Butte (AE 27) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 11 text:

S ife The most recent developments in ammunition and missle transfer are incorporate in the BUTTE. The system, which uses a ram tention wire between ships, is called STREAM. Stream rigs will be utilized to transfer ammunition of all sorts to two ships alongside simultaneously, up to speeds of 20 knots. The hazards involved in such an evolution are readily apparent when it is realized that the ship on either side of BUTTE is often less than one hundred fifty feet from BUTTE during rearming operations. Vertical replenishment capabilities are provided by two CH-46 cargo helicopters which will take off with a load of ammunition, deposit it on a ship to be replenished, and return for yet another load, while the other helicopter may be replenishing yet another ship at the same time. Preparation and Coordination are a must and is often the job of many individuals working as a team. With a full load displacement of 19,000 tons, BUTTE has the SIZE, SPEED, and CAPABILITY to safely rearm four ships simultaneously, thus providing an urgently required contribution to the logistic support of the fleet. During operations in the Indian Ocean, BUTTE provided Task Group 70.9 with Ammunition. Freight. Aircraft Engines, and that one thing that made replenishment so worthwhile. Mail. PCI LEISS PCI LEISS 7

Page 10 text:

 cctte The USS BUTTE is one of the Navy's newest ammunition ships. Her mission is to deliver missiles and ammunition to the units of the fleet at sea, providing the bombs, projectiles, missiles, torpedoes, mines, and other expendable ordnance required by the Navy's combatant ships to fight the enemy from the sea and with the aircraft of our carriers. This role is based on the concept of seapower developed seventy-five years ago by the American Naval strategist and historian. Alfred Thayer Mahan. Mahan defined seapower as the ability to transport men and supplies across the world’s oceans freely, control of the sea when access is opposed by other nations, and the denial of the sea by enemies. The era of the space age has not diminished the importance of seapower or its value as an intellectual force. Today 97% of all the world's trade moves on the sea. The sea still remains the only means in our present state of technology of projecting the power of many men and much material to other continents, linking the United States to the rest of the Free World. This year BUTTE can be proud to say she was part of the longest chain of supplies shipped around the world, receiving supplies from the United States and transporting them to units of the Seventh Fleet in the Indian Ocean. BUTTE was also the first ship to rearm another ship, this year, with the Harpoon Missile. In the event of war the importance of the sea is readily apparent. Ships, because of their mobility, are not the accessible targets that shore bases are. But because of the Navy's freedom to travel these vast sea roads and its ability to range close to the enemy, attack becomes more accurate, and weight is added to its offensive powers. USS BUTTE, because she is infact a floating ammunitions depot, eliminates much of the Navy's dependence on the shore bases. In order to rearm themselves, the Navy’s combatant ships need not risk the danger or waste the time to return to unmovable shore depots. The BUTTE will be out at sea, equipped with the latest and fastest methods of underway replenishment, so that ships can get their needed ammunition on the line” or at prearranged rendezvous points to disperse themselves as quickly as possible. 6

Page 12 text:

 Jan 27 Departed Earle. NJ Feb 7 Inchop MED 10-11 Augusta Bay Sicily 12-13 Bluewater Turnover with USS SURIBACHI 19-23 Palma, Spain PCI LEISS OSSN MILLER Mar 2-14 R A V Athens. Greece 24-25 Augusta Bay Sicily 26-27 LaMaddalena Sardinia 28 Augusta Bay Sicily 29-31 Taorimina Sicily Apr 6-7 Transit Suez 1 1 Canal Inchop Indian 17 Ocean Masirah Airhead 20 Operations Masirah Airhead 24 Operations Masirah Airhead 29-30 Operations Karachi Pakistan 8 MSI HOPWOOD