Bryce Canyon (AD 36) - Naval Cruise Book

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x l'f '- Q X X X X .t ff Jvc? 00627 xg f x HHH , p V---Lf-L1..u. :' ....--Y--A I hlstonyf Of the Ll.S.S. Bnyce Canyon A0-36 The Korean conflict was responsible for the birth of the BRYCE CANYON-2, although initial construction began April 16, 1945, construc- tion was originally suspended when World War II ended. Only minor work was done from 1946 until 1950 when hostilities in Korea caused cancellation of plans to put the tender in the reserve fleet. Captain M. R. Gerlin took command and set the first watch after commissioning ceremonies on 15 September, 1950, in the Charleston QS. C.J Naval Shipyard. The Shenandoah Class D tender is named after Bryce Canyon Na- tional Park, a scenic tract of land located in the towering plateau coun- try of Southern Utah. The park is noted for its vivid colors and fantas- tically eroded terraces and pinnacles rising 800 feet above the pine cov- ered canyon floor, By a strange coincidence, both the anniversary of the USS BRYCE CANYON and the Bryce Canyon National Park fall on the same date, September 15th. The National.Park was established in 1928, and the ship was commissioned in 1950. The BRYCE CANYON began her naval career with an unusual inci- dent and a probable first in naval history. Within two months after -commissioning, the ship was transferred from the Atlantic to the Paci- fic. So sudden was the change of orders that the officers and men would have had no chance to provide their families with finances to cover transportation to the Pacific coast. For the first time in recorded naval history, a pay day was held for all hands at midnight, followed by liberty at 0100, only a few hours before sailing. During her first Far Eastern tour in 1951 and her second in 1952-53, she took part in the Korean conflict and received one star on the Korean Ribbon for Providing logistic support to the Forces Afloat in the Combat Area. She also holds the United Nations Service Ribbon. During the fiscal years 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959, BRYCE CANYON won first place in Battle Efficiency Competition among the small Pacific Fleet destroyer tenders, making her the first ship in the United States Navy to win the Gold E , Again in 1962, she was awarded her HEII. Throughout her career the BRYCE CANYON's schedule has been a six month deployed tour followed by an eight to ten month homeport period. Whether she is in Long Beach, her homeport, or deployed in the Pacific the ship's primary mission is repair and logistic support. The repair mission is performed in 38 repair shops, so diversified, that they can handle almost any job from the minute adjustment of a stop watch to a complete main engine overhaul. The logistic supportrmission is per- formed by all of the departments in BRYCE CANYON. The Engineering Department produces steam and electrical power. The BRYCE CANYON is ,492 feet long, displaces 18, 000 tons, has one 5 f 38 gum 'mount and can comfortably accomodate '51 officers, 66 chief Petty Officers and 748 enlisted men. 1 6 ,- X , , Z, Z Z ,

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uss Buzyce canyon Commlssloneo Sept. 15, 1956 homeponteo - long Beach, Callfonnla H . f .I , ..-7,,,..,, FF 1 ii W i W Y ..., ...f ,,2:-.:.4.Vs-.gg ,Q -L JP-A V -gm

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Captain Amebeo hemay Qalvam Repomteo - Septemsen 1965 Oetacheo - manch 1967