Richard E Byrd (DDG 23) - Naval Cruise Book

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CDMMANDER STA DI G NAVAL 'hi FGRCE ATLA TIC Commodore K. H. L. Gerretse commanded the Standing Naval Force Adantjc during Byrd's tour with the NATO squadron. He was born on December 10, 1927 in Nieuw-Helvoet, a village 20 miles south- west of Rotterdam. Upon graduadon from the Royal Netherlands Naval Academy, he was commissioned on September 1, 1951. During the first year of his career he served several months aboard HMS Cockatrice, an ocean fleet mine Sweeper of the United Kingdom Navy, and aboard the carrier HNLMS Karel Doorman. From 1952 until 1965 he served in the Netherlands Submarine Service. This seven year tour was interrupted by a one-and -one-half year period of general service as navigadng officer on the frigate HNLMS jan van Brakel in the former Netherlands colony of New Guinea. From November 1959 until September 1963 he commanded the sub- marines HNLMS Tijgerhasi and l-lNlIvlS Walrus. He commanded the HNI.NlS Walrus also during the final stages of the Dutch presence in New Guinea. He served as executive officer of the frigate HNLMS Van Nes in 1968 and 1969, and also during her tour as flagship of the First Dutch Commander Standing Naval Force Atlantic. From March 1972 Luitil September 1973 he commanded the destroyer HNLMS Groningen, stadoned for most of the time in Curacao, Neth- erlands Antilles. From October 1975 until December 1976 Commo- dore Gerretse commanded the Netherlands Destroyer Escort Squadron. Among tours of duty ashore, the commodore has served as Staff Of- ficer Personnel of the Submarine Service, in the bureau of officers on the Staff of the Flagofficer Personnel, as a student and instructor in the Royal Netherlands Staff College and as Director of Naval Plans on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief Royal Netherlands Na- vy. On February 21, 1977 Commodore Gerretse was promoted to the rank of commodore, and on the 18th of the following month, he assumed command of the Standing Naval Force Atlantic. Commodore Gezretse is married to the former Annie Hartogh. They have four sons: Dirk Steven, 22, Jaap, 213 Kees, 183 and Maarten, 14. They reside in Leiderdorp, a fast-expanding village near Leyden. ig. 5 ', A 8 -df? if Flagship Commodore Gerretse' flagship, the Dutch Frigate HRMS Evertsen QF 815l

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. ' rl, ' 21' 5' V nk is . -if L K - V l 1 L er V A ' la. -' ' 5,423 - 1 4 ff V I ' 1 A, i if-A ' . 4. i e A, ,, Albl gm .. e Y- ' s i Jfyfre it ,Q . I A' 5 fy., in-J :ny - Alf, ,,k,QAJL44,vi'Q jimi,-'st V N, M MI 7,-1, E ,.,A X -,',,'gm-n kg-, -aa, Main A . V X T if rfxifr-eggs y, 'QQ W is T is Z., ' . J, ,. D k iff, I V., , . 'V KM im X I aw .IA A a as i . - 1 at gf A i i f , i ' Q It-'il fy' W 'f- wifiLgQ,kg5'-67 my A-, 'f2E'i, 'g i i A' Kisbees welcome visitors to the Commodore's flagship, HNLMS I H STFYEAVFO T Evertsen. They sit on the pier if by beside the entrance to the ship's W' brow. I X .egg .,,,U1ll:lU,' J 0,7 cf' Ny THE FORCE 1 The Standing Naval Force Atlantic is the world's first per- manent muldnational naval squadron to operate together in ' peacetime. STANAVFORLANT is composed of between four and nine destroyer or frigate type ships, operating as one unit on a continuous basis. Ships of various nationalities will normally remain with the squadron for a period up to six montlig, They are then relieved by a unit of the game P3I'tiCiP3t6S in I111I1'1e1'OuS NATO eXeI'CiSeS and n2ti0I131 nationality or a vessel from another NATO naval member. tactical operations in European and North American waters throughout the year. Stressed during these exercises are Commanding the squadron is a commodore who is selected antisubrnarine warfare, anti -air defense practices and con- annually from one of the countries contributing ships to the voy duties. , force. The commodore is aided by a staff of officers who are also provided by participadng countries. Overall com- mand of STANAVFORLANT is exercised by the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, from Norfolk, Virginia. The Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic Area, with head- quarters at Northwood, Englandg controls the force when it operates in European waters. STANAVFORLANT is tasked with achieving four basic ob- jecdves. First, it is to maintain naval effectiveness within the Atlantic Alliance at a high level by providing squadron experience and training on a continuous basis. The force ..........- auru ...,,,..l,..,...,-,W-i is , Secondly, the squadron serves to demonstrate the solidarity and unity of the NATO nations by showing the flags of var- 4 ious member nations in a single, multi-national force. Thirdly, STANAVFORLANT maintains an availability and readiness for immediate deployment to the scene of any possible contigency situa1:ion to reaffirm the solidarity of the NATO Alliance and provide a visible deterrent force. Should mich an occasion arise, the squadron might have to carry out its fourth objective, providing the initial elements y around which a more powerful and versatile NATO naval y force could be formed.

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British Ship HMS Arnbuscade Stearns Alongside Byrd During Maneuver- ing Exercise. SQUADRO MATES Portuguese Fram Almirnte Gago Coutinho Comes Abreast Of Byrd During Her Sailpast, German Fx-igate Augsburg QFZZZQ fBe1owj Approaches Byrd During Her Sailpast, Canadian Des- troyer Escort Saguenay KDE 2065 Spens Colored Smoke As She Passes Byrd During I-Ier Sai1pastfLower Righty ,fb,,-'x f V Q H 'Z' if-'52 4 f L.. fu .G-KM ry' 5 I 5 1 y ' 'Q 'Q f I: I K' 'ji ' 'ii -44. Awe, a C. Pierside At Copenhagen, From Left Are German Ship FGS Hamburg, USS Richard E. Byrd And HMCS Algon- quin. At Halifax, Hamburg Relieved FGS Augsburg, And Algonguin Re- lieved Saguenay.