Conolly (DD 979) - Naval Cruise Book

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Upon arrival Bahrain, CONOLLY commenced a two week RAV and TAV with Surface Repair Unit. Bahrain and USS ACADIA (AD 42) respectively. On 1 5 July following RAV TAV, CONOLLY set sail for arrival Abu Dhabi for an exciting six day port visit. During this visit CONOLLY conducted its change of command. Commander Robert E. Maskell, USN was relieved by Commander Robert L. Holt, USN on 21 July COM- DESRON ONE FIVE. Commodore Robbins was guest speaker for this event. Following Change of Command. CONOLLY embarked COM- DESRON THREE FIVE and began Gulfex XIII from 24 July until 27 July. This exercise included training in Di vision Tactics (DIVTACS), underway replenishments (UNREPS). anchoring evolutions, boarding operations and over the horizon targeting. Units included USS BUNKER HILL, USS FIFE, HMS EDINBOROUGH and FS JEAN DE VIENNE. Next CONOLLY visited Jabail, Saudi Arabia in preparation for the Nautical Swimmer Exercise with the Royal Saudi Naval Force. In addition to CONOLLY. this exercise included USS GRIDLEY and four ships of the Royal Saudi Naval Force. After a two day port visit to Bahrain, CONOLLY outchopped the Arabian Gulf on 1 6 August enroute to Hurghada. Egypt for a two day port visit that commenced on 24 August. CONOLLY conducted her northbound Suez Canal transit on 27 August. For the next month. CONOLLY transited the Mediterranean Sea enroute CONUS. CONOLLY enjoyed a well deserved port visit in Rhodes Greece from 28 August until 03 September, followed by Benidorm Spain from 07 September until 1 1 September. After a brief stop for fuel in Rota Spain on 12 September, CONOLLY commenced the Atlantic crossing, stopping only for a brief stop for fuel in Ponta Delgado. The Return and Reunion Team embarked CONOLLY on 22 September to provide some counselling prior to returning to the CONUS. CONOLLY returned to Norfolk 1000 on 24 September to greet many anxious dependents and friends waiting to welcome her home. CONOLLY commenced a well deserved leave and standdown period until 26 October.

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THE DEPLOYMENT HISTORY USS CONOLLY (DD-979) departed Norfolk for MEF 2-92 deployment on 24 March and reported on-station for duty in the North Red Sea to conduct Maritime hiterception Operations (MIF ops) on 15 April. CONOLLY spent the first half of her MEF deployment conducting MIF OPS which included broardings of merchant vessels transiting to and from the Gulf of Aqaba in support of United Nations Sanctions against Iraq. During her transit, CONOLLY conducted a change out of all eight TOMAHAWK weapons on 24 March at NWS. Yorktown. and a brief stop for fuel in Ponta Delgada, Azores on I April. The transatlantic crossing was conducted with USS ROBERT G BRADLEY and HMCS RESTIGOUCHE. CONOLLY also enjoyed a four day port visit in Athens. Greece. During this visit the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer attended a luncheon hosted by the Senior Naval Officer Aegean, Commodore Athanesiou, Hellenic Navy. Also during the port visit. CONOLLY conducted a main engine power turbine change out. Technicians from Naval Sea Systems, Atlantic in Portsmouth. VA and USS SIERRA, deployed to the Sixth Fleet and home- ported in Charleston, SC assisted in the change out. Following the Athens port visit. CONOLLY held an awards ceremony honoring some outstanding performers. The awards were presented by the Commanding Officer. After a very quick start in the Red Sea. CONOLLY conducted twenty- six boardings in the first two weeks. Merchant traffic to and from the Gulf of Aqaba slowed and during the ten week period of MIF OPS in the North Red Sea, CONOLLY conducted 1 IK motor vessel boardings. On 9 May, CONOLLY embarked COMDESRON TWO ZERO and became Com- mander, Task Group (CTG) 152.1 Flagship. CONOLLY hosted the MIF Commanders Luncheon on 19 May. In attendance in addition lo the Commanding Officers were RADM Katz. USN. Commander. Crui.ser Destroyer Group TWO and Commodore Christie RAN . On I 1 .liiiic. CONOLLY joined the coveted Centurion Club by conducting her lOOih motor vessel boarding. RADM Taylor. USN, Commander United States Naval Forces Central Command visited CONOLLY on iS.lunc. CONOLLY debarked COMDESRON TWO ZERO on 25 June and commenced a ten day transit to the Arabian Gulf arri ine in Bahrain on } .lul 1992.

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COMMANDING OFFICER CDR ROBERT E. MASKELL (24 MARCH - 21 JULY)