Blue Ridge (LCC 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 5th Birthday equally complex facilities. The Blue Ridi;c uses a maze of computers and communications equipment to accomplish her task. The Blue Ricigeis capable of commanding and coordinating all aspects of an amphibious assault landing, comparable in scale to a major World War II operation. This floating command post is able to coordinate troop landings, control air and gunfire support, offer task force protection and disseminate logistical data simultaneously. The forest of antennas which sprouts from her main deck and superstructure give an indication of the Flagship ' s extensive communications network. Part of this network includes satellite telecommunications. The Blue Ridge is the first ship designed from the keel up for command and coordination of amphibious operations exclusively. Listed here are a few of the more dramatic events in her short life: April 29-30, 1975 Participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the emergency evacuation of Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. In this effort the Blue ? (?£ ' helped to evacuate nearly 7,000 United States citizens, Vietnamese refugees and third-country nationals. October 6, 1980 Rescued 92 Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea. May 15, 1984 Rescued 35 Vietnamese refugees 350 miles northeast of Cam Rahn Bay. Debarked them in Hong Kong. October 3, 1984 Assisted 17 Vietnamese refugees 90 miles off the west coast of Malaysia. The refugees were in very good condition, their boat seaworthy; they requested only food, water and a navigational chart. April 3-5, 1985 Conducted surveillance operations of the eight-ship Soviet task force steaming in the North Philippine Sea. Leading the Russian fiotilla was the Kiev class CVHG Novorossiysk. May 16, 1985 Rescued 13 Vietnamese refugees 1 10 miles southeast of Vietnam. Debarked them in Okinawa, Japan. Thursday, 14 November marks 15 years of outstanding service that USS Blue Ridgehas provided to our country and Navy. Day in and day out. Blue Ridge ' s crew demonstrates dedicated support to Seventh Fleet and serves superbly as a member of the Overseas Family Residency Program. On this proud occasion, I ' m extremely proud to have Blue Ridge as a member of NAVSURFGRU WESTPAC. Happy Birthday. -RADM H.L. Webster, USN COMNAVSURFGRU WESTPAC 1970-1985 65

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HiKhlii hrs BLUE RIDGE CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE On Thursday, November 14, 1985, the USS Blue Rldiicmiuked her 15th Birthday. The Seventh Fleet Flagship, Finest in the Fleet, is named after the Blue Ridge Mountains, a series of ranges in the Appalachian Mountain system found in the eastern United States. They extend from southeastern Pennsylvania across Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and northern Georgia. The mountains ' name comes from the blue tone given these peaks by forests situated on their slopes. Viewed from a distance, the peaks appear blue in color. The Blue Ridge ' ' s)ob is amphibious force command and control. Amphibious warfare is probably the most complex form of war fought, and its effective control demands Happy Birthday, Blue Ridge Cutting the birthday cake on the mess decks in celebration of the Flagship ' s 1 5 years of service are Captain Thomas D. Paulsen, departing CO.; MMCM(SW) Buzz Schwark, Command Master Chief; Seaman Apprentice L. Wilkerson, youngest crew member aboard; and Captain John H. Heidt, prospective Commanding Officer. Due to operational commitments, the cake-cutting ceremony was held on October 1 3. tonipuieisar ik. fc t 55, com pioiaiionanc 64

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r Hiiihlii hts SULTAN VISITS THE BIUE RIDGE The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam visited the Blue Ridgeon October 5, 1985, while we were operating off the coast of Brunei. While aboard the Flagship, Sultan Sir Hassanal Bolkiah met with Vice Admiral Paul F. McCarthy, Jr., Commander Seventh Fleet, and received briefings on the mission and capabilities of the Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. The visit. His Majesty ' s first to any U.S. ship at sea, followed discussions with U.S. Ambassador Barrington King and Admiral McCarthy in Brunei. Brunei Darussalam is a 2,226-square-mile nation on the northwestern coast of Borneo. Income from offshore oil and gas deposits gives its citizens one of the highest per capita incomes of any nation in the world. Captain Paulsen and Captain David R. Oliver Jr., Seventh Fleet Chief of Staff, greet Vice Admiral McCarthy, the Sultan and Ambassador King upon their arrival on the Flagship. li Vice Admiral McCarthy talks with Sultan Sir Hassanal Bolkiah on the bridge while Captain Paulsen and U.S. Ambassador Barrington King look on. 66