Butte (AE 27) - Naval Cruise Book

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LENGTH: 564 FT DISPLACEMENT: 19.000 TONS DRAFT: 28 FT HORSEPOWER: 22.000 SHAFT REAM: 81 FT SPEED. 20+ KNOTS ARMAMENT: . TWO TWIN 3 -50 DUAL PURPOSE GUN MOUNTS REPLENISHMENT AT SEA STATIONS...................... 7 VERTICAL REPLENISHMENT STATIONS.................... I COMPLEMENT (with AIR GROUP embarked): .... 18 OFFICERS 295 ENLISTED m

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£xecuti e Commander David B JENNINGS is a native of Wilmington. North Carolina. After his graduation from Bishop England High School in Charleston. South Carolina in June 1965. he attended the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. Maryland. There he received his Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as an Ensign in June 1969. Commander JENNINGS has served as Electronic Materials Officer aboard the USS PERKINS (DD-S77): as Naval Tactical Data Systems Officer aboard the USS CHICAGO (CA-I I): as Combat Information Center Officer aboard the USS HALSEY (CG-23); as Operations Officer aboard the USS WICHITA (AOR-I). He also served on the Royal Australian Naval Staff College for two and one half years in the Personnel Exchange Program (PEP). Commander JENNINGS reported aboard the USS BUTTE (AE-27) and has been serving as Executive Officer since June 21. 1982. (ZattutunuU D zol i “S

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The ships seal represented above is emblematic of the many characteristics of BUTTE. The dominant figure of the insignia is a silhouette represents a modern ammunition ship. The silhouetted helicopter represents BUTTE's vertical replenishment capabilities. The butte in the background is emblematic of our name and our relation with Butte. Montana. The chain which encloses the seal is emblematic of our vital link with the combatant forces and BUTTE's capability of ammunition delivery around the clock and around the world. The four stars in the lower half of the seal represents BUTTE's first administrative assignment to Commander. Service Squadron FOUR, the two stars in the upper half of the seal represents BUTTE's present administrative assignment to Commander. Service Squadron TWO and BUTTE's primary assignment under the operational control of Commander. SECOND Fleet. The total of six stars is emblematic of BUTTE’s secondary assignment to Commander. SIXTH Fleet. The color scheme is elementary. RED. encircling the seal and the butte in the background, is indicative of the ever present danger in handling explosive materials. YELLOW, in the sky portion, is symbolic of the caution used in handling ammunition and of BUTTE's ability to be on any horizon for delivery to the fleet. Blue, in the lower half, represents the sea. cutcC “TfCiaAow. USS BUTTE is one of the Navy's newest class of ammunition ships. Described informally as a floating ammunition depot. this 564 foot long vessel delivers to ships at sea the bombs, missiles and other ordnance required by naval combatants. By the use of the latest equipment available BUTTE can transfer ammunition to two ships alongside her and with the use of two CH-46 helicopters can rearm even two other ships in the vicinity. Besides her replenishment systems. BUTTE has 3 ' 50 gun mounts, a passive roll stabilization tank to provide a steady deck, a fleet of fork-trucks to handle the ammunition, all in a safe and efficient manner. BUTTE was christened and launched August 7. 1967. in Quincy. Massachusetts, and commissioned December 14. 1968. in the Boston Naval Shipyard as the second of the 'Kilauea' class ammunition ships. She was fitted out in Boston and was moved to her first home port of Norfolk. Virginia in December. 1969. In July of 1978 her home port was shifted to Brooklyn. New York where she remained until her home port became Naval Weapons Station Earle. Leonardo. New Jersey, in June 1979. BUTTE has had more than 600 ships alongside and has made ten major deployments in addition to several short cruises for shakedown, training and munitions delivery or downloads. Nine of BUTTE's deployments were to the Sixth fleet in the MED. BUTTE was also attached to the Seventh fleet on several occasions. The first was in the Western Pacific from December 1972 to July 1973 where she operated in the Tonkin Gulf and was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with one Battle star. During the 1970 Jordan Crisis, the ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for her peacekeeping role in that operation. For her 1981 deployment to the Indian Ocean. BUTTE was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal. During the 1982 MED and Indian Ocean deployment BUTTE was named the best ship in Service Squadron TWO and was awarded the Battle Efficiency E . Communications C . Damage Control DC and Deck Seamanship Crossed Anchors awards. This year BUTTE has participated in the Bayruit operations and escorted two Saudi-Arabian Patrol Gunboats across the Mediterranean.