Saipan (LHA 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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LOI1 November 18. The fly-off of remaining ducted at anchor on November 2, and the ship got underway the fifth enroute Rota. Transiting the Straits of Gibraltar again gn November 6, we arrived in Rota November 7 for onload of AV-8 material needed for me upcoming Moroccan exercise. The em- barked Marines of 22MAU celebrated Marine Corps birthday, highlighted by afor- mation ceremony on the pier. We departed Rota November 8 and headed south for the Moroccan exercise. The AV-8 Harrier aircraft flew aboard and the Pre-Overhaul Test and Inspection team arrived from Philadelphia to plan for future yardwork. Continuing south in the eastern Atlantic to the coast of Morocco, the Av-8 aircraft were launched November 11 and the ship anchored off TanTan, Morocco. Moroccan liaison officers embarked. On November 12, the ship attempted wet well operations for use of the ship's boats, but the weather prevented this because of heavy swells. instead, the ship got underway in the morning and continued the exercise underway, remaining in the TanTan area for five days. Govemor Ahmed M'Jahd' of TanTan. Morocco, Mr. Richard Jackson fU.S. Con- sul General, Casablancai visited the Saipan November 13, as did Lieutenant General Gray, USMC fFMFLANTl. This was the date of our helo assault at TanTan. The f0u9WlflQ day, Lieutenant General Gray d9D8rted. The AV-8 aircraft conducted an 'flDl'9SSive fire power demonstration for the crew in the vicinity of Saipan. They flew Off November 17, and the ship departed V19 TanTan area enroute Tiznit, Morocco, Personnel, including the Moroccan liaison 9m09l'S. was completed the next day at and the ship continued underway for . ffttfa 4' s 7 ' fills i X V K X fl rf r ifizfi: - ww-s'.W1: ' , 1 I , ,sm - f 4- .Jae ,.er,,. -, is ,, 7 . ' ' Y,--,, e.,'-fir r , . My f. Palma, Spain. November 22 the Straits of Gibraltar were transited again, entering the western Mediterranean. A steel beach pic- nic was held the next day on the flight deck with grilled burgers and hotdogs, cold drinks and snacks, and musical entertain- ment provided by talented ship's crewmembers and embarked personnel. A Connected Replenishment QCONREPJ and Vertical Replenishment fVERTREPi with the USNS Satum was held along with an Underway Refueting from the USNS Pawcatuck November 24, prior to our ar- rival in Palma November 25. A 21-gun salute was rendered on our way to the pier. We remained in Palma until December 5, with Thanksgiving ecumenical Services held November 27 and an outstanding Thanksgiving dinner celebrated in all messes. An official visit was made by Almlrante Lopez-Ceron fAdmiral, Baleric Islands Sec- tor, Spainl, Moline Saenz-Diez iComman- dant of Gonzalo Marinal and the Comman- dant of the Palma Naval Base on November 28, and the following day Mr. Bustard, a member of the American Con- sulate, Palma, came aboard. We departed Palma December 5 for Pian de Spille. An emergency transfer of feed water to the USS Dahlgren was ac- complished, the Dahlgren receiving 15,800 gallons. Later December 5, and Underway Replenishment was conducted with the USNS Pawcatuck. Crisis Response Exer- cise 87 QCRIREX 1-871 began December 6 with a personnel transfer to the USS Raleigh and shipboard driils, December 7, a Search and Rescue Exercise was con- ducted with a grade of 99 and a Vertical Replenishment was conducted with the USS Santa Barbara. The following day was 189 l

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USS SAIPAN LHA-2 WE DO IT ALL 1 ' Mitt 4... .PRN 1 S aipan began the Mediterranean portion of the North AtlanticfMed cruise when we inchopped to Sixth Fleet on October 19 and moored in Rota for MARG tMediterranean Amphibious Ready Groupl turnover with the USS Guam and USS Portland. With tumover complete, Saipan, Raleigh and Sumter became MARG 1-87 and the Saipan got underway for the Sierra de Retin exercise off the coast of Spain. After a Connected Replenishment taking on stores from the USNS Sirius on October 23, the ship anchored at Sierra de Fletin October 24. Major General Franklin, U.S. Army lCHJUSMG MAAG, Madridl came on board that day for a tour and luncheon. Our amphibious exer- cise continued with backload October 27-29. Saipan comleted the exercise October 29, transiting the Straits of Gibraltar that day enroute a port visit to Malaga, Spain. After refueling from the USNS Neosho October 31, we anchored at Malaga, shifting anchorage in the aftemoon. We remained at anchor for the Malaga visit until November 5. The cruisemasters tthose sailors sched- uled to rotate oft Saipan who elected to remain aboard for the cruisel were treated to lunch aboard the Cap- tain's gig and some fishing from the gig off the beach at the nearby resort city of Torremolinos. A Ney competi- tion and inspection of the Supply department was con-

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y one, with the ship transiting the of Bonifacio, conducting am- raid exercises, and anchoring Pian de Spille using precision anchorage techniques. Engineering Casualty Control Exercises were conducted throughout the night. Helicopter and boat assault exercises were accomplished December 9. Then the ship got undenrvay for small arms fire and 5 54 gunfire on a balloon target launched from the well deck. An additional gunnery exercise was conducted with the USS OP- PORTUNE. The ship then anchored again at Pian de Spille. Getting underway the evening of the tenth and anchoring again on December 11, the ship greeted a news crew from Channel 13 in Norfolk. Mr. Wessling, lVlr. Flanagan and their cameraman toured the ship and shot video footage for the Christmas special aired in Hampton Roads Christmas eve and again Christmas day. The television crew left Saipan December 12 and the ship con- ducted a Noncombatant Evacuation Opera- tion exercise in the evening. CRIREX 1-87 was completed December 14, with the ship getting underway enroute for Marseille, France. Transiting the Straits of Bonifacio again on December 14, we conducted an Underway Replenishment with the USNS Saturn, a Vertical ReplenishmentlConnected Fieplenishment with the USS Sylvania, and took on fuel from the USNS Pawcatuck. Anchoring in Marseille harbor December 15, the ship got underway again on December 16 due to a tugboat strike and transited to Toulon, an- choring the 17th and then moving pierside later in the day. The visit to Toulon was from December 17 to January 5. Restricted availability repairs were made and the ship celebrated l90, i