Bill Doherty served on the Deck Force of the Tam from 1967-1968 and is one of the co-founders of tamaroa.org. Capt. Bob Leonti was onboard the Tam from 1966 to 1970 and was at the helm at the time of the collision.

Feb 1968. Back from Patrol.

Feb 1968. Rams pier.

Bill: These photos were taken in Feb, 1968 after a rough patrol in which we were constantly having trouble with the engines. My mooring station was the port side stern line, I was coiling up the rope getting ready to throw the monkey fist when I noticed that we weren't turning our usual way to back into the pier. Almost simultaneously, I heard over the 1 MC system "All hands Standby for collision." Needless to say, I grew very concerned very quickly, We in the stern could not see what we were about to hit and everybody scrambled trying to find something to hold on to. One of the mess stewards hung on to the flag staff on the stern and I braced myself on the port bollards. Then came the crunch, the pier stopped us dead in our tracks!! As a matter of fact, the first photo shows her starboard side to the dock. We always docked port side to with the bow out for a quick getaway if needed. This time as we approached the pier we lost all power and the bow crashed right into the dock. The second photo indicates of the results of the crash. Later on in the day. I went out on the dock. as I snapped a photo of our handiwork, the skipper said to me, "Oh well, it had to happen sometime", or words to that effect, I can't remember the exact quote. As a Seaman Apprentice, I didn't say much to him (a full Commander). I muttered a pleasantry and moved out of his way quickly thinking he might not like me recording the splintered dock for posterity. Bob: I remember the Day in which we crashed into the pier at St. George Staten Island. I was on the helm and the command for full astern was given. Jack McDermott ET2 was on the annunciator and the engines began to "trip off" as we called it. This is when the electrical power to the four electric motors surges out of control and you have to come back to neutral, where no power is applied to the prop, until things calm down. We hit the pier before the Tam could back down. The Captain at the time, Cdr. Lehr was pissed. He always insisted on giving strict rudder commands all the way to the dock. In the following years docking under the command of Capt. Robert Hansen he would just say "Leonti steer for the dock and don't mess up, bring her in SMOOTH"...we never hit the dock again!