Belle Grove (LSD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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PRODUCTION IN THE SHIPFITTER SHOP BY COLE SFl, FANNING FN, KIEL SFM2, YCOY FN, AND HUFFMAN FN. MURPHY MRFN AND YCOY FN ON THE MILLING MACHINE AND GRINDER RESPECTIVELY.

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NGINEERING After a major overhaul of the boilers, main propulsion and auxiliary machinery at the U.S. Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, we commenced a four week training period in San Diego. The Fleet Training Group put the engineering personnel through numerous engineering and casualty control drills. This training, a necessary refresher for experienced personnel, was invaluable for indoctrinating new personnel that had reported aboard for duty during the overhaul period. Mid-February we departed CONUS for the WestPac Cruise. During this cruise our ancient Skinner Jniflo ' s recorded approximately 29,000 engine miles steamed. For the engineering department personnel the ;ruise was an enjovable one with no major machinery casualties. Only the routine maintenance of the main and auxiliary machinery has been the necessary work for he MM ' s, BT ' s and EM ' s to assist the USS BELLE GROVE in meeting her assigned commitments. The A md R Divisions are perfectionists when it comes to flooding and deballasting the well deck, and this cruise jave them added experience and many opportunities to display their abilites. The MR ' s kept the lathes and nilling machine squealing and whinning and the EN ' s kept the small boats running during operations and iberty hours. Standing watces in the main and auxiliary machinery spaces, in temperatures above 100°F has been he greatest and most disagreeable task required of engineering personnel. However, the SNIPES are ready o answer all bells when the Captain ' s orders are UNDERWAY.

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- ff CHMACH LEONARD. WILLIAMS ETC, OLSON MMC, PRINGLE MMl, DAY MMl, LADELL MMl, HENDERSON MM2, STEPP MM3, AT QUARTERS FOR MAN OVERBOARD. CHCARP MILLER SUPERVISES FUELING OF THE LVT ' S IN THE WELLDECK PRIOR TO OPERATION BLUESTAR. WILDER SFP3 WIELDS THE HOSE.