Claude V Ricketts (DDG 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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The Standing Naval Force is deployed throughout the vast, 12 million-square mile North Atlantic which is crossed by the Western world's major shipping lanes. Here, more than 3,000 merchant vessels can be found on any day. NATO'countries depend on the continuous free access to these sea lanes - the countries are presently operating approximately two-thirds of the world's tonnage of ocean-going cargo vessels in support of a large portion of their foreign trade. l The Western powers' dependence upon the Atlantic's lifelines has lately been acknowledged, and challenged, by the navy of the Soviet Union. Traditionally a land-orientated power, the Soviet Union has come to realize over the past two decades the importance of the waterways and has grown to become the second most powerful maritime nation. Confronted with the ever-increasing figures in Soviet naval contruction, the countries of the NATO Alliance found it necessary to reappraise their overall defensive strategy. Undoubtedly this has had a profound effect on the decision to establish a permanent NATO naval force. ' ' While naval units of the Alliance had been operating together for very brief periods' over a number of years, it was not until February of 1965 that naval vessels of several countries participated in extended exercises, lasting approximately six months. Dubbed Exercise Match Maker l, Il, Ill, in succession, the annual training periods continued through 1967. The success of Match Maker convinced many that a permanent international force was feasible. The Standing Naval Force Atlantic was first activated on january 13, 1968 at Portland, England, after having been approved in full at the NATO Ministerial Meetings in Brussels the previous December. The first ships to join STANAVFORLANT were the British frigate HMS BRIGHTON, the Dutch frigate HNLMS HOLLAND, the Norwegian frigate HNOMS NARVIK, and the American destroyer USS HOLDER. Since that time, ships from the NATO 'member nations of Canada, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States have played a vital role in NATO's permanent multi-national naval force.

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4.li- j I S TANEDING NAVAL roRcE ATLANTIC STANAVFORLANT is the world's first permanent multi-national naval squadron to operate ftogether in peacetime. . The individual ships of the Standing Naval Force have many differences with regard to uniforms, traditions and equipment since all ships maintain their national character while assigned to STANAVFORLANT. Yet this force operates as one unit, bound by the common purpose of serving as NATO's maritime spearhead in preserving the free access to North Atlantic waters. STANAVFORLANT is composed of between four and nine destroyer or frigate type ships, operating as one unit on a continuous basis. Ships of various nationalities will normally remain with the squadron for a period up to six months. They are then relieved by a unit of the same nationality or a vessel from another NATO naval member. Commanding the squadron is a Commodore who is selected annually from one of the countries contributing ships to the force. The Commodore is aided by a staff of officers who are also provided by participating countries. Overall command of STANAVFORLANT is exercised by the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, from Norfolk, Virginia. The Commander in Chief, Eastern Atlantic Area, with headquarters at Northwood, England, controls the force when operating in European waters. The Standing Naval Force is tasked with achieving four basic objectives. First, it is to maintain naval effectiveness within the Atlantic Alliance at a high level by providing squadron experience and training on a continuous basis. The force participates in numerous NATO exercises and national tactical operations in European and North American waters throughout the year. Stressed during these exercises are antisubmarine warfare, anti-air defense practices and convoy duties. During a typical operation, the squadron may find itself pitted against the combined strength of 'enemy' submarines, naval aircraft, and swift torpedo boats, all at the same time. The squadron also serves to demonstrate the solidarity and unity of the NATO nations by showing the flags of various member nations in a single, multi-national force. During any given year, the NATO naval squadron may visit some 30 ports in 10 countries where open house days and various people-to-people programs provide citizens with the opportunity to judge for themselves the feasibility of a multi7national unit to operate in harmony. Another important function of the Standing Naval Force is its availability and readiness for immediate deployment to the scene of any possible contingency situation to reaffirm the solidarity of the NATO Alliance and provide a visible deterrent force. Should this occasion arise, the squadron would also possibly have to meet its fourth objective which calls for providing the initial elements around which a more powerful and versatile NATO naval force could be formed. X

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THE MAN - CLAUDE V. RICKETTS Claude Vernon Ricketts was born in Missouri on February 23, 1906, and was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1929. For duty in World War Two he received a letter of Commendation with Ribbon and the Legion of Merit with Combat V , After instruction at various staff and war colleges he reported in june 1949 as Commanding Officer of USS ALSHAIN QAKA-55j. In july 1952 he became Head, Amphibious Warfare Branch, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. After Commanding the USS SAINT PAUL QCA-731 and serving as Commander Destroyer Flotilla Four, he became director of Strategic Plans, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. On February 1, 1961, he became Commander, Second Fleet, and on September 25 of the same year, he assumed, his last duty in the U.S. Navy as Vice Chief of Naval Operations. While serving as Vice CNO he devoted his enormous energy and talents to many projects of importance to the U.S. Navy and the NATO alliance. On july 6, 1964, Admiral Ricketts died of a heart attack. On july 28, 1964, USS BIDDLE was renamed and recommissioned USS CLAUDE V. RICKETTS QDDG-51 in memory of the former Vice Chief of Naval Operations. At the name-changing ceremony, the Honorable Paul H. Nitze, Secretary of the Navy, spoke of the appropriateness of renaming the ship in honor of Admiral Ricketts because of the great contributions and efforts the Admiral had given to the concept of mixed-manning and the Multilateral Force.