[Sailor Steve]

In 1970 it was much nicer. The Gearing class (1945) were enlarged Allen M. Sumners (1943), which were in their turn improved Fletchers. The Fletchers had five 5"/38 guns on the centerline. The Sumners were widened a little to accommodate six guns in three twin turrets. The Gearings were lengthened to take extra fuel tanks, increasing their operating range. As part of the Fleet Rehabilitation And Maintenance program the ships got a new superstructure, which made the Officers' and Chief's quarters much nicer, plus a larger radio room, radar room and Command Center. Mount 52 (the second 5" turret) was removed, along with its barbette and magazine, and the space was converted to extra berthing, mainly for the cooks and mess cooks.* The AA guns were all removed and replaced with an ASROC (Anti-Submarine ROCket) mount. Atop the aft superstructure was a hangar for the DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter). Atop that was a secondary Fire Control Center for the guns.

In all there was a lot more space for the crew. We still had the triple bunks that hinged upward for the crew, with the lockers below them, but the Radiomen had our own section. Across from us was the ET (Electronics Technicians) berthing. The only bad part was that the aft end of our compartment held the barbette for the new Mount 52 (formerly Mount 53), and when we were anchored and firing it was hard to get to sleep with the lights on, men talking, or even shouting, while they handled ammunition, and a 5" cannon just a few feet away going off every thirty seconds or so.

Oh, yeah, lots of fun.