Biddle (DLG 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE DREW

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.ved . SHIP'S HISTURY The USS BIDDLE QDLG-343 is the fourth ship of the Fleet tio bear tlLe naigeigfbiiplzain Nicholas BIDDLE, 1750-1778, one of the first - - ' ' w o ave is 1 . Captgglj 12eZZbtNl5IID,I1IEFI hsluciiafdflgriglee:-1D2l:IstI1?c?y,e,iuG11?d1up EIGgHT, was launched in Bath, Maine, on July 2, 1965 and christened by Mrs. William H. BATES df Salem, Massachusetts. Commissioned on January 21, 1967, BIDDDE is one of thennewest guided-missile destroyer leader in the U.S. Navy and one of the most versatile ships afloat. She is armed with Terrier gxlllltl-1.ixJ1!IgGl1lded Missiles, Anti-Submarine Rockets and Torpedoesg one 5 !54 and two 3 !50 rapid-fired gunsg and can support 1 -2 MPS Helicopter, BIDDLE is equipped with the Navy's newest and most powerful radars, sonar and tactical data system' and can steam long distances without refueling. In spite of her size and almost 8,000 tons of displacement, her ship s company IS comprised of only 27 officers and 338 men. , . BIDDLE's first seven years have been busy ones. In 1968 she deployed tothe Pacific and served seven months with the Seventh Fleet off Viet Nam, circumnavigating the globe in the process. In 1969 she again deployed to the Seventh Fleet for seven months. For ourstanding performance during each of these deployments. BIDDLE has been awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations. A brief deployment to the Caribbean was the highlight of 1970 where BIDDLE participated in a CNO test of improved radar equipment. The latter part of 1970 and 1971 was a time for many improvements and modifications to BIDDLE. An extensive overhaul by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard brought many improvements in shipboard living conditions and services. Upon completion of the overhaul period BIDDLE began an extensive evaluation of a sophisticated electronic warfare installation known as SHORTSTOP. These tests took nearly a year to conduct with a two month break in the summer of 1971 for Weapons System checks and refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The training period proved to be very successful and BIDDLE earned excellent marks on her final Operational Readiness Inspection. In April 1972, BIDDLE deployed to the Western Pacific for the third time from the Atlantic Fleet. BIDDLE operated with Task Force 77 in the Gulf of Tonkin until late June as Air AAW, Search and Rescue CSARD picket ship and as an Electronic Intelligence QELINTJ collection ship. On July 3rd Captain Edward W. CARTER, III relieved Captain William O. MCDANIEL as Commanding Officer in a ceremony aboard the ship in Subic Bay, P.I. BIDDLE returned to operations as the northernmost strike control ship for air strikes against North Viet Nam. On the night of 19 July, BIDDLE was attacked by five MIG aircraft in two raids. BIDDLE destroyed one MIG from the first raid with Terrier missiles and possibly one from the second with five-inch and three-inch gunfire. The other MIG's were driven off and BIDDLE received no damage. During her 105 days in the combat zone, BIDDLE directed 102 Navy and 56 Air Force strikes over North Viet Nam. BIDDLE's air intercept controllers directed the destruction of 13 enemy MIG's. One additional MIG was destroyed by ship's missiles. BIDDLE directed andfor conducted Combat Search and Rescue Operations which were responsible for the rescue of 5 Navy, 8 Air Force and 4 Marine pilots downed on combat missions. BIDDLE departed Subic Bay on 25 September for Norfolk. Arriving a month later, she went into stan own. BIDDLE remained in port until the end of March and then participated in various fleet exercises including a combined French-American naval exercise at the end of May. BIDDLE served as the Force AAW commander for this exercise which was evaluated as most successful by both U.S. and French flag officers participating. During J uly's exercise BIDDLE was assigned as task group electronic warfare commander and served as flagship for both RADM J.P. MOORER, COMCARDIVUSIX, and RADM D-J.J. DOWNEY, COMCRUDESGRU 8, and their embarked staffs. During the exercise BIDDLE fired four missiles at drone targets scoring two direct hits. For this performance BIDDLE was awarded the Top Shooter Award by VADM J.G. FINNERMAN, Commander, U.S. SIXTH Fleet. Recause of austere operating funds,.BIDDLE remained inport until November. BIDDLE got underway in late November for a combined Canadian-U.S. naval exercise in the North Atlantic with units of U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Navy. ' On 10 December an awards presentation was held onboard in Norfolk in which the ship received two awards. The first was the Navy Un1t.Commendat1on presented by VADM D.C. PLDATE, Deputy CINCLANTFLT. This award was presented For exceptionally meritorious service front If May 1972 while engaged in combat operations against the enemy in North Viet Nam. The second was the Charleston, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Anti Air Warfare Trophy by RADM R.S. WENTWORTH COMCRUDESLANT. 'gpgBfLvg1as5Zesented to BIDDLE, co-winner with USS DEWEV QDLG-141 because During the fiscal year ending 30 June, I G 341 was unsurpassed in Anti-Air Warfare Readiness in the C -D t F U S Atla t Fleet. The first half of 1974 BIDDLE spent inport preparing for her upcoming deploymenftmser es Myer Owe, . l n w Opergtigifianfglsilglggg6?-seglgjblieghlionggi Mecmgergagean- on 22 July, BIDDLE steamed east toward the Cyprus crisis where she USN, relieved Ca tai Ed 'd W. CA mon - Ugllst SHW BIDDLE.1n Soouda Bay, Crete where Captain Francis L. CARELLI , U H p H War RTER, III, USN, as Comm d off - ' participated in the Change of Command Ceremony for Commandadi' SIIgiTHKlgl- uf a cgiemony aboard the Ship' BIDDLE Subsequently On 8 September, BIDDLE H d t , u ee at aeta., Italy, on 5 September 1974. into the sea fifty miles west of Glveizii? l5IDD,D1Fln1fier asslssince ubsearch and rescue operatlons for a TWA airlinerfwhich had crashed to operate with the U.S. SIXTH Fleet until 5 Dmgeyrllilgmleei' Oznbg dDeeSc:l?1Ibi1YVliiZI1D2D?EtIdf pieces of wreckage debris' BIDDLE continued deployment ended on 14 December 1974. ' e t Rnta' Spain for Norfolk' Virginia Where the

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