William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book

 - Class of 1982

Page 8 of 88

 

William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1982 Edition, Page 8 of 88
Page 8 of 88



William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1982 Edition, Page 7
Previous Page

William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1982 Edition, Page 9
Next Page

Search for Classmates, Friends, and Family in one
of the Largest Collections of Online Yearbooks!



Your membership with e-Yearbook.com provides these benefits:
  • Instant access to millions of yearbook pictures
  • High-resolution, full color images available online
  • Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
  • View college, high school, and military yearbooks
  • Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
  • Support the schools in our program by subscribing
  • Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information

Page 8 text:

SHIP'S HISTORY il It r v is A Lil . Q if O , N .f r n . s iw , . 4' - ,, 1 Y - ails W, T43 ,rl The first ship to bear the name WILLIAM V. PRATT is named in honor of Admiral William V. Pratt. Admiral Pratt, once Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, and former Chief of Naval Operations, served the United States Navy for 44 years before his retirement in 1941. The keel of the Guided Missile Frigate WILLIAM V. PRATT, one of ten COONTZ class frigates, was laid on 1 March, 1958 in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. WILLIAM V. PRATT was launched on 16 March, 1960, and was christened by Mrs. Edward Robbin, a personal representative of Mrs. William V. Pratt. PRATT was commissioned as DLG-13 on 4 November, 1961, and reported for duty as a member of Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet in July, 1962. PRATT was homeported in Norfolk, Virginia until 1965, when her homeport was changed to Mayport, Florida. In February, 1964, PRATT officially commenced the first of her numerous deployments to the U. S. Sixth Fleet. PRATT returned to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard after ten years active service, on 5 October, 1972. At that time she was decommissioned and underwent extensive anti-air warfare modernization. 5K.'!1f,u 5 , h.,..,1'gkkw WF x ' K. 4-In . .fu PRATT continued her modernization after her recommissloning on 6 October. 1973, by moving into Phase III of the program. During this five month period, PRATT participated in missile firing exercises and INSURV underway trials. Upon completion of her modernization, PRATT returned to her new homeport of Charleston, South Carolina, as a unit of Destroyer Squadron Four. PRATT has distinguished herself as s unit of the United States Fleet by her outstanding performance in her many deployments and exercises. In 1962, PRATT served as flagship for Destroyer Squadron Eighteen, the world's first squadron of guiddl missile ships. PRATT achieved a first when, in 1967, she became the first United St8t95 Ship to fire 100 missiles from one Terrier launcher. During the l960's. PRATT particlpaf-Od in several exercises which were to beoomv B part of our natlon's history. ln 1969. PRATT took part ln the Cuban Missile Crisis, vhi0h led to the removal of Soviet missiles from fm island of Cuba. Later ln 1967. PRATT carried out operations as a unit of the Vietnamese Counter-Offensive. Phan III- ln the mldfsevontles the Navy redesignated it's destroyers All DLG! 'W'

Page 7 text:

Admiral William Veasie Pratt was born in Belfast, Maine, on 28 February 1869. A veteran of more than 40 years of naval service, he began his career at the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1889. He served at sea during the Philippine Insurrection, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Spanish American War. He attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, from 1911 to 1913, when he was ordered to duty as Aide to Commander, Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet. During his assignment to the Flotilla, he was given command of the USS BIRMINGHAM, as additional duty during the years 1914 to 1915. At the outbreak of World War I, in 1917, Admiral Pratt was assigned as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, where he won distinction for his planning of convoy routes. After the war, he served President Wilson as his advisor, and later served as advisor to the U.S. Commission at the Washington Naval Conference on Limitations of Armaments. This conference culminated in the Five-Power Naval Treaty. In 1930, Admiral Pratt once again filled the role of ADMIRAL WILLIAM V. PRATT SIXTH CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS advisor, this time to the London Naval Conference on Disarmament. In 1925, Admiral Pratt returned to Newport, Rhode Island, to serve as President of the Naval War College. He served in this capacity until his return to the fleet in 1928. From 1928 to 1930, he served as Commander-in-Chief of both the Battle Fleet and the United States Fleet. In 1930, Admiral Pratt was assigned as the Navy's sixth Chief of Naval Operations, a post he held until his retirement in 1933. Eight years after his retirement, Admiral Pratt returned to active duty at the request of President Roosevelt. His task was to design a system of carrier protection for the Atlantic convoys menaced by German U-boats. Upon completion of this assignment in 1941, Admiral Pratt once again retired from active duty, at the age of 72. During World War II, Admiral Pratt worked on the staff of Newsweek Magazine. While working for Newsweek, he wrote a weekly column dealing with the war and international affairs. In 1946, he once again retired from public service. Admiral Pratt retired for the fourth and final time, at the age of 88, on 25 November, 1957. His death brought to a close a long and distinguished life of public service and devotion to duty. Admiral Pratt was, truly, an Admiral For All Seasons.



Page 9 text:

re-designated as Guided Missile Cruisers or Guided Missile Destroyers. On 1 July, 1975, PR.ATT's designation was changed to Guided Missile Destroyer and her hull number changed from 13 to 44. From July to December 1975, PRATT served as flagship for Unitas XVI, with UNITED STATES COMMANDER, SOUTH ATLANTIC FORCE embarked. This deployment included operations with naval forces from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Venezuela, as well as diplomatic visits to those countries. PRATT would serve once again as COMSOLANT's flagship during Unitas XIX in 1978. During our nation's Bicentennial, PRATT participated in Task Force 200 and the Bicentennial Task Force Operations. As a part of these operations, PRATT conducted numerous missile tests and training exercises in the Caribbean. The high point of these operations was PRATT's participation in the International Naval Review in New York City. Held on the Fourth of July, the review involved fifty ships from allied nations as well as twenty-two tall ships . During this celebration, PRATT hosted the Royal Family of Monaco for a visit on board. In February, 1979, PRATT once again returned to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for extensive modernization and overhaul, returning to her homeport of Charleston, S.C. in April, 1980. Since that time, PRATT has returned to the Mediterranean as a unit of the Sixth Fleet, from March till September 1981, and from June to December 1982. During these cruises PRATT played a vital role in several operations. Particularly noteworthy was PRATT's participation in the Gulf of Sidra Incident, in August 1981, and her participation in the PLO evacuation from Lebanon in September, 1982. PRATT was one of several ships assigned to escort PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Athens, Greece. In the past, PRATT has played a significant role in keeping the seas peaceful and free and will, undoubtedly, contribute both strength and versatility towards that goal in the future. PRATT's modern electronics and weapons systems makes her one of the primary ships of the fast carrier groups. Her advanced all-weather, surface-to-air missiles can intercept aircraft at longer ranges and much higher altitudes than any conventional weapon. While PRATT's primary mission is protection against enemy aircraft, she is also equipped to deal with submerged threats. Her modern sonar and weapons systems allow her to effectively hunt down and destroy enemy submarines. PRATT is also equipped with long-range Harpoon missiles as well as a 5 54 caliber, rapid-fire gun. These powerful weapons systems are tied together by a high-speed, digital computer system known as the Naval Tactical Data System. NTDS also provides the capability to exchange tactical information with other units of a task force. PRATT is equipped with a powerful array of weapons to combat a three-fold threat, be it enemy air, surface, or undersea forces. Thus the phrase, Deadly When Threatened fits appropriately.

Suggestions in the William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book collection:

William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1982 Edition, Page 5

1982, pg 5

William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1982 Edition, Page 84

1982, pg 84

William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1982 Edition, Page 52

1982, pg 52

William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1982 Edition, Page 45

1982, pg 45

William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1982 Edition, Page 32

1982, pg 32

William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book online collection, 1982 Edition, Page 73

1982, pg 73

1985 Edition online 1970 Edition online 1972 Edition online 1965 Edition online 1983 Edition online 1983 Edition online
FIND FRIENDS AND CLASMATES GENEALOGY ARCHIVE REUNION PLANNING
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today! Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly! Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.