Forrest Royal (DD 872) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 28 text:

-.:-1..,1,,Ll,.i,H. ,A 1, W, POLLENSA BAY, MALLORCA Two days' steaming found us anchored in Pollensa Bay on the northern tip of Mallorca. As the sun came up an armada of warships steamed over the horizon, into the bay, and anchored beside us. These were the ships we were to relieve. The USS D. H. FOX moored to our port side and briefed us on what would be expected of us. After four hours, she set sail for Norfolk, we were now a part of the Sixth Fleet. As we put to sea later that afternoon, in company with two cruisers and a carrier, we maneuvered smartly and looked sharp. We had learned a lot, but there was much more learning ahead. The Fleet anchors beside us. COHBSG, BIVISN and Snydeff SN try out the boat. The Fox moors beside us. Actually Gilson, RD1p Hopkins, SMC' and she wasn't as clean as we were, so Outen, SM3, we left her out of the picture. :keg 2 , ::+'w-'ma 4-747' - ' ' -:.iif.'L. Q-1: ' T' 'QA-1.?,e2f',f11,4 .ufwr - 3

Page 27 text:

STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR Coker, SN, -Hale, SN, Smith, SN, McIntosh, SN. Ltjg Marshall telling the- boys they'll be there in about a micro second. After Quarters one morning late in October, word spread from Combat that the coast of Africa was visible on Radar, and soon, the lookouts on the bridge could see it as well. Channel Fever is an interesting phenomenon to watch develop on a ship, the pace quickens, the step is lighter, and a smile is almost always present. This day was no exception. The ship's store did quantities of business, Geiger, SK3, ran out of movie film. The rails were manned with shutterbugs. Ltjg Westberg, Waitt, Nelson, and Mehr manned the director to get a better look through the ll big eyes . Robare, RD1 and Carter, RD3 came up to the Signal Bridge for a breath of fresh air and a glimpse of sunshine, and Raulerson, RDSN left his corner of CIC and breathed a sigh of relief. For those of us, whose first time it was to the Med, the Straits of Gibraltar was the start of a long, but interesting five months. No one wanted to miss it - that is, no one except the profes- sional llOld Salts - 'lPappy Bright, Condrey, DC1, and Scribner, GMG1, who were holding forth as usual in the Ordnance Workshop. The weather was not good that day and few of us saw Gibraltar itself, but the excitement was there. As Gibson, ET3, said later, while viewing a LONG movie shot of a foggy summit, 'll sure must have fallen in love with that mountain. Sherrill, SNQ Robare, RD1, Carter, RD3. a 1' H wfggsgg. E l l l l r ll ll li l ll l l l , , l l l l l l ll li gf Q l ll lr. , ,4-:

Page 29 text:

315-1- f'.,T 'rf 'fa frf'-T: -xr- .-,-. .Msg : ' B d . , - . y av EYWGY, SN, Dlel' Sentry. Our hosts, the Italian Navy l By night with Friendship Lights. LA SP EZIA Eager to set foot on dry land for the first time in three weeks, we steamed into La Spezia, a large Italian Naval port, on a cold foggy morning. The mountains that rim the harbor were clothed in the burnished gold of Italian autumn. The city itself is quiet and modern, and the frosty morn- ings reminded us of New England's fall. But the ancient parapets and fortifications served to remind us ofa history far more ancient than ours. - At night the local bars were places of quiet enjoyment. In these taverns, usually run by an elderly couple, furnished sparsely with rustic chairs and tables, and dispensing conviviality with the local Birra, we entertained ourselves, the Italian military, and the local populace. Tours to Florence and Pisa were arranged and those who were adventurous went to Genoa. For almost a week we had ourselves a relaxing time, before setting to sea. Aa2au-.fa