Yellowstone (AD 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS YELLOWSTONE THE FIRST YELLOWSTONE Originally named “War Boy,” the first YELLOWSTONE was a steel-hulled, single screw freighter launched on December 9,1917 in Oakland, California. The Navy envisioned using the ship as a depot collier and sent her to Philadelphia where she was commissioned in September 1918. During World War I, YELLOWSTONE sailed to New York where she loaded 6,672 tons of general supplies earmarked for American Forces in France. She proceeded “under confidential orders on Army transport duty” to St. Nazaire, France; however, the war ended while War Boy was enroute to France. Trading her cargo for a load of return stores which included “aeroplane parts,” YELLOWSTONE headed home. Enroute, she sighted a derelict three-masted schooner which proved to be the abandoned JOSEPH P. COOPER, forerigging gone, forecastle smashed in and apparently adrift for six to eight weeks. On a later return trip to France, YELLOWSTONE encountered a heavy gale. Before anchoring for repairs, she had suffered the loss of all steering systems, sustained a man-sized hole in her hull and had two boilers underwater. Following repair and return to New York, she was decommissioned and returned to the Shipping Board for use. YELLOWSTONE’S subsequent career was a short one. On December 10, 1920, she ran hard aground in the Azores. Although listed as “stranded” and a total loss, all 45 of her crew were safe. THE SECOND YELLOWSTONE The second YELLOWSTONE (AD-27) was built in 1944 in Tacoma, Washington and commissioned in January 1946. She transited the Panama Canal in April, destined for Newport, Rhode Island and twenty years of tending the destroyers of the Atlantic Fleet. Here she earned a reputation of reliability and dependability, the nickname “Old Faithful,” and the coveted battle efficiency “E” award ten times. YELLOWSTONE deployed to the Mediterranean eleven times between 1947 and 1968. The tasks she performed were unheralded and far from the public eye, but essential to maintain the fleet’s operational status. During 1970, on her twelfth and final Mediterranean cruise, she replaced the propeller of the USS SAMPSON (DDG-10) — a job which normally requires dry docking. While in Naples, a Greek freighter collided with YELLOWSTONE and her nest of destroyers. All suffered extensive structural damage, but YELLOWSTONE’S crew worked 24-hour shifts to repair the damage in nine days. Returning to a change of homeport from Mayport, Florida, to Charleston, South Carolina, YELLOWSTONE took on the role of performing special services for Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla Six. After twenty-eight years of continuous service to the fleet, the second YELLOWSTONE was decommissioned on September 11, 1974. 12 — SHIPS NAMED YELLOWSTONE

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REPAIR-3 DIVISION (Electrical Repair): Repair-3 Division performs all electrical repairs, tests, and overhauls associated with motor rewind, single-phase or multi-phase motors and generators. Navy Electrician’s Mates and Interior Communications Electricians inspect and repair all electrical equipment, main or auxiliary, including new installations and ship alterations. They repair and inspect all MK and MOD gyro compass equipment and interior communications equipment. This division also performs vibration analysis, bearing replacement and in-shop or out-of-shop balancing. REPAIR-4 DIVISION (Electronic Repair): Repair-4’s Electronics Technicians and Radiomen who repair various communication, radar, test and navigation equipment as well as Xerox repair. The division’s 2M Lab is tasked with microminiature repair and replacement of components of circuit boards. Electronic Calibration Lab services various test equipment as well as meters and test sets. The Crypto Repair Shop repairs communication crypto equipment, and Typewriter Repair takes care of teletypewriter equipment. REPAIR-5 DIVISION: Repair-5’s Boatswain’s Mates, Illustrator Draftsmen, Instrumentmen, Opticalmen, Lithographers and Photographer’s Mates provide printing and photographic services; typewriter, clock, and mechanical instrument repair; optical instrument maintenance, and manufactures canvas products. The Rigger’s Shop handles ship's cargo, assists in rigging heavy equipment, and provides weight testing. REPAIR-6 DIVISION (Nuclear and Radiological Control): Repair-6 provides all services and support for controlling repair of nuclear propulsion systems and instrumentation. Machinist’s Mates, Machinery Repairmen, Hull Maintenance Technicians, Electrician’s Mates, and Electronic Technicians make up the division’s three work centers. Nuclear Propulsion provides support and coordination for repair and alteration of nuclear propulsion systems. The division’s Nucleonics Shop provides radiological controls and support services to complement nuclear system repair and radioactive waste processing and disposal services. The Nuclear Instrument Radiac Calibration Shop handies repair and calibration of all radiation detecting equipment and personal dosimetry. REPAIR-7 DIVISION (Nuclear Planning and Estimating): Rcpair-7 is the liaison between a nuclear ship and a tender or a civilian agency. The division’s Machinist’s Mates and Electronics Technicians plan and schedule job requests and prepare work packages.R-7 Manages nuclear correspondence and data, researches and plans jobs, supervises and coordinates nuclear repairs and ship’s alterations, researches technical data and blueprints, orders nuclear supplies and repair parts and track job status. They also provide technical assistance to Planning and Estimating, Technical Library and R-6 Division. QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA) DIVISION: Quality Assurance is comprised of Electrician’s Mates, Electronics Technicians, Hull Maintenance Technicians, Machinery Repairmen, and Torpedomen’s Mates. The division’s Non-Destructive Test (NDT) Lab provides various metal testing services which range from acid spot testing to radiographic testing of welds. NDT also provides welder, brazer and NDT inspection re-qualification services in conjunction with other intermediate maintenance activity work center on board YELLOWSTONE. The Chemical Laboratory gathers and contains all hazardous waste materials and performs testing of petroleum products such as hydraulic and fuel oils. The QA Office monitors all Repair Department divisional work centers to ensure quality work is performed and to identify problem areas. QA also provides Personnel Qualification Standards Training to all Repair Department personnel. DEPARTMENTAL OBJECTIVES

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SHIP’S SHIELD The USS YELLOWSTONE inherits the name and traditions of the former ships which earned the sobriquet “Old Faithful” for their long and dedicated service to the fleet. The geyser containment, a Y-shaped heraldic charge called a pail, is symbolic of support. 1 he color red is for heat and energy. The vertical bands and scalloped w hite and blue cloud forms are indicative of the upward surge of steam and water — an allusion to the famous geyser “Old Faithful.” SHIP’S CREST The sea horse symbolic of the basic mission of the destroyer tender — the furnishing of supplies and services to the fleet. The trident is symbolic of naval power and authority while the head of the trident suggests the letter “E” for the coveted Battle Efficiency E which the second YELLOWSTONE earned ten times. SHIP’S SillELD CREST