Welcome to the United States Ship Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850

USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850
at Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts.

1970 Collision between USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850 and USS Nitro AE 23

The USS Nitro View

Rememberances from YN3 Jeff Marlow, USS NITRO

Rather than meet us (course and speed), they attempted to pull up alongside as though they were coming to a fast food drive in! As I was on the port wing as phone talker/lookout, I had my trusty Yashica Electro 35 camera and became a photojournalist for the day. As the Collision Alarm was clanging, I was cranking off frames. I recall an old salt of a Chief announcing that we were going to collide long before it was obvious to anyone else. Not sure which Chief it was. As the JPK, Jr hit Flank speed, she blew her tubes. I recall that I got a mouthful of sulphur and soot! The rest is pretty evident.

Many months later, I was either at a bar or an airport gate and ran into a crew member of the JPK, Jr. As he had the ships ribbon on his jumper, I couldn't help but comment on the incident. He laughed and said, "Did you see the fantail phonetalker?" He then told me of how the bridge was barking at him to do "something" and upon closer inspection of the photographs, I could see that the "something" was to attempt to fend off the NITRO with a life ring!! If you blow up the one frame, you actually can see the sailor leaning over for the life ring. I recently learned that this was William LaChance who has since passed away. Braver man than I, Gungadin!

YN3 Jeff Marlow
1969 - 1971

Photos from Jeff:


Kennedy coming along side for UNREP with Nitro, starboard side.	Kennedy starts port turn.

Kennedy continues turn in front of Nitro	Flank speed ordered (notice change in smoke)

Kennedy crosses Nitro bow.	Nitro about to impact .

JP Kennedy clearing Nitro bow, portside.	Kennedy clear of Nitro .

JP Kennedy comes back around to Nitro's starboard side for damage assessment	Kennedy fantail damage .

The KENNEDY View

Rememberances of Joseph A. Condon, SM2 1969-1973, Joseph P. Kennedy JR (DD-850):

I did not serve on the Nitro but on the destroyer, Joseph P. Kennedy JR (DD-850). Sometime around June 1970, we were operating with the Nitro in our task group, and we’re going to have all hands working party for taking on ammo. This was in the [of all places] the Bermuda Triangle .We were going to try a new maneuver. As far as I knew, it was new to have an auxiliary ship [the Nitro] pull along side of my ship. As the Nitro approached, the Kennedy drifted into the Nitro's course and was almost cut in two as my CO took over the helm and saved the Kennedy from certain disaster. We went emergency flank hard to port and just went ahead and around the Nitro turning 180 degree's. However, our port quarter was hit as the Nitro's bow bounced off of the Kennedy right where I had been sleeping ,by the aft 5 inch magazine - all that gun powder whew!!! We took on about 6 inches of water and an aprox. 25 ft dent on our port quarter. That’s my story for the NITRO mates to learn about. Thank GOD for CMDR THOMAS ROGERS, where ever he may be, for saving my and many lives on the JPK.

Rememberances of William LaChance (former Deck Ape), Joseph P. Kennedy (DD-850), 1970 - 1973

I remember the Nitro well. We met up close and personal one warm day in the Bermuda Triangle. Now I just read the account by my former shipmate Joseph Condon and he has it a little mixed up.... First of all we had pulled alongside of the Nitro to rearm and had just finished. We started to pull away when something went terribly wrong. Up in the Bridge the wrong command was given or the wrong command was carried out (I am not sure who was at fault ) but we suddenly turned to Port (left) right in front of the Nitro and crossed her bow. She was about to cut us in half when the Captain ordered emergency flank speed and hard to Port--we went around the bow but she clipped our aft port quarter----right where I was standing fantail watch --I thought I was a dead man for sure.... but we survived with some minor damage.


The damaged Port fantail area on DD850.	Another view of the damaged fantail.

Please visit the USS Nitro Association Website

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