Americans are very good at sea, but the Brits put us to shame. On that same cruise we were part of a joint NATO squadron, Brits, Dutch, W German and Canadians operating with us. Brits were in command, on a bird farm, HMS Ark Royal, I believe. They routinely conducted flight ops in weather that grounded our carrier squadrons, and our flattops were much bigger.

NATO could UNREP in almost any weather, but only because it was a constant part of our training, we practiced together and had standardized protocols. The Soviets could refuel at sea from an oiler, but only in good weather, we had specialized oilers and supply vessels, and our ships were geared for it, both special deck tackle, training, and procedures. Tactics and strategy are for amateurs. For the pros, logistics is what matters.

The drill was to come alongside the supply vessel, match course and speed, and pass light lines across the space between the two. Increasingly heavier lines were dragged across until finally the big heavy cables carrying big pallets of supplies and ammo, or 6" fuel hoses were strung out between the two ships. Along with telephone lines for communications between the deck forces of both the supply and receiving ship. On the bridge of our ship, the skipper controlled our course (in half-degree increments) and our speed (RPM of the screws) by barking commands to helm and engine order telegraph over a microphone) to keep the speeds and courses of the two ships synchronized. Between the two rocking ships, the hose and cargo rigs waved around on derricks keeping up the tension, not too tight to part, not too slack to drag, in the boiling cauldron of ocean between the two ships. Half our crew was on deck hauling on lines or toting cargo below, or talking on telephones to the guys across the water, so close you could recognize their faces. It was dangerous work, people got hurt, fell over the side (no turning back to get them), ships collided. We were lucky, we never lost anybody, other ships in our squadron did.

A big oiler or supply ship could service two ships alongside, port and starboard, simultaneously. An aircraft carrier could UNREP four ships at a time, if necessary, fore and aft, port and starboard, in any but the worst weather, both receiving replenishment and/or passing supplies to her escorts. My job during this evolution was to keep the ship's course and turn count marked in grease pencil so the skipper always knew at a glance our compass heading and speed. He continuously looked back and forth between my board and the other ship, sometimes for as long as an hour. It was joyful stress.

I had a buddy who once had to refuel his destroyer in a hurricane, because they were low on fuel and without maneuvering power a destroyer will roll over and go to the bottom in a really bad sea. The worst we had to do it in was a gale, and that was bad enough.

It was a serious game, the Russians sent out big Bison and Bear bombers to recce us, giant silver planes with red stars on their tails, so low to the water I could see guys in the glass blisters making movies of us, recording our antennas and weapons, and documenting our UNREP gear (they really envied our skill at that).