Macdonough (DLG 8) - Naval Cruise Book

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER • ' . LCDR J. J. LARSON,USN NO PHOTO AVAILABLE m ' ? LCDR D. T. Halverson WEAPONS OFFICER LCDR T. T. Triplett ENGINEER OFFICER »! • LT R. E. O ' Hara OPERATIONS OFFICER »«. LT:SC R. G, Hall SUPPLY OFFICER

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COMMANDER R. R. CLARKE, USN COMMANDING OFFICER Robert Reed Clarke was born in Albany, New York on July 15, 1930, and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L, H. Clarke. He was appointed a Midshipman, U.S. Naval Reserve in September 1948, and attended the Uni- versity of Rochester under the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program. He received a Degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and was com- missioned Ensign, USN in June 1952. By subsequent promotions he attained the rank of commander in September, 1966. He served aboard the Attack Personnel Transport USS LATMER from July 1952, until June 1955. and in early 1956 was Combat Information Center Officer in the commissioning crew of the USS JOHN PAUL JONES. He continued duty in de- stroyers by serving as Operations Officer, USS FORREST SHERMAN from November 1956 until July 1958. After a two year tour as Forces Plans Officer on the staff of Commander Destroyers, Atlantic Fleet, he served as Executive Officer of the Key West based Destroyer Escort, USS CLAUD JONES. During the period 1962- 1964 he served in a Joint Planning Billet in the Strategic Plans Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. After completion of the ten month Command and Staff Course at the U.S. Naval War Col- lege in June 1965, he served as Executive Officer of the Charleston based Guided Missile destroyer SELLERS until July 1966. Following this he served briefly as Director of Naval Personnel Sixth Naval District. In 1967 he was assigned duties with the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group in Germany. He assumed command of the MAC- DONOUGH in October, 1969.

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USS MACDONOUGH is the fourth ship of the Fleet to bear the name and is named for Commodore Thomas Mac- Donough who on 11 September 1814 de- cisively defeated the British Fleet on Lake Champlain and forced the British Forces to retreat into Canada. The keel of MACDONOUGH was laid on 15 April 1958 and she was christened by Mrs. Agnes McDonough Wilson on 9 July 1959. Built in Massachusetts at the Quincy Yard of Bethlehem Steel Company, this ship is the third ship of the DLG-9 class. MACDONOUGH is 513 feet long and has a 53 foot beam. Her draft is 24 1 2 feet and her full war load displacement is almost 6,000 tons- about the size of a World War Two light cruiser. In spite of her size, she is still a fast, highly maneuver able destroyer, capable of effective antisubmarine and anti-air war- USS MACDONOUGH (DLG-8) fare and able to provide the protection so necessary to our mobile fast carrier striking forces. She carries the latest electronics equipment for long and short range rapid communications, for the control of air- craft in search and intercept, for target detection and tracking and for accurately guiding rapid salvo flights of highly de- structive missiles to strike enemy targets in the air, on the sea, under the sea and on land. MACDONOUGH is capable of extended operations in combat areas at high speeds with the support of fleet oilers and supply ships. All the living compartments are fully air conditioned as are all equipment spaces. The most modern laundry, food preparation and serving facilities have been provided.