Jenkins (DD 447) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 80 of the 1965 volume:

The longest cruise began on a rainy twenty-third day of November 1964. With families and friends waving from Hotel Pier as the CINCPACFLT Band struck into A ' oha Oe . with the steady rain changing to a drenching downpour and a firecracker salute going off on the beach, JENKINS left the routine of Pearl Harbor for a challenging role as a member of the Seventh Fleet ' s ready (anti-submarine) Hunter-Killer Group. The transit to the Western Pacific took nine days of the roughest weather we were to see all cruise; the observance of Thanksgiving was put off until Midway, then until Sunday, and then until Yokosuka because of seas so rough that even holding a food tray was difficult. We arrived at our first port, Yokosuka, Japan, on a sunny December Third. With the transit behind us, and a promising schedule ahead, the future looked bright indeed. Little did we realize that there would be five months, Russian submarines and Vietnamese junks, two and one-half million gallons of fuel oil and eighty-three percent underway time before we would see her again. U. S. S. JENKINS is a 2100 ton FIctchcr-class destroyer modified for anti- submarine warfare. Her full wartime complement includes 20 officers and 260 en- listed men. The ship 376.5 feet in length. 39.7 feet abeam, and has a mean draft of 13.5 feet. Full load displacement is 3000 tons. Maximum speed is 34 knots. The ship has one oversized rudder and twin screws, steam driven by four boilers through turbines and gears to develop 30.000 horsepower on each shaft. THE .- HIPS N.AME On 27 November 1941. the keel was Had for the start of construction of the L ' SS JENKINS by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Kearny. New Jersey. The ship is named in honor Rear Admiral Thorton A. JENKINS. Admiral JENKINS began his career as a midshipman in 1828. He served in many ships in- cluding coast survey duty where he became interested in the problems of navigation. He commanded a variety of ships in the civil war. and then became Chief of the Bureau of Navigation in 1865. He retired in 1873 and was President of the U.S. .Naval Institute from 1883 to 1885. He died in 1893 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetary. THE . HIP Originally commissioned on 31 July 1942. JENKINS earned Battle Stars in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war for participating in actions at Algeria. Morocco. Casablanca. Solomon Islands. Guada ' canal. Gilbert Islands. Marshall Island. New Guinea. Leyte. Luzon. Borneo, and Manila Bay Oper- ations. In 1947 JENKINS was placed out of commission, in reserve, and was recommissloncd in 1951 incident to the Korean Conflict. She participated in Korean and Formosan Patrols and did shore bom- bardment in support of U.N. Troops. She returned to Pearl Harbor in 1952 where she has been homeponed ever since. JENKINS received a rehabilitation and modernization overh ' iul in 1960. and in 1964 became the first Hawaiian-based destroyer to receive the DASH anti-submarine helicopter. 2 five inch guns, anti- submarine rocket, and 7.2 inch anti-submarine hedge.hcgs (ahead-thrown weapons). COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER F. D. RICHARDS, USN C. 0. 4 Mar 1963 - 18 Feb. 1965 Floyd D. RICHARDS was born at Mauchport, Indiana. He entered the U.S. Navy Flight Training Program in August 1942 and was awarded his wings in September 1943. During his career. CDR Richards has been assigned to VF-303. and 81; VBF 97; USS PRINCETON; HAS Mofifett Field; Helicopter Squadron 2; USS TINGEY: Chief U.S. Navy Group Staff, and U.S. Naval postgraduate school. Monterey. CDR Richards is now assigned to Staff Com- mander Naval Force. Japan. COMMANDER R. H. BRADSHAW, USN C. 0. 18 Feb. 1965 — Ray H. BRANDHAW was born in Point Rock, Texas. He graduated from Georgia Technology in 1946 at which time he was commissioned Ensign in the U.S. Navy. He reports as C. O. JENKINS from the staff of Commander Amphibious Group Four. U.S. At:antic Fleet. CDR Brandshaw has served aboard the USS MAJOR; USS FOX; USS LOS ANGELES; USS BLUE; CO. USS PCS 1378; Guided Missile Train- ing Unit 22A. China Lake. California. CDR Brandshaw is a 1962 graduate of the Naval War College. was a feal pleasure to have commanded the USS JENKINS. My sincere Well Done to an outstanding group of Officers and men . F. D. RICHARDS As I write this, we are in the last days of this Westpac cruise. During the past three months, we have spent most of the entire time at sea in our role of e.xciiting the foreign policy of the United States. From the windy seas of the Taiwan Patrol to the tense days and nights off South Vietnam, the JENKINS has met every challenge. This is a wonderful tribute to a truly professional and dedicated crew. It is with pride and pleasure that I say ' Well Done ' . R. H. BRADSHAW Executive OflTicer Lieurans Peter C. Peterson, Jr. A 1956 graduate of the Naval Academy, LT Peterson reported aboard JENKINS in Februan. 1964. He enlisted in the Nav) ' in 1951 and received a fleet appointment to the Naval Academy. Previous duties have included Pen acola; L ' SS Ashland: LSS Taconia: Staff. Commander Amphibious Forces. Atlantic; Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey and USS John S. McCain. OFFICERS FRONT (L-R): LTJO Burkons. LT McKltrick. CDR Richards. IT Peterson. LT Barry. ENS Privateer. REAR: LTJG Sneed. ENS Cozad. LTJG Reynolds. ENS Mesman. LTJG Donnelley, LTJG Wells, LTJG Muncy. ENS Parker. ENS Schmauss. ENS Ruby. LTJG Duk. LTJG Cornish. WEAPONS OFFICER LT Edward R. McKitrick CHIEF ENGINEER LT Kenneth R. Barrv OPERATIONS OFFICER LTJG Hugh A. Burkons LTJG Harry A. Sneed LTJG Norman L. Wells COM.MUXICATUll LTJG Keith E. Reynold? CIC DASH OFFICER LTJG Gerald V. Muncy ASW OFFICER LTJG Richard R. Donnelley ASW OFFICER LTJG David 0. Cornish r MAIN PROPULSION ASSIST. LTJG Gerald D. Dulz r SUPPLY OFFICER ENS Charles R. Privateer FIRST LIEUTENANT ENS Stephen B. Parker ORDNANCE OFFICER ENS Henry W. Schmauss DAMAGE CONTROL ASSIST. ENS John D. Ruby 1 ELECTRICAL OFFICER ENS James R. Cozad COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER ENS Fred H. Goodnow ELECTRONICS MATERIAL OFFICER ENS John F. Mesman • ' THE BACKBONE OF THE NAVY CHIEF PEIJ Y OFFICEKS FRONT (L-R): Bclh. BTC; Raines. MMC; ONon. MMCS; Allen. EMCS; Burns. CSC; Vidrick. GMCC. REAR: Austria. YNC; Carter. RDC: Bolt. RMC; Long. HMCA: Weaver. SKC; Sullivan. FTCA: Mullins. SMC. Ji ■v J The Long and the Short of the Chief Petty Officers OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT OC DIVISION FRONT (L-R): Austria. Mr. Goodnow. Mr. Reynolds. Long. MIDDLE: Cowan. Mathena. Sagendorph. Leonowicz. Shannon. Kirby. Briscoe. Nichols. Gobel. REAR: Green. Miller. Mead. Reeves. Lund. Crook. Williams. Perry. Curtiss. OI DIVISION FRONT (L-R): Billotla. Allen. Mr. Muncy. Carter. Mr. Mesman. Kelley. Ausbrooks. MIDDLE: Souder. Bird. Johnson. Walblom. Sullivan. McWilliams. Cromwell. Fluke. REAR: Posion. Tnwnson. Stin on. Harrison. O ' Neill. Cooley. WEAPONS DEPARTMENT FIRST DIVISION FRONT (L-R): Lowen. Bcnncll. Salci. Mr Pjrker Brachl. Wesman. MIDDLE: Teat. Lcchlidcr. Moblcy. Cooper. Pepe. Johnson. Hanlcy. REAR: Bcnncll. Culp. Silva. Cloihicr. Valpoon. Sheldon. SECOND DIVISION FRONT (L-R): XiJrick. Mr. Schmauss. Sullivan. .MIDDLE: Carson. Irons. Olivar. Cornfield, Farmer. Sylvester. REAR: Owens. Morris, Hargis. Roshan. :-rd. Finley, Hales. 2__: i Hll A 8 DIVISION FRONT (L-R): Battrcal. Davis. Mr. Cornish. Mr. Donnelley. Ray. Clark. MIDDLE: McLemorc. Hart- man. Ferra. Cofficld. Perez. Cuslodio. Masscy. Dyer. Barnauekas. RE. R: Hamilton. Segal. Asmussen. .Allen. Gibson. Simpson. Smith. Cullinan. RuJnit .ki. .MacDonalJ. Pisklark. J_ DASH E N G I N E E R I N G D E P A R T M E N T • :4 ' ' V : ' .--.«ij «ac « M DIVISION FRONT (L-R): Mr. Dulz. Schneider. Cherry. Sleeves. Raye. Smith. Barrett. Allsup. Baskerville. Mentink. Beth. FIRST ROW: Woods, Appling. Strickin. HoU stcr. Pankoke. STANDING: Olson. Hoover, Crum- ley, Woods, Boyer. Shake. Reins. RE.AR: Schanzen ' iach. Hakes. Green. Johnson. Mikeal. R DIVISIO FRONT (L-R): Cole. Elliol. Mr Ruby. Allen. Mr. Cozad. .Ml .DLR: Eubanks. Sicbff. Tigncr. Ncgos. Williamson. Stewart. Miller. Harman. REAR: Jon-s. Henkcnsi P -s. Bu.ko. Doubclbower. FRONT (L-R): Weaver. Mr. Privateer. Burns. MIDDLE: Gallinato Sicanl. Pelaye. Lamdagan. Woltje. Eisenrimmer. REAR: Silzel. Erickson, Stanczyk. Norris. s u p p ° A E Y R T M E N T SEA OPKRAIIONS Leaving Yokosuka after only four days, we went to sea for sixteen days of advanced ASW operations, participated in ' Operation Tall back with a strike carrier group and sharpened to a fine edge our skills in the now-routine maneuvers of refueling and replenishment at sea. This was the period of brisk December mornings, canned exercises round the clock, and of look- ing forward to spending Christmas in Sascbo. One look at the schedule and anyone could see it would all be downhill sliding after this sea period. 5 ' ! ,.v r Si .t, ' ■■•■■■■•• December 21 finally arrived, and we pulled inio Sa cbo with one of the longest, coldest sea details on record. Long, cold sea details were quickly forgotten, though, in the rush to get our equip- ment to the lender, to get to the exchange and bu everything from China to tapcrccordcrs. and to go on liberty in what would be our longest in-port period the entire cruise. Our People-to-People Program Signers were a big hit with lln- local people. And around each liberty gathering would conir the trusty shore patrol. After the enjoyable holidays in Sasebo.  c again resumed the fast pace of sea operations, conducting ASU training exercises and lighting rough seas to Okinawa. This time it all seemed routine. The watches The p.ai.c-.cuard detail Even bull sessions ii Inconiiicrahle way of life The mail-calls Supply and Engineering started a friendly little fued over the hours of operation of the barber shop. The ultimate weapon resorted to was poetry. Of the four days wc spent in Okinawa two were so rough (he mikeboals didn ' t make their runs, so we all stayed aboard. After Okinawa came a few more days of routine steaming. We were on the road to Hong Kong. HONG KONG Seven January day flew by a« we explored inromparalde Hmij: Kimfi. B ' ,c . TRAMi SUBMARINES ! was the cr that jolted our complacecy in Hong Kong. Some of our sister ships had to get unden ay early to conduct surveillance operations on Soviet submarines operating in an unusual manner. We picked up their belongings and were on our way to join them the next day. At last, a chance to us the ASW training we had been doing on the Real McCoy! This was to be the start of thirty-five consecutive days. Sub surveillance got to be old hat quickly. Everyone wondered when we would be able to leave; Captain Richards was due to be relieved as CO. in the near future. The days of the longest cruise drag d on and on As the schedule uas changed and changed again, it became apparent that the change of command would have to be accomphshed at sea. It turned out that this was no small task cither; CDR Bradshaw wound up riding the Taylor for a week after a frustrating near miss at transfer at sea. We actually had the boat in the water, ready to attempt transfer of our new CO.. when orders came to depan immediately for special operations in the South China Sea. These tribulations led radarmen Chief J. R. Carter to write: Tuas the yteek before Yoko Ami all thrtmgh the ship The crew wai all planning On the Japanese Trip The radarmen all set up With money to blow Were turning in chits As thick as the snow While I in my khakis The Chief of the gang Had nary an inkling Of a place called Danang When up in Combat There grose such a clemor We ' re due to miss Yoko They started to slammer The schedule released With purpose so firm Made a sudden change Like the proverbial worm They can ' t do this. ' We ought to knovi- The came the clincher Skip Sasebo. ' For days and days The rummors flew From Subic Bay To Timbukto The plots were kept With meticulous care In hopes that soon We ' d gel out of there The wind and the waves Were calm as could be The moon softly shined Upon the blue sea In the hurry of things ft was our belief They failed to provide Our Captain ' s relief When what to our wondering Eyes should appear But a big noisy helo Our n H ' skipper with gear He has lowered with haste To the stern of the ship Which gave Captain Richards A stig upper lip After change of command Ceremonies quite short Captain Richards was leaving (we believe with a leer) He climbed in the harness Anil, holding his nose He braved the stack gas as Toward the helo he rose We were sure that he whispered As he sailed ihrouifh the skv Adieu, dear old JF. ' KINS Farewell and goodbye Ray H. Bradshaw relieves Lluyd D. Richards as CO., USS JENKINS at sea ill the South China Sea 18 February 1965 Conducting special ops in the South China Sea... said Ihc log day after day. Our hunter-killer group was providing ASW protection for the surface forces near Vietnam. The weather was warm and the seas were calm — things seemed so peaceful, yet just a few miles away there was a war going on. The good weather gave us lots of practice with John II and Marsha, the two Drone Anti Submarine Helicopters. m LTJG Muncy cuts the cake in celebration of the 500th DASH landing aboard the JENKINS. k We participated in Candid Camera The JI-NKINS is the ship in the upper righl hand corner .,.-J ,.:. SSIS And the cruise went on : then, as suddenly as we had been sent (o the South China Sea.  e were ordered back to Sascbo. The Captain made ihis announccmcni over the 1 MC: you could feel the jubilation throughout the ship. But Sasebo was not to be. Mthin hours wc received modifying orders assigning us to the Taiwan Patrol. Sorrv to be missing out on Sasebo, but glad to leave the South China Sea. we detached from the ASW Group and headed for our new assignment. . Thirty-five days after leaving Hong Kong, we slipped through a dense fog into Kaohsiung Harbor early Sunday morning. Feb. 28. Kaohsiung, which had sounded like a bad joke a few days before, became the longest cruise ' s blessing in disguise. The five days out, 2 days in schedule was a welcome relief. There was an exchange there, a department store, and the natives were friendly. w . K - v - John Smith and Pocahantas _ ..«— y i Vtf j A i ' i ' I ■■■ Scheduled to leave Taiwan behind on 1 April, we still had visions as late as March 30 of the next port Hong Kong; but it was not to be We were to go back to the South China Sea and for the next 33 days, do our share toward furthering the policies of the U.S. Government in aiding the South Vietnamese in their war against oppression. A little more variety marked our April operations as compared to February ' s in the South China Sea. We plane-guarded, patrolled, and went on a counter-infiltration search that brought us to within shouting distance of literally hundreds of junks. Shipboard routine was still virtually unchanged. As the days went by the JENKINS did noi seem to suffer from any lack of humor. One day a new publication mysteriously appeared aboard ship, it seemed to kid the famous Yorkto.vn crier a bit. •• -• f d JENKINS ' SCREAMER ■ -. .Wl .... vric T v , 1 USS JEMi(I 5 rnn-447) % ' .TIV ' : T« TL 10«5 JENKINS received an informal well done on this scoop by the Chief of Staff of COMASWGRL ' THREE The opfralions were L riecl The only |ilace to spend money }i SHI STORI li It The most welcome siglil nf lln- iay Suntanning off Yanee Station And then thirty-three more days had passed, and we were on our way to Yokosuka for three days before leaving for Pearl Harbor. The longest cruise was coming to its end. r; ' ' 7-e r ' Looking back, the cruise doesn ' t iecm nearly as long as it did when ue were getting up for those mid watches in the South China Sea. The ' 64-65 Westpac cruise was a success because JENKINS was an instrument of national policy, going uhere the ' action was and meeting every test given her. During the cruise. JE.NKINS was underway 82-85 of the time, distilled 790.056 gallons of fresh water and 1.098.498 gallons of feed water, and expended 2.262.601 gallons of Navy special fuel oil. .?.. uir.x.1 i ' .f.: ri ' .U- m i ;-j ' r •• - Hong Kong by Night fl TTTu) n H T QJ Q- l l?AY The operations were aned Tlic only phuc to s peiul money } ih. JSHIP S STORE II ju Till ' most welconn ' sight of tin- rlay Sunlanninp off Yanee Station And then thirty-three more days had passed, and we were on our way to Yokosuka for three days before leaving for Pearl Harbor. The longest cruise was coming to its end. ,v ■ • 1 1 w.-  k tr ■ ' ' P ' M - ' sai.- • 4 . . m Looking back, the cruise doesn ' t seem nearly as long as it did when vc wore getting up for those midwatchcs in the South China Sea. The ' 64-65 Wcstpac cruise was a success because JENKINS was an instrument of national policy, going where the action was and meeting every test given her. During the cruise. JENKINS was underway 82-85 of the time, distilled 790.056 gallons of fresh water and 1.098.498 gallons of feed water, and expended 2.262.601 gallons of Navy special fuel oil. ,_- .. i, r-Jt- t :?r: . i 77 I - ' i i. n r f ' ! • -W • Hontr Kong by Night KI3AY i? 3 ' ' ' ♦ r k . v f-4tfr-r i .« ■ ii ' - ' J hi T —  . ' ' t u mL Im I ' . ' ' J Cruise Book Editor LTJG Harry A. SNEED Photographer Robert N. McWilliams ETR3 Cartoons Rufiiio Q. Sicat. TN PEARL IIVKBCm