Saipan (LHA 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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,. ggggg xqx, ,A,, ,,.. , A mountainous island in the central Pacific, Saipan was the alta of a cruclal amphibious victory over the Japanese ln June 1944. The successful Marine assault gave the United States an alrbase within reach of the outer Japanese home lslands. Slnce World War ll, two ships have been named for Saipan. The first Saipan was CVL-48, commissioned on 14 July 1948. Used initially to train student pilots. Saipan embarked Fighter Squadron 17A in May 1948, thus becoming the first carrier in the fleet to support a jet squadron. Saipan sailed the Atlantic and Pacific until decommissioned on 3 October 1957. Later converted to a Major Communications Relay Ship and renamed Arlington QAGMR-21 on 8 April 1965. she earned seven Campaign Stars for service off the coast of Vietnam relaying vital communications. She was decommissioned on 14 January 1970. The second ship of the Li-lA class, Saipan's keel was lald by Ingalls Shipbuilding Co. at Pascagoula, Mississippi on 21 July 1972. Saipan lLHA-21 was designed and built to do the work of four ships: the Amphibious Assault Ship lLPl-ll, Amphibious Transport Dock lLPDl, Amphibious Cargo Ship lLKAi, and the Dock Landing Ship ll.SDl. Saipan also performs the Command and Control duties of the Amphibious Command Ship fLCCi. Saipan was christened on 20 July 1974, by Mrs. Isabelle Mlddendorf. wife of former Secretary of the Navy J. William Mlddendorf. Saipan was commissioned on 15 October 1977. as her first Commanding Officer, Captain F. W. Johnston took responsibility of the newest ship in the fleet. Soon, Saipan was underway for her new homeport, Norfolk, Virginia. ln June 1978. Saipan conducted damage control train- ing ln Guantanamo Bay. Cuba. Saipan left Guantanamo to represent the Navy ln New York City for the 4th of July harbor festival. Some 50.000 people visited the ship dur- lng her five day visit. The final three months of 1978 saw Saipan in drydock in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for upkeep and modemization. ln July 1979, Saipan's operational career began when she was diverted from the Fleet Refresher Training to 03090585 COUUDQGFTCY Operations for possible non- combatant evacuation of American personnel from Nicaragua during that oountry's civil war. 'fl F9b U3'Y 1980. SUPER participated in her first major amphibious exercise, NATO Exercise Anorak Express, which tested and developed cold-weather amphibious Cibllbllitles in the Fiords of Norway. ln May 1980, only two weeks after retumlng frgm Anorak Express, Saipan was underway to augmgm U.S. Coast Guard efforts to assist Cuban refugees cross. ing the Straits of Florida to the United States. More than 1,100 refugees were rescued and transferred from Saipan to stateside refugee centers during eighteen days ef operations. On August 25, 1980, Saipan departed Norfolk for the first Mediterranean deployment by an Li-lA. During that six-month deployment, Saipan translted the Suez Canal and crossed the equator while in the Indian Ocean. On September 3, 1981, Saipan again departed Norfolk for her second Mediterranean deployment. During that deployment, Saipan visited or operated in seven different countries on three continents, translted the Suez Canal. and participated in exercises Ocean Venture, Display Determination, Bright Star and National Week. The indian Ocean operations included a Desert Climate Am- phibious Landing in the Arabian Sea. Saipan retumsd to Norfolk on February 24, 1982. ln May 1982, Saipan deployed to the Caribbean to par- ticipate in exercise Ocean Venture '82. ln July 1982. Saipan visited New York City to participate ln 4th of Jtly celebrations. From August 1982 through July 1983, Saipan was mths Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia for harfht scheduled complex overhaul. On 21 September 1983, Saipan departed Norfolt fd Refresher Training at Guantanamo Bay. Cuba. She WI! diverted to participate in operation Urgent Fury off Grenada and returned to Norfolk on 11 November 199- Saipan was underway from 13 February 1984 to28APl' 1984 for exercises United Effort and Teamwork '84 participating in NATO amphibious landings ln Norway- From 8 to 16 August 1984, Saipan was Flagehlli fvf 5' ercise Phalanx Sound lI, a selected Marine BUWW' Amphibious Exercise in North Carolina. After workups, Saipan prepared for her third l deployment. Saipan departed Norfolk on January 22, 1935717 Mediterranean. During this deployment. 909 more than 32,000 miles, logged over 6,700 safe landings and visited ports in three countries. Near U19 of the cruise, as with her first major deployment was diverted to conduct Contingency Operatl0l'l8 ll' Eastem Mediterranean delaying her retum to Norfvlk August 9, 1985. I I

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SHIPS HISTORY .... CO ............. XO ............. CTF-61 ............ CTF-62 .............. FLATLEY AWARD ..... GEARING-UP .......... ON LOAD ............... NORTHERN WEDDING .... BOLD GUARD .......... STEEL BEACH ....... AIR OPS ......... BOAT OPS ......... ON THE BRIDGE .... EXECUTIVE ...... AIMD .......... AIR ............. COMBAT SYS .... COMM ......... DECK ........ ENG ......... MEDICAL ..... NAV ....... OPS ...... SUPPLY ...... SAFETY ........ PHIB 8 STAFF .... TACRON ....... ACU-2 ....... BATTLE E .... BIG BUCKS . . . SPORTS ..... CHARITY ........ UNREP ............. AROUND THE SHIP . .. 22 MAU ........... HMM-162 .......... BLT 116 ............. NEWCOMERS ........... ABOUT THE CRUISE ....... USO ....................... PORTS INTRO MARG 1-87 ..... OOPENHAGEN ............... ROTTEROANI ................ ENGLAND ................... SPAIN ROTA, IvIAI.AGA, PAI.IvIA'f f I I ff I FRANCE .................... ITALY ....................... .... STINGERS ............ TRAINING .............. COMMAND CANDIDS ..... TURN OVER ........... WASHDOWN ......... OFFLOAD .... , . SAIPAN WIVES . . . HOME COMING .... CREDITS ........ 31 H1 EZ 'U ID G3 HI Q03-PN! gQlQlQf9yggQlQN,fQfQN3f0lgfQ4..A..L.L.L..A..L..s.s...s.L...L...L.L..L.L..L..L mNIG7O'JU'lU'lU'lU'lU'l-P-P-AOOCOCDCOQGCDODIUINJIXJ-A-A-A-lOQGOCDCOmmNIO3U IU'l-RCDOJODCDCDINJIUIO-5-4-A' OOO?-LCOQNIUT-PCD-ANICD-5-POD-lQOl0U1CDfPINJWCD-4OmNlC7f.l'IO3ONlOQ-PCD-A-PQOOIO-LOGGDNIQOJNJCD MARG 1-87 I.

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Following a Restricted Availability in Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, October 1985 to February 1986, Saipan sailed to Guantanamo Bay to complete Refresher Training March-May 1986. Amphibious Refresher Training was held later in May off the coast of North Carolina with a 99.97 overall grade, the highest score ever achieved by an amphibious ship. After work-ups in June and July, Saipan began her 1986-7 deployment August 17, 1986 - and the story of that cruise unfolds herein. Saipan's recent awards include the Battle Efficiency E ithird award - issued for the period ending Navy and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals: and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon i4 starsl. Saipans motto. Omnia Facimus - We do it alI - aptly describes the unique capabilities and history of this very special ship. September 30, 19869, The Admiral Flatley Safety Award for 1985 isecond awardlg The Sledge Award iaviatiori maintenancel for 1985 isecond awardlg the Naval Am- phibious Base Captains Cup in 1984 and 1985 for ex- cellence in sports, and the Atlantic Fleet Surface Force Admiral's Cup for athletic excellence in 1985 Saipan also received the first award ol COMPHIBRON TWELVE s Bronze Anchor award for retention excellence in 1985 Saipan has received the Humanitarian Service Medal, Z'