Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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ada was the classic concept of naval presence. Ambassador Gillespie of the American Embas- sy in Grenada summed up the unit's operation in the following message: R 'As the FFG AUBREY FITCH and PHM's AQUILA and TAURUS depart Grena- dian waters, I want to express our appre- ciation and admiration for their excellent work here. Not only did the ships provide a tangible and reassuring sense of securi- ty to all Grenadians, they engaged in ex- tensive patrol duties, they were able to provide crucial help in reconditioning Grenadian patrol boats and they carried out protocolary duties in an exemplary mannerf' USS AUBREY FITCH returned to Mayport in the middle of December. The ship stood down for a well-earned holiday leave period. lt is sig- nificant to note that in the first year and three months of commissioned service, the ship had been in her home port for a total of only six weeks. In January of 1984, USS AUBREY FITCH sailed on local operations which included an orientation cruise for the Prospective Com- manding Officers of USS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY and USS GALLERY. Also in that month, AUBREY FITCH went to the AUTEC Range in the Bahamas for exercise torpedo firings and earned a perfect score of 10096 against a mobile target. In February, the ship underwent her first Im- mediate Unit Commander's Inspection and passed with superior results. Later, AUBREY FITCH entered her first Intermediate Mainte- nance Availability period where various, mis- cellaneous jobs were completed for the ship. HSL-34 Detachment 7 arrived the next month and began workups for the ship's upcoming de- . .s.i .'f'.5 '-2'-f 1f:,n,... , 059- 'WJ Q' - - I, ,ga - -- . .Q 1+-ag.:-f--4 sf- Q ,f,,:Q-ng A I 1 'ww 'W ployment. The maintenance period was inter- rupted when USS AUBREY FITCH was tasked to escort a Soviet Naval Task Force steaming in the Caribbean. Prior to returning to Mayport, the ship called on Key West for a second time. After stopping briefly in Mayport to receive exercise weapons for COMPTUEX 2-84, USS AUBREY FITCH left for the Puerto Rican Oper- ating Area near Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico to participate in COMPTUEX with COMDES- RON 24 acting as Officer in Tactical Command. In addition to successful missile and exercise torpedo firings fboth SVTT and helo launchedj, USS AUBREY FITCH was the first FFG-7 class ship to qualify on the NGFS range at Vieques. Additionally, the ship came out of the exercise with M-1 operational readiness in all areas. Fol- lowing an Easter holiday visit to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, AUBREY FITCH headed west to participate in exercise OCEAN VENTURE '84. Displaying aggressiveness and a strong deter- mination to win the battle Qwhether Blue or Or- ange Forcej, USS AUBREY FITCH emerged from OCEAN VENTURE as a well recognized fighting unit. In May, Vice Admiral WALTERS, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations fSurface Warfarej visited the ship and reenlisted one sailor on- board in Combat Information Center. USS AU- BREY FITCH completed a TYCOMMEX with an overall grade of 97'Z1, the highest grade re- corded in DESRON EIGHT history. In this month, Lieutenant Commander William Robert WILLIAMS, United States Navy, was relieved by Lieutenant Commander Steven E. PILNICK, United States Navy, as Executive Officer. AUBREY FITCH completed all preparations for overseas deployment with zero CASREPS, a zero discrepancy Aviation Readiness Evalua- tion, and a Combat Systems Readiness Review which reflected a superb material condition in all weapon systems. Just prior to deployment. a group of seven midshipmen from the Naval A- cademy and NROTC units embarked for a month long training period. On June 22nd, USS AUBREY FITCH depart- ed from Mayport to join the Standing Naval Force Atlantic in Plymouth, England. The ship refueled in Halifax, Nova Scotia before continu- ing on her journey across the Atlantic Ocean. While in England, USS O'BANNON turned over their duties to AUBREY FITCH. Following a short port visit there, a week of workups with STANAVFORLANT quickly familiarized the ship with NATO operations. Other ships of the Force included FGS LUETJENS, HMS ARETH- USA, NRP COMMANDANTE JOAO BELO. HMCS FRASER, AND HNLMS PHILIPS VAN ALMONDE. A two week visit to Rosyth, Scot- land for a limited maintenance period followed the workups. STANAVFORLANT departed Scotland and underwent a week of drills and exercises prior to arriving in Luebeck, Germany along the East- West border. In Luebeck, HMCS FRASER was replaced by HMCS OTTAWA as Canada's repre- sentative to the Force. The next port visited was Copenhagen, Denmark prior to the Danish exer- cise YellowfBlind Bird '84 in the Baltic Sea. In that exercise, AUBREY FITCH furthered her ability to operate with NATO units in a multi- threat, coastal environment. STANAVFOR- LANT then visited another Danish port - Aar- hus. The NATO ships all headed westward across the Atlanic Ocean stopping briefly in the Azores for fuel and supplies and then to Bermuda prior to the start of Exercise SAFE PASS '84. During the entire transit, AUBREY FITCH continuous- ly operated with the other STANAVFORLANT ships, drilling and exercising in all areas of sur- face warfare. SAFE PASS gave AUBREY FITCH more experience in SAU tactics while escorting a high value unit. The exercise was completed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. That port visit was followed by a busy practice pro- gramme during the transit to Charleston, South Carolina. The three-week port visit to Charleston marked the ship's second Intermediate Mainte- nance Availability period. During IMAV, STA- NAVFORLANT was joined by the Dutch Oiler, HNLMS ZUIDERKRUIS. In late October, all units of STANAVFORLANT sailed for Savan- nah, Georgia for a few days visit. All NATO ships then headed for Mayport for a two day visit prior to getting underway for COMPTUEX 1-84. COMPTUEX was hindered by hurricane Klaus though AUBREY FITCH successfully fired an exercise missile to complete all her SE- LEX requirements for this competitive cycle. Prior to heading for New Orleans for a Thanks- giving port visit, AUBREY FITCH visited St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles along with HNLMS PHILIPS VAN ALMONDE. On November 28th, STANAVFORLANT ar- rived in Mayport for a five-day visit prior to the EASTLANT unit's journey back to Europe. In December, USS AUBREY FITCH participated in Battle Force Inport Training IBFITJ which simulated mobilization and tactical scenarios of Atlantic Fleet units in the event of a major con- flict in the Northern European Theatre. On De- cember 7th, the ship hosted veterans and their guests for a wreath laying ceremony. Vice Ad- miral William F. MCCAULEY, Commander Na- val Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet visited the ship on December 11th. 3

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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-

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Floyston A. Weeks, Commanding Officer Commander Weeks was born in Damariscotta, Maine on 12 March 1944. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy, having been awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Engineering in June 1966 He ent d th U . ere e nited States Merchant Marine Service in June of 1966, shipping as Third Assistant Engineer in SS SYLVIA LYKES. He entered the United States Navy as Ensi9n on 1 January 1967, and subsequently advanced in rank to that of Commander to date from 1 October 1980. As a junior officer, Commander Weeks served as Main Propulsion Assistant in USS FRANK KNOX QDDR 7421 and as Squadron Material Officer on DESRON Twenty-Two. He participated in numerous Vietnam Combat operations as Engineer Officer in USS BROOKE QFFG 11 From October 1974 t A I 19 . o pri 77 Commander Weeks served as Commanding Officer in USS DIRECT KMSO 4301. Commander Weeks then served as Executive Officer in USS CARON QDD 9701. He has made deployments to the Mediterra- nean, Northern Europe, Western Pacific and South Pacific during his sea duty assignments. ln other assignments, Commander Weeks has served as instructor at the U.S. Naval Destroyer School, and as Examiner on Commander-in-Chief United States Atlantic Fleet Propulsio E ' ' ' , n xamimng Board. He is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School where he received a Master of Arts Degree in National Security Affairs. Commander Weeks has received the Navy Commendation Medal fthird d awar 1, the Navy Achievement Medal fsecond awardl, and various Campaign and Expeditionary Medals. Commander Weeks is married to the former Virginia Fairservice, of Wiscasset, Maine. They have two sons, Kashin and Efhan- ,5 vriwvkv, A.,-Q .A--. ,I ,..,3,-' C ,f--- ...-t -- I , - -A