Ajax (AR 6) - Naval Cruise Book

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,ci 4X 1-11 TORY OF USS AJAX USS AJAX KAR-62 is the fourth vessel to bear the name of the famous Greek hero of Homer's Iliad. Ajax, in Greek legend, was the name of two Greek chieftans in the Trojan War. The more important, known also as Telamonius, was the son of Telamon, King of Salamis. In Homer's Iliad he is described as of great stature and colossal frame, second only to Achilles in strength and bravery. He engaged Hector in single combat and, with the aid of Athene, rescued the body of Achilles from the hands of the Trojans. In the Agamem- non, at the instigation of Athene, Achilles' armor was awarded to Odysseus fUlysseusJ. This so enraged Ajax that it caused his death. According to a later and more definite story, accepted by Sophocles as the basis of his drama, this disappointment drove him mad, he rushed out of his tent and fell upon the flocks of sheep in the camp under the impression that they were the Greeks: on coming to his senses, he slew himself with the sword which he had received as a present from Hector. From his blood spranga red flower which bore on itsileaves the initial letters of his name, AI, also an expression of lament. He was 1tl'ie tutelary hero of the island of Salamis, where he had a temple and an image, and where a festival called Aianteia was celebrated in his honor. The first AJAX was a MONITOR class Ironclad steamer built during the Civil War which remained in her country's service for 34 years. The Ironclad AJAX was built for the Navy by Snowden and Mason, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was launched under the name MANAYUNK on 18 December 1864. MANA YUNK was taken to the Naval Station at Mound City, Illinois, and laid up until 1869 when her name was changed to AJAX. On 1 January 1871, she was commissioned with Lieutenant C. L. Franklin in command and reported to the North Atlantic Squadron. Between January and June 1871, she was based at Key West, carrying out coast-defense maneuvers, then ordered to League Island, Pennsylvania, where she was decommissioned and laid up. Recommissioned 13 January 1874, she returned to Key West and served with the North Atlan- tic Squadron until 1876. Between july 1876 and 1878 she was moored at Port Royal, South Carolina. if E .L 4. From 1878 until 1891, AJAX served on the James River. based successively at Brandon, Trees Point and City Point. On 1 july 1898. brief preparations were made to fit her out for service with the Auxiliary Naval Force, but these plans were soon abandoned and AJAX was decomissioned on 1 September 1898. On 10 October 1899, she was sold at a public auction to H. A. I-Iitner's Sons. fi 1 A 5- 2- Y .1 - .1 E, gf- 14-,,-......4. -5 ,X ,- -QPF r' f-A-'r' -- . ,.,, Q ,N - ., ' 'ew ' W H .rJM..L-LLILLQLJM la Hliihllll

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, ,U , During this past deployment, our Commanderfin-Chief announced a ceasefire in, the Vietnam War, and an ending of American participation in the combat activity of Southeast Asia. As the history is written of the United States in the Far East during the past few years, no small mention will be made of the significant contribution of the officers and men of USS AJAX KAR-6j. ' To enumerate AJAX achievements contributing to the high state of readiness maintained by ships of the Pacific Fleet, would be difficult indeed. Suffice it to men- tion however, that during the past ten-year period, AJAX has spent more time on the line providing services in the Far East, than any other Navy ship. The ability of countless numbers of ships to carry out their assigned missions, can be directly at- tributed to AJAX's sustained superior performance. The outstanding record AJAX has built over the years and particularly during this past deployment, has been made possible by the superb quality of men who have served in her. It is not appropriate to reflect upon this past deployment's achievements however, without also mentioning in appreciation, the steadfast sup- port given by AJAX dependents while their men were deployed. To AJAX Men and their Families, Well Done! I congratulate you! , I -fi 'z1'L-4 W. i 'W' EL ass Alt name of the Ii Ajax. in G hieftanS in t c lrn0Wfl also as King of salamr great stature af in strength ang Combatand, wrt Achilles from th non. at the inst awarded to 055' that it caused hi delinite story. 8 drama, this dis out of his tent camp under thr on coming to hi which he had re his blood sprang the initial letter: lament. He war Salamis, where where a festival honor. The first Aj steamer built dur her country'S Ser, was built for tl Pittsburgh, Penn name MAN MANAYUNK rr Mould Cin, rrrrr name was Change . on I Januaf Llflrtenam Cl L th Atlan the N0 dune 1871, she w Coast-defense ma iliand' Pe and up fetur i ' tl ned to W if Saud . she w iron ulltrl 'l'lSYlva. .I l

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, , t Nea, ' s X Y s ' '1 . ' - - .se , lf ' . fi! . Q ., ' ca The second vessel, USS AJAX IAC-I4J, a fleet collier, retained her original name of SCINDIA until 1 January 1901. SCINDIA was offered for sale to the U.S. Navy during the Spanish-American War for S267, 657 by her builder and owner, D. Br, W. Henderson 85 Company, Glasgow, Scotland, and was purchased on 1 May 1898. Built in 1890, she was an unarmored steel schooner having an overall length of 387 feet 6 inches, beam, 46 feet 6 inches, depth, 30 feet, mean draft Cloadedl, 24 feet 8 inches, displacement, 7,500 tons, speed, ll knots, complement, 10 officers and 98 enlisted, and battery, four six-pound guns. When commissioned in the U.S. Navy on 21 May 1898, her commanding officer was Commander E. W. Watson, USN. After her delivery to the Norfolk Navy Yard for repair and installations, SCINDIA was placed in service to the North Atlantic Squadron and during the month of june 1898, was in the Haitian-Cuban area. Returning to Norfolk, she continued her collier service until October, 1898. While attached to the Special Squadron, she made courtesy calls at various ports of South American countries, enroute to the Navy Yard, Mare Island, California. In March, 1899, she reported there for survey on her machinery and boilers and was placed out of commission. The restoration work com- pleted, she was recommissioned 23 December 1899. In the year 1900, SCINDIA circled the globe, routed across the Pacific to Guam, thence to Philippine Islands, to Hong Kong, Borneo, Ceylon, Port Said, Egypt, Gibraltar, Spain, Cardiff, Wales, retracing her route many times for the purpose of taking on and ex- changing cargoes of hemp and coal. ' Known as AJAX from 1 January 1901, she arrived at Norfolk Navy Yard on 1 March and was out of com- mission from March to October 1901. The former operations in the Mediterranean Sea and the Orient were repeated during the next two years. From September 1903, until 30 December 1904, she was assigned to the Asiatic Fleet. On 4 November 1905, AJAX was placed out of service at the Norfolk Navy Yard. Again activated, she served from 20 january 1907 on the East Coast. The next year AJAX made the good will cruise with the Battle Fleet around the world, returning to Hampton Roads in February 1909. She was detached from the Atlantic Fleet and arrived in 4 elf' vNfv Portsmouth as outolwlcf W Atl, service Ol the was pCl' 4 anniaos ammf 1 duties ol Shlmm delivetl- lllducei i lslantlS- law D: sions to Vlaelwf Even dufiiltl W3 uninternmfffi W cooperating F3 manenill' - men and fires E for succesflfl' 3 vessel. .ELSASS Honolulu, Hana: she was ox: of ::: was then deign: Naval Dam: Zi' AIAX was :e::': llth Dnisisn. E ' the Fleet A::1:' Septembe 1923 ti In Febraaj, lender. Aircraft S lvlv 1921, 5,- lliseellaneous AJ ordered relieved gg' lull' 1925 533.3 Cavite og 14 Axi- A