Mount Olympus (AGC 8) - Naval Cruise Book

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Exercise Long Step 3 November. . . We sortied today from Rade d'Hyeres, roadstead near Toulon, for Bone, Al- geria, and the first phase of Exercise LONG STEP. In company with Everglades and Great Sitkin and our old friends from MAINBRACE, Trans Div 21 and its embarked marines, and escorted by Italian destroyer escorts Artigliere, Aviere, Orsa and Andromeda, and U.S. minesweepers Strive, Token, Tumult and Pigeon, we are acting the part of a convoy. Aboard the Deuel is a group of French Com- mandoes and aboard the Aviere an Italian Commando group, both part of the landing force. We have with us liaison officers and observers from the U.K., Ital- ian, French, Greek, and Turkish forces. 5 November. . . A stormy passage south, which hampered expected attacks by enemy air and submarine units, brought us this morning off Bone. The Amphibious Attack Force, under Admiral Rose, was activated earlier today. Late this afternoon the landing craft were launched and a practice run made to the beach without land- ing the troops. The French cruiser, Gloire,has joined us. 6 November. . . This morning again found us off Bone. Heavy surf at the beach called for a decision to run the rehearsal landing as planned, but to bobtail it by not actually putting the landing force ashore. We had several air attacks today. 8 November. . . Refueling underway today was a real sight, 12 to 15 foot waves and winds which reached 50 knots made for a rough going and lots of green water shipped aboard. Worsening weather finally forced a halt to refueling operations, and we are running for the lee of Sicily. The French cruiser, Montcalm, has joined us. 9 November. . . We completed the refueling today from our own heavy ships, taking the Aviere alongside the Mount HO . In the screen now are the Turkish destroyers Gazian- tep, Giresum and Gelibolu, and the British minesweepers Chameleon, Rifleman and Plucky. The Montcalm, Carpellotti, and our four U.S. minesweepers left us to join the advance group but later we picked up the French carrier, Lafayette, and its screen, the French destroyers Kleber and Marceau and the Greek destroyers Niki, Doxa, Leon and Panther, and our carrier support force. 10 November. . . Better weather has again brought submarine and air attacks by Green forces, but we plow steadily eastward. The Niki and the Doxa left us early this morning to join the bombardment group which will pound Makares Island in the Aegean tomorrow. Two Turkish LSTs, the Alfios and Strymon, carrying the Greek Raiders who complete the landing force, joined us this morning. The Marine Corps 177th Birthday was celebrated aboard today with traditional ceremonies, including the cutting of a huge cake presented by the bakery.

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uuoenwnv exsnonss Louesrep CANNES T0 L-EBED03 1 HEAVY wenrs-len wmu: REFUEUNG CARPELLOTT ...lf HAS IT RGJGH I0 NOVEMBER 52 MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY

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. p tan... geadl th gh them rind isllndtofml with wr mais wifhnilie Cbhiymbiigliit a secluded bay to Pam!! as left bivreidmiml Wright, Vice Admiral Lemonmer CFNI. Liaulmiat and 14 Ambassadors and Ministers who form the Bt-and of?igecNATO Council. They will observe LONG STEP from the lmmt im' A ' AINBRACE, is a combined operation of the navieldth NA'Ig7Egii'ri?1?hibketi?he involving the U.S.. U.K..Italy. France, Greece ld Tu k his a'full-3c3,l9 amphibious assault on a beach in lfebedoa Bay, T , b :FBS pMarines French and Italian Commandoes Bhd GNGR Rlldvfl- yd Shins of the various nations form both the Blue forces and the. enemy. Gm itgrces. Il..ONG STEP has much the same objectives as MAIN BRACE. - h 1 - - I exercise of the southern NATQ nations, recehilirsabrgifngrliifedsbi' thgraidtiiisiggisn of Greece and Turkey, in the Mediterranean area and the iirst full-scale amphibious operation in these wa-ters. So again Mount Glympus is part of history, as she was on MAIN BRACI1., the first exercise of its kind by the northern NATO powers. 12 November. . . Perfect weather greeted us this morning in Lebedos Bay as the landing force hit the beach under the watchful eyes of the high-ranking observers. The landing was smooth and sure, and by afternoon the marines and commandoes had seized their objectives and were preparing to defend their beach-head through the night. We furnished control for the supporting aircraft and gun- fire ships. Admiral Carney's party de arted this morning on the Quincy. We had several air attacks today. Vice Admiral Arnom fTNl joined toobserve the landing. 13 November. . . With the operation ashore completed and reloading underway, we prepared to sail for Istanbul at noon. However, Ens. Moriarity decided to need an emer- gency happendectomy, and it was 1330 before Dr. Rourke, assisted by our Dr. to ' ar s , Dr. Brown and a colleague from the Chilton, completed the Job and we were on our way. . As we departed from Lebedos, word was flashed that LONG STEP W88l32I'?B- mated. We received well done from Admiral Carney CCOMNAVSOUTHLVIW Admiral Wright QCINCNELMD. Vice Admiral Cassady ICOMSIXTHFLEETI and golmftiihe melmbers of the Standing Group of the .N ATO Council. Most of our lim- o cers ad departed forhome in ships of their own nations, but some Turkish and Greek officers will go with us to Istanbul. Darkness fell as we entered the storied and strategic straits of the Dlfdl-' nelles, entrance to the Sea of Marmora which with the Bosporus joins theAMIli9 and Black Seas and separates Asia and Europe.