USS Virgo (AE 30)
CWO-1(machinist) - CWO-2(Machinist)
The Vestal Virgin
The old Virgo Underway Replenishing the USS Kittyhawk in the Tonkin Gulf
in 1967 Look close.. That's me down in the Engineroom/
Fireroom.
Home ported in Concord, California, but seldom there, the
USS Virgo was an ammunition ship that had been converter from her WW II status as an
Attack Cargo ship (AKA 20). Virgo was 7,430 tons light, 14,000 tons loaded which is
a lot of bombs and bullets. She was 460 ft. LOA and powered by 2 Foster Wheeler 470
pound boilers in one combination engine room/fire room. Virgo was out 9 months and in
three. The period out was all Viet Nam where she Underway Replenished (UnRep)
Carriers all night and Destroyers and Cruisers all day. One didn't sleep much on
this ship! When she returned to Concord from her last trip she went to
de-commissioning and I went to the Naval Hospital with a bad case of ulcers. While
in Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, The Doctors told me I could never go to sea again. A
month later I was transferred to USS Lipan (ATF 85). I guess they didn't tell anyone
besides me!
Virgo's sister ship, USS Chara has an excellent Web
site. Look in the Favorite Sites for it.
Onto
The Leapin' Lipan
Back to Ships Registry
Home
