Yellowstone (AD 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT: Engineering Department is the primary department behind YELLOWS I ONE’S mobility. Ibis department is comprised of six divisions which are responsible for keeping the mechanical equipment, steam and heat, air conditioning, and emergency power. EA DIVISION (Engineering Auxiliary): EA Division, referred throughout the ship as “A-Gang,” maintains and repairs the engineering equipment outside main spaces. The Machinist’s Mates and Enginemen of this division share the responsibilities in four work centers: After Steering which is responsible for the steering gears, cranes, elevators, conveyors, fork trucks and other hydraulic and mechanical equipment; Steam and Heat which is responsible for water heaters, heating systems, and the ship’s whistle; AC R Shop which maintains the air and cooling plant, refrigeration system, and galley equipment; and the Boat Shop which repairs and maintains the emergency diesel generator, motor whaleboats, Captain’s gig, and the JP-5 system. A-Gang also trains personnel in the use of material-handling equipment. EE DIVISION (Electrical): Enginecring-E Division consists of four shops which are run by Interior Communications Electricians and Electrician’s Mates. E001 repairs, installs, and maintains 110-volt lighting and 440-volt power and distribution systems. EE-02 maintains and repairs various navigational equipment, communication devices, and multiple-alarm systems. EE-04 performs safety checks on shipboard and personally-owned electrical equipment. EB DIVISION (Boiler): Enginecring-B Division’s Boiler Technicians operate and maintain YELLOWSTONE’S two main propulsion boilers and the fire room. These boilers provide all the steam needed to power the 642-foot-long ship and provide “hotel” steam and hot water used throughout the ship for heating, cooking, showers, and various other needs. In addition, the division is capable of supplying extra steam and hot water to tended ships. EM DIVISION (Machinery): Engineering-M Division’s Machinist’s Mates control the engine room and oversee the entire engineering plant status, responding to orders from the bridge. They also operate the ship’s propeller and provide the ship with its own electrical power. YELLOWSTONE’S fresh water is produced by the ship’s evaporators which can each produce up to 100,000 gallons of potable water daily. ER DIVISION (Repair): Engineering-R Division includes three work centers which ensure the readiness of YELLOWSTONE’S damage control organization and fire fighting personnel and equipment. Hull Maintenance Technicians and Damage Controlmen are responsible for this training. The Damage Control Petty Officers (DCPO) Shop provides supervision, guidance and support to divisional damage control petty’ officers who are responsible for ensuring the readiness of their division’s damage control equipment. The General Work Shop maintains the ship’s damage control and fire fighting systems and repair lockers. The CUT Shop maintains and operates the ship’s waste disposal sy stem and ensures that there is a continuous flow of water throughout the ship. DEPARTMENTAL OBJECTIVES