America (CV 66) - Naval Cruise Book

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J Canal « way, - di transit ieplcy- xction ban- ctstand- sea for and a fathers 700 ar- id with i, unit xseof 1 shaft. fc Top Left: Perth . . . morning after. Top Right: Perth, Australia . . . May 1981. Middle Left: VS-33, S-3A . . . makes contact on Foxtrot Submarine, 1981. Middle Right: King [Neptune reigns during Crossing the Line initiation, August 1981. Left: WOGS being initiated, August 1981. 25

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On a gloomy morning, 14 April, 1981, AMERICA depart- ed Norfolk with her escorts. During this deployment, she became the first super class carrier to transit the Suez Canal in both directions. Just by transiting the Suez one way, AMERICA was able to save 900,000 gallons of fuel and reduce 3400 miles and eight sailing days, from the normal 12,000 mile route around the horn of Africa. Total transit time was ten hours and ten minutes for the 104.5 mile route. During her seven month line period, AMERICA operated with the navies of Greece, Great Britian, Australia and Spain, steamed over 60,000 nautical miles in two oceans and visited three countries. Just prior to returning from her seven month deploy- ment, on 12 November, 1981, the Navy Board of Inspection and Survey team embarked in AMERICA to conduct IN- SCJRV. The results of the inspection were deemed outstand- ing by the board. It was particularly interesting to note that AMERICA was the first carrier ever to pass INSC1RV. On 7 December, 1981, AMERICA was back to sea for seven days to conduct fleet carrier qualifications, and a Tiger Cruise . During this period, she hosted the fathers and sons of AMERICA men and recorded almost 1700 ar- rested landings. Following the CQ period, AMERICA entered Norfolk Na- val Shipyard for a four month overhaul period. In addition to the normal renovating that took place, she was fitted with two weather satellite receivers and a heads up display unit for the Landing Signal Officer (LSO) platform. AMERICA also spent a short period in drydock for the purpose of reworking shaft cintron seals and refurbishing a tail shaft. Top: AMERICA departs Suez Canal at Port Said, October 1981. Above: AMERICA makes historic transit of Suez Canal, May 1981. Right: Emotions run high as AMERICA departs on Indian Ocean deployment, April, 1981. 24

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AMERICA departed Norfolk in May, 1981, following sea trials, for pre-deployment training. Her training was exer- cised in the Caribbean operating area and included a four (4) day port call to the tropical paradise, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. After an appreciated six weeks in-port Norfolk, AMER- ICA departed 22 August to participate in the joint NATO exercise, United Effort and Northern Wedding 82. The track across the Atlantic encountered many challenges with grow- ing complexity as real world Soviet interest grew in intensi- ty. The Carrier Battle Group entered the North Sea from the southern Norwegian Sea and provided air cover for a major amphibious landing on Jutland. Port calls in Edinburgh, Scotland and Portsmouth, England gave the crew a respite in a very hectic schedule. Top, Middle and Left: Prom night on AMERICA . . . AMERICA plays host for Chesapeake ' s Great Bridge High School Senior Prom, 1982. Opposite top: AMERICA and Canadian Forces combine . . . United Effort ' 82. Opposite Bottom: AMERICA and NATO forces . . . Northern Wedding ' 82. 26