A visit to the USS Slater (DE-766) in Albany NY

[Subnuts]

The officer's wardroom as it would have appeared in harbor. At sea they would have used wooden boards with holes for dishes and utensils, which due the poor lighting in the corridor, I couldn't get a good picture of. The photo on the bulkhead is of the ship's namesake, Frank O Slater, who was killed aboard the USS San Francisco during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal




A better view of the wardroom from the other side. The medical locker and surgical lamps aren't for show - the ship was too small to have a fully equipped sickbay.



The wardroom pantry. Not the most exciting thing imaginable, but the volunteers have done an excellent job restoration many of the purely domestic areas of the ship.



Going down to the First Platform, we enter one of the crew's messing and birthing spaces. Once again, I'm amazed at how good the restoration work is. The fire hoses, piping and wiring, lights, clocks, fuze boxes...etc are all either authentic or are exceptionally fine reproductions.



Carl explains some of the finer points of cooking and serving food aboard a tiny, pitching, rolling ship. The guy in the black shirt seemed to have a perpetual serial killer look to him, and I was getting genuinely creeped out by the end of the tour.



I know I'm probably belaboring the point by now, but I'm amazed the interior looks as good as it does considering the ship was a rusting hulk back in the 90s.


Carl explained that the strap seen over the pillow was meant to restain crewmen in heavy seas, but more often than not they didn't work.



Not sure why I took so many pictures of this compartment, but it's still fascinating to see just how cramped these ships were.




The scullery, where they'd scrub those dishes beyond the call of duty.



My mother says I was obsessed with poles as a child. Don't think it ever really wore off!

[Subnuts]

Two views of the main radio room. Unlike many museum ships, there are no glass panels smeared with fingerprints blocking your view of each compartment. Although most of the rooms are blocked off with a chain, you can still stick your head inside and get a good view.









A quick peak inside the captain's cabin.



Inside the Combat Information Center with Jeffrey Dahmer. The radar doesn't actually work, but once again, the quality of the restoration is to a high standard.





By the way, the CIC is roughly the size of two cubicles mashed together, had 10 men inside at General Quarters, and seemed to have the lowest overhead of any room on the ship.



Carl explains how some of the controls in the pilothouse worked.




Closeup of the steering stand, compass, and RPM indicators.



One of the 24-inch searchlights on the signal bridge. Carl pointed out that, as the searchlights were so powerful, the ship was electric powered, and had limited generating capacity, using them would have limit the ship's maximum speed!



Looking aft from the signal bridge. The large object in the middle of the photo is designed to train crews on how to load the 3-inch guns.




...And yet another view of the foremast!

[Sailor Steve]

Outstanding! Much smaller than the full-fledged WW 2 destroyer I served on (a Gearng) but still so many similarities. My great regret of the Houston SubSim meet ten years ago was not being able to go aboard their DE.

Thanks so much for posting these.

[Subnuts]

More of the funnel and quarterdeck.



Carl demonstrates the twin Oerlikon. All of the Oerlikons on the ship still have their magazines and still elevate and traverse, which is a rarity for museum ships.




Ready use lockers for 20mm Oerlikon magazines.




One of the three twin 40mm Bofors guns. All three are in varying condition. This one is probably the best restored, but the aftermost one is pretty rough. Carl allowed the group to handle inert examples of each kind of ammunition used aboard. The Oerlikon shell was a pretty trifling thing, but I almost dropped the Bofors clip he handed me onto the deck! You could tell right away how much more effective the 40mm was in comparison with the 20mm, even if the mount was heavier, required a larger crew, and didn't fire as fast.




Some ready use containers for 40mm clips. You've probably noticed that there are ready use lockers and containers everywhere on the decks.





A view from the superstructure deck looking at the stern of the ship. The tower structure on the right side of the photo contains another Mk 51 director for the Bofors astern of it. Between the two is a compass pedestal.



Ready racks for the depth charge throwers. Interestingly enough, all of the depth charges in the stern tracks are of the older Mk 6 type, while those launched from the side are the newer streamlined Mk 9.



A closer look at two Mk 9 depth charges. Kind of adorable, if not for the 200 pounds of high explosive.



The aftermost part of the superstructure. The big wicker basket thing was a "floater net," which was generally filled with ropes and other items that would, well, float off the ship if it sank. Unsurprisingly, there wasn't enough liferafts were everyone onboard, so they had to resort to measures such as this.



The depth setting ring on the Mk 9. Later versions had a maximum depth of 600 feet.



Have about 10 more pictures to share. Will post the rest in the morning!

[nikimcbee]

Cool pix. Love the hedge hogs.

[Jimbuna]

That is some seriously excellent restoration work on display here and your pictures almost gave me the feeling I was there.

Much appreciate you posting and sharing with the community

[Cybermat47]

I’m the guy you called “Jeffrey Dahmer”...

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Cybermat47

I’m the guy you called “Jeffrey Dahmer”...

Care to explain?