Dale (CG 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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K - SUEZ CANAL U -» . aa 4HM. — anH. i SUEZ CANAL On June 25, 198 ' i, Dale transited the Suez Ca- nal. The Suez Canal runs through Egypt, connec- ting the Mediterranean Sea on the north with the Red Sea to the south. The Canal is located along a strip of Egypt which is mostly desert, however, several small cit- ies and towns including one very prettv resort line the western bank of the canal. The history of the Suez is interesting. The orig- inal canal was first begun during the 19th century B.C., or about 3700 years ago. It was gradually lengthened over the years and repaired and rebuilt many times until it was closed in the 8th century .• .D. The modern Suez Canal was built between 1859 and 1869 under the supervision of Ferdinand dc Lessups, who also designed and surveyed the ca- nal. From entrance to exit, the Suez Canal is over 100 miles long and a normal trip takes about twelve hours. It is deep and wide enough for even the larg- est ships and aircraft carriers to pass through. Approximately two-thirds of the way through the canal, the ships anchored in the Great Bitter Lake to allow the northbound convoy to pass. D.ALE took this opportunity to relax by having a Steel Beach picnic on the ship ' s fantail. Hot dogs and hamburgers were grilled out and the crew re- cei ed a little break from the transit. For many of the sailors on D.ALE, this w as their first Suez Safari but for most this would not be their last, as Dale would transit the Suez Canal once more on September 6 1989, at the beginning of our journey home.

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For those more inclined to home cooking, two hot spots were the sparkling new Pizza Hut restaurant located near downtown, and the nearby Air Force Exchange. The Air Force personnel stationed there really rolled out the welcome mat for all visiting battle group crewmembers by offering extended hours and an abundance of pizza, American beer and soft drinks, and Baskin Robbin ' s ice cream. Some of our crewmem- bers took the opportunity to use the fine Air Force recreation facilities located just a taxi ride away. EPHESUS, TURKEY Many DALE men took a tour to Ephesus. Highlights of the tour included the ruins of the ancient Roman and Byzantine city, the ruins of the Church of St. John - which St. John found- ed in the first century and where he is entombed, and the house where the Virgin Mary resided after the death of Jesus Christ, now recognized as sacred and hallowed to Christian and Mos- lem religions. EPHESUS im :i mnai nam!smmm mniim - 11111,1

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DIEGO GARCIA, B.I.O.T. DIEGO GARCIA dale ' s first port of call in the In- dian Ocean was Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, a small is- land 15 miles long and 8 miles wide, located in the center of the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia provided the dale ' s crew with their first break af- ter almost a month at sea since leav- ing Izmir Turkey. Among the activities available on the island were softball and Iron- man Tournaments, swimming, jog- ging, sailing, and almost any other type of recreation imaginable. The six days spent in Diego Gar- cia passed all too quickly and DALE was soon back at sea, plying the wat- ers of the Indian Ocean. Next Stop: SINGAPORE! t- ' - ' ■ -: -