Manatee (AO 58) - Naval Cruise Book

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SASEBO MANATE E pulled into Sasebo for post-transit re- pairs. Although the transit weather had been generally fair, the constant exposure had necessitated mainte- nance for all outside areas. The crew took advantage of the warm Japanese summer to sightsee in Sasebo and Nagasaki. The beaches and downtown shopping drew many of the crewmen. SSK, the largest shipbuilding firm in Japan is located in Sasebo and provided expert engineering assistance. Fifty bags of mail poured aboard when the ship berthed at India Basin, and though liberty call went shortly after arrival, few people left until the letters were out. MANATEE appears dwarfed by a supertanker being built by SSK in Sasebo. FIRST UNREP After four days in Sasebo, MANATEE headed for her WESTPAC homeport, Subic Bay, in the Philippines. Enroute the ship was diverted to Okinawa and un- repped the attack carrier TICONDEROGA and her destroyer escorts. Meanwhile, thousands of miles South, a storm was building and before MANATEE completed servicing the carrier group, Typhoon CORA was on an intercept course with the ship off Okinawa. For two days MAN- ATEE steamed to avoid the oncoming storm. Finally, anticipating CORA would hold her direction, the ship slipped down the East side of Taiwan and into Subic. TICONDEROGA takes a full load during the August unrep. 14

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DEPARTURE On July 26, 1969, after three weeks of training and a major shipyard overhaul the MANATEE de- parted for WESTPAC. The CRUDESPAC Band arrived as the brow was being raised and with the fading sounds of Anchors Aweigh the ship cleared the fuel pier and headed into the stream. The transit was relatively uneventful as the major overhaul completed in June at Long Beach Naval Shipyard had left the ship in excellent condition. The new crew had a chance to work together and get the feel of the ship at sea. Because of the generally fair weather during the summer, the MANATEE proceeded well North of the Hawaiian Islands. Few ships were encountered. Landfall was made on Tori Shima Island, in the outermost archipelego of the Japanese Islands on the 9th of August as a small ' blip ' on the ship ' s radar. At dusk, on August 10, the lookouts spotted the entrance to Van Diemen Strait at the southern extreme of Japan. 13

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The main gate into Olongapo, the city outside the Subic Base was often the start of ning ' s liberty. SUBIC BAY With only one day to prepare for her first line trip, the crew rapidly loaded fresh provisions, mail, and fleet freight. Cargo freight was topped off and preliminary contact was made with the port services personnel. On August 23, Captain FAAS relieved Captain GIL- LOOLY as Commanding Officer of the MANATEE. The fol- lowing morning the ship departed Subic for the first of ten line trips. Fuel rigs hang ready for loading al the Subic POL Pier Alava Wharf was the usual take off point for MANATEE in Subic. 15