From Hawaii to Guam, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, and Bahrain

[Dave Bennett]

Rowboat in the Maldives

Our little marina

LCU offloading at Madivaru

Fish feast in Maldives

Golden Buddha at Burmese Buddhist Temple, Penang

Directing a mass casualty drill in cooperation with the physicians and staff of Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman

 

[DiploStrat]

Huh??

For those of you who are wondering:

-- UNREPS means underway replenishment, one of many things that the US Navy does better than anyone else and the real secret behind the ability to project power at extreme range.

-- Ram Tension: See those nifty towers? They compensate automagically for the movement of the two ships (and usually three) all tied together in rough seas at stupidly high speeds. (In the old days you had to have a really good winch operator and pray for no power problems. If a cable parted it could keep folks like TACODOC way too busy.) Imagine the forces when you have an aircraft carrier on one side and a destroyer on the other, now start changing off the ships.

-- The older fleet oilers where rehabed tankers with small rudders and lousy lines. It was hard for them to keep up with an aircraft carrier, let alone hold station. The new ship in the pictures is a real beauty. Plus she has a helo pad on the fantail. (No more breeches buoy!)

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Great Pics!


Be Safe.....Dave!



.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Qatar

There is nothing going on here! We have been in tents all day due to a sand storm. The only patient that we have seen was a local who wandered into our camp looking for a doctor (very odd). He had bronchitis and we treated him. He brought some camel milk this AM as payment. Good times.

 

[Honu]

what does camel milk taste like ?????

 

[Dave Bennett]

what does camel milk taste like ?????

It is an acquired taste... but the fact that the old chap brought it to us was very humbling. He lives in a hut in the desert and doesnt have much, but he insisted on sharing it with us, we were obliged to accept or it would have been an insult. Camels (and their milk) are symbols of prosperity here.

I have grown quite fond of the hubbus (flat pita bread), dall, and some of the other middle east cuisine. Lamb kababs are REALLY good (served like a gyro)... :drool:

 

[DiploStrat]

Bravo Zulu!

Dave,

You are doing more good in the GWOT than two companies of Marines. (And I like Marines.)

Trust me on this.

All the best!

 

[Dave Bennett]

Dave,

You are doing more good in the GWOT than two companies of Marines. (And I like Marines.)

Trust me on this.

All the best!

Thank you.

I always tell the men that every band-aid we apply, every elderly family member or child we help, every kind word, and every smile is big money in the bank for us. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes when we have a good relationship with the locals

 

[Streakerfreak]

Thanks for sharing these will us Dave. You have me hooked!

 

[daverami]

Thanks for sharing these will us Dave. You have me hooked!

X2!

Awesome work you men do,:beer:Hoisting one for you all.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Kingdom of Bahrain

Well, it's been all over the news now so I guess you all know that our ship, USS New Orleans, had a collision with a US sub while transiting the Straights of Hormuz.

Quite an experience being struck in the middle of the night by a submarine-sized torpedo! :Wow1:

Needless to say, we will see a bit more of the Kingdom of Bahrain than we had planned on. Please chime in if anyone has any must see sites or experiences for us here.

At least Bahrain isn't a dry country :beer:

 

[FourByLand]

Dave,

Bummer. But as you said at least you will be able to partake in some of the local brew!

How about some photos at the bar with the locals?

:costumed-smiley-007

 

[Streakerfreak]

Holy:cow:! I had not heard about that yet. When I was out at sea during my tall ship days out in the Pacific we were within 30 feet of a surfacing US Sub. Almost came right up under us and scared the living daylights out of me since I was at bow watch. Nice to know it was not worse then it was and you guys are okay.


Edit: Huh...the USS Hartford. I saw that sub leaving port a while ago and snapped a quick shot of it as it went past our house. Its based right up the street from me.

 

[Mlachica]

I always tell the men that every band-aid we apply, every elderly family member or child we help, every kind word, and every smile is big money in the bank for us. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes when we have a good relationship with the locals

Good man! Thank YOU Dave!

 

[flyingwil]

Dude, when you get back we gotta go on a trip! Beers are on me! You know the number to call.