Curts (FFG 38) - Naval Cruise Book

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CURTS (FFG-38) is named for the late Admiral Maurice E. Curts, United States Navy (1898-1976), former Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and heroic cruiser commander of World War Two. He was awarded the Na y Cross and the Silver Star Medal for extraordinary heroism while commanding cruiser COLUMBIA during the Leyte landings, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Lingayen Gulf landings, and the liberation of Borneo. During the initial Lingayen Gulf landings, he continued to lead his cruiser in action despite the severe damage inflicted by two suicide planes which had left nearly 100 of his men dead or wounded. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he had earned the Bronze Star Medal as Commimications Officer, United States Fleet. Following the close of World War Two, he was Force Commander, Operational Development Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Readiness); and Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet serving with great distinction imtil 13 January 1956. On that date, he was designated by the President as the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, serving until the arrival of his relief on 1 February 1958. A month later, he became Commander Western Sea Frontier, remaining imtil his retirement on 1 April 1960. Early Naval service included duty as Officer in Charge, Radio and Soinid, Naval Research Laboratory (Jime 1936-May 1938) where he earned a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for oiUstanding service in the development of radar.

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SHIPS CHARACTERISTICS SHIELD: THE WAVY DIVISION OF THE SHIELD ALLUDES TO THE OCEANS OF THE WORLD. THE FLAUNCHES (CURVES OF EITHER FLANK) SUGGEST RADAR WAVES, IN REFERENCE TO THE COMMENDATION BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY OF CURTS ' OUTSTAND- ING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF RADAR. THE FOUR STARS IN CHIEF DENOTE HIS HIGHEST RANK ACHIEVED WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY. THE FLAMING BOMB IN BASE REFERS TO ADMIRAL CURTS ' COMBAT SERVICE DURING THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BATTLES OF WORLD WAR TWO AND THE CROSS PATTEE SIMULATES THE NAVY CROSS AWARDED HIM FOR HEROIC CONDUCT WHILE COMMANDING THE USS COLUMBIA DURING THOSE BATTLES. CHEST: THE SHIPS WHEEL SYMBOLIZES THE AUTHORITY ENTRUSTED TO ADMIRAL CURTS AT THE FLEET COMMAND LEVEL, AND HIS DISPLAY OF LEADER- SHIP AND SKILL IN THE DIRECTION OF THE U.S. NAVAL FORCES BOTH DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR TWO. THE HERALDIC TWO AWARDS OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN NUMEROUS HIGH COMMANDS. BUILT BY TODD PACinC SHIPYARDS SPEED: 30 KNOTS LOS ANGELEL DIVISION AIRCRAFT: TWO SH-608 SEA- SAN PEDRO. CA HAWK HELICOPTERS ARMAMENT: MK 13 GUIDED MIS- KEEL LAID: 1 JULY 1981 SILE LAUNCHER •HARPOON ANTI- CHRISTENED: 6 MARCH 1982 SHIP MISSILE •STANDARD ANTI- COMMISSIONED: 30JUNE 1984 AIRCRAFT MISSILE AT LONG BEACH •MK 32 ASW TORPEDO NAVAL STATION TUBES (TWO TRIPLE DISPLACEMENT: 3800 TONS MOUNTS) •MK 15 CLOSE IN LENGTH: 453 FEET WEAPON SVSTEM COMBAT ' AN SPS g AIR BEAM: 47 FEET SKTEMS SEARCH RADAR COMPLEMENT: 15 OFFICERS •MK 92 FIRE CONTROL 17 CHIEF PETTY OrnCERS SKTEM 180 ENLISTED •AN SPS-55 SURFACE SEARCH RADAR PROPULSION: TWO GENERAL •AN SLQ-32 ELECTRON- ELECTRIC IC WARFARE SYSTEM LM2500 GAS TURBINE •AN SQS-56 SONAR ENGINES (40,000 SHAFT •MK 36 SRBOC HORSEPOWER) DECOY SYSTEM ONE CONTROLLABLE •AN SLQ-25 TORPEDO REXTRSABLE PITCH . COUNTERMEASURE PROPELLER SYSTEM TWO 350 HORSEPOWER •AN SQ( 9ASW ELECTRIC DRIVE INTEGRATION AUXILIARY PROPULSION SYSTEM UNITS •LAMPS MK III WEAPONS SYSTEM AUXILIARIES: FOUR 1000 KILOWATT •SQR-19TACn R:AL SHIPS SERVICE TOWED ARRAY DIESEL GENERATORS SONAR

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if JT — - MINE DESmUCnON - NORTHERN PERSIAN GULF JANUARY 1 99 1