Marvin Shields (FF 1066) - Naval Cruise Book

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AUCKEX 80 i

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SANDGROPER 80 ti DURING OUR VISIT TO THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC, TWO MAJOR MULTI-NATIONAL FLEET EXERCISES WERE CONDUCTED. SANDGROPER 80, 27 AU- GUST-! SEPTEMBER OFF THE COAST OF WEST- ERN AUSTRALIA AND AUCKEX 80, 21-23 OCTOBER AND FROM 28-30 OCTOBER OFF THE COAST OF EASTERN NEW ZEALAND. MARVIN SHIELDS WAS A MEMBER OF A SURFACE ACTION TASK GROUP THAT CONSISTED OF UNITS OF THE ROYAL AUS- TRALIAN NAVY, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE, AND THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY; BOTH TRAINING EVOLUTIONS TOOK ON A TRUE- LY INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR. SANDGROPER 80 AND AUCKEX 80 WERE DESIGNED TO PRACTICE NAVY AND AIR FORCE UNITS IN A SIMULATED ANTI-SHIP, ANTI-AIR AND ANTI-SUBMARINE MULTI-THREAT ENVIRONMENT

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VISIT SHIP ONE OF THE PRIMARY MISSIONS FOR MARVIN SHIELDS WHILE IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC WAS THE PROMOTION OF GOODWILL BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEA- LAND. AND THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES ONE MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHING THIS IS THROUGH THE VISIT SHIP PROGRAM. MARVIN SHIELDS WAS OPEN FOR GENERAL VISITING BY THE PUBLIC, DAILY BETWEEN 1:00 PM AND 3:30 PM THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS TO CROSS THE QUAR- TERDECK WAS IN EXCESS OF 23.000 THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA. MR PHILLIP ALSTON, VISITED MARVIN SHIELDS THE FIRST DAY INPORT AT MELBOURNE