Whetstone (LSD 27) - Naval Cruise Book

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lt's a tight squeeze ffbm the well deck to the flight deck L. SS X ,z K,-X 1 ,, The off - loading at Danang was easier because the CH-46'S Were flown off the flight deck 47

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A On 2 December we arrived in Danang, offloaded the three PBR support barges, and bid farewell to COLONIAL. We were underway the same day for NAI-IA, OKINAWA where we arrived 7 December . The next two days were spent loading twelve CH-46 helicopters and one M-48 tank. Attempting to arrange this load was a challenging task, indeed, as LSD - type ships had never transported aircraft in their well decks before . However, the Ship's Boatswain and his ouija board produced a workable solu- tion. While we worked hard in' Okinawa, we also had our first liberty since Pearl Harbor exactly a month before . We departed Okinawa on 9 December for Danang where we arrived five days later and offloaded our helos and tank. Our well empty, we blasted down and loaded one LOU, two LCM-8's and two LCM-6's. With our new load we departed for Subic Bay, Philippines on 14 December. Lt. Murchinson, CO of the PBR Mobile Unit riding the barges out of the well deck in DaNang W One down - eleven to go! 46

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We arrived in Subic the morning of 17 December and remained pierside for six days . While in Subic we performed much needed maintenance on the ship and, of course, waited for liberty call. The morning of 23 December found us underway with five assault craft embarked. Arriving Danang on Christmas Day was not, unfortunately, an occasion for holiday routine . There was much work to be done as usual. We offloaded the assault craft and began relieving USS WINDI-IAM COUNTY QLST-ll675 prior to chopping to Task Group 76.5, Amphibious Ready Group BRAVO . We officially became a unit of ARG BRAVO on 26 December and, with a new load consisting of one LGU, two LCM-8's and three LCM-6's,, got underway for our new op-area some five miles south of the DMZ near GUA VIET. We remained in this area until 18 February steaming with USS VALLEY FORGE QLPH+8j, USS ALAMO CLSD-335 USS NAVARO CAPA-2273 and several LST's. We participated in two amphibious opera- tions, Badger Tooth and Badger Gatch in support of the Marines on the beach. We were constantly busy and tired from hard work. Our well was Home Port for Mike Boats, U-Boats, Armored Personnel Carriers QLVTB, ONTOS and Tanks. USS Valley Forge QLPH-Sl TG 76. 5 Flagship ' If., , ' , . 'JDJ' 48 y , .1 jg,w,f 1 . ' ' 1 . 1 , ' 'v V ,1?T' 7. ' if