Dyess (DDR 880) - Naval Cruise Book

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.414 .. 1 .1., , - ' twig?2-2Q212fiag2f.g.:.f v. s The IXTH FLEET INCE THE early days of the nineteenth century-when ships were made of wood and iron men were making Navy tradition, when Barbary pirates were rampant and uncontested on the high seas-the United States has periodically kept warships in European waters, particu- larly in the Mediterranean Sea Beginning with the War with Tripoli in 1802 and almost continually since 1886 American sea power in this area of more than a million square miles has aided in assuring peace-a recognized historic responsibility of the United States. i. Today the U S Sixth ..-ff -- - - Fleet in the Mediterranean, Q ,,.4,.,.,:: Inir-al Ohn ennings Bal- lentine is the Navy s larg- ' l . est permanent operational fleet on the high seas. It mission defined in 1946 by etict, i crt its The four-month regular rotation of the ships and their personnel permits the max- imum number of officers and men to become ac- quainted with the Mediter- ranean area In the Navy today are tens of thousands who have made the cruise Some of the officers and men are old hands and know this area well' others are new young and wide- eyed perhaps making their a aai r first cruise in foreign waters. But for all duty with the Sixth Fleet is considered tops, it is exciting and fasci- nating. The high morale of the Fleet might be attributed to the fact that at sea and in port the men are always busy I ai? ,A X ' ' cis ' i , Q II , 1 r A J . 5: aj' F'-sg he 7 ' ' J X I xv. A A J J ' N Yan-, M , , , 'Q A fi ' 2 T , L S ' D : 421- I X , x . the late Secretary of the Navy james Forrestal, is 4,.. h , ,. twofold-to support Allied -. . ,,, . ' -'-' ...1..m:::1:.,.,.11,,,,,,,.1.- occupation forces and the - Allied Military Govern- rnent in the discharge of their responsibilities, and to ,jrotect United States interests and support United States it olicies in the area. Composed of an aircraft carrier, a division of cruisers, a. ,squadron of destroyers and sustaining auxiliary ves- ,lls-normally about twenty ships in all, manned by felve thousand officers and men and a reinforced bat- talion of Marines-the Sixth Fleet is a subordinate op- erational command of the Commander-in-Chief, United States Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, ylwith headquarters in London. As one of the three Com- imanders-in-Chief under the Chief of Naval Operations, his boundaries of jurisdiction extend roughly from a point just east of the Azores to a point beyond India, and from the North Pole to-the Equator. The Sixth Fleet has no base in the Mediterranean Sea, it must' therefore remain continually on the move, engaging in exercises at sea or calling at any of scores of foreign ports in the area. Rarely does the Fleet re- main in any one port for f'3-:?1:?.' 4-'f' - - 1: 'Q' if If '1 '2' 555 ., ,Q ,,..v4' .. more than a week, usually -5,4-f,.'H, J,-:rd the visit is for three or four days- f .,.i. With minor exceptions, d,,,,f' each vessel of the Sixth Fleet serves for a period of four months in the Medi- terranean while on de ,Pj tached duty from the At- lantic Fleet. Vessels com- ,..2 pleting their tours are re- l5 ,,,, lieved in a Mediterranean i:i port by- other vessels of similar types and returned to the United States for shipyard repairs and alterations. After being briefed, the new arrivals swing into a sche- dule of operations which trains the officers and men in independent movements and familiarizes them not only with the waters in which they cruise but also with the pfoplef .customs and traditions of the various countries t ey v1s1t. 'fi' 53. Intensive maintenance is a standing order and under- standably a necessary one. If emergency repairs are needed during the four- month tour, adequate dry- dock facilities are available in the area on a rental basis. At sea, the routine is maintenance and train- ing, in port, maintenance, training and fun for the crew ashore. Admiral Bal- lentine believes in giving his men the maximum op- portunity to get acquainted with the Mediterranean lands and their peoples. Shore leave is as liberal as the situation warrants. Prior to entering a new port, information is disseminated calling attention to the port's place in world history and describing its historic landmarks. Upon arrival, educa- tional tours are arranged. If the men have relatives in the area leaves are arranged for them so that they can pass their time in port with their kin. Some marry and bring their wives back to the United States. There are no idle hands in this Fleet. Work and play periods alike are crammed full. The training is so in- tensive that it is probable that the men do and learn more in a shorter period of time than they would in actual combat. They are drilled in methods of repelling air and submarine attacks and air targets, including the elusive radio-controlled drones. They learn how to re- cover men overboard and how to extinguish firesg other training helps them to sharpen communications and to master effective ship maneuvers. All of the training brings into play the most up-to-date strategy and tactics as a means of maintaining the Sixth Fleet at the peak of readiness. For the men who scramble ashore after hectic days at sea this is the best duty in the world. Most of them, insatiable collectors, keep a constant How of photographs and souvenirs returning in the mails to the folks back home. It is estimated that the men of the Fleet spend two million dollars annually in the foreign ports they visit. The Sixth Fleet sailor who joined the Navy to see the world is seeing it. Each is a roving ambassador in a

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my 6 wlk ' f LA 'W A v, X .L ll . X X ' Y J 3 1 ' ,. X . - .V t .. '- e . Xi- i' -f ' 'WSH V x f , .f?, f- ifvri f W' J ll: 1 'w u,.' v , ' 1 , i 1. .N . I -X l Q Q, 4 my 11 -Q ' ,l W 4 1 --z l 3 - 1 'H+ .1414 L- JL. tl .J..,,z. 'A .ga ,.k,a,.i ,M f T ip fi i it xi 4 tx 5: ii My 1 1 at It 1 J 1 it ll ll EJ 9 ' ll BJ ll of ' J .E l ,gan Street scene ln Nlce, France. E AGERLY looked forward to by all members of the Sixth Fleet is a visit to that fabulous strip of land known as the Riviera. Cannes, the wealthiest spot on the French Riviera, is within easy striking distance of Nice, Golfe Juan, Villefranche and Monte Carlof Tour parties are usually planned for these points of interest and even for Paris and Switzerland for those who care to leave the Riviera. Costumed dancers perform. Riviera Beach at Nice, France.