The Mad Dance

The klaxon sounds and off we do scurry Up to the gun house we head in a hurry Through narrow p-ways and up noisy stairs We pass each other with far away glares What threat to meet, all do wonder We’re well trained and there’ll be no blunder Hatches closed and scuttles secured Drive motors humming, we speak not a word Ammo to the hoist, battle dress in place Flash hoods cover all but our face “Mt 51 manned and ready!” Gas eject air pressure is holding steady “Air action port!” our circuits align Gun slews, the target to find “On target aircraft!” the checksight declares Our peril confirmed, no drill, all just a deep inhale “Right and left guns load!” first powder then shot To the mad dance, cast we all our lot Guns loaded, we track knowing not when Waiting the salvo alarm, the dance soon to begin Fourteen men poised, ready for the show Bound to each other, not for their own glory they do go Gong! Gong! Fire! The first stanza a roar Then rapid and continuous we feed each bore “Bore clear!” signals to load the next round As hot-case men pitch spent brass to the ground Practiced harmony, each motion robotic Load!, Ram!, Fire!, Eject! the cadence hypnotic Smoke and flareback, gases choking Onward we whirl, and curse the foe attacking “Foul bore left gun!” A stuck case has us undone Pry bar in hand, the Gunner appears The extractors are broken, confirming worst fears Casing removed and the gun finally clear Up all night we’ll be, fixing this gear “Cease fire!” all safely emerge Realize we now, our fears to purge Destruction averted, another hour to draw breath Till the enemy returns, seeking our death “Police up that brass and swab out those barrels!” The chief keeps us all intent on the peril They will come again, or we will seek them out So little rest we take, while the issue is in doubt *************************************** This describes a live shoot from the prospective of the men manning a twin 5 inch gun aboard a destroyer. These ships were common in our Navy from 1944 through about 1980. The "old salts" out there will find this very familiar. This is a spinoff from my "Tin Can Sailors" write even though the ships in that story were single mounts. Same gun, but with just one barrel. Those were before my time.