Torpedo Practice 1956

These photos taken by Jay Hershberger show Abbot refueling in the Mediterranean and firing practice torpedos off New York in 1956.

Abbot guarded the entrance to the Suez Canal from November 1956 until February 1957 after the crisis there that involved France, Britain, Israel and Egypt.

Red-tipped dummy torpedos were used for practice. Once the propellant was expended, the empty warhead floated for easy retrieval. These are the only known photos of Abbot launching a torpedo. The torpedo gang during this era included TMC Daniel A Bruno, TM1 Gordon T. Quillen, TM2 Leonard D. Straub, TM2 Louis W. Tatum, TM3 J. H. Boissonnault and Seaman Clifford R. Ludwig. TMSN F. W. Knoche Jr. replaced J. H. Boissonnault at about this time.