Cleveland (LPD 7 CL 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS CLEVELAND LPD-7 Steamin ' CLEV LENGTH: 570 FEET BEAM: 105 FEET DRAFT: 21 1 2 FEET SPEED: 21 KNOTS CREW: 430 NAVY PROPULSION: STEAM TURBINE 24,000 HP DISPLACEMENT: 16,500 TONS DATE LAUNCHED: MAY 7, 1966 COMMISSIONED: APRIL 21, 1967 HOMEPORT: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA The USS CLEVELAND is the third ship to be named after the city of Cleveland, Ohio. The first was a protected cruiser (C-19) 1903-29, and the second was a light cruiser (CL-55) 1942-47. The present CLEVELAND, an Amphibious Transport Dock, was designed to add new dimensions to the Navy ' s troop and vehicle transport capability. CLEVELAND ' S distinguishing feature is a large well deck covered by a full helicopter flight deck. This combination permits CLEVELAND to operate as- sault craft at the same time she is landing and launch- ing helicopters. She also combines the capabilities of attack transports and attack cargo ships by carrying both troops and heavy equipment to the assault area. With helicopters and landing craft, CLEVELAND can project more than 800 combat troops with their equipment against enemy beaches. CLEVELAND was also the first LPD built to provide command con- trol spaces for an Amphibious Task Force Command- er and a Landing Force Commander and their respec- tive staffs. After her commissioning in April 1967 at Norfolk, Virginia, CLEVELAND sailed to the West Coast and assumed her duties as a unit of the Amphibious Force of the United States Pacific Fleet. Since then, she has divided her time between local operations around her homeport and extended deployments to the Western Pacific. During deployments CLEVELAND serves as the flagship for the Commander Amphibious Force, U.S. Seventh Fleet.

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Captain Richard J. Cavicke Commanding Officer USS CLEVELAND Captain Richard John Cavicke was born in Somer- ville, Massachusetts. He attended Cornell University prior to entering the Navy as an Aviation Cadet in February 1953. The major portion of Capt. Cavicke ' s aviation ca- reer was spent piloting single seat fighter aircraft from the decks of Pacific Fleet carriers. After completing flight training in 1954 his first assignment was to Fighter Squadron 124 at NAS Miramar, Calif, oper- ating the F7U-3 Cutlass. Following a WESTPAC de- ployment aboard USS HANCOCK in 1957, he trans- ferred to Fighter Squadron 211 at NAS Moffett Field, Calif, made a second WESTPAC onboard USS MIDWAY and marked the beginning of a long associ- ation with the F8 Crusader. From 1959 to 1961 he served as a Combat Flight Instructor in the Crusader Training Squadron at Mof- fett Field and Miramar. In August 1962 he reported to Fighter Squadron 1 1 1 and there made two WEST- PAC ' S onboard USS KITTY HAWK. During the second of these deployments he participated in the first armed combat flights of the South East Asian War. Onboard the USS BON HOMME RICHARD he served as Aircraft Handling Officer during initial Vietnam combat operations. In 1968 he joined Fighter Squadron 24 for consecutive tours as Executive Offi- cer and then Commanding Officer making two com- bat deployments aboard USS HANCOCK. Next he attended the Naval War College and then served as a Staff member for Commander Carrier Group One during combat operations aboard USS MIDWAY and Indian Ocean Operations aboard USS KITTY HAWK. In 1 974 he reported to the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as the Assist. Head of the Air- craft and Weapons Requirement Branch. Capt. Cavicke assumed command of the USS CLEVELAND in August 1977 after completing the four month Senior Officer ' s ship Material Readiness Course at Idaho Falls. Capt. Cavicke ' s personal decorations include: the Bronze Star with Gold Star, Strike Flight Air Medal with numeral 10, Navy Commendation Medal, Presi- dential, Navy and Meritorious Unit Citations, Viet- namese Distinguished Service Order Second Class and Vi tnamese Cross of Galantry. ' IS