William V Pratt (DLG 13) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY OF THE HIP The keel for USS WILLIAM V. PRATT, one of ten COONTZ Class frigates, was laid on 7 March 1958 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The ship was launched on 16 March 1960 and commissioned 4 November 1961, with Commander B. E. Gustafson as her first Commanding Officer. On 1 July 1962 she was designated flagship for Destroyer Squadron 18, the world's first squadron of guided missile ships. While being outfitted in the shipyard, WILLIAM V. PRATT was configured to evaluate the new Terrier HT-3 Homing Missile. In January and June of 1963 she conducted Phases I and II of the HT-3 missile evaluation off Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. On 4 August 1963 WILLIAM V. PRATT steamed from Norfolk to participate in Operation Riptide IV with other U.S. and NATO Forces off the southwestern coast of France. Upon completion of the exercise the ship visited Bremerhaven, Germany. WILLIAM V. PRATT's operations with the U.S. Second Fleet for the remainder of 1963 included a Navy League Cruise, a plebe orientation cruise for the Midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy and advanced anti-air warfare exercises with other U.S. Navy units. On 8 February 1964 WILLIAM V. PRATT departed Norfolk for the Mediterranean Sea in company with a fast carrier striking force composed of USS ENTERPRISE CCVAN- 65D, USS LUCE CDLG-75 and USS FARRAGUT CDLG-65 On 1 April 1964 WILLIAM V. PRATT was transferred to Destroyer Squadron 8 and assumed the duties of Destroyer Division 82 Flagship. While in the Mediterranean, the ship took part ina Fleet readiness demonstration for the Secretary of the Navy, conducting exercise firings of her Asroc and Terrier Missiles. She was visited at sea by the Honorable Paul B. Fay, Undersecretary of the Navy, and made ports of call in Italy, France, Spain, Tunisia and Greece. In September of 1964 the ship took part in the NATO exercises Masterstroke and Teamwork. During the Team- work exercise WILLIAM V. PRATT crossed the Arctic Circle to forever distinguish her crew members as Bluenoses. While undergoing her first shipyard overhaul, WILLIAM V. PRATT's home port was officially changed to Mayport, Florida. The ship visited Mayport before steaming to the Virginia Capes for post overhaul training and ship qualification trials. On 27 August 1965 the ship deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. She took part in the U.S. and NATO Operations Dense Crop, Diamond Blue and Lafayette 9. She conducted missile firing exercises on the CERES Missile Range prior to joining other units participating in the joint U.S.-Spanish Operation Poopdeck VII. Early in 1966 the ship conducted missile, gunnery and anti-submarine warfare exercises in the Caribbean Sea. In February she hosted thousands of visitors during Mardi Gras festivities at Mobile, Alabama. In March WILLIAM V. PRATT participated in the joint service Operation Clove Hitch I. The ship anchored off Camp LeJeune, N.C. to provide gunfire support for U.S. Army troops landing to quell a mock civil uprising. The ship made aFriendship Cruise in April of 1966 in honor of the citizens of the Jacksonville Beaches and St. Augustine Area. Embarked were Rear Admiral R. G. Colbert, ComCruDesFlot 6, the Mayor of St. Augustine and 14 leading citizens of the Beaches Area. After conducting missile firing exercises in the Caribbean Sea, the ship returned to Mayport to commence prepara- tions for overseas movement. The highlight of WILLIAM V, PRATT's five month deploy- ment to the Mediterranean was the visit to Tobruk Libya. In Tobruk Her Majesty Queen Fatima, the Queen of Libya, paid an official call on ComDesDiv 82 and the Captain. The Crown Prince of Libya, the Chief Royal Diwan, the U.S. Ambassador and the Group Commander of the Royal Air Force Base at El Adem were other distin- guished guests who called on the ship during the four day visit. 7 While in the Mediterranean, the ship made ports of call in Italy, Malta, Lebanon and Mallorca. She participated in Operation Quickdraw, Operation Fallex and Opera- tion Poopdeck. During Operation Poopdeck the ship was visited by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations of the Italian Navy. During Operation Springboard in February of 1967 the ship qualified in Naval Gunfire Support at Culebra Island and completed her competitive gunnery exercises for the year. Over 500 rounds of ammunition and three Terrier missiles were expended in 35 exercises. In April the ship was modified to carry and in-flight refuel search and rescue helicopters. On 18 May 1967 the ship qualified for day and night helicopter operations. A 65 foot Navy Seabat Helicopter made the first landing on WILLIAM V. PRATT's new flight deck. The ship visited Wilmington, N.C. on 20 May 1967 for Armed Forces Day. Distinguished visitors to the ship included the Mayor of Wilmington, the head of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, the Group Commander of the Naval Reserve and the President of the Navy League. On 20 June 1967 the ship departed Mayport enroute to the Pacific for a seven month deployment with the U.S. Seventh Fleet.

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