Roy:
I believe that I related the story to you about the time Tirante was in Philly and so was Cobbler (SS344) for a battery job.  We (Robtert Stanley McIntyre, a third class QM named Phiffer and myself) devised a heinous plan to "liberate" Sam.  Phiffer was dressed up like a yard bird, tool pouch and all and he simply walked  onboard and started to unbolt Sam from his stately perch over bow buoyancy vent.  When the topside watch came forward to see what was going on and questioned Phiffer, Phife replied " I'm getting the damn thing chromed for the Cob. Here I am doing cumshaw work on my lunch hour when I should be eating, friggin' job isn't worth what I'm gettin', etc, etc."  An officer came up out of the bear trap about then and started forward towards Phife, but was stopped by the topside watch, with the advice to "leave him alone, he was working for the Cob and was in a foul mood".  That seemed to satisfy the (OOD??) and he went aft. Phife soon had Sam unbolted and stuffed into his large canvas work bag and just as easily walked off the brow.

Our XO (who's name eludes me at the moment) loved to "liberate" things, or more accurately, loved to instigate OTHERS to "liberate" worthy articles.  Like crowns off HMS flag staffs, ships plaques, flags, you name it!  All were neatly mounted in the AB on board Cobbler.  He had "offered" two weeks basket leave to the crew member who brought Sam aboard Cobbler. Phife set it proudly on the XO's desk on board the barge, where we all lived during the battery job.

This was in the mid to late 60's. (I owned a new 1966 Ford at the time, that's how I remember.)

We (Cobbler) had raised hell with everyone in the yard at the time and we had to work hard to prevent retaliation.  I remember one night after the battery job was completed, the entire duty section stayed up and we rigged "Med" lights up over the sail from bow to stern for added security.  (We were "bombed" with a glass bottle filled with white paint, which was cleaned up in minutes.)

The Tirante left Philly before Cobbler and went to NLon for tank training. She was still in port when we came crusing up the river with Sam all polished up and mounted on a lofty perch.  We had had a pipe welded to the topside deck forward that was about six to seven feet tall with a flange on the top to bolt Sam on.  (Our old man had requested a berth up river from Tirante so that we would have to "pass in review".  There was little doubt that we were noticed!!!!

After liberty call, just about dusk, a group of Tirante sailors came aboard and went directly forward.  They grabbed the post and began to heave it back and forth to break the weld!!  The topside watch yelled for them to cease and desist but they kept it up until he pulled a clip from his belt and racked a round into the .45!!!  That brought the party to an abrupt hault!!  He called re-enforcements and the OOD topside and each Tirante crew member had his ID recorded and was put ashore.

The following day, a "very official" meeting was held aboard Tirante and Capt'n Anderson returned Sam to Tirante's Capt'n and in turn was presented with two miniture castings of Sam's likeness.  (These were chromed, I believe.)  One was mounted in Cobbler's AB and one was given to Phiffer.

I often wonder where the wonderful collection of "liberated" articles went when the old Cobbler Maru was reduced to razor blades!!

I have tried to be as accurate as possible with the details of this story, but 32 years is a long time!!
Thanks for the chance to wander down memory lane!
Roger "RamJet" Burleigh x-STS1/SS
USS Tigerone (AGSS 419)
USS Cobbler (SS344)USS Sailfish (SS572)

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