RECOLLECTION
Chester Hill 1988
“The highest speed by a destroyer was 45.25 knots (51.84) by the French destroyer LE TERRIBLE in 1935.” This record appears on page 301 of the 1982 GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS.
Le TERRIBLE and her sister ship La FANTASQUE, with which she had been racing on their joint sea trails when the record was set, were in Casablanca Harbor when we arrived there about 17 January 1943 with a fast convoy of troop ships from New York – my first trip in Swanson. Some of our communication personnel were to ride them to New York for liaison purposes when we returned, but that would be a story for one of them to tell – not me.
As we came into the harbor we saw them and being aware of their fabulous speed were commenting on the rakishness of their huge bows and the size of their funnels. The Exce., LTCDR Monty Purdy, was heard to remark, “Seagoing speed boats!”
I think it was our last night before sailing when I had gone alone to the only USO show I ever attended, featuring Martha Raye – “Old Big Mouth.” Returning to the docks I just missed our liberty boat, so instead of waiting for the next one I chanced asking the coxswain of Le TERRIBLE’s boat, which was loading about 40 red-pompomed sailors nearby, for a lift, since we were tied up near them. It was no problem and they welcomed me aboard with a great and enthusiastic show of friendship and joie de vivre.
Their most honored passenger, however was the ship’s mascot- an absolutely huge TOMCAT! I repeatedly tried in my high school French to learn his name, as I love cats, but all I could find out was that he was ie CHAT! They were happily taking turns holding him upside down in their laps and pouring wine into him as fast as he could swallow it. Le chat loved it! By the time they dropped me off at Swanson’s sea ladder, with many rousing adieus and au revoirs, the hapless feline had passed out, but with what I perceived to be a smile on his face!