USS Ernest G. Small - “Who Needs a Bow Anyway?"

Seeing USS Ernest G. Small with a missing bow reminded me of the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans, which had suffered similar damage but managed to get back to safety. They really build those ships different.

Man those pics of the bow snapping off and just floating away are nuts

I served a summer 1973 cruise on a sister ship, USS Carpenter (DD-825), along with three other Gearing-class destroyers (McKean, Southerland, and Wiltsie comprising Naval Reserve Surface Destroyer Squadron 37). We left Seattle in mid-June, sailed to Adak, then on to Yokosuka. We did joint anti-submarine warfare training with four Japanese destroyers, and then sailed to Kure, where Japanese port and city officials put on a wonderful welcome for the ships (leis for the officers, Japanese drummers and musicians, and a bevy of lovely Japanese dancers in kimonos or yukatas on the pier). The ships next went to Taiwan for exercises with four Taiwan navy destroyers. Two ships of our little squadron then broke off for a visit to Hong Kong, which was my first visit to this city (had a great time). After about three days there, our squadron formed up again and transited to Guam, Midway, and finally Pearl Harbor. We had groups of Reservists board and depart the ships for their annual training duty when the ships visited ports. Very busy summer -- and immensely rewarding.

It's always amazing to see ships lose something like their bow and sill able to stay afloat.

As soon as i head she was BIW built, i knew a little about why she survived. Bath built ships were always made just a touch better than the competition. So many examples of their ships surviving things they never should have.

I was aboard 1964 through 1967 and am amazed at the lack of knowledge on the old "Dirty Ernie". Home ported in Yokusuka, Japan at the time with thousands of rounds deposited in Vietnam during that time. Our Radarmen had air control of the A1 Skyraider that shot down a Mig and they were decorated receiveing medals for the event. Shore bombardment, along with SAR, and plane guarding the ship was always up to the tasks. I have great fondness for the ship and crew.

I am not sure of this, but friends of mine mentioned this ship as being a reserve ship used for reserve weekends off the San Diego coast in the late 1960's. they called it the "Dirty Ernie"

love these videos, good work Skynea, you always touch on these not often heard stories.

I served on the Taylor, [DD468] from ’67-mid’68; then on to the Small from late ’68-early ‘70. [I swapped orders with another BT as I was to go to the Battleship New Jersey. I wanted to stay on a Destroyer, (I'm a Tin Can sailor at heart), and he wanted a Battleship.] Went on a WestPac cruise starting in October 68 leaving Pearl and returning May 69. I actually have the cruise book the ship published with pics, stats etc. Then on to the Carpenter [DD825] until discharged in ’71. I had to keep changing Destroyers due to them being sold off.

Concerning mostly Cruisers but had Destroyers also in the mix, the Naval Actions around Guadalcanal, '42 & '43, they ran out of Cruisers, many of them having their Bows Blown Off (that's why Lee only had 4 DD's as escorts the night Washington destroyed Kirishima):face-orange-raised-eyebrow:

enjoy learning/reviewing WWII related but, cold war era just as interesting

Small was a member of DesRon 3 homeported in Yokosuka, Japan in the mid to late 60's and served with the 7th Fleet (Vietnam duties primarily) during that time. She was a sister ship to the USS Orleck (DD886) in which I served '63-'66.

Look up "HMS ZUBIAN" , which was the bow end of "HMS Zulu" and Aft end of "HMS Nubian", which were "cut and shut" together after they were involved in accidents !

"Small" ship with big balls💪

Take a bow, Skynea History, well done!

Eskimo: Yay! Bow buddies!!!

Great video. I served in three Gearings in the 1970’s, Leary, Charles P Cecil, and Glennon. Great ships.

Great video on these kind of ignored ships.

Awesome little ship! The photos of the bow breaking off are horrifying! MAJOR PROPS to the crew fir fetting her back to port!!! Any idea what was used to sink her? Guessing from the look of it a torpedo.

Regarding ths ship's operational history, wouldn't it be possible to request the ship's deck log under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)? BTW, I was in the Navy on a Sumner Class destroyer (DD-779) in the early 1970s. My fire conrol chief had prior service on a radar picket destroyer (I think a converted Fletcher class). It would be interesting to learn more about these modifications to WWII class destroyers in the 1950s and 1960s, although if memory serves, he said service on those ships was incrediibly boring -- sailing solo in circles in the ocean on station for weeks on end!