Ajax (AR 6) - Naval Cruise Book

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- m In May of 1945. when in Leyte Gulf. AJAX. along with the Jason, accomplished one of her most challenging jobs ■ repairing typhoon damage to USS BEHHIHGTOrl (CV-20). BEHrilriGTOH had suffered severe damage to the forward section of her flight deck. The entire collapsed section of BErlHiriGTOH ' s flight deck was cut away and replaced. Another challenge for AJAX. i Preparing the -Going Home Pennant. The pennant is six inches long for each man for every year the ship was deployed. =1

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After completing her Pearl Harbor assignments the AJAX departed on 26 January for FUNAFUTI, Ellice Islands. She crossed the equator for the first time enroute on 29 January and International Date Line on 31 January, with the traditional ceremonies on both occasions. Over 1000 men were initiated into the Domain of Neptunus Rex and into the Realm of the of the Golden Dragon by the small number of their shipmates who had previously crossed the two lines. Initiation of Pollywogs. Original insignia drawn by a Walt Disney artist. (JSS AJAX first Birthday program. During AJAX ' s early adventure in the South Pacific, rumors were circulating in San Pedro that she had been sunk by a Japanese submarine as was the case with the oiler Missisiniwa. The rumors even had the strike pinned down to frame 41, starboard side. The rumors had it that there were few survivors and those who did survive were given Navy Crosses and spot promotions. The following is a quote from a letter written 19 July 1944 by Capt. John L. Brown, the first Commanding Officer of AJAX. Nothing of evil or horror has befallen us, all have been doing a magnificent job, all are well and all pray for the time when we will return to those whom we miss dearly. I am proud to be the Commanding Officer of each and everyone on board this ship. On 13 June 1944 AJAX sailed for Eniwetok with other units of SERVRON 10 to set up an advance repair base. She worked on battleships, cruisers an auxiliary ships through August. At one time during this period AJAX was assigned extensive jobs on 19 cruisers and 9 battleships. The oiler Missisiniwa sinking as seen from AJAX.

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f I . AJAX at anchor between a battleship and an aircraft carrier in Sasebo Japan. 1950. AJAX at Van Tau. Vietnam in Hovember 1971. AJAX ' s 5 inch gun mount removed 1973 or 1974. Homeported in San Diego after the war, AJAX made five tours of duty to the Orient during the years 1950 to 1958. Three tours were during the Korean Conflict in which she provided logistic support for The Passage to Freedom in Tourane, Indo ■ China. In 1960, during her sixth tour of duty in Japan, AJAX received orders from the Chief of Naval Operations to be homeported in Sasebo, Japan. Through the next decade AJAX would provide considerable support to the Seventh Fleet and perform numerous goodwill visits to our allies in the Orient. In February 1970 AJAX received word that due to cutbacks in military spending overseas, her homeport was to be changed effective 1 June 1970. On the morning of 6 August 1970, AJAX steamed into San Diego harbor to a warm welcome from a crowd of AJAX families and friends. AJAX is one of the oldest continuously commissioned ships in the Navy. She has logged more time with the Seventh Fleet during the Vietnam War years than any other ship in the U.S. Navy. AJAX ' s history has been an impressive one. She has serviced everything from the smallest boat to the largest aircraft carrier in the Navy, sometimes with as many as 22 ships alongside for repair. For the last 39 years she has served as a repair facility, supply center and hospital for those ships and sailors in need of her help. 7 U