Quincy (CA 71) - Naval Cruise Book

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NOVEMBER 1952 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thur. Fri. Sat. THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT J LONGSTEP Again the NATO forces were to be put to a test... again a cryptic code name spelled out days of pretended war. Operation Longstep was ready to leave the confidential files and move onto the waters of the Mediterranean. When, on 3 November, ships of the combined NATO navies slipped out from their harbors to rendez-vous at designated spots, the Quincy' left la Spezia to join the Wisconsin, Roosevelt, Midway, Wasp, Des Jlloines, and Columbus, and a screening group of destroyers. We swung back into the routine of condition watchesg we held ourselves ready for aircraft launching speedsg we answered the ringing call of One Able Able and General Quarters . Again distraught communicators worked through sleepless nights. But this time we were well prepared. We had behind us the experience of Mainbrace, and no difficulty that could be offered was new or insurmountable. Carrier-based planes roared over our heads in swooping arcs. Day after night after day the exercise continued, until finally peace was declared. We had fired at a rocky Aegean island, while a few miles away marines stormed the Turkish coast. Vile had defended against enemy planes, and stood guard over our own striking carriers. The Quincy was then chosen for the post-Longstep conference. On Wednesday 12 November, with the simulated rubble cleared from our decks, we paraded a full honor guard. The ship was called to attention. A nineteen-gun salute was fired. The boatswain's pipe shrilled, and Admiral Robert B. Carney, Commander in Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe, and Ambassador Ylfilliam H. Draper, Jr. mounted the gangway at the head of a procession of some 27 officials of the NATO organization, including Vice Admiral Wright, CINCNELM, Lt-General Haynes, and the ambassadors of all eleven participating nations. Tfhey had lunch aboard as we sped at 30 knots to Izmir. The results of Mainlzrace had lang been inconclusively debated. but that afternoon the following message went out over our radio: Admiral Carney sends: My admiring and enthusiastic congratulations to all who planned and executed an extensive and complex operation which was a long step toward our twin goals of teamwork and security. The fact that you smoothly accomplished every assigned task in spite of weather and other obstacles bespeaks hard work, intelligent effort, friendly cooperation, and a high degree of uniform technical excellence. Nobody won the Longstep war but the danger is lessened by efforts such as yours. 'Well done' to all the land, sea, and air forces of l,cn1:stt-p . NVe were coming into our own as a fighting ship.

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