiler explosions back in those "Good Old Days" Stay safe!
Hey Bowman Gooz sounds like a rookie in this video LOL. Good times on this ole girl. Loved every minuit of it. V/R MM1 Triplett
Would the people in this video be machinist mates?
Boiler Technicians
I was a burnerman on the Sac...Great times. I miss all my buddies.
I was a BT on your Sister ship the Camden AOE-2. Over 20 yrs ago. So not during the same time but we raced the Sac just after wog day in yr 1999. Sac won grrr. Great race though. We threw in the sliding feet an the Boilers where Roaring!!
Nice overview of everything, must be an interesting experience.