Detroit (AOE 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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AUGUST 12: CONSOL OPS for the monthly LOGREP of the FORRESTAL Battle Group. Cargo transfer with USNS Sirius via Burton Rigs and missile transfer with USS MOUNT BAKER. AUGUST 13: Battle Group replen- ishment. DANIELS to port, CARON to starboard, VERTREP with PAUL. AUGUST 14: CONSOL OPS in- cluding receiving approximately one million gallons of fuel from the CALOOSAHATCHEE and VER- TREP of fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV) to the SYLVANIA. The following message was received from the Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Eight — Your safe and expeditious comple- tion of (Toulon, France missile exchange with USS JOSEPHUS DANIELS) conducted under unique conditions was both spirited and BT3 Yancey professional. Particularly appreciated was DETROIT ' S readiness for transfer upon arrival and sustained attention to details of safety and getting the job done. WELL DONE! AUGUST 15: General Quarters, Surface Gunnery Exercise. AUGUST 16: Yixst replenishment of the Nimitz Battle Group. NIMITZ BIDDLE, O ' BANNON, CARON and PAUL alongside, VERTREP AINSWORTH, TALBOT CON- NOLE, and PRATT. SH3 Key In port Augusta Bay for fuel, cargo and the onload of a VC-6 drone detachment. AUGUST 17: Underway. COM- SIXTHFLT, Vice Admiral Rowden, arrives by helo for a brief visit. AUGUST 18: Drone launch in support of Open Ocean Missile Exercise. AUGUST 19:Drone launch contin- ues. Flight Quarters for Staff transfer. Night replenishment of the Forrestal Battle Group. During preparations for the missile exercise, two Libyan aircraft fired missiles at two F-14 Tomcat aircraft. The Tomcats were in international airspace at the time and returned fire, shooting down both Libyan aircraft. There was no damage to the U. S. Navy aircraft from the NIMITZ. The response from all DETROIT ' S crew in setting General Quarters, material condi- tion Zebra, getting all four boilers on the line and preparing all weapons and control stations was outstanding. Training may not always be exciting but it paid off in making DETROIT ready when necessary. DETROIT was assigned to provide Fast Combat Support for the battle groups for this period because we have what it takes to get the job done. Well done to all. AUGUST 20: Replenish CON- NOLE, PAUL, and BIDDLE. In port, Augusta Bay. Beer on the Pier. AUGUST 21: Underway. Message received from Vice Admiral William H. Rowden, Commander Sixth Fleet: Since early on 18 August you all have been engaged in one of the most significant operations in terms of national interest and national prestige to the United States in recent years. You have been exposed to danger and to the threat of weapons. You have all operated under the direct scrutiny of the entire national command structure and within the confines of a well thought out but difficult to execute set of rules of engagement. Throughout all this each and every one of you has performed superbly in the proper and professional execution of your assigned duties. Our objective was to demon- strate clearly and unmistakeably that the U. S. Navy can and will operate in International waters in accordance with the time honored law and rules of the sea. We have done this. In so doing we have been challenged by the armed forces of Libya. Their challenge was frequent and persistent. You responded resolutely and with dignity and resolve. We drew blood. This occurred when several of our shipmates had been fired upon and they themselves placed at risk and in very real personal danger. They responded in a proper and profes- sional manner. We need not take pride in the fact that blood was drawn. We have every right to take pride in the fact that our training, discipline, and execution minimized the violence but clearly demonstrat- ed our resolve. I have been personally in- volved in this operation for the past two days with you. Your perfor- mance has been outstanding. You merit the admiration and apprecia- tion of our navy and nation which you have so clearly earned. Well done. Rowden. AUGUST 24: CONSOL with Sealjft China Sea. AUGUST 25: Brief stop in Gaeta for in-port replenishment of USS PUGET SOUND. SA Potter, SH3 Maxwell, and SN Andrews

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JULY 7: First independent steam- ing. Captain ' s Call for Third Class Petty Officers. The following message received from Commander Cruiser Des- troyer Group Eight, the Transit Commander: As we complete our short but busy CONUS-MED transit, I want to congratulate you for your absolutely superb perfor- mance and support throughout every evolution in which DE- TROIT was involved (which was virtually all). The ship performed with crispness and professionalism which speaks highly of the MLSF and furthers the fine reputation of DETROIT. Continued good sailing and God speed. Rear Admiral Berry. JULY 9: Moor NATO Fuel Pier, Augusta Bay, Sicily. Helos fly to Sigonella for maintenance. Prospective Commanding Of- ficer, Captain J. F. Calhoun, reports on board. Beer on the Pier. JUL Y 10: Awards ceremony on the flight deck. Underway. JULY Ih CONSOL ops (consolidation of supplies) with SYLVANIA in preparation for the first MED LOGREP (monthly replenishment of the battle group). Vice Admiral Rowden, Com- mander Sixth Fleet, and Com- modore Tolg, CTF-63, come on board. SN Oscar Merlo named Sailor of the Month. JULY 12: UNREP - JOSEPHUS DANIELS, O ' BANNON, CON- NOLLE and TALBOT alongside. VERTREP of ammo. Well done from Commander, Service Group Two for the greatest improvement in overall retention of all the ships in the group. Congratulations to DE- TROIT ' S three new Chief Petty Officers: NCC Wasden, BMC Bernardo, and ETC Annis. JULY 14: VERTREP of ammo with MOUNT BAKER. JUL Y 15: In port Augusta Bay. Change of Command ceremony on the Flight Deck. Picnic on the pier. JUL Y 17: Underway for Naples, Italy. Transit the Straits of Messina. JUL Y 18: Anchor, Naples, Italy. Rough water limits liberty. JULY 19: Holiday routine. Alert received at 1158 that a small boat was foundering in rough water near the island of Capri. DETROIT ' S H-46 HW-22 helicopter was airborne at 1214 for search and rescue. Assistance had all ready been rendered, but the performance of the air crew, flight deck crew, fire party, boat crew, communications personnel, watch standers, medical and rescue swim- mers was outstanding. JULY 21: Underway to replenish the Forrestal Battle Group. JULY 23: General Quarters for Damage Control Training. JULY 24: Replenish Forrestal and escorts. JULY 25: General Quarters. Gun Shoot. JULY 27: Forrestal refueling and ammo upload. JULY 29: Well done to J Division, especially MMl Maniscalco, for their outstanding efforts in main- taining our CONREP capability during the battle group replenish- ment despite the loss of both High Pressure Air Compressors. AUGUST 2: DETROIT emerged victorious in two Softball games against USS MOUNT BAKER, winning 12-11 in the first and 16-14 in the second. Special thanks to Dr. Fox for coaching the team to victory, and to the Executive Officer and QMl Ratcliff for volunteering to um- pire. AUGUST 4: Memorial service held at 0900 in the Crew ' s Lounge for Petty Officer Farns- worth of the Supply Department, who died of heart and lung failure due to a rare viral disease in a U. S. Air Force hospital in Germany on 2 August. AUGUST 5: YN3 Bright of the Captain ' s Office named Sailor of the Month. AUGUST 8: Congratulations to MMl Laws and MM2 Madrid who successfully passed a l i hour Oral Board for MMOW conducted by the Commanding Officer, Chief Engineer, MPA, and MMCS Roberts. BM3 Michael performs maintenance on a rig. They wrote a new page in the unrep tech manual with their innovative use of nitrogen to replace high pressure air. BZ to the men of J Division who man DETROIT ' S Main Battery. In port Toulon, France for maintenance availability. Congratulations to BTC McGaughey and BT2 Latham for successfully passing a rigorous l i hour BTOW Oral Board conducted by the Commanding Officer, Chief Engineer, MPA, MMCS Roberts, and BTCS Case. JULY 30: BT3 Prescott and MM3 Preston named first DCPO of the Month winners for raising the fire fighting gear integrity of the 1 Machinery Room 100%. These men were most impres- sive in answering questions in all areas of knowledge concerning Detroit ' s engineering plant. This is the end product of a superlative job of instruction and daily training conducted by MMCS Roberts. Well done. AUGUST 9: In port ammunition transfer with USS JOSEPHUS DANIELS. Replenishment detail stationed for transfer. Well done to Deck, Weapons, and the men of the Rig Teams and working parties involved for conducting the evolu- tion safely and so efficiently that they finished six hours ahead of schedule. AUGUST 11: Underway.

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AUGUST 26: Anchor, Rapallo, Italy. Commanding Officer ' s per- sonnel inspection. Liberty call. SEPTEMBER 2: Underway. SEPTEMBER 3: Small arms train- ing, General Quarters for Damage Control Training, BECCEs. SEPTEMBER 5: Transit the Straits of Messina. SEPTEMBER 6: Replenish NIMITZ, PERRY, CONSOL with SYLVANIA and SIRIUS. SEPTEMBER 7: UNREP CON- NOLE, PAUL, BIGELOW, VOCE, DAVIS and SELLERS. Transit Straits of Messina. SEPTEMBER 8: Fast Combat Sup- port to TEXAS, MISSISSIPPI, BEARY, and KING. SEPTEMBER 10: Flight Quarters. Missile exercise. P03 rating exams. RADM Parker, COMSERVGRU TWO comes on board. DETROIT is his flagship for his two day visit. Ensign Smith SEPTEMBER 11: UNREP NIMITZ, KING, BIDDLE, PERRY. SEPTEMBER 12: Transit Straits of Messina. COMSERVGRU TWO departs. Moor NATO Fuel Pier, Augusta Bay, Sicily. Beer on the Pier. SEPTEMBER 15: P02 Rating SEPTEMBER 16: Underway. Replenish five NATO ships. SEPTEMBER 17: Moor La Mad- dalena, Sardinia for in port refuel- ing of ORION. Refueling accom- plished with slack wire fueling rig due to Mediterranean mooring of ORION. SEPTEMBER 18: Anchor, San Remo, Italy. Field day. Liberty Call. SEPTEMBER 20: The following message received from Commander, Submarine Refit Training Group, La Maddalena, Sardinia, Italy — Your prompt response in meeting bunkering requirements in La Maddalena was greatly appreciated. DETROIT ship handling skills in tight Med moor at Stefano berth were most impressive. Vertrep The assistance rendered in supplementing the SIRIUS provi- sioning and GSK loadout on short notice was also smartly executed. SEPTEMBER 21: Underway. RDVU RECOVERY, General Quarters. SEPTEMBER 23: Heat stress and hearing conservation medical lecture in the crew ' s lounge. Electrical safety lecture in the library. Striker board. Fire doctrine lecture in the ward- room. SEPTEMBER 25: Fuel CONSOL with USNS Wacamaw. Transit Straits of Messina. In port Augusta Bay. SEPTEMBER 26: Field Day. Flight Quarters. Beer on the Pier. SEPTEMBER 27: Underway. SEPTEMBER 28: Replenish NIMITZ, OLIVER HAZZARD PERRY, NATO escorts. SEPTEMBER 29. ' Replenish TEXAS, BIDDLE, Italian destroyers. OCTOBER 1: UNREP CONNOLE, PAUL. OCTOBER 4: Moor Souda Bay, Crete NATO refueling depot. Un- derway for the Aegean Sea. OCTOBER 5: Replenish PERRY, BEARY. OCTOBER 6: Lifeboat crew train- ing. Refuel KING. Retard clocks one hour at 1900. OCTOBER 7: Scheduled to enter port in Augusta Bay. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat assassinated. OCTOBER 8: Note in the Plan of the Day — DETROIT will arrive at the location of the task force that is standing off Egypt about noon on Thursday (8 October). The FFV and stores that were staged in Augusta Bay are being picked up by SAN DIEGO and will be arriving late on 10 October. The general plan is to complete the scheduled LOGREP of. the Amphibious Group (in a different location). We can expect to refuel the SAIPAN after arrival and then provide Fast Combat Support as required (probably on very short notice). The MTT visit has been cancelled. CTF-63 expects to transfer to DETROIT from SAN DIEGO on 10 OCT and depart on 12 OCT. The impact of contingency operations on our long range schedule is unknown and it is impossible to make any projections or predictions. The word will be passed if the situation changes. OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 20: Contingency Operations. OCTOBER 13: During the last 24 hours when DETROIT was heavily engaged in CONSOL refueling operations, the forward automatic combustion control low pressure air compressor failed. A tiger team lead by MMCS Roberts and consist- ing of BTC McGaughey, ETC Annis and ADC Bridgeman comple- tely overhauled the compressor in one day. BZ to the attack team and to SK2 Alfredo and BT2 Goldsch- midt who tracked down the neces- sary parts. Cooperation and team- work keeps the fast in Fast Combat Support. Well done! Navy Birthday message from Secretary of the Navy John Lehman — Since our last birthday, the Navy-Marine Corps has continued in full measure to meet the chal- lenges of a troubled world. Never before in peacetime and seldom in war have such extraordinary efforts and sacrifices been demanded of all of us. We are currently working virtually at our limits. ' % ' The mess deck message board. FURTHER NOTICE HAS ARRIVED OUR MESSAGE: AT LAST, WE RE HOMEWARD BOUND