Denver (LPD 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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WHAT IS SAILOR?

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The mission of Comphibron Five is to plan and conduct amphibious operations and type training of assigned units including a program of evaluation as directed by Higher authority. Control and coordinate operations of assigned units, including training. Exercise such administrative and operational control as necessary to ensure the highest state of efficiency, morale, material readiness, and to maintain maximum readiness for war. With the twentieth century concept of Global Warfare, it is imperative that the navy have the capability of swiftly transport a marine fighting force, its support equipment and material which is necessary to sustain the force in the field for an indefinite period of time, to areas requiring the presence of the U.S. Military. The diverse function of each ship in Phibron Five makes this possible. The assault helicopter carrier (LPH), with her embarked marine helicopter squadron, gives the force the ability to penetrate miles inland using vertical envelopment techniques developed by the U.S. Marine Corps. The LPH also acts as command ship for the Amphib Ops and is the hospital for battlefield casualties; her afloat medical facilities are second only to those of a hospital ship. The dock landing ship (LSD) and the amphibious transport dock (LPD) , have wet wells which can be flooded to discharge assault craft which are employed to carry support equipment and artillery ashore. These ships also have helicopter landing capabilities. In some cases an attack transport (LKA), with its four deep holds, is used in place of one of these wet wells. In addition to the above deep draft vessels, the new twenty knot capable, landing ship tank (LST) may be offloaded by landing craft through a stern ramp or directly from the ship to the beach via an extended bow ramp . Amphibious Squadron Five is composed of the following ships: USS Denver (LPD- 9) Flagship For Phibron Five USS Tripoli (LPD- 10) USS Duluth (LPD-6) USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) USS Mount Vernon (LSD- 39) USS Mobile (LKA 115) USS Bristol County (LST 1198) USS Barbour County (LST 1195) 10

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THE MAKINGS OF A (DENVER) SAILOR WESTPAC 1977-1978 Somewhere between the security of childhood and the insecurity of second childhood, we find a bunch of good Bills who wear funny pants and shirts all of blue, and whom we call Swabby (EVEN IF YOU DO GO BY SPIDER). They are worked too hard, get very little sleep (Rather tough on six and six, huh?), take great verbal abuse, do every kind of job at any imaginable hour (FORTRESS LIGHTENING BRING ANY MEMORIES. . .WHO EVER DREAMED UP THAT OPERATION ANYWAY??) 12