Concord (AFS 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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A dedication The light cruiser CONCORD served as a Pacific Fleet flag ship during World War II. The sloop CONCORD, first ship to carry the name, sailed with the Mediterranean Squadron during the 1830s. 4 This book is dedicated to the crewmembers of all ships named CONCORD — their fears, hopes, dreams, and personal sacrifice made for their country. CONCORD is proud to be the newest member in such an honored family of U.S. Naval vessels. To our predecessors we commit the following pledge: To sail proudly the seas of the world, dedicated to the protection of the world ' s ocean ways for the use of all nations. To do our duty in the tradition set forth by our forebearers, and to protect our country whatever the sacrifice. To these honored men we humbly dedicate this ven- ture. In service from 1891 to 1902, the gunboat CONCORD was with Dewey at Manila Bay.

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Little more than a year ago USS CONCORD was an infant among ships, devoid of experience, untried, un- trained, but, as later proven, of sturdy stock and un- limited potential. Today she is fully grown and, although still imbued with the spirit of youth, has achieved a level of confidence that comes only from hard work, maturity and frequent achievement. This book is the story of her growth -- from keel laying to completion of her first major deployment with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. It is the story of a ship and, most important, of the men who man her — for it is these men who first breathed life into her upon Commissioning and are her very soul and spirit today. CONCORD has a lifetime ahead of her, surely to be filled with success and achievement. But for those of us who have served aboard during this initial period, we will always consider it the time of greatest excite- ment and adventure. Throughout, all of us knew our responsibility: we must set the pace. For it is a fact that once a ship ' s reputa- tion and personality are developed, they change but slowly, even with the passing of time and the changing of crews. The CONCORD of tomorrow was ours to create today. So if you sense a special pride in the faces of the offi- cers and men whose pictures are contained in this volume; if there appears to be an uncommon display of exuberance as well as determination, it is because the officers and men of CONCORD are proud of their ac- complishments. This is not a pride of conceit but one of deep satisfaction. These men have metthetest, proved their ability as individuals and as a team, and have set CON- CORD on a true course for the future. As CONCORD ' S first Commanding Officer, I could not have been served by better or more dedicated officers and men. Concord comes of age: a message from her Commanding Officer Louis J. Collister Captain, U.S. Navy

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Chronology: 1966-1970 San Diego Keel laying Launching Pre-Com training Long Beach Delivery Commissioning Fitting out Pre-Transit loadout 26 March 1966 17 December 1966 4 0ctober- 21 November 1968 21 November 1968 27 November 1968 29 November - 13 January 1969 18-30 January 1969 San Diego-Norfolk Transit 31 January-14 February 1969 Stop: Panama 8 February 1969 Panama Canal transit 9 February 1969 Shakedown training, Guantanamo Bay 30 March-5 May 1969 Stop: Jamaica 26-27 April 1969 Norfolk Dependents ' cruise 22 May 1969 Shipyard period 26 May-15 July 1969 I ' inal trials Depart Norfolk for Mediterranean 22 August 1969 Mediterranean deployment 1 September-7 March 1970 Arrive Norfolk 17 March 1970 Liberty ports ATHENS, Greece BARCELONA, Spain NAPLES, Italy PALNLA, Spain TUNIS, Tunisia VALENCIA, Spain VALLETA, Malta 9-11 September 1969 6-9 November 1969 23-27 February 1970 9-13 Januarj- 1970 23-24 September 1969 31 October-3 November 1969 26 November- 7 December 1969 23-29 December 1969 23-26 January 1970 13-15 February 1970 2-3 March 1970 3-6 October 1969 12-15 December 1969 31 December-6 January 1970 9-10 February 1970 9-13 October 1969 13-17 November 1969 13-21 September 1969 28 January-2 February 1970 MXWfM