Castor (AKS 1) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 48 text:

WELCOME ALONGSIDE Romeo is closed up and the customer ' makes her approach. The word is given to the helmsman, She ' s alongside. Lines and rigs are passed from ship to ship and over the bridge to bridge phones is heard, Hello, welcome alon gside. CASTOR is equipped to an ' : ' transfers stores to the smallest and largest ships attached to the US 7th FF.iii-.T. Coming alongside is one of the UiOFt delicate evolutions in the UNRK i- chain of events. The approach is somL times under less than ideal weather conditions. During UXRKP approaches the seaman ' s eye of the conning officer is the guide. Music to transfer stores by. Listen, darling, it ' s our song. Til.- . ightlng Saint ,. ,; , ,,ii... standing by to begin her approach. The Big Boys are sight to behold. They almost seem too huge to float.

Page 47 text:

When the IMC pipes down replinish- ment at sea. the ship suddenly comes alive. Each person is assigned to an UNREP station and he must man it prompt- ly. With the exception of last minute items which are requested by flashing light, all stores material is on the proper station. All deck rigging is ready to carry the load. The Hospital Corpsman and the Postal Clerk are standing by. Oftimes CASTOR will receive black oil or commissary provisions from an- other SERVPAC ship while she transfers general stores --a mutual UNREP. The bridge is a bee-hive of activity during the Underway Replenishment. As soon as the bridge gives permission to transfer, this load will go across. The Commanding Officer checks a readiness report just prior to the UNREP.

Page 49 text:

CASTOR supplies the Coast Guard also. Here the HALF- She ' s not as big as some but her needs are given the MOON makes the scene. same attention. Look, Daddy, a bird farm. There she is; the Big E they call her. icu coai ' j get lost in something so big. There ' s something you don ' t see every day— . Doating radio station.