Mauna Loa (AE 8) - Naval Cruise Book

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T e Mediterranean The Central Sea has been a central fact in the history of western man since he civ- ilized. Some have called the Med the mid- wife of our civilization. Mistress would seem a better term, for Navies from tribes, empires and nations have vied for her fav- ors since the beginning of organized society. The Phonecians explored her. The Greeks were nourished by her in the Aegean and crushed by her in Sicily. The Romans used t s ort her legions and the mus- her to ran p , lims sailed the straights of Gibraltar to ' C ' t'an- conquer Spain and threaten all of hris 1 it . She allowed us to enter the back door Y H'tl 's empire and today she is sailed of 1 er , by a vital part of the Nato alliance: The Sixth Fleet ..... all I 5 1 dsx! Xmxxgx . w . ,, .s as . . +19 7 -'? :JIXN t 4, S' me v Q fl- Xa 5 N Ui c t'.fs.Ng'M1-rv . 5 . 3 . 5 nl. I I 4,N-,,

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if Ist Prize fOr most effec i sources, SP if 1st Prize for expeditious shifting into the uniform of the day. 1st Prize for imaginative use of ship's equipment. tive use of ship's re: S E 2 63 1 1 K J

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The dversar F' ,-f ,ff ,F5 4 'Xe ,f 1 ' 'X' ,f H , X . xx 0 1 xnxf N 13 Nun J X 'x xy, who F XJR Pj. The Mediterranean is also sailed by aRus- sian Navy. We do not know precisely the Russian intent, but America's experience with Soviet Aggressiveness and chauvinism makes it clear that the Sixth Fleet must remain. On several occasions MAUNA LOA was brought face to face with the Russian presence in the Med, and we re-enacted the confrontation on her waters that has been repeated endlessly since western his- tory began ..... MAUNA LOA'S 1969 Med cruise is nowhis- tory, or a small part of it. Her contribution was vital to the success of the Sixth Fleet's mission. She is perhaps not as fast or sleek as other Sixth Fleet ships, but her Gff0I'tS are appreciated equally. Seen against the backdrop of history, she is only one Ship out of many fleets and navies. But for each of us, the cruise with her is an 1n- delible and somewhat proud memory.