Ashland (LSD 48) - Naval Cruise Book

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20 August: Off the east coast of the United states gather the ships of the AMERICA Joint Tasi Group (JTG) and the GUADAL- CANAL Marine Amphibious Ready Group (MARG), including USS ASHLAND (LSD 48). USS GUADAL- CANAL (LPH 7). on it ' s final deployment, leads ASHLAND and USS SHREVEPORT ( LPD 1 2 ) in carrying a Marine Amphibious Ready Group. AMERICA JTG is led by the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV 66). cruisers USS NORMANDY (CG 60) and USS MONTEREY (CG 61). destroyers USS SCOTT (DDG 995) and USS THORN (DD 988). and the fast frigates USS BOONE (FFG 28) and US S SIM PSON (FFG 56). Supporting these ships for the next six months will be the replenishment oiler USS SAVANNAH (AOR 4) and the ammunition ship USS BUTTE (AE 27). Completing the force, always there but rarely seen, is the submarine USS GROTON (SSN 694). This deployment is only the second time a Joint Task Group has deployed with a MARG, to create a multi-mission task force. 06 September: Arriving at Rota, Spain on the 25th of August, on their maiden deployment, the crew of the USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) eagerly await experiencing new sights and sounds at their first of many ports of call. Having left their lamilies, friends and homes just two short weeks earlier. ASHLAND completed an Atlanlic transit with other ships of (he USS AMERICA (CV 66) Joint Task Group. The transit culminated with a Passing of the Watch from the detaching battle group, stores and supplies onload, equip- ment upkeep and normal ship routine. Along with that demanding sched- ule, the crew managed to participate in several MARG (Marine Amphibious Ready Group) athletic events with ASHLAND capturing the softball title and placing 1st and 2nd place in the 5k nm. Additionally, several members of the crew took advantage of tours provided by MWR. Visiting surrounding cities afforded the crew the opportunity to purchase souvenirs and gifts for loved ones back home. The 1st of September found ASHLAND departing Rota for Spanish Phiblex 2-93. A joint American- Spanish amphibious exercise on the southwestern coast of Spain. The conclusion of Spanish Phiblex 293 will see ASHLAND sailing into the Mediter- ranean as an intregal part of the AMERICA JTG. 13 September: Having completed Spanish Phiblex 2-93, USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) .sailed from Sierra de Retin training anchorage enroute to the Adriatic Sea Transiting through the Straits of Gibraltar, the crew was afforded the opportunity to capture a piece of the rock on film and video. In ancient times the straits were known as liie Pillars of Hercules, because of the location of Mount Abyla across the straits on the north African coast. This area marked the eml of the known world. I .egend holds that Hercules split open the land briiige connecting liie conlinents of liurope and Afiica. allowinu access to the sea and the fabled island of Atlantis. Enroute to the Adriatic, where it will be assisting in the United Nations Protection Forces (UNPROFOR) in the former Yugoslavia, ASHLAND continued a busy schedule that included weapons familiarization firings, training on naval rights and responsibilities, and a two-day safety stand down, where the crew drilled on general safety procedures. 27 September: The amphibious assault ship USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) departed Izmir, Turkey on September 19, after a three days port visit where ASHLAND ' s crew toured the historic Turkish city, sampling the local cuisine, visiting bazaars and local historical sights. ASHLAND departed Izmir and set course for the southern coast of Turkey to take part in Operation Dynamic Guard 3-93, a multinational exerci.se involving units from Italy, Turkey and Spain, as well as U.S. forces. ASHLAND, along with USS GUADALCANAL (LPH-7), and the Italian assault carrier SAB MARCOS, supported a multinational amphibious landing at Doganbey, Turkey, near the site of the historic Gallipoili landings of World War One. In a joint landing at Saros Bay, Turkey, the units oi D namic Guard 3-93 practiced coordination with the forces of other natiims, in mine- sweeping operations, fligiil operations and troop landings. As part ol tiuil .oov- dination, ASHLAND c;uTied an obser er from the Turkish Air Force, part of the multinational coordination that is the On a im .ASIII.ANDIiok personal sivcial lunch

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I STATS PAGE HOW MUCH OF WHAT, AND HOW OFTEN, FOR USS ASHLAND DURING JTG-94 His 114,1993 TJVeBs FUEL USED: 9250 LUBE OIL: . 2190 LUBE OIL: POTABLE WATER: Jmm DEPLETED URANIUM FOR CIWS: 5min HIGH EXPLOSIVE: 25min TRAINING POINT, TRACER: .50 CALIBER MACHINE GUN 7.62iniii LINKED FOR M60 MACHINE GUN 7.62inin FOR M-14 RIFLE 7.62iTiin M-14 RIFLE GRENADE .45 CALIBER FOR M1911A1 PISTOL SUPERARBOC (CHAFF): MK 58 SMOKE FLOATS: SIGNAL FLARE (RED STAR) SIGNAL FLARE (GREEN): SIGNAL FLARE (RED): SIGNAL FLARE (WHITE): TOTAL VISITS TO MEDICAL: 1,191 USN 742 USMC TOTAL VISITS FOR COMMON COLD: 236 TOTAL NUMBER OF SHOTS GIVEN: 1,005 TOTAL NUMBER OF X-RAYS TAKEN: 162 TOTAL NUMBER OF LAB TESTS RUN: 253 MARS (MILITARY AFFILUTE RADIO SYSTEM) 2 ROUNDS 1,200 ROUNDS MARS CALLS ATTEMPTED: 649 MARS CALLS COMPLETED: 273 NUMBER OF MINUTES TALKED TO LOVED ONES: 1,365 MINUTES

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messdecks honoring crewmembers who have become fathers in September, the first full month of the cruise. A cake cutting ceremony honored the crewmen for their service during this separation from their families. Among the Marine contingent on ASHLAND, the first Marine reenlistment ever held on ASHLAND took place on the starboard bridge wing, as Marine Sgt Donald R. Berry of Alfa Company. Battalion Landing Team 1 8. 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) took the oath of reenlistment. 03 October: Having completed participation in Dynamic Guard 3-93. with a successful backload of 22 MEU Marines and equipment. USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) sailed south to rendezvous with USNS BIG HORN and USS BUTTE in the southern Aegean. Several NATO ships joined together conducting vertical replenishment, connected replenishment and refueling at sea simultaneously. A blue-green team effort by the Sailors and Marines of ASHLAND, the crews of BIG HORN and BUTTE, and the aircrews ensured safe completion of the twelve-hour evolution. After replenishment. ASHLAND detached to proceed independently to the Black Sea for port visits to Constanta. Romania: Varna. Bulgaria: and Istanbul. Turkey. Transiting the Dardanelle and Bosporus straits was a first for ASHLAND as well as many members of the crew. Sailing through the heart of Istanbul provided many unforgettable sights. First stop: Constanta. Romania. ASHLAND arrived at noon on the 2nd of October, receiving honors from Romanian naval units inport. ASHLAND moored pierside at the inner harbor, and was welcomed by the Romanian naval band and a group of well-wishers. Later that afternoon. ASHLAND ' S Commanding Officer. Captain D. W. Keith, accompanied by an ASHLAND Honor and Color guard of Sailors and Marines had the privilege of laying a wreath at Constanta ' s military cemetery, honoring Romania ' s war dead. Captain Keith also paid official calls on the Romanian Navy CNO. the Prefect and the Mayor of Constanta. That evening, a reception was hosted by the commander of the Romanian Navy officially welcoming ASHLAND to Constanta. A better understanding of our two navies and nations was fostered at this meeting. ASHLAND Sailors and Marines took the opportunity to further enhance relations with the local community and our nations by volunteering for community relations projects. The volunteers assisted in repairing and repainting the childrens ward at the local hospital. Other activities included athletic events between ASHLAND and Romanian Sailors and Marines, further fostering goodwill. Tours of castles, including the famed Dracula castle at Bran, were held in the picturesque countryside of Transylvania, and shopping and touring in Constanta. ASHLAND crewmembers were impressed by the friendliness and warmth of the Romanian people and will have many fond memories from the Latin soul of the Balkans:. 10 October: ' Just a few years ago. this visit may not have been possible. Today, sailors of both Navies become ambassadors of goodwill. said Admiral Anghelescu of the Romanian Navy, during a reception held on board the amphibious assault ship USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) during the occasion of ASHLAND ' s port visit to Constanta, Romania. Also in attendance was the commander of the Romanian Naval Infantry and senior Romanian civil officials. During the four day port call. ASHLAND Commanding Officer Captain D. W. Keith and other ASHLAND officers toured a Romanian mine layer and frigate, learning firsthand the capabilities of their Romanian counterparts. ASHLAND reciprocated by conducting tours for Romanian officers and exchanging souvenirs and experiences. Sailors and embarked Marines engaged in numerous athletic competitions with cadets from the Romanian naval academy and hosted them on board to demonstrate Marine amphibious capabilities. Over two thousand Romanians toured ASHLAND. ASHLAND crewmembers spent a day instructing Romanian school children in the finer points of traditional American sports: baseball, football and basketball. DT3 Washington commented The children caught on very quickly, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. CW()4( SW) C. E. Watzlavic of Beachmaster Unit 2 and ASHLAND ' s own ETC(SW) Richard T. Boucher played a guitar and sang in the cultural exchange with the students. To show their appreciation, the students treated over two hundred crewmembers to a demonstration of Romanian folk dancing by the students at their school. ASHLAND departed Constanta. Romania Oct. 6. and was enroute to Varna, Bulgaria when the situation in