What watch did you use in the Military

[River Rat]

I was wondering what watch forum member's used when they were in the military it could be a issue piece or one you bought your self and used that's me I had to buy my own.So post them photo's of them if you still have them if not just tell us about yours.I will start it off.The first watch I bought was a citizen diver that I used for a year then I got a Seiko 7548 Quartz diver that I used for the next 21 year until I retired from the Naval Reserve I was active duty when I bought the two watches.I just gave away the citizen to Dom a member here.The year I got the Seiko was 1981 got both watch at the ships store on the USS Proteus AS-19 in Guam.A few years ago I had the Seiko relumed and crystal and bezel ring replaced Here are some photo's.


Here is the old pro as we use to call it the USS Proteus were I bought the two watches.

Here is me I am the one sitting under the flag you will see the Seiko on my wrist about 8 years after I bought the Seiko.Now let see or hear about what watch you used when in the military.

[ezcheese]

Awesome. My dad bought an Omega Seamaster when he served on the USS Aylwin FF-1081 in the mid 1970's. He still has it. I'm gonna get that and my grandfather's old Seamaster from him once I can afford to get them cleaned up and serviced.

Here's the USS Aylwin. This class of ship was originally designated DE (destroyer escort) but re-designated FF (Knox class Frigate.)

[pacifichrono]

Mine was (is) a 1966 Caravelle Diver Waterproof 666 Feet. New strap, of course. It still keeps superb time and the back has never been off the watch (not from lack of trying!).

[River Rat]

Awesome. My dad bought an Omega Seamaster when he served on the USS Aylwin FF-1081 in the mid 1970's. He still has it. I'm gonna get that and my grandfather's old Seamaster from him once I can afford to get them cleaned up and serviced.

Here's the USS Aylwin. This class of ship was originally designated DE (destroyer escort) but re-designated FF (Knox class Frigate.)

The image of your Dads ship did not come out here you go.

[River Rat]

Mine was (is) a 1966 Caravelle Diver Waterproof 666 Feet. New strap, of course. It still keeps superb time and the back has never been off the watch (not from lack of trying!).

Nice Caravelle diver

[deepcdvr]

Great thread!!!

Funny, Derek, but my first ship was the USS Koelsch (FF-1049) also a converted DE.

Man, I'm old

Are you sure I'M not your dad??

[ezcheese]

Great thread!!!

Funny, Derek, but my first ship was the USS Koelsch (FF-1049) also a converted DE.

Man, I'm old

Are you sure I'M not your dad??

[Noisy Nova]

I have no recollection of wearing a watch during school or the military, although I know that I did.
They were just not memorable.
I suspect that I went through a few Timex hand winds.

[Diaboliq]

Nothing special but served the purpose.

[Pasquale]

This is a fantastic thread. I salute you guys

[River Rat]

Great thread!!!

Funny, Derek, but my first ship was the USS Koelsch (FF-1049) also a converted DE.

Man, I'm old

Are you sure I'M not your dad??

Derek you can now call Paul your sea daddy

[425ranger]

1st year


next 15 years


Issued watch (wore it to ranger school, blew it out in a week)


Off to war... Primary watch (Before the polish job, it was black)


and back up..


Thats it.

[quatre_temps]

A Seiko 'Railroad'.



(Photo taken from the web)

[matt.wu]

Incredible to have a watch (or multiple) with a story behind it. Thanks to all for sharing.

[Diaboliq]

Man I sometimes wish I served in my father's time.. He was the last gen of paratroopers to jump out of C47, later on paratroopers in ex Yugoslavia jumped out of Antonov An-12



After that he bought the decommissioned C47 and planned to make the bar in it. He saw the Lisunov Li-3 in Russia once that was overhauled to a bar. Looked cool.


OH and my father never wore a watch until he bought Zenith El Primero almost 10 years ago.



And I just drove the bloody Pinzgauer in my army time.


I really envy him he had the opportunity to fly in it; as an airplane aficionado, the DC3 is by far one of my favorites ever..

[River Rat]

I was wondering what year Croatia stop using C-47's in the military.

[Diaboliq]

I was wondering what year Croatia stop using C-47's in the military.

Ok, I know it's not something people would like to know.. just wanted to share

[River Rat]

I was wondering what year Croatia stop using C-47's in the military.

Ok, I know it's not something people would like to know.. just wanted to share

Only wanted to know becouse I get into the history of other military services.There was also something on the militay channel on the C-47 the plane was used a long time and civilian pilot's still use it today.

[Diaboliq]

I was wondering what year Croatia stop using C-47's in the military.

Ok, I know it's not something people would like to know.. just wanted to share

Only wanted to know becouse I get into the history of other military services.There was also something on the militay channel on the C-47 the plane was used a long time and civilian pilot's still use it today.

Oh sorry, I thought you were being sarcastic
The last year of use was 1974. if I remember correctly. After that they used An12 ("CUB") and Mil MI-8 "hip"

[polaco23]

You drove a Pinzgauer? cool! thats a sweet vehicle!

[Diaboliq]

Well not THAT sweet once you drive it for six months
And it was a transporter version, 6x6 and 4x4 (an original, made by austrian steyr puch, not this brit version above)

[River Rat]

Since some of you were showing some of the equipment you you got to use here is what I got to play with.

[River Rat]

I also drove one of these and it was the older one with a stick we did a convoy in rush hour on the 680 free way going to concord naval weapons depot before they closed the base down I tell you it sucked in rush hour bumper to bumper these truck's are so loud you use ear protection and you have a shot gun that's another person with you to give you hand signals becouse you could not hear him that it safe to change lane's.The new one's are Automatics and the tire's inflate and deflate due to the terrain a lot better than this old piece of %%%^ I had to use the reserve unit's all ways got the left over's.

[425ranger]

pic from the intertubes

[vbuskirk]

How many paratroopers have back problems? I don't know many, but 100% in my limited experience.