HEADING SOUTH TO NORTHERN EUROPE
21 AUGUST 1955
A UNIQUE JOURNEY THROUGH THE KIEL CANAL
NORTHERN GERMANY
23 - 25 AUGUST 1955

The USS DALY AND USS SMALLEY got underway from Beautiful Copenhagen on a bright sunny morning. We headed south, for a rendezvous with the other two ships of DESDIV 302. The two Tin Cans steamed away from Copenhagen, and turned south into the Baltic Sea once again. We took a Southwest heading into Kadet Channel, which separates Southern Sealand Island ( Denmark ) and Northern Germany. We continued on through the Fehmarn Strait and into Kiel Bay.

This time, the two American DDs ( DESTROYERS ) were going to take a short cut. We were going to steam down through the Kiel Canal. I think it was another first, for American Naval War Ships at that time period in the " COLD WAR." The Kiel Canal, cuts across Northern Germany and connects the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.

We entered Kiel Bay and the entrance to the Kiel Canal on a clear sunny afternoon, at 1430( 2:30 PM ). You might wonder, how could I remember ? Simple, I looked at the clock in the photo. The trip through the Kiel Canal was a very relaxing one for most of the crew, all except for the Special Sea Detail, which is usually manned only when entering and leaving port. They were on duty the entire length of the canal. The below deck ratings (Engine Room and Boiler Room Ratings) were not as lucky, as the Top Side Ratings, they had to keep the ship moving.

The cruise through the Kiel Canal was a different experience for everyone on board the two DDs . It was strange to be steaming all day and night (we were traveling very slow, under 8 knots) between farm fields on each side. The Kiel is about 250-300 ft wide in places, the Daly had a beam ( Width ) of 39 feet 7 inches. We encountered a lot of smaller boats and barge traffic.

I had a great time sight seeing the country side and waving to people in the fields and walking along the canal bank from my vantage point on top of the torpedo tube mount, which was located up on the 01 deck (the first deck above the main deck) just aft of No. 2 smoke stack. It was beautiful weather, warm, bright and sunny. I remember waving to people, men and women working in the hay fields wearing shorts, the weather was so warm.

The Uniform of the Day topside on the Daly and Smalley, was Undress Blues, during our trip down through the Kiel Canal, unless there was some dirty work to be done. In my case, the Torpedo Gang got the word to make a "Fish" ( Torpedo ) ready for firing. The CO (Commanding Officer) decided to take advantage of the calm water in the Kiel, since the open sea is too rough to allow us to work safely on a 3,841 pound torpedo, when the ship is bouncing, pitching, and rolling all over the place, it would be too dangerous for the ship and crew and possibly damage a $ 20,000 torpedo. A lot of money in those days.

To give an idea, as a Petty Officer 3rd Class, my pay was only about $ 140.00 a month, and that included $30.00 Sea Pay. It was obvious that money, was not the driving force of why all of us elected to become sailors and had joined the US Navy.

The two destroyers successfully threaded their way through the Kiel Canal with out mishap, although there were a couple of times when we had to stop for a few minutes to allow smaller water craft to make way for us).

We exited at the mouth to the ELBE RIVER, turned Eastward, and steamed into the North Sea. The two Tin Cans turned south on a heading for Jade Bay and Bremerhaven, Germany, our next port of call.

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Kiel Bay, Northern Germany, the USS DALY and USS Smalley approach the entrance to the Kiel Canal, 22 August 1955.

A new experience awaits us, as we head slowly into the locks at the entrance to the Kiel Canal at 1430 on 23 August 1955. How did I remember the time you wonder ? Note the clock on the building. No one onboard the Daly, had ever sailed down through the Kiel Canal. the Smalley, is just approaching the entrance to the lock astern of us. It was a relaxing experience for most of the topside ratings. You can tell, because the crew topside are in undress blues. Not a real (get down and dirty) working uniform.

A leisurely cruise through the Kiel Canal, August 1955. The USS SMALLEY, can be seen about to pass under one of the many large bridges across the Kiel. The Kiel Canal, was a waterway shortcut between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. It meanders across the north eastern part of Germany.

A view that greeted us along the Kiel Canal, as we head south. August 1955.

Kiel Canal, August 1955. The Torpedo Officer ( LTJG Stretch ) informed us that the CO wanted a MK-15 torpedo exercise shot made ready for firing. While we were in the calm waters of the Kiel. TMSN Granados getting ready to start working on the fish. Although I was only a TMSN ( Torpedoman’s Mate Seaman ) the low man on the totem pole of time in rate, and in the Navy . I was given a lot of responsibilities, because I was a Designated Torpedomans Mate Striker. Due to the fact that I was the only TM onboard the Daly that had completed the intensive 32 weeks of TM CLASS"A "SCHOOL IN NEWPORT, R. I.

The Torpedo Gang at work, performing final tests, a "Cold Deck Run," to check steering controls and gyro function.
L - R, TMSN Granados, Lead Torpedoman, TM1 ( Petty Officer First Class ) his name escapes me, and TM Striker Gorman.

USS DALY, cruising down the tranquil Kiel Canal. August 1955. As you can see, the TMs had to change into our working uniform. TMs, performing preliminary adjustments on a "Steam Fish," a "Cold Deck Run." The propulsion system, the turbines, propellers and steering controls are activated, using only HP ( high pressure ) air. TMSN Granados is the sailor on the left. Some of our shipmates are looking on. Getting a fish ready for firing was a big event and always drew a lot of attention from the rest of the crew.

Another view of the same process, a shipmate took these photos. USS DALY, Kiel Canal August 1955

USS DALY, Kiel Canal, August 1955. A view of the business end of a 24 ft long, 21 inch diameter, 3,841 lb. MK 15 on deck, waiting to be loaded into the tube mount. Since it is an exercise torpedo, it is fitted with an Exercise ( yellow colored ) Head filled with sea water and a lime green dye, to give the torpedo the same weight and trim as a real war shot. The water is forced out at the end of the torpedoes run by low pressure air, giving the fish ( torpedo ) a positive buoyancy, so we can recover it and use it again and again.

A view of the propulsion end, two four blade contra - rotating propellers and the hot exhaust port. A brass Propeller Lock is on the after blades as a safety precaution, to prevent someone from accidently rotating the propellers and cutting themselves on the sharp blades. USS DALY, Kiel Canal August 1955. The black coating on the body , is a anti-rusting compound painted on the steel body .

A view ahead, down the Kiel, from my vantage point on top of the tube mount. If you look closely, the longest steel bridges across the Kiel Canal is visible in the far distance. Some canal traffic can be seen approaching, it appears to be a Tug Boat towing a Barge. As the USS DALY and USS SMALLEY continue on our journey south to the north sea. August 1955

A closer view of the canal traffic mentioned in previous photo is captured, as we pass each other. I was correct, it is a Tug Boat towing a large Barge heading north. Kiel Canal, August 1955

Kiel Canal, Northern Germany August 1955. A views, of an old but efficient way of harnessing the wind, as we approach the large steel bridge (mentioned on page 235 over the Kiel.

A view of the same windmill from a different angle, as the Kiel makes a turn, as it snakes its way through the German country side we have just passed under the large steel bridge mentioned on page 238. August 1955

Kiel Canal, August 1955. Some of the different canal traffic that we encountered on our journey through the canal. A powered sail boat carrying some cargo glides past, heading north. August 1955

As we approached more populated sections of the Kiel, we saw castles with spires that reached up to the sky. reminding me of a time of chivalry, Gallant Knights and Fair Maidens. August 1955

A view of one of many stately beautiful homes we saw along the length of the Kiel. August 1955

Another stately home near the banks of the ever winding Kiel Canal, as we approach the end of our journey, August 1955.

The Northern German country side, as it appeared to the Tin Can Sailors onboard the USS DALY and USS SMALLEY as we steamed down the beautiful and unique Kiel Canal. All along the canal, people stopped to witness an unusual sight, two American naval ships cruising through their country side. they waved, as we glided by. 25 August 1955

We saw different kinds of canal traffic on our journey through the Kiel Canal in the north eastern part of Germany, August 1955. By far the most beautiful image I managed to capture on film, was a family of swans swimming along side a parked canal barge. As we approached the end of our unique journey.

The end of a very pleasant, relaxing and memorable journey through the beautiful and unique Kiel Canal, 25 August 1955. Our sister "DD" the USS SMALLEY, can be seen following us through the lock to the mouth of the Elbe River. The Elbe will take us out into the North Sea. As the Daly and Smalley continue south to rejoin the other two DDs of DESDIV 302, the USS Bronson and USS Cotten, operating with units of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.

Go back to to Chapter 14: HEADING TO DENMARK 6 AUGUST 1955

Continue to Chapter 16: LIBERTY CALL, BREMERHAVEN GERMANY, AUGUST 1955