Blakely (FF 1072) - Naval Cruise Book

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all 7.3 TH BLA EL Y HIELD The basic design of the ship's shield was token, in fhe main, from The BIUISGIY family ,Conf Cf Arms- . Shield shape is a slightly elongated modification of the 14th Century, heater shape', so called because of its resemblance to Q smoothing iron, Its central Charge is Q rampant lion inside a red dovetailed border. The lion, of aggressive mien and a symbol of courage and power, is charged with shamrocks, reflecting Johnston Blakely's ancient lineage, he being from County Down, Northern Ireland. The worldwide mission of this ship is alluded to in the circular blue shield, representing the globe and the oceans whereon BLAKELYmay be called to perform its duties. Three gold stars on a field of blue symbolize not only the ship's threefold Anti-Submarine mission, to seek, locate and destroy but also the rank of a Vice Admiral, attained by Charles Adams Blakely in 1939. Clutched within the Iion's raised fist is a spear, symbolic of BLAKELY'S weapons systems The motto, NUNQUAM NON PARATUS - NEVER UNPREPARED , was the motto of the Johnston family, titled landowners of County Down, and for whom Johnston Blakely is named. Its meaning has been personified in the exploits and careers of both Captain and Vice Admiral Blakely. CAPTAIN JOHNSTON BLAKELY U N C1 81-1814 Johnston Blakely was born near Seaford, County Down, Ireland in October 1781. His name was alternately spelled Blakely and Blakeley. He came to the United States in 1783 and was appointed a Midshipman in 1800. He served in frigate PRESIDENT during the Quasi-War with France and had command of the sloop ENTERPRISE early in the War of 1812. After capture of the privateer FLY, he took command of the new 18-gun sloop-of-war WASP. He sailed in her from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1 May 1814 for the English Channel. On 28 June, he captured HMS REINDEER C18-gunsb in a severe fight that earned him a gold medal of thanks from Congress. The 19-gun HMS AVON was captured 1 September. But Blakely was unable to take possession of her before a superior enemy force appeared to save the survivors. AVON was so badly shattered that she sank. There were thirteen other captures in enemy waters. The last known capture came 21 September when Blakely made prize of the 8-gun British dispatch brig ATALANTA. That brig was brought by a prize crew into Savannah, Georgia, arriving 4 November 1814. But WASP and her brave commander sailed into oblivion. She was last spoke to 9 October 1814 when she boarded the Swedish brig ADONIS in Latitude 18'-10' North: Longitude 35 -10' West. The mystery of her disappearance has never been solved. WASP was last seen bound for the Spanish Main. v EADM RAL CHARLES A. BLAKELIC C1879-19502 U N Charles Adams Blakely was born in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on October 1, 1879. He was graduated from Williamsburg Academy in 1897 and served with the Second Kentucky Infantry Volunteers during the Spanish American War before being appointed a Naval Cadet to the Naval Academy from Kentucky in 1899. Graduated on February 2, 1903, with the Class of 1903, he served two years at sea, then required by law, and was commissioned Ensign in 1905. He subsequently advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral and served from June 24, 1939 to December 1941 before being transferred to the Retired List of the Navy on October 1, 1942. He died September 12, 1950 at San Diego, California. After graduation in 1903, he served at sea until 1907 with duty in USS SANTEE USS BALTIMORE, USS CLEVELAND, USS DENVER and USS MAYFLOWER. He next commanded USS THORNTON and USS MacDONOUGH successively, until December 1910 when, as Officer in Charge, he established the school for machinists at the Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. From June 1911 to October 1914 he had consecutive command of Reserve Torpedo Divisions and USS ATLANTA, and served as Senlor..Engineer Officer, USS MICHIGAN. The following two years he was on duty in the New York Navy Yard. In September 1916 he assumed command of USS ROWAN, and later, during World War I, commanded USS O'BRIEN until March 1918, receiving the Distinguished Service Medal for hls patrol and convoy work in O'BRIEN and for the depth-charge attack on German submarine U-16 off Queenstown, Ireland on 16 June 1917. 46 81

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After long delays with picture developing, cropping, layouts, and printing the book is finished. This book is not intended to glorify, but to serve as a remembrance to those who served on board during the UNITASIWATC cruise. l hope this book brings back those memories, both good and bad, the -way it was. l'd like to thank the following people for donating their pictures: FTM3 BOROS, EW2 GREENHOUSE, GMG2 COWELL, LTJG HARTEN, OSSN HEFNER, FTG3 BUCHANAN, BT3 TOMBERLIN, EN3 COVEY, and BMS RIVERA. GMT3 BOLT and GMG2 COWELL did the layout and design. YN2 PHlLLlPPl and GMG2 COWELL did the printing. A special thanks goes to the crew. They are the ones that made the cruise possible. It was their professionalism and sweat that kept the ship going. For this the book is dedicated to them.