Albany (CA 123) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 11 text:

while in tine Mediterranean, tine Albany put in at ports in the following countries: Sardinia, Sicily, France, Italy, Greece, Crete, Turkey, and the British Crown Colony of Gibraltar, arriving on January 18, 1951. On the 19th, the Albany was released from the sixth fleet to proceed to Rio De Janiero to participate in a celebration in honor of the in- auguration of the new president-elect of Brazil Radm Holloway, Jr. , USN, was detailed to act as United States rep- resentative at the inauguration. While in transit from Gibraltar to Rio, the ship crossed the Equator, thereby changing the status of all polliwog s to trusty shellbacks, January 25, 1951 . The Albany returned to the states on February 16, 1951 for leave and upkeep prior to engaging in fleet exercises from In middle of March until the last of April . On May 12, 1951 Captain E. M. Eller took over command of the USS Albany, Radm Holloway, Jr., transferred his flag to the USS Missouri on May 19, 1951 . X- ■)(■)( On the first day of June the ship sailed up the Chesapeake Bay to Annapolis, Md. , to embark a load of U. S. Na— al Academy Midshipmen for their annual summer training cruise. She returned to Norfolk on the 3rd of June where she imbarked some more NROTC Midshipmen. On the 4th of June the Albany got under way as a unit of the 1951 Midship- men practice squadron in company with the USS Missouri and the USS Wisconsin. It was a cruise enjoyed by all hands, notwithstanding the fact that we were a little crowded, during which we made the ports of Copenhagen, Denmark and Rotterdam, Holland. The Albany returned to the states via the paradise for ail U. S. Navy men, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where her crew availed themselves of all the facilities of the fleet training group for the purpose of training the Midshipmen. After returning to Norfolk, Va. and discharging her complement of Midshipmen, on July 27, 1951, the Albany was moved to the Navy Yard at Portsmouth, for a short overhaul prior to commencing another tour of duty in the Mediterran- ean as a unit of the sixth fleet, leaving Norfolk on September 8, 1951 . The First port of coll for the 1951 Med cruise was Lisbon, Portugal, the city of Intrigue and mystery. Other ports which were visited by the Albany Included Cannes, France; Naples, Italy; Augusta, Sicily; Athens, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey; Algiers, Algeria; Suda Bay, Crete and Gibraltar She returned to the states on December 21, when the Christ- mas leaves started for the officers and men. - ,y

Page 10 text:

The History of the U.S.S. Albany The U. S. S. Albany (CA123) was named for the copital of the state of New York, was Boughf ' by the citizens of the city through their subscriptions of $40,999,999 in United States War Bonds. The keel of the Albany (one of three in the Oregon City class of heavy cruises), was laid at the Bethlehem Steel Company Shipyard, Quincy, Mass., March 6, 1944. She was launched there June 30, 1945 by an Albany, N. Y. service mother, Mrs Elizabeth F. Pickney, whose son was shot down over Germany and interned as a prisoner of war. One year later, on June 14, 1946, The Albany, finished at a cost of $25, 171 ,000 was turned over to the Navy and commissioned the next day. The approximate weight of the Albany is 16,000 tons Her overall length is 675 feet; beam, 70 feet; speed 30 knots, plus; she carries nine 8 inch 55 caliber guns; twelve five inch 38 caliber guns and many other small anti-a i r- craft weapons. On August3, 1946, The Albany, commanded by Captain H. A. Carlisler, USN, steamed out to sea to conduct stru- ctural firing tests. Later in the month, the ship underwent a brief but concentrated shake down cruise in the Casco Bay, Maine Area. Her primary purpose was to test the ordnance and engineering materials From June until August, 1947, The Albany and her sister ship, USS Oregon City (CA122), were engaged in a Naval ReserveOfficer Training Corps, Midshipman Training Cruise. During this period, 1200 Midshipment were introduced to seagoing navy life while visiting Panama, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Bermuda and New York City before re- turning to Norfolk, Virginia. Captain John M. Ocker, USN, assumed Command of the vessel prior to the Midshipman cruise in March 1747 and the Albany became the Flagship of Vice Admiral Lynde D. McCormick, USN, Commander Battleships and Cruisers, U. S. Atlantic Fleet. The Albany made three naval reserve training cruises in 1948. In January she visited Buenos Aires, Argentina. In June she visited Halifax, Nova Scotia and in July she made a call at Argentic, Newfoundland. On September 1 1 , 1948, the vessel, then commanded by Captain C. L. C. Atkeson, USN, left Norfolk, Virginia , for a 7 month tour of duty in the Mediterranean Area as Flagship of Vice Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, USN, commander sixth fleet, (Navy Occupation Forces), The Albany visited most of the important ports along the Mediterranean coasts, including stops in France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Malta, Sicily , Algeria, Tripoli and the British Crown Colony of Gibra- ltar. In Vice Admiral Sherman ' s farewell speech to the crew of the Albany, prior to transferring his flag to the U. S. S. Fargo, he commended the crew on the excellent work they hod done and named the Albany as the smartest ship in the Mediterranean, Upon returning to the states on April 2, 1949, the USS Albany tied up at the Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, for repairs and upkeep. On this date Captain Atkeson was relieved of his duties by Captain L. A. Bachman, USN, who took command of the vessel. After the completion of repairs and upkeep at Portsmouth, Virginia the ship resumed scheduled naval training cruises during the summer months. The first reserve cruise being to Guantonomo Bay, Cuba, May 28 and 29, 1949. On June 6, 1949, rear Admiral Richard H. Cruzen, USN, Commander Cruiser Division two, U. S. Atlantic Fleet shifted his flag to the Albany. June 23 24, 1949, the Albany visited Baltimore, Maryland In connection with the opening of the Veterans of For- eign Warscentenniol convention, July 2-15 the Albany ' s Reserve Training Program brought her to Portland, Maine and to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, August 7-11, 1949. From August 27 to September 1 , the Albany ' s good will tour continued, by putting in at Philadelphia, Pa. , for the American Legion National Convention and to New York City with naval reservists for the Labor Day week-end. The Albany made another naval reserve cruise to New York City over the week-end of October 1 and 2, 1949 The Albany sailed up the James River to Yorktown, Virginia, to take part in a celebration In honor of Cornwall is surrendering to Washington during the Revolutionary War, on October 19, 1949. From Yorktown, the Albany went up another river, this time the Delaware, to spend the week-end of October 21 at Philadelphia. From there the ship returned to Norfolk for provisioning and upkeep, while in Norfolk, on October 26, Captain Bachman, USN, relinquished his command to Captain Chester C. Wood, USN. On October 31, 1949, the Albany got underway for Arctic exercises with the U. S» Second Fleet. During this ex- ercise, the vessel crossed the Arctic Circle, entitling all crew members to membership in the Royal Order of Bluenoses. The ship returned to Norfolk, Va . , on November 22 for leave and upkeep over the Christmas and New Year ' s holidays, until January 4, 1950, when she moved to Philadelphia, Pa., for a five month yard overhaul. Upon completion of the yard overhaul, she returned to Norfolk for provisioning and got underway for six weeks re- fresher crusie to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Rear Admiral J. L. Holloway, USN, Commander Cruisers, U. S Atlantic Fleetond Commander Cruiser Division Six broke his flag.oq the Albany on July 6, 1950. While operating in the Carib- bean, all hands were afforded an opportunity to visit the city of Kingston, Jamaica, when the vessel put In to that city, the 8, 9, July 1950. While at Guantanamo on June 28, 1950 Captain John H. Sides, USN, took command of the Al- bany. July 23; 1950 found the Albany back at Norfolk, Vo . , for leave and upkeep, prior to departing for a five month tour of duty in the Mediterranean area on September 9, 1950.

Page 12 text:

Ship ' s Company e t( t tl P C ei Tl fr Fl b( th be to