Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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ln the 0 0 f Beginning ith the approval of the Fiscal Year 1979 Congressional Budget, The Unit- ed States Ship AUBREY FITCH was authorized for construction. The con- tract for FFG-34 was awarded to Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, where the keel was laid on 10 April 1981. It was launched on 17 October 1981, and commissioned on 9 October 1982. On commissioning day the Officers and men of USS AUBREY FITCH were honored by the presence of the Vice President of the United States, George Bush, who served as the princi- pal speaker. Other dignitaries present included Vice Admiral MONROE, USN, Director Re- search 8z Evaluation, Vice Admiral JOHNSON, USN, Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet: and Mrs. Francesca FITCH FER- GUSON, the ship's sponsor. The ship was placed in commission by Vice Admiral MON- ROE on behalf of the Chief of Naval Operations on 09 October 1982. Assuming command was CDR Floyston A. WEEKS, United States Navy, who is currently serving as Commanding Offi- cer. The Executive Officer was LCDR William Robert WILLIAMS United States Navy. Follow- ing commissioning, Vice President and Mrs. BUSH were escorted on a tour of USS AUBREY FITCH, and afterwards Vice President BUSH addressed the commissioning crew on the fore- castle. USS AUBREY FITCH then continued a Post- Delivery Availablity at Bath Iron Works until 15 November 1982, when she sailed away to the ship's new homeport of Mayport, Florida, via ammunition on-loading in Yorktown, Virginia. While still at Bath, the ship underwent its initial Propulsion Examining Board QPEBJ Light-Off Examination QLOED and the initial Crew Certifi- cation inspections. The remainder of November and December, the ship's company was united with families in Mayport and prepared for the ship's initial Shakedown Training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. From early January until mid-February 1983 USS AUBREY FITCH received Shake- down Training from the Fleet Training Group Instructors. The return trip from Cuba was marked by the ship's first port visit, to Key West, Florida. The ship then prepared for two additional major events: Combat Systems Qualification Trials and the Final Contract Tri- als which marked the formal acceptance of USS AUBREY FITCH by the United States Navy. Combat Systems Qualification Trials QCSQTJ culminated in four successful missile firings in four attempts at the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Test Facility, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico - a perfect record. Following a port visit to St. Thomas, AUBREY FITCH was examined by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey, headed by Rear Admiral BULKELEY, USN. The Final Contract Trial ended with AUBREY FITCH ac- cepted for service in the United States Navy and with superior comments on the ship's mate- rial readiness and cleanliness from the exami- nation team. The PMS accomplishment of 96.423 was the highest recorded in INSURV Board history. Following Final Contract Trials, 2 3 AUBREY FITCH took time out for a day with the ship's first Dependents' Cruise, conducted in the local Jacksonville Operating Area. In accordance with the provisions of the FFG- 7 Shipbuilding Program, AUBREY FITCH then returned to Bath Iron Works for a three and a half month Post-Shakedown Availability QPSAJ, via de-perming in Norfolk, Virginia, ammuni- tion off-loading in Yorktown, Virginia, and a port visit to Boston, Massachusetts. Major in- dustrial work accomplished during PSA includ- ed the refurbishment of the enlisted berthing areas, where 30 additional bunks were installed, modifications to the starboard helo hangar to accommodate the SH-60 LAMPS MK III heli- copter, a high pressure air starting system for the main engines, CHT system modifications, MK 92 Fire Control System ORDALT installa- tions, and miscellaneous minor jobs and guar- antee work to correct deficiencies discovered during the Shakedown period. Upon departing Bath in early September, AUBREY FITCH re- turned to Mayport via ammunition on-loading in Yorktown, Virginia and a Norfolk port visit. With an additional Training Readiness Evalua- tion prior to getting underway for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, AUBREY FITCH continued the training and certifications required. Refresher Training at Guantanamo Bay was overshadowed by real-world events when mid- way, U.S. forces invaded Grenada. The ship took part in a series of nightly patrols of the seaward approaches to the Naval Base as a pre- caution against a hostile Cuban reaction to the events further south. During the period follow- ing the invasion of Grenada, the ship intercept- ed a ZHUK patrol boat and tracked a Soviet bloc submarine on two occasions. While in Cuba, the ship joined in another sort of battle: The War on Drugs. USS AUBREY FITCH assisted Federal Officials on two occa- sions. The first was the seizure of the sailing vessel Wammer Jammer , from which the ship received a distress call. When the sailboat made port in Guantanamo Bay, she was discovered to be carrying a cargo of marijuana. In the other incident, the ship came across and recovered three bales of marijuana adrift near the harbor entrance. i November saw the early and outstanding completion of Refresher Training, followed by 3 weekend port visit to Montego Bay, Jamaica. On return to Cuba, the ship assumed taCilCal control of two PHM's, the USS TAURUS KPHM 31 and the USS AQUILA CPHM 4j. The combined FFGXPHM Surface Action Group QSAGJ was slated to conduct CUBEX 1-84, an Opefaflon designed to test the practicability and tactical potential of joint FFG f PHM operations. EveniS in Grenada overcame CUBEX 1-84, and lil' stead, the SAG turned south to participatetlll follow-on operations to URGENT FURY, the in- vasion of Grenada. , USS AUBREY FITCH arrived in Grenadian waters in mid-November. The Commanding Of' ficer, CDR F. A. WEEKS, assumed CTU 28.1.1, under the direct control of Commander, U.S- Second Fleet, and Commander, U.S. FOFQOS- Grenada. TU 28.1.1 was charged with Patfolhlfg the waters around Grenada to provide anlti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface protection. During the operation, Uss AUBREY FITCH served as support ship for the two PHM S- 65 such, she refueled the PHM's on a regular baflsv as well as provided provisions, mail servlC0f medical, disbursing, laundry, barbersh0P- an? ship's store support. In addition, the shiP,5 engl' neers were instrumental in repairing three Grenadian patrol boats. The key element in the ship's mission to Gren-