Chandler (DDG 996) - Naval Cruise Book

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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY USS CHANDLER (DDG 996) FPO SAN FRANCISCO 96662 IN REPLY REFER TO 6 September 1986 To the Officers and Crew of CHANDLER: Upon the completion of CHANDLER ' S second overseas deployment I hope this cruise book will briefly record and recall your many accomplishments, achievements, and good times overseas. A ship of chandler ' s complexity and significant capability, which maintained a very high state of combat readiness despite only one short inport repair period during the first month of our six month deployment, could have been successful only if maintained and operated by the very best of our Navy ' s sailormen. It is my wish that this cruise book recall for you not only the pleasant times of our deployment but more importantly the high stan- dards of professional and technical competence you established and insisted upon. You have all performed superbly, both individually and as a well-trained crew. The Operations and Combat Systems teams es tablished an extremely competent and reliable weapons posture during our high-tempo operations in the Persian Gulf From their meticulous adherence to and execution of the Rules of Engagement to the readiness of their systems and operators to engage potentially hostile aircraft and ships, perfection was their benchmark. The Engineers serviced, repaired when required, and operated our complex propulsion, electrical and auxiliary systems in the highest state of readiness in spite of the extreme heat, blowing sand, and high seas of the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea. Our record of sailing on a six month voyage of approximately 28,000 nautical miles with only a brief stop the first month to shut down and repair the plant speaks well of our engineers ' competence and self-reliance. Our Supply Department supported the entire ship by loading out innumerable supplies and parts before deployment and by acquiring critical parts in faraway places, sometimes from halfway around the globe. The quality of our food never faltered even in the remote area of the Persian Gulf, testimony to our cook ' s selection as the Ney Award nominee from Cruiser Destroyer Group ONE. Our Deck Division not only stood alert and compe- tent watches around the clock but also made time to maintain our ship ' s topside equipment and deck surfaces in peak condition. Their competence as a team was well illustrated when CHANDLER was required to moor and get underway without linehandlers or tugs in two Australian ports because of a Seaman s Union Strike. Our Naviga- tion and Operations people were precise and vigilant while guiding CHANDLER, one of our Navy ' s deepest draft combatant ships, through some of the most confined and hazardous water on the globe. From the Straits of San Bernardino, Malacca, Hormuz, and Wetar to the inland waters of Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, our navigators plied the seas of the world day and night on a most remarkable voyage. CHANDLER ' s deployment in support of our nation ' s military and diplomatic priorities was lauded at the high- est levels of the State Department and the Navy. Your performance as American bluejackets aboard this fine war- ship in faraway places was complemented nicely by your equally flawless performance on liberty ashore. The pride reflected in your performance was documented by complimentary messages from the Chief of Naval Operations, Commander in Chief Pacific, Commander Middle East Force, CTF Seventy-Five, as well as from our Embassies in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Indonesia. Australia, and Fiji. CHANDLER has indeed established and maintained an enviable reputation as a crew who thrives on chal- lenges, works together ashore and afloat, and exudes obvious pride in our every endeavor. In sum, you deployed combat ready and with consummate class! As this closes out what is my last deployment in CHANDLER. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank each of you for your high standard of performance, your loyalty, and your support. I am proud to have been your Commanding Officer and shipmate. R. J. NATTER

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USS CHANDLER (DDG 996). the third ship of the Heet to bear this name, was built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Di- vision of Litton Industries. Pascagoula. Mississippi. Her keel was laid on 7 May 1979. and she was commissioned on 13 March 1982 by Mrs. Theodore Hoskinson. CHANDLER is the last of four United States Navy Guided Missile Destroyers of the Kidd Class. CHANDLER is a 563 foot destroyer which incorporates many hull and engineering features of the SPRUANCE (DD 963) Class des- troyers. The weapons suite aboard CHANDLER is very sim- ilar to that aboard the VIRGINIA (CGN 38) Class nuclear powered cruisers. This combination optimizes speed and economy, while also making CHANDLER one of the most powerful ships at sea in terms of strike capability. At over 9600 tons. CHANDLER is one of the largest destroyers in the fleet, and carries a formidable array of both offensive and defensive weapons and electronic systems. The ship is designed to operate in a mult-threat environment: coun- tering air. surface and subsurface threats simultaneously. After commissioning in 1982. CHANDLER proceeded to her homeport. San Diego. California and joined Cruiser De- stroyer Group FIVE and Destroyer Squadron NINE. In August 1983. CHANDLER was reassigned to Cruiser De- stroyer Group ONE and Destroyer Squadron TWENTY THREE, where she served as flagship. On 13 January 1984. CHANDLER made her first Western Pacific deployment to the Sea of Japan Indian Ocean as a member of Battle Group Bravo. In the fall of 1984. CHANDLER participated in Exercise MARCOT 84-2. an operation with the Canadian Navy. In January 1985. CHANDLER joined the Rampant Lions ' of Destroyer Squadron TWENTY ONE. After suc- cessfully completing a regular overhaul (ROH). an Opera- tional Propulsion Plant Reexamination (OPPRE). and Re- fresher Training (REFTRA). CHANDLER participated in the Portland Rose Festival. In the summer of 1985. CHAN- DLER served as test platform for the successful firing of nine advanced HARPOON surface-to-surface cruise missiles. The ship commenced its second Western Pacific de- ployment on 17 March 1986. during which CHANDLER spent two months in the Persian Gulf as a member of the U.S. Navy ' s Middle East Force (MIDEASTFOR). While de- ployed. CHANDLER conducted port visits in Subic Bay: Singapore: Ad Dammam. Saudi Arabia: Sitra Bahrain: Abu Dhabi. U.A.E.: Jakarta. Indonesia: Townsville and Bris- bane. Australia: Suva. Fiji: and Pago Pago. American Sa- moa. The ship ' s journey to Australia included a challenging transit inside the Great Barrier Reef On 9 September 1986, CHANDLER returned to San Diego. CHANDLER was recently awarded the following De- partmental Excellence Awards for the year and a half com- petitive cycle ending 30 June 1986: the Engineering f . the Operations £ ' . the Missile E . the Gunnery E . the Electronic Warfare EW . the Communications C . the ASW A , and the Damage Control DC . Additionally, the ship has been selected as the Destroyer Squadron TWEN- TY ONE Battle Efficiency (Battle E ) winner for the com- petitive cycle. PROPULSION 4 General Electric LM-2500 Marine Gas Turbine En- gines (Total - 80.000 Shaft Horsepower) AIRCRAFT One SH-3 or Two SH-2 Helicopters WEAPONS Two 5 Inch 54 Cal Gun Mounts. Anti-Submarine Rockets. Torpedoes Two MK-26 Guided Missile Launchers Harpoon Missile System Two Close-in Weapons System (Phalanx)

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COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER ROBERT J. NATTER Commander Robert J. Natter. United States Navy, was born in Trussville. Alabama, on April 9. 1945. He was gradu- ated from the U.S. Naval Academy and commissioned an En- sign in June 1967. After commissioning. Commander Natter was assigned as Engineer in USS VIREO (MSC 205) homepor- ted in Sasebo. Japan: then as Executive Officer in USS CAD- DO PARISH (LST515) and USS IREDLL COUNTY (LST 839) in the Republic of Vietnam. He next was assigned to duty with Naval Special Warfare Group ONE serving as Officer-in- Charge of a Seal Boat Support Unit in Vietnam. From June 1971 to September 1972. he attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. California, receiving a Masters Degree in Management. Following Graduate School and assignment to destroyer school in Newport. Rhode Island. Commander Natter served as Operations Officer in USS BRADLEY (DE 1041). He next was assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy as a Company Officer and later as Flag Secretary to the Superin- tendent. His next move was an assignment to USS HEWITT (DD 966) as Executive Officer, and his most recent tour of duty was in the Pentagon, as Executive Assistant to the Director of Naval Warfare in the Office of the Chief of Naval Opera- tions. Commander Natter ' s personal decorations include the Silver Star Medal. Legion of Merit. Bronze Star Medal with Combat V. Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V. the Pur- ple Heart, and various unit and campaign awards. Commander Natter is married to the former Claudia Kaine of Coronado. California. They have three children Kelly, Kendall, and Courtney.