El Paso (LKA 117) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 18 text:

Helo Ops The control and landing operation of helicopters on EL PASO was the responsibility of the flight deck crew. Helicopters were an important part of life on the ship throughout the deployment. Mail, stores, people— all could and were helicoptered aboard with the assistance of the flight deck crew. Flight quarters, flight quarters, all hands man your flight quarters stations! , was heard dozens of times.

Page 17 text:

Gunnery Ops GENERAL QUARTERS, GENERAL QUARTERS. All hands man your BATTLE STATIONS! This call was heard often on EL PASO and prompted quick action by all hands. The life of a warship and the capability it has for carrying out it ' s mission can depend on the conditions of it ' s weapons and the expertise of the gun crews. EL PASO ' s gun crews and supporting personnel practiced often. On all, over 500 3 50 rounds were spent in firing practice.

Page 19 text:

Underway Replenishment Far out to sea, the lifeline of a ship is another ship carrying the supplies and parts needed to keep the ship at sea and not in port. The underway replenishment evolution was used several times during the deployment for this purpose. The tense excitement of an approach to another ship, the beauty of two vessels moving side by side on the same course, the dexterity of the conning officer and pilot house crew made these times more notable and memorable than any other underway. EL PASO narrowly escaped damage on one occassion when the USNS PAWCATUCK lost steering control. Lines between the two ships were retrieved and ported in an emergency fashion and EL PASO ' s skipper skillfully kept us out of the way of PAWCATUCK. CO Conning Approach While Crew Readies For Unrep Action That ' s Close Enough On the FORT SNELLI.NG-Stand by for Shot Lines Fore and Aft!