Annapolis (AGMR 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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Histor daily SYNCOM messages., When the systemis operational, it can provide highly reliable multi-channel tele- type operations or voice circuits, linking commanders ashore with 7th Fleet units, In addition to normal operations, ANNAPOLIS has provided essential assistance and repairs for ships with communication difficulties. She has also been involved in many search and rescue incidents, and haS rendered frequent medical assist- ance to ships without doctors on board. During her first operational exer- cises following her conversion and shakedown cruise, ANNAPOLIS underwent strenuous tests and ex- periments in Operation Steel Pike I in the fall of 1964. In the amphib- Thefirst ANNAPOLIS was a 19th Century gunboat. ious exercise, the largest ever staged in peacetime, ANNAPOLIS provided communications for over 80 ships and 50, OOO men, AGMR-1 is the third ship to bear the name ANNAPOLIS, The first ANNAPOLIS was a gun boat com- missioned in 1895 which served in the Spanish American War, After a stint in Asia, it was put to use as a training ship at the Naval Academy. She cruised through Mexican and Central American waters before finally being decommissioned at the end of WWI, The second ANNAPOLIS was a patrol frigate which made convoy runs to Algeria in the latter part of WWII. She was decommissionedin 1946 and sold to Mexico. The present ANNAPOLIS was con- verted from GILBERT ISLANDS QCVE-1079, Asa CVE, the ship saw action in the Pacific during the Okinawa - Gunto and Australian operations in Borneo, before being decommissioned in 1961, After a twenty-three month con- version period and three month shakedown cruise, the new ANNA- POLIS joined the fleet in June, 1964 as a unit of Service Squadron 8, - F E V l i r 1 P I P P

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1 T . In September, 1968, ANNAPOLIS steamed into Yokosuka harbor, ending a three year period spent in grueling patrols off the Vietnamese coast, Her purpose in Yokosuka was to refurbish herself and repair any problems that had developed in the four years since she had been com- missioned. Thi? Yard period lasted four, long menths, The crew worked under difficult conditions, but the task was completed in time for her shake- down cruise and refresher training. Those four months were also the last under Captain Wacker's command. Captain K,C, MILLER JR. re- lieved Captain W. J. WACKER of command on January 25th While in Yokosuka. Captain WACKER then left for the states to serve under the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ANNAPOLIS has made 18 patrols in the Vietnam combat zone since July, 1965 when she arrived in WestPac, She has been providing communica- tions support to in-shore blockade operations, gunfire support ships, attack carrier strike operations, and the AMPHIB ready groups. ANNA POLIS made a historic first i during her 6th Patrol by reaching almost 50, 000 miles through space to complete the first operational satellite QSYNCOMQ link between , , ,, WJ , W , . - -dp., Y ' -g ,, ,Y ,L,,.,,,, Q ' - A, 4 , . Q --QR-rw-u5,,, ,U .,., I 118 , - .a,.,,,, 'r:'f ' N W ' WW' ' ., , I My I , .MM V Annapolis operating forces in Vietnam and Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and other high echelons of com- mand. The SYNC OM unit was made operational in August, 1966 Via SYNC OM Satellite III. Since the fall of 1966, ANNAPOLIS has transmitted an average of 50 USS GILBERT ISLANDS fCVE-1077

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Shake-down vaio ZO 2' foounter-clockwise from left oornerp Chief SUTHERS walks two of his men through nuclear drillsg ANNA tovYS her first ship, USS Kretohrnerg the break away flag 15 hoisted for the last timeg GREENE rigs the boom 011 the starboard sponsong Oscar oan't be too happy about the lv i