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DFW

(54,415 posts) Sun Oct 16, 2016, 09:09 AM Oct 2016

I met the real Captain Kirk, and he has a sense of humor

At the Commissioning of the USS Zumwalt here in Baltimore yesterday, the serious ceremonies took a breather during the short speech by Captain James Kirk, who actually said (in front of 10,000 people including the Secretary of the Navy, the Governor of Maryland and the Mayor of Baltimore), "I might as well get this out of the way." He made Spock's 2 fingers+2 fingers Vulcan greeting and said (no joking), "Live long and prosper!" The cheers were deafening.

I have never been in the Navy, but if I had been, I think I could have served under a commanding officer who dares to do that on such an occasion. For that matter, I did have the chance to meet and chat with Captain Kirk on Thursday evening, and he seemed like a really cool guy. Not at all the stiff über-serious military type you might think would be given the command of such an amazing piece of machinery. I'm confident the crew is in good hands.

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I met the real Captain Kirk, and he has a sense of humor (Original Post) DFW Oct 2016 OP

When I read about the good captain being given Zumawalt... malthaussen Oct 2016 #1

They told us this ship was unusual in many respects, incliding this one DFW Oct 2016 #2

It remains to be seen if the ship is just a tremendous boondoggle... malthaussen Oct 2016 #3

That pretty much echoes what Sen. King said DFW Oct 2016 #4

HAL: No, Dave, I meant the OTHER starboard. JustABozoOnThisBus Oct 2016 #5

Shouldn't he have said, "I need warp speed in 30 minutes or we're all dead." (n/t) Kennah Oct 2016 #6

For a boat, this thing really does warp speed DFW Oct 2016 #8

If the Chief Engineer is Montgomery Scott, THEN we'll have something! A HERETIC I AM Oct 2016 #7

That would have been above and beyond the call of Hollywood DFW Oct 2016 #9

I wish Captain Kirk the best of luck in his new enterprise pinboy3niner Oct 2016 #10

The Zumwalts had a photog there DFW Oct 2016 #11

malthaussen

(17,209 posts)

1. When I read about the good captain being given Zumawalt...

Reply to DFW (Original post)

Sun Oct 16, 2016, 09:48 AM

Oct 2016

... I concluded the Navy Personnel Command had a sense of humor, too.

Used to be, destroyers were skippered by Lt Cmdrs or even Lieutenants in a pinch. Rank inflation has taken hold.

-- Mal

DFW

(54,415 posts)

2. They told us this ship was unusual in many respects, incliding this one

Reply to malthaussen (Reply #1)

Sun Oct 16, 2016, 10:02 AM

Oct 2016

The average age of the crew is older by several years than a typical destroyer, and they have all undergone intensive training due to the high tech aspect of almost everything on this ship. I almost expected HAL to pipe out of somewhere to remind us which passageway to take. That is the reason for someone of Kirk's rank commanding this particular ship. Conventional ships are a completely different story. A conventional destroyer has a crew of about 350. The Zumwalt has about 150. There will be a bit of multi-tasking, I suspect...........

malthaussen

(17,209 posts)

3. It remains to be seen if the ship is just a tremendous boondoggle...

Reply to DFW (Reply #2)

Sun Oct 16, 2016, 10:21 AM

Oct 2016

... I am somewhat skeptical about the need for high-tech. complicated, and ridiculously expensive weapons platforms in the current conflict environment. The problem lies in being prepared for an opponent with real capability while having the flexibility and simplicity needed for more "irregular" ops. But arguably, if it ever came to a conflict where the advanced capabilities are needed, it wouldn't make much difference, because we'd all be going up in a cloud of nuclear dust (not Zumawalt's crew, though, since the ship is designed for survivability in an NBC environment). But then, that is the problem with any deterrent: if it works, we don't know about it, and if it doesn't, we'll only know briefly.

-- Mal

DFW

(54,415 posts)

4. That pretty much echoes what Sen. King said

Reply to malthaussen (Reply #3)

Sun Oct 16, 2016, 11:59 AM

Oct 2016

He said the best thing that could happen would be for the ship never to have to fire a shot in anger but be purely a deterrent.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,355 posts)

5. HAL: No, Dave, I meant the OTHER starboard.

Reply to DFW (Reply #2)

Sun Oct 16, 2016, 05:21 PM

Oct 2016

You should really have someone look at that bump on your forehead, Dave.

HAL out.

Kennah

(14,289 posts)

6. Shouldn't he have said, "I need warp speed in 30 minutes or we're all dead." (n/t)

Reply to DFW (Original post)

Sun Oct 16, 2016, 07:56 PM

Oct 2016

DFW

(54,415 posts)

8. For a boat, this thing really does warp speed

Reply to Kennah (Reply #6)

Mon Oct 17, 2016, 12:31 AM

Oct 2016

It sailed down from Maine, in part through the last vestiges of the hurricane, doing 30 knots, and one of the ship's officers told me they barely felt a thing.