Alameda County (AVB 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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XO ' S MESSAGE May this Crew ' s Book bring many pleasant memories to you in the future. As time passes you will forget the fatigue of mid-watches, the summer heat in the compartments, the smells of the Naples ' waterfront, and remember the interesting liberties, good friends, and successful under- takings during your tour aboard the ALAMEDA COUNTY. As you grow older and the sea stories become more colorful, feel content that in serving aboard the Navy ' s first Advanced Aviation Base Ship you have made your contribution to the task of preserving peace and freedom in the world and have earned the gratitude of not only your fellow shipmates and the American people but that of the entire non-communist world. Best regards now and in the future, R. P. Kluger LCDR, USN I a LCDR R. P. KLUGER, USN Executive Officer

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CAPTAIN ' S MESSAGE While most of us will always hold a fond spot in our liearts foi the Old ALAMO, we must admit that she will never win any prizes for speed or beauty. However, she does hold the distinction for being the first and for years the only Advanced Aviation Base Ship, and the crew has the distinc- tion of successfully pioneering the field of supporting Advanced Aviation Bases from this type ship. That your efforts have been successful is attested to by the fact that AVB-2 is on the way and others will probably follow. These will be bigger and better ships. Their crews will be larger, but they will have to put forth a great deal to equal the performance, can do spirit, friendliness and cooperation of my shipmates on tlie ALAMO. I will be detached before you read this book, but please know that my wish for you is a fair wind and following sea not only during this tour but all of your lives. Q. F. BAKER CDR, USN Commanding Q. F. BAKER CDR Commanding I f

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• The USS LST-32 was constructed by the Bravo Shipyard, Neville Island. Pennsylvania during 1942 and 1943. The keel was laid on 17 February 1943 and the ship was launched on 22 May 1943 with Miss Dorothy M. Marko servinK as sponsor. On 12 July 1943 the ship was placed in commission and LT Gardner P. Mulloy assumed duties as the Commanding Officer. The LST-32 proceeded down the Mississippi River and upon arriving at the Chesapeake Bay, became a training ship for several months. In March 1944, the ship was ordered overseas and shortly afterward. Bizerte. Tunisia became her first foreign port of call. Proceeding from the Algerian coast to the island of Mallorca in convoy UGS-36. on 1 Ai»ril 1944. the LST-32 participated in her first action. The convoy was attacked by German twin-engine bombers which made approaches at a r 0 foot level. One bomber was hit by 40mm fire and her wing tip fouled in the mast rigging of LST-526 before crashing into the water. Two planes were driven away by the intense anti-aircraft fire. For several months the 32 served with a group that kept supplies constantly pouring into the Anzio beachead. In August, 1944 the ship served as the senior radar ship of the LST ' s during the invasion of Southern France, being equipped with GCI radar designed for enemy aircraft screening and night fighter control. Her load consisted of two separate American Radar Units which were landed on D-Day on the isle of Port Cros. Previous to this, she had a preliminary mission of providing fuel and water for LCT ' s. YMS ' s, PC ' s and other craft at Ajaccio. Corsica. On D-3 Day. without encountering enemy action, the 32 supplied 57 small craft with fuel and water in addition to rations and some repair work. The following day, the convoy departed Ajaccio for the coast of Southern France. On D-1 Day, 16 August. LST-32 proceeded to Assault Beach 261 and discharged Radar Unit Two. The shore and ship antiaircraft batteries opened fire on enemy aircraft operating in the vicinity and one was reported as shot down further up the beach. LST-32 retracted from the beach that same evening and returned to Port Cros where she witnessed some 20 Navy Wildcats divebombing the island while naval guns from the fleet added to the bombardment. At 1340 that afternoon Port Cros was neutralized and the 32 moved onto the beach passing through a German mine field where 3 large mines were discovered and disposed of by gunfire. Once on the beach, she completely off loaded and retracted to assume night fighter director duties. Shipboard gunfire chased away two enemy aircraft, damaging the tail section of one. In January, 1945. the 32 carried British troops going to suppre ss a revolution in Greece. Upon returning she helped rescue more than 100 lives from the Greek ship, Ionia, which had been wrecked during a violent storm. Her next port of entry was Palmero. Sicily, where railroad tracks were placed on the tank deck to carry boxcars to the mainland. In the ensuing months the variety of 32 ' s tasks was expanded to include trans- porting prisoners, units of the French Foreign Legion, railroad cars and vehicles between ports in Italy, P ' rance. and Northern Africa. In July 1945, the 32 returned to the states with five other LST ' s also scheduled the Mediterranean area. Arriving in New York City she off loaded her LOT and supplies and proceeded to Norfolk for alterations. The ship received orders to go to the Pacific, but the end of the war cancelled both the scheduled alterations and the orders. During the following July the 32 was inactivated and decommis- sioned. Proud of her achievements, the ship earned two battle stars on the European-African-Middle Eastern Area Service for her participation in enemy action with convoy UGS-36 on 1 April 1944 and in the invasion of Southern France in August 1944. The ship remained out of commission in Green Cove Springs. Florida until 7 March 19. il when she was re-commissioned with LT J. W. Leonard as the Commanding Officer. Until April 1953 the 32 served with COMPHIBLANT at which time she was assigned to COMAIRLANT in the role of an advanced base support ship. In September of that year the ship began operating with Air Logistics Support Division Two using Naples. Italy, as her home port. The ship ' s mission was to set up NATO air bases on an istant ' s notice throughout the Mediterranean. In 1955 in accordance with directives for renaming LST ' s the LST 32 became the ALAMEDA COUNTY. In the fall of that year the ship returned to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, for a major con- version period. Decks that accomodated tanks and troops in amphibious war were converted to provide berthing and messing for 325 men. The tank deck was rigged so that it could be curtained off and it was fitted with triple- deck bunks. New heads were installed, as were steam tables and salad bars to accommodate long cafeteria type messing lines. Some of the ballast tanks were modified for ordnance storage and some for aviation gasoline storage. Extra evaporators were installed to make water for the expanded crews required for ALAMEDA COUNTY ' S versatile new role. A jumbo boom was added to handle the two LCM (Mike boats), a rearming boat, and bowser boat, all required to support seaplanes in the Mediterranean. Since her return to Naples in late 1955. the ALAMEDA COUNTY h as 8erve i under COMFAIRMED (formerly COMFAIRELM). Some of her missions have been war games but others have been in actual support of naval operations. During the period 22 November to 4 December 1956. the ALAMEDA COUNTY activated the airstrip at Souda Bay. Crete, due to the Suez crisis. Her crew handled an average of 51 landings and take- offs daily as United Nations Emergency Forces were staged via Souda Bay into the trouble zone. During the lift. ALAMEDA COUNTY ' S crew accommodated troops from Norway. Denmark. Sweden. Canada. Colombia, and India. Pilots were all Canadian or Italian. The Navy officially changed the shii ' s designation to comply with her mission. In September 1957, Commander A. M. Sinclair led the crew in ceremonies unveiling the new AVB-1 o?i her hull. The ship is still the only Advanced Base Ship active in the entire fleet. In March 195.S. Commander H. L. Gordon relieved Commander Sinclair tfi continue the traditi »n established at re-commissioning that all Com- manding Officers are naval aviators. In July 195.S. the U. S. StXTH FLEET landed Marines in Beirut. Lebanon. The USS ALAMEDA COUNTY was at Souda Bay on 14 July when the first Marines landed and within a matter of hours the first aircraft l egan to arrive. As the closest advanced base to Lebanon, the ALAMEDA COUNTY serviced, fed and housed aircraft squardrons until the final division of Marines was ordered out of Lebanon in October of that year. In July 1959, Commander F. T. HanHen. Jr. relieved Commander H. L. Gordon ;»s Commanding Oflicer. and in September I96() Commjinder Q. F. Baker relieved Commander Hansen as Commanding Oflicer. History of Alameda County I