Sylvania (AFS 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 9 text:

-N 1 ' - - 1 The logistical services supplied by the Sylvania and other members of our force are vital- to our powerful military establishment if our Naval units are to survive, whether it be during normal peacetime surveillance of the seas or during wartime in defense of freedom throughout the world. - ' The tasks we perform are not new, but the equipment, execution and methods are results of what have been perfected through the years. Today, through our efforts, ships of the line have the ability to remain at sea for indefinite periods, in lieu of relying solely on shore installations for supplies and provisions. Simply stated: primary reliance for support of deployed fleets is placed on afloat capabilities. ' Our deployed fleets patrol what is equivalent to half of the earth's ocean region from the 'Arctic to the Antarctic and the western coastline of the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. Without underway replenishment capabilities, our ships would have to go into friendly overseas ports for replenish- ment, This would always be contingent upon the latestpolitical agreements with our allies ftherefore, would not be as dependable as is required for flexible, mobile operations. . ' . 4 . To thwart this possibility and fulfill our goal, we ofthe Sylvania along with other service force ships utilize two methods of underway replenishment at sea -alongside and vertical. The responsibilities of the U.S. Navy' in' protecting the 'oceans of the world are tremendous. Today, our great country prides itself on the mobility, flexibility and endurance of the Armed Forces. Without the ability to remain at sea for sustained periods that we provide, the Navy cannot fulfill its part in our country's military organization. We are part of a vital and proud team, the Service Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. As a part of this team we'play no small part in providing the fleet with the fuel, provisions, stores, ammunition and repair serve ice necessary to remain at sea wherever necessary. The seagoing portion, of which the Sylvania is a part, is composed of four service squadrons com- manded by senior Captains-referred to as Commo-

Page 8 text:

-.,.,M,. PHI R. I... CAMPBELL., USN, USS AMERICA CCVA-66,

Page 10 text:

d . The Commanders of Service Squadrons TWO ar?deFOUR normally utilize repair ships CAR SJ as their flagships, homeported in Newport, R.l. and Norfolk,- Virginia respectively. These Commodores are primarily concerned with providing Mobile Logistic Support and Underway Replenishment services to the Second Fleet operating in the Western Atlantic waters and the Antr- Submarine Warfare Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Commander Service Squadron SIX, permanently n the Mediterranean normall utilizes located here i 1 , I ll , a large fleet oiler as his flagship. He 'rs charged with providing the 'entire Sixth Fleet with dependable logistics support. Designated Commander Service- Force, Sixth Fleet, he operates and administers training. for ships assigned to his force, and maintains direct liaison with Commander Sixth Fleet, and other commands regarding logistic matters. r , The remaining squadron, Service Squadron EIGHT, based in Norfolk, conducts all special projects within the force such as salvage, towing and harbor clearance, oceanographic surveys and cable laying. - The ships of our force are classified in three general categories. The first is the Underway Replen- ishment Ships including fleet oilers, ammunition ships, general stores issue ships and now, of course, the Siylvania, a combination provisions and stores issue s rp The second consists of the Mobile Logistic' Sup- port ships including repair ships, cargo ships, fleet tugs and salvage ships. .The third category is classifiedas Miscellaneous Auxrlliarres. The ships normally perform the SPECIAL- IZED tasks and include oceanographic survey ships, technical research ships, and cable layers. I n . To best exemplify the Service Force's responsibil- rtres and how wehelp to fulfill them, let's go through a typical Logistic Replenishment Cycle-normally scheduled every month for the operating forces of the Sixth Fleet. - Frrst,'when we speak of operating forces, we are speaking rn terms of between 50 and 60 ships on station here rn the Mediterranean at all times. These forces include fast carrier strike groups amphibigug ships with their embarked Marine battalions subma- runes, mine craft and the service force supporting units. Combatant units of the Sixth Fleet operate in- gsfegldfmy SEM-Ql9d.shore units which were loaded Six months of logistic support materials-except for petroleum products and munitions may be carried in- two echelons at sea. The first being the combatant ships themselves, which carry 90 days endurance in spare parts and other supplies. The second echelon is the Mobile Logistic Support Force which carries an- other 90 days' worth of supplies. Fuel and ammunition demands vary under different circumstances and are therefore furnished, as required, by delivery to the fleet at sea. Approximately every 30 days, one AF departs Norfolk loaded with a' resupply of provisions and technical and general stores known as FILL or Fleet Issue Load List for the Sylvania, as well as her own load of food and high vclume items such as soap, paint, rags, and cigarettes, to sustain 30,000 men for 30 days. The Fleet Issue Load List is recompiled every six months based on actual fleet demand experience. C Proceeding over 3,200 miles from Norfolk to Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean the AF rendezvous with the Sylvania, and commences the First Phase of .Resupply. During this resupply, the AF transfers frozen and fresh foods and general stores items, as requested, to the Sylvania, as well as taking on stock items and parts required of her during the forthcoming UNREP. Thus we have a general exchange of various logistic items between ships prior to the first scheduled UNREP The logistic replenishment cycle continues with the ioining up of one or more A0's and one or more AE's. The AE, AF, AFS and A0's traveling as a unit constitute the backbone-of the Underway Replenish ment group The location of the UNREPS are closely guarded secrets for obvious reason-our ships are most vulnerable during this period. Therefore the UNREP is normally combined with an Anti-Submarine.Warfare of Anti-Aircraft exercise, when possible The completion of the UNREP by no meanS terminates the Service Ship's iob, for now the AF and AFS must commence Phase Two of the resupply: ThIS phase consists of transferring the remaining portion of the general stores items from the AF to the SYLVANIA We of the Sylvania along with all other men of the Service Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet will continue to strive for newer methods, concepts and perfection. As long as our Navy controls the oceans of the world, we of the Service Force will provide Mobile Logistic SupD0ft anytime, anywhere on the High Seas. We reDfeS90t The Life Line of Seapower and we of the Sylvania are one of its most important strands I