Alstede (AF 48) - Naval Cruise Book

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Ouft e%it z The USS ALSTEDE (AF-48), originally the SS OCEAN CHIEF, was built at Oakland, California by the MOORE DRYDOCK COMPANY for the U. S. Maritime Commission, and was launched 28 November 1944. Upon completion and outfitting she was turned over to the United Fruit Company who acted as operating manager and agent for the War Ship- ping Administration and the Maritime Commission, As the SS OCEAN CHIEF, she made several voyages to the forward areas in the Pacific car- rying Navy cargo. , r rv- c On 10 May 1946, the ship was accepted by the Port Director, ban Francisco, and placed in caretaker ' s status at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard ' Vallejo, California. At 1 1 00, 17 May 1946, the ship was placed in comm ' ission as the USS ALSTEDE AF-48. The ALSTEDE was named after the asteroid or minor planet number 955, which was discovered in 1921 and named Alstede in 1928. With the outbreak of the Korean War, the ALSTEDE was placed in active service and spent most of her time in the for East with the SEV- ENTH FLEET where she issued dry, fresh, and frozen provisions to the United Nations Forces. While in the Western Pacific, for the period of 16 January to 15 June 1954, the ALSTEDE initiated, developed, and service-tested a new method of ' replenishment at sea. Now referred to as the Direct Issue Method, this technique has eliminated spoilage and breakage, once serious problems in underway replenishment. On 12 July 1954, the ALSTEDE first entered Atlantic waters. Under operational control of Commander Service Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, and ossigned to Commander Service Squadron TWO, the ALSTEDE is now periodically deployed to the U. S. SIXTH FLEET in the Mediterranean. Replenishing the SIXTH FLEET at sea and in port, the ALSTEDE has visited Barcelona, Valencia, Palma, Golfe Juan, Naples, Salonika, Phale- ron Bay, and Pireaus, Greece. During the Suez crisis in late 1956 the ALSTEDE, as port of Task Force 63, steamed off the Suez Canal replenishing the combatants of the U. S. ' SIXTH FLEET, and Evacuation Forces. Again, during the Syrian crisis, the ALSTEDE was on-the-line preserving the Navy ' s proud record that the U. S. sailor is the best fed fighting man on the face of the globe — anywhere on the globe ' The ALSTEDE has been under the command of Captain F. W. Wilson, Jr., CDR, USN, since 8 June 1956. On 6 November 1957 he was relieved of command by CDR L. Marcy, present skipper of the ALSTEDE. The ALSTEDE holds the China Service Medal, Victory Medal, World War II, Navy Occupation Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with 4 stars, UN Service Medal and South Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

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