Mitscher (DDG 35) - Naval Cruise Book

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v The USS MITSCHER named after Admiral Marc A. Mits- cher, Commander of Task Force 58 in the Pacific during World War II, was built at Bath Iron Works, Maine in the early 1950's. She was commission ed DL-2, in 1953, and served in the Atlantic Fleet. In 1966, MITSCHER was selected for conversion to a guided missile destroyer, and entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, where she was updated with the latest weapon systems. She was recommissioned DDG-35 in 1968, and joined the Sec ond Fleet during her post conversion shakedown. In August of 1970, MITSCHER made her first post conver- sion deployment to the Mediterranean, where she visited9 ports in 5 countries. She was awarded the M e r i t o rio u s Unit Com- mendation, for her performance during the Middle East Contin- gency in September, 1970, while with the Sixth Fleet. After a short stand down period, MITSCHER participated in the missile firing exercise, Rimex 3-71, in May. In early June she returned to Norfolk, and began preparations for deployment to the Mediterranean on July 6, 1971. It is here that our story begins. DDG SHIPS CHARACTERISTICS Displacement 5281 Tons Length 493 Feet Beam 49 Feet ENGINEERING PLANT 4 Boiler, 1200 'PSI Steam Turbine ARMAMENT 1 Tartar SAM Launcher 1 Asroc Launcher 2 5 54 cal. Automatic Guns 2 Triple Tube Torpedo Launchers 0 g-U? MITSC- 40 05775 9900 959 KN' - f l 'r

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DATE: 6, July 1971 TIME: 1300 EST PLACE: The D 8a S Piers, Norfolk, Virginia. EVENT: The USS IVIITSCHER DDG-35, known to her crew as the Mighty Marc A. Departed on a Mediterranean cruise which would last 165 days, and visit 4 countries, where she would stop at 9 different ports. The MITSCHER, as part of De stroyer Squadron 26, or the Mod Squad as it has b ec ome known, tran- sited the Atlantic in 10 days, entered the Med, and assumed her assigned duties in a manner that made her stand out above other Sixth Fleet destroyers. Although most of us felt we belonged st ate si de, we were here, and we had a job to do. Most would say we've got a job to do, so lets do it right! . The Mighty Marc not only did her as- signed tasks right, she did it with such precision and expedient efficiency, that it made her S qu adron and Task Group Com- manders sit up and take, notice. Neve r let it be s aid that the MITSCHER did not live up to her motto... WE DARE TO BE THE BEST and we are!