Long Beach (CGN 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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On 7 November the nuclear-powered cruiser USS LONG BEACH got underway from Long Beach, California, on her sixth WestPac. Embarked was Rear Admiral William A. Myers, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three and his staff. During our transit to Hawaii, Bill Anderson, authorfplaywright, talked with many of the crew as he sought ideas for background for a future book he may write. Upon the ship's arrival in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, he departed. After a short 2 day stay, LONG BEACH was underway again. During our transit to Guam, we conducted missile firings on a range off Hawaii. Our journeyx to Guam was interrupted by an emergency message directing us to aid a sick crewmember of the Norweigan tanker CALEO. LONG BEACH's course was altered and in 12 hours we rendezvoused with CALEO. ln heavy, choppy seas the CALEO crewmember, an American woman of 27, was transferred to LONG BEACH by whaleboat. After a high speed run to Guam, we transferred out patient to a hospital in Guam with the aid of a Navy tug. While in Guam, we relieved the USS CHICA- GO, and three days later, we were underway to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. For ten days we spent an upkeep period in Subic Bay. Then, it was underway again enroute to Sing- apore. For five days the crew of LONG BEACH enjoyed the sights of Singapore. Then, it was back to Subic Bay for the Christmas holidays. On January 7, the LONG BEACH departed Su- bic Bay enroute to the Indian Ocean. After proceeding up the Malacca Straits, we entered the Indian Ocean in the middle of January. Enroute to Diego Garcia, LONG BEACH and her men crossed the Equator, and with due ceremony, the pollywogs aboard LONG BEACH were christened shellbacks. After receiving mail by helicopter from Diego Garcia, LONG BEACH, accompanied by the USS ENTERPRISE CVAN-65, proceeded northward to conduct operations in the Arabian Sea. On February 5th we dropped anchor off Port Vic- toria, in the Seychelle Islands. There for two days, despite high winds and choppy seas, the men of LONG BEACH had liberty ashore. After weighing anchor, we proceeded to the island of Mauritius, where we stood offshore in the event we would be

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This upkeep period combined shipyard maintenance with important at-sea exercises. The workload was broken by a midshipmen cruise to Seattle Washington where crewmembers enjoyed the city s outstanding hospitality from June 29 to July I On August 22 LONG BEACH completed a large fleet exercise which tested her combative re- sponse to submarine surface and air attack that warfare vulnerability planes representing enemy aircraft kept the ship at a defensive sharpness that challenged the talent and experience of her weapons and operations personnel. In September 13 days were spent alongside the tender USS GOMPERS at North island San Diego for important repairs. After final readiness measures were taken in Long Beach the ship got underway for its sixth WestPac deployment on November 7 1974. 5 were sometimes simultaneous. During the anti-air 1 After a brief five month readiness period, LONG BEACH's fifth WestPac deployment began on May 1, 1973. Enroute to Pearl Harbor, the crew enjoyed the attentions of the Navy Recruiting Command working with Columbia Pictures to film recruiting commercials using LONG BEACH crewmembers in the cast. Upon leaving Hawaii, LONG BEACH entered Japanese waters for the first time on May 20, enroute to Yokosuka Naval Station for a port call. Because it was one of the few times a nuclear powered ship of such size had entered Yokosuka, members of the Japanese press, as well as important community and military officials, visited the ship. LONG BEACH also stopped at Hong Kong, Kaohsiung Taiwan Manila and Subic Bay during the 416 month cruise the first in the post Vietnam War environment Upon completing three line periods the ship steamed for leave and upkeep in Long Beach where she arrived September 22 1973 .U . lllll ll l lllllllllllllll Illllllllll llllllll g 9 1 1 J 1 9 1IlllllIllllllIlllllllllllllllll yy i llllllliilillillllllillillllllil1

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needed for relief aid after a typhoon struck the island. Our waiting completed, we again proceeded to Diego Garcia. After again receiving mail by helo from Deigo Garcia, we proceeded down the Malacca Straits to Singapore where the crew enjoyed some much needed liberty. On March 3rd we again arrived in Subic Bay. After a short upkeep period, we set sail for a nine-day multi-ship exercise designed to demonstrate our weapons systems readiness. After completion of the exercise, we again returned to Subic Bay for a weekend. After a five day transit, we arrived in Sattahip, Thailand, near Bangkok. After a five day R 8t R period, it was underway again. During our transit to Subic Bay, we received orders to escort the ship USNS GREENVILLE VICTORY and her 7,000 refugees aboard to VUNG TAO, Vietnam. After completing our mission, we sailed to meet the USS ENTERPRISE in the South China Sea for a few days and then proceeded to Subic Bay for an upkeep period. While in Subic Bay we received orders to get un- derway. After making high speed through the San Bernadino Straits into the Philippine Sea, we X X , ,fy Z , 5, iQ,..- 4 13152. , , ,riff jg, , My QM- Q, . ' Z 'fe 'f ',1 4 J Q, ,f V -,Mfg A f 'T . ag W' ff ,, W 1. Cf ,AW , -wj2'ff'f W , f W, 77: Hg ,,fW 6 f X ', JC. , U ff ., ' VA Z f 'l v fligyf A ,X 1 ...- fi Amy ,Aff I X W My .,.. .. . f, -, , f f , H 'l f . f fjffJf2ff4SfQg?'4lS1f s f f f X 'ff ff fu ' ' fx J , ,f 4' lf? x'VkQ .rf WTI' ,sf A ,,f f M . ff ,-X'.sf.,, '.,f2'i.w 'V ' ff, f' 1 fr, 3 ' proceeded northward. After waiting south of Japan, we entered Yokosuka, Japan, for a 14 day RAV lRestricted Availabilityl period. On May 10, LONG BEACH sailed for Pusan, Korea. For four days the men of LONG BEACH enjoyed the hospitality of the Korean people. Then it was back to Yokosuka, Japan, for our turnover with the USS HORNE. The turnover completed, LONG BEACH sailed for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Upon arrival in Pearl Harbor, we received the ORSE lOperational Reactor Safety Examinationl team. The following day, we were underway again. During our transit to San Diego extensive testing was carried out by the ORSE team to determine whether our reactors were operating safely. On June 7th, seven months after departure from Long Beach, we arrived in San Diego, California. . . LONG BEACH's sixth WestPac was over, and once again, her,men were among their family and friends. '