Amphion (AR 13) - Naval Cruise Book

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JULY 18 - Early in the morning, it was not only good to see land again, but exciting to realize that it was actually Spain on our port and Africa on our starboard. Immediately, the candid Charlies set themselves to clicking away and they scarcely stopped the rest of the day - in fact scarcely for the rest of the cruise. Finally, just ahead, we saw the Rock itself - Gibraltar. Around 1200, we pulled within the breakwater and tied up for several hours. Though no liberty was granted, still we got our first flavor of Europe by sightseeing from the decks. The day was warm, bright, and cloudless; the city of Gibraltar clinging to the base and side of the steep mountain seemed to welcome us to the Med with its architecture and foliage so new to us. Around 1400, after depositing most of our passengers and receiving much-needed mail, we pulled away from Gib- raltar, accompaniedby a large school of porpoise, and set course for Cannes, France, there to relieve the USS EVER- GLADES (AD-24) and takeThe Staff on Board. wry CITIZENS

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' W .?. ' JOLYI THE AMPHION ODYSSEY MAY- JUNE 1957 - One of the oldest and most frequent bits of scuttlebutt on the AMPHION was the possibility of a cruise to the Mediterranean, During these two months rumors reached a fever pitch, and at last the mixed hopes and fears were confirmed. Official word appeared in the Plan of the Day that the AMPHION would be deployed with the Sixth Fleet from July 18 until January 24, 1958. Hearts sank or rose according to the individual but with her customary pluck the AMPHION dug in and reconverted many ship ' s spaces in preparation to house the offices of Service Force Sixth Fleet as its flagship. JULY 8 - The big day for departure arrived with the AMPHION ready to go. The crew was eager but reluctant - eager to see more of the world, but reluctant to leave family and familiar shores. For many there was much ahead that was un- known and unexperienced - new duties, new liberties. The first sense of newness came with the closer living condi- tions due to the reconversion and the boarding of over 100 passengers for transfer to the Med area. At approximately 1400, the stay-at-home AMPHION edged away from Pier 5, NOB, Norfolk. The pier was thronged with many dependents shifting vantage points to receive and return the last smile and wave of their rapidly disappearing loved one. At the same time on the ship, those not waving, and later everyone, were discussing or dreaming of the new experiences just ahead. JULY 9 - After firing drills off Cape Hatteros in the morning, the AMPHION set its course for Gibraltar. JULY 10-17 - The ship crossed the Atlantic with a minimum of rough weather, but we discovered that she could rock and roll too. Despite a week without sight of land, time never hung heavy on hands. There was work, a battery of shots in Sick Bay, General Quarters and Abandon Ship drills, and the first of many letters to write. 16

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DECK DEPARTMENT $ CHGUN Knight LT McClurg CHBOSN Sweeny