Chandler (DDG 996) - Naval Cruise Book

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7 , CHA DLER 1997 The last year and a half have been a challenge for the families and crew of the USS CHANDLER. A challenge met 'hhtd 'k,f'd, ' ' ' - . , , ggihisagl-exqrialnortitu e dedication and professionalism. The accomplishments for this ship make us all justifiably proud Throughout 1996 and l997 USS CHANDLER superbly completed every assigned mission CHANDLER a essivel - . - . . ' ggf Y sought meaningful operations, from the challenging role as the first-ever dedicated CRUDES escort for an Amphibious Readiness Group KARGJ to a remote deployment uniquely under COMTHIRDFLT and JIATF West control. No other ship was so very ready for such a wide variety of taskin s. Throu h tth' ' d C , , , , S 3 O11 IS perlo HANDLER demonstrated an unparalleled ability to operate independentlyg planning, execution, and onstation self-suffiency were without equal. Since shifting homeports in late 1996, CHANDLER continued to excel. After a great year in 1996, which included the Command and Control Excellence Award and Engineering Survivability Award, CHANDLER finished up with a superb INSURV and began .1997 in the final phase of an extensive work-up with the BOXER Amphibious Ready Group QARGJ. As the first ever dedicated combatant escort for an ARG, CHANDLER's efforts as AAW, USW, and SUW warfare com- manders during FLEETEX-11M and JTFEX 97-l better prepared the ARG for combat and roduced accordin to COMTHIRDFLT watershed of lessons learned that will sh , P , g i ape battlegroup strategy for years to come, COMPHIBRON- 7 remarked that CHANDLER was ...doing superbly integrating effectively with both the ARG and, when required, with the Carl Vinson Battle Group. At the same time she provided COMTHIRDFLT with valuable information in experimental C41 with the installation of five major NRAD-sponsored communications subsystems CSINCGARS, JINC, KSQ-l, VTC, BG E-MAILJ. Finally, before steaming back north, CHANDLER fired over 360 five inch rounds into San Clemente island in SACCEX '97 and out-performed four other ships in a SM2 firing exercise. CPR-7 commented ...only CHANDLER was able to track the vandalf' tThe other two ships were AEGISJ COMTHIRDFLT commented on CHANDLER'S role with the ARG, L'The standard you set will be hard to match. Spring 1997 got off to a surprising start with the receipt of the fateful message Cancel CHANDLER's deployment with BOXER ARG. From this point on, warship CHANDLER dedicated herself to remaining on 96 hour deployment stand-byg nthe most ready ship in the navy, according to CDR Balmert, her CO. Preparing for three proposed summer deployments, CHANDLERls leaders worked to keep morale and readiness high. Weekly inport fast cruises kept up readi- ness, and MWR activities and port visits to San Francisco and Victoria helped morale. In July, warship CHANDLER was chosen again for another major fleet exercise in southem Californiag only this time she would be the enemy. As the most potent orange force in the JTFEX 97-2 final phase of Nimitz Battle Group and Pelileu ARG work-ups, she once again demonstrated her incredible combat readiness by controlling the first successful wave of air strikes on the carrier, remaining undetected for the beginning hours of the exercise, and sneaking through enemey defenses to wage an attack on blue force AEGIS cruiser, USS PORT ROYAL. While there, CHANDLER under- took her annual Naval Gunfire Support training certification, scoring a 95.2 pct at San Clemente Island. As VADM Browne wrote, f'Your ability to take the fight to the enemy, as well as the fine fighting crew you have honed to a razor's edge, will serve you well during future operations with JIATF West and East? Thus, CHANDLER returned home in late July with orders: a JIATP-WEST counter narcotics deployment. Pre-deployment preps allowed CHANDLER a port visit in Seattle for SeaFair, enabled her to serve as flagship for COMDESRON NINE, saw another deployment stores onload, and one last availability. As a result, she deployed on 23 SEP without a single CASREP. As COMDESON NINE debarked to deploy aboard N IMITZ, Commodore Duffy wrote warship CHANDLER in a farewell message, I am proud to call her my flagshipf' The final quarter of 97 was spent in the Eastern Pacific under tactical control of JIATF West and operational control of COMTHRIDFLT. CHANDLER's accomplishments were impressive, maintaining a detailed air and surface picture, and aggressively employing tactics from the covert trail of contacts to the control of US Customs aircraft. CHANDLER also proved incredibly self-sufficient. Without any local logistics available, she used infrequent oiler, P-3 airdrops, onboard creativity, and sheer determination to replace failed parts and effectively maximize her lengthy on-station time. Even without a dedicated maintenance stop, CHANDLER was able to return home CASREP free. Marked improvements in Engineering, Supply, and Maritime warfare coupled with unparalleled .reliability made CHANDLER an obvious choice for recongnition as the COMDESRON NINE Battle Efficiency-Awardlwinner. On 18 December, l997 CDR Robert Beattie relieved CDR Mark Balmert as Commanding Officer of the CHAN- DLER in ceremonies held onboard while the ship was at Naval Station San Diego. The final day of l997 saw CH A deserved homecoming on 22 December 1997 at Naval Station Everett. ANDLER close out the lst year and a half with a much anticipated and much