Brumby (DE 1044) - Naval Cruise Book

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airstrip. The war games were fought by two forces set up with the task group and included many hours of general quarters. The personnel of operations department had a particularly rough schedule during these exercises. The most dangerous evolutions carried on at sea during peacetime are vertical replenishment and refueling. It takes precision and skill to com- plete these operations safely. Slippery decks, heavy seas, and the darkness ofrughtincrease the hazards of these operations. The vertrep and refueling details from the bridge to the fireroom, however, always completed their tasks with dis- patch and purpose each time it was necessary to do so. We refueled from Oilers, ammunitionships, a carrier, and a stores ship. Food and supplies came by helicopter from the USS SYLVANIA These helos came with two tons of cargo every three minutes but we never failed to clear the decks 1n time We were always happy to set the helo detail because that meant the coming of mail from home A favorite sight was the approach of the helo 4007 from the carrier FORRESTAL CCVA 599 On 24 February after a long fifteen days at sea the BRUMBY pulled into Palermo, Sicily for fuel Our orders were to fuel and leave the same day but a delay made lt necessary to stay over 1.1 2 0 7 KW Q, U vgfdi ful, , :umm , ,..f4,,4,g,fei,,N ,Mu Q 'G . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Q x f ' 3 , A V , V 4 - - . -' 1' ,J a - .. gk 2 Q 'a li 'K ff n 4 - K- A In ' ' .1 i f 1f Z- t an W K P-'I , . , nf, Q .yhkn f Mi 'L ' e , K. ,, K X A 3, 27.97 fxtwgizg ,FQ I :X , .I K . sg ' ,Q ww , 1 2 'f-x - ' - ' , V SWF? il, SW X' ' - . Xa ' y .. evict if fc ,Q : V , .s.,W.'5H x y r A. en- H -4 ig ff h f L X , , , 'lf' 11 , , - ., -A H f . T . S, f t if Jw- t , , We MJ- f .7355 ,' rp' ,,, :ln V-ig, - ' - 2, , xx 4 I ff ' ,vinft .H-4 ., I nvvigtihz M N VME, I s - ie jgg-am.. '., ..--' , X Y , X Ng f .1 Rf. Q 1 lj . 1 ,51 'g . x Sky, 4 1' ' . ' - 'I !,,.,X:'ffHiA 15 -Z' 'I' - -f 'iff'2f,fL.sg2E1: Qf-s if 'gg .nbc if , -1-.-fy.,--. ff- A . . ,, .,. -. at 'N , , , , 4 3 ' 0 4 :.u,fZ N'f'7 'x ' X gf., f g ' 1 t i l' 'E . Q Wal K F V + V V M , f f 4 , p . . , :-

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the pier the next day. The people were as anxious to see us and talk with us as they were to see the ship. Many of us gladly gave white hats and other items to the young people who wanted a souvenir. Several of the crew were able to meet Yugo- slav individuals and accept invitations to their homes. All of us at one time or another found the people willing and eager to answer our questions and give us directions. There was a high level of interest in a soccer match between Split's team and the Polish National team. Split did not win but should be one of Yugoslavia's best teams by the end of the season. The BRUMBY left Split on the morning of 9 February. It was an experience we will not soon forget. Most of us would like to go back to Split to see those we met during our short stay. But, BRUMBY was headed to sea to join the Sixth Fleet for war games, ASW exercises, and plane guard duty. These drills and exercises are a necessary Part of the training program designed to keep the Sixth Fleet on its toes and maintain a high level of readiness. Plane guard duty consists of follow- ing 2000 yards behind the aircraft carrier and having a rescue team ready at all time to fish out any Pilots that did not make it back to their floating -A

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night. This unexpected liberty was welcomed by everyone except the duty section. The next day we pulled out of Palermo. On 5 March, BRUMBY entered the large har- bor of Palma, Mallorca. The harbor is busy with the traffic of private yachts, passenger ships and commercial freighters. Palma is the capitol of this Spanish island. The largest of the Balearics, Mallorca is 115 Miles from the Spanish coast. The major industry by far is tourism and the is- land's 200 hotels host vacationers the year round. The climate is reputedly so mild that women never grow old, CDRATSJ but we witnessed the island's first snowfall in twenty-five years. The island has varied terrain from the beaches, to the mountain ridge in the northwest to the plain of the central part. The plain produces olives, figs, oranges, lemons, almonds, and vege- tables. Hundred of wind mills stand idle in the fields as electronic power runs the pumps that provide the water to the crops. Limestone, marble, iron, lead, and coal are mined. Other industries include the making of wine, brandy, pearl jewelry, ceramics, leather goods, and embroidery work. In the east near Manacor are Cueva del Drach fCaves of Dragonb famous for their under- ground lakes and formations of stalactites. In the largest part of the cave is a lake over 1000