Interesting discussion about the design of the urinals and how they deal with the ship rolling. On modern submarines we have similar issues, except it's fore and aft instead of side-to-side. I remember my first time using the head when the ship was doing "angles and dangles". I woke up with a full bladder, and stumbled towards the aft crew's head. Shortly after I started relieving myself, the ship started going up, and my stream started wandering to the right. A little bit later, the ship started going down, and again I had to adjust my aim. Quite a memorable experience!
kotorigaming
Had a friend who was in the Navy. He was a pipefitter. Said the guys would go on shore leave and a couple of days later they'd come down with "pipebenders disease".He explained that was what the pipe fitters called gonorrhea. They'd hold to the supply line for the urinals and urination was so painful, they'd bend and often pull the pipes off the wall.
Side note. Officers, always be fair with your enlisted men. If not, if your private head goes out, you'd be amazed how long it can take to get it fixed.
enigma
"She said that she was a nice girl, Doc."
billkallas
"Head is NOT operational."
The sign is there for a reason.
Xechran
I LOVE how he presents the info so professionally while casually sitting on the hot seat. You make me laugh Ryan! 😆
miaohmya
As a former soldier, back in the 80’s our latrine’s frequently were lined with toilets that had no enclosures around them so everybody was just there doing their thing… nobody was comfortable with that the first day, but eventually you get over it and just make light of it.
brittburton
I’m a Merchant Marine and I did a year on an ocean going Tug, used for open water ( open sea) mooring operations.
This Tug bounced around like a watermelon in a washing machine in bad weather.
We had hand rails in every space on the Tug, especially in the heads. Every toilet had bars over head, and on each side.
BTW: this was my very first duty assignment.... after this Tug, no other vessel ever bothered me at sea.
ianstradian
Interesting insight to battleship life in WW2. My dad served on the sister ship the USS Black 666. I heard a few stories about some of the battles they got into in the pacific. I hope to see the USS Kidd someday.
MarcFutoran
Saw a Russian trawler where the "head" was indeed in the bow, directly below the main deck, with a vetrical pipe to hang onto, a cement floor with a funnel type troff leading directly overboard where you thought the anchor would have been stowed. So the idea is while hanging on with both hands in a seaway you try to shit in a hole and hope the next big wave doesn't blast it back at ya. True Story
snowgorilla
I'm a Baton Rouge native, and have been around Kidd for all my life. So happy to see you all supporting our little Fletcher Class destroyer! I wish I could have met you all while you were in town!
joshjones
Next to a 5” handling room. New meaning for thunder box.
megmolkate
I love videos like this as you never realize how quickly civilization is advancing and changing and how much we take for granted. Just think, 80 years ago it was common on warships to have these communal locations, a hot seat, and other aspects. Amazing.
walterengler
So this is what they mean when they say Kidd is in her WW2 Configuration. I have been on USS The Sullivan's, and cannot remember a space like this. Very cool!
TheJudge
My Father served on USS Wisconsin, BB64, during the Korean War, and he told us about this type of head. As he told it, the head near his berth was L-shaped and the trough was mounted to the wall (bulkhead?) in the crotch of the L, so it made a 90-degree outside bend around wall, and it had a constant flow of sea water. Again, as Dad told it, some wags on the boat used to like to hide around the corner and wait for the seats to become occupied, then they would douse a roll of toilet paper with lighter fluid, light it, then send it down the trough. Good times!
kevinkohler
The fact that there is a sign reading "Head is NOT operational" alludes to a terrible possibility lol
kevlarburrito
God Bless the YouTube algorithm. How this wound up in my feed I'll never know, but I'll forever be grateful. Nice work!
John.B.Jenkins
when I was in the National Guard, one of my duties were to review historical barracks- and there was always one toilet in the latrine that was away from all the others and had a different colored (usually black) seat....I found out that was the toilet the guy who had clap would use...or anyone who was being treated for venereal disease would use that toilet only.
spankyharland
I used to be on a current DDG, the head being right next to the 5" magazine is hilarious, but also mad useful. That seems surreal to me. When we were at battle stations for a long time and my ammo handling crew was stuck down in the mag for longer than we expected, i'd lower a bucket and a rope down there for them to hopefully only piss in, then it could just be raised up and taken to a head not far from the trunk. The 5" magazine is below the waterline, to they couldnt even have a port to open and pour it out lol.
frydemwingz
I'm from South Louisiana.... I visited the USS Kidd almost yearly in elementary school (early 1980's). I've heard a lot has changed and they've really improved her since then. So glad you highlighted this amazing ship.
...on another note, I had to laugh when I not only see "This head is not operational", but then there are what look like 2 rolls of toilet paper stuffed in the corner! LOL!
MrPMRing
Did some of the design work on the cradle when the Kidd came to town in the early 80's. Most of the cradle and dockside early work was donated by contractors that support the petrochemical industry that is located literally just feet away. That's how I got assigned to it. When the Kidd was towed into town on the river they had a ticker tape parade from the new bridge over the river. That would never fly today guessing with all that paper headed down into the river. Current USS Kidd made news last week having been involved in tracking and engaging a drone swarm off CA a few years ago.
