Keith's Overseas Picture Album

KEITH'S OVERSEAS PICTURE ALBUM

These pictures are from my travels around the world in support of the US Navy's use of the MK38 25MM Machine Gun System. I was responsible for developing the electronic portion of this Navy gun system.

The MK38 25MM Machine Gun System was designed (beginning in 1983) at NSWC Crane to replace the obsolete MK16 20MM machine guns used on small boats, amphibious and auxiliary ships, and Coast Guard vessels. Early testing was done aboard MK III Patrol Boats and OPEVAL was completed aboard the USS Nassau, LHA-4.

It proved to be a valuable asset to support US Navy operations in the Persian Gulf beginning 1987. At various times during 1987-1989 I was one of a few NSWC Crane workers who traveled aboard US Navy ships to train sailors to fire and maintain this gun system. Often transportation between ships was via a helicopter ride. During this time I traveled to Bahrain, Spain, Portugal, Panama, the Philippine Islands, Singapore, and England I also spent several weeks at sea in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Click on the following thumbnails to view larger pictures.

This is the MK38, 25MM Machine Gun System.

Countries I visited:

Helicopter ride.
This is a postcard view of the main city, Manama, of the country of Bahrain. This is down town Manama.
We saw this boat (Dhow) in the Persian Gulf.
These men are sampling the food at the central market in Bahrain. This was where stores and restaurants bought their food.
This was used to transport some food within the Central Market
Local tradition in Bahrain call this well-matured mesquite tree the "Tree of Life." The tree stands alone in an otherwise barren desert about 1¼ miles from Jebel Dukhan. Local tradition is that Bahrain is where the Garden of Eden was located.
This Moslem temple was in Bahrain.
During a layover in London, I saw Big Ben.
I also saw Piccadilly in London. and the tower of London and Tower Bridge.
View of Palma, Spain, from CG-20 as we prepare to dock after crossing the Atlantic. Notice the castle on the hilltop.
This is me on top of the castle.
Panama City, Panama and a church in Panama.
Panama City has sharp contrasts between the poor and rich. It is one of the banking capitals of the world at the same time it has city slums and is only about 35 miles from jungle with no roads.
Buses used to transport people between the villages and Panama City had interesting paintings.
This is a headstone at an American cemetery in Panama.
Philippine Island county life and city life.
The most popular method of transportation in Manila is the jeepney. The jeepney is a colorful and festive-looking jeep, designed after the American jeeps used in World War II. Jeepneys run through all major roads in Manila.
This is a Philippine Island cycle cab.
This is us preparing for a Helo ride from USS McClusky, FFG-41, to Singapore. I sailed aboard the ship from Subic Bay to off the Singapore shore, including going across the equator.
Singapore looked much like England with its double deck buses and driving on the left side of the road.