Gurke (DD 783) - Naval Cruise Book

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anti-submarine warfare situations. Upon completion of FRAM in May 1964, GURKE underwent an extensive period of underway training. On 25 July 1964, USS GURKE was pronounced ready for any assignment, and resumed her duties as an active member of the Pacific Fleet. GURKE deployed to the Western Pacific in November 1964 after com- pflfeifihgifour rigorous months of refresher training and preparing her- self for the cruise. She returned from the Western Pacific in May 1965, completing another successful tour of duty. . ,JA During the latter mon , fed 1965 and the early months of 1966, GURKE participated in sever st rn Pacific operations, all of which were preparing her fo Pacific Tour. GURKE's stay in the Eastern Pqciific ei ylifi 5 ' Srl-'966Eyfhen she deployed for her fifteenth tour in '- Areturned on 16 November 1966 with a record of in Navy Search and Rescue efforts of downed pildtfs in From November 1966519 March 196Z5.GURKE operated with the Eastern Pacific Fmlegt after ,wh'i'f:'hg.Qgg15pofrt'5'd to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for her cyclical overhaul. Four monthsglapsed and in July 1967, GURKE steamed backmtocvher Home port of San ego. The next few months con- tained'.ref'FgshbigEf'FfainfIfigsand preparati Q Qtfor another Western Pacific Cruise. , -ff ff 1 c , ,A jiliiii ft' if 1 , 1 ?,1M+ff - 1. ' pi 4 .4 I az-V wg ,, i llri November 15262, GURKJE deploygef ifdtthgfiqwegirn Pacific for her six teenthfftgpr. 1 heQ'?ru3iQQk1BK Ei'saw duty as a Search and Rescue uni't:fq?Qdfjglsoifaslliijgiedgkgiggi liii tngiaircraft carriers as a plane guard. On 26fMay 1968?iQ,U.R 'returned to San Diego with another successful cruise beh'i'nd'her. M ' ' ' GU RKE's scheduleusince returning from the Western Pacific hasbgen very complete with such events as COMD ES RON 15 enjtbarking for his change ofcornmand, embarking NRO TC midshipmen for their six week Summer cruise, a COMTUEX, which took GURKE to San Francisco for a weekend, and a four week yard period in the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for emergency repair of the rudders. GURKE in preparation for her seventeenth tour in the Western Pacific, was an active member of two COMUTEX's and the first maior fleet exercise of 1969. GURKE has become a familiar sight in the ports of Japan, Korea, and'- Formosa during the last 24 years. She has also called at the ports of Manus, Pago Pago, Sydney, Machay, Newcastle, Brisbaine, Cairns, Hong Kong, Saigon, Guam, Kwaialien, Valpariso and Acapulco.

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History Cf USS GURKE CDD-7831 USS GURKE was named for PFC Henry Gurke, USMC, of Neche, North Dakota, who was killed in action on Bougaineville Island in November 1943, and was post-humously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for ex- traordinary heroism. Commissioned in 1945, GURKE is a 2,250 ton general purpose Gearing class destroyer. She is 390 feet long, 40 feet wide at the beam, and is manned in wartime by over 300 men. Her armament includes 5-inch guns, torpedoes, and anti-submarine weapons. She is designed to hunt and kill enemy submarines, screen convoys, shoot down attacking aircraft, bombard enemy shore installations, patrol enemy coasts and any other duties that require a fast, well-armed ship. Since commissioning in 1945, GURKE has served many tours in the West- ern Pacific area including three during the occupation of Japan, three during the Korean Conflict, seven on the Formosa Patrol with the Seventh Fleet, and two in the South China Sea. During the invasion of lnchon in September 1950, GURKE was a member of the Sitting Ducks , remaining close inshore to provide gunfire support to the landing troops. She received three hits from enemy shore batteries, but suffered no fatalities. For her performance during the invasion, GURKE was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. During a second patrol in Korea with Carrier Task Force 77, she received two direct hits from enemy shore batteries and seven fragmentation hits. Again no personnel fatalities resulted, and the enemy gun empi'lacefmentsgf were soon silenced. Ti During her seven month 1961 tour in the .Western Pacificgarea, .,.. was underway four and a half months, visiited fourf'Ausqt?r6Pl'it1n portsiand the Fiii Islands. From March to July of 1962, GURKE saw extensi'ii?duty..-wtithfzthgye .lbiijit Task Force at Christmas Island during the Nuclear Tests. ' 4 After a period of operating with the First Fleet in theygliastern Pacific, GU RKE entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton Washgiggtgniegiinii August 1963 for a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization KF RA'MT'cidnver- sion. During this modernization, older weapg. Sigxqvegwq ,tQ,n?ew,anti.- A ' submarine weapons systems making Pqlgdfwpm from which to launch a wide assortment of current S i A JS? 'lil 1 -i 1 l -1 . 1.3 1 ,e 5 in is 52 i . 1:23.32- ' 1 EY .f,'fg,?f?'-4, , fn' A -57: -:,.,...1,3l.57T,,q I-if ' ' 1 La Quiz, JA., x..... ra Q'- ' 1 l

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