Arcturus (AF 52) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS ARCTURUS AF-52

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The ARCTURUS departed Norfolk on 25 October for the Med. In-chopping on 6 November, ARCTURUS transferred transient personnel to USS TRUCKEE using the ever popular boatswain ' s chair. The next day Phase I consolidation with USS CONCORD (AFS-5) was completed and ARCTURUS continued on what was to be an eventful cruise. On 9 November we anchored for engineering repairs in the midst of three Russian ships - a cruiser and two destroyers on ma- neuvers off Malta. After a combination refueling, replenishment, and vertrep operation with the SEATTLE (AOE-3) over 10 and 11 November the ARCTURUS anchored with Amphibious Landing Force in Navplion, Greece. Stores were then transferred by boat and vertrep. On 16 November, off the coast of Italy, ARCTURUS unrepped with the KENNEDY (CVA-67) and refueled from the PAWCATUCK (AO-108). Enroute to Naples on 17 November, the ARCTURUS conducted RAS with the HAMMERBURG (DE-lOiS). On 19 November the stay in Naples was suddenly extended by an auto accident which put both Captain Irwin and Executive Officer Millard in the hospital. The ARCTURUS remained anchored outside Naples Harbor awaiting the arrival of Captain J. P. Shelton from CONUS. Rough weather then stranded a liberty party ashore. It was not until after the arrival on 21 November, of Captain Shelton, that ARCTURUS re-entered Naples Harbor for fresh water and her liberty party. From 23 to 25 November the ARCTURUS was again in a liberty port, this time Barcelona. Out-chop took place on the way to Rota, Spain where the ARCTURUS was met by its Executive Officer. After picking up retrograde the ARCTURUS left Rota about 1800 on 27 November, the day she arrived. Until 3 December, when she was detached for Newport, Rhode Island, the VAN VOORHIS (DE-1028) provided company on the return trip through the Atlantic. The ship was refueled by ARCTURUS on four separate occasions during the crossing. Twenty-five foot seas and sixty knot winds delayed the end of this eventful cruise for two days, until 10 December. After off- loading in Norfolk the ARCTURUS wAs nested for the new year and a tender availability with the VULCAN (AR-5).

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Ship ' s History r ' , I USS ARCTURUS (AF-52) is a refrigerated stores ship as- signed to Commander Service Squadron FOUR. The ship ' s allowance is 15 officers and 205 enlisted men. She displaces 12,000 tons with a length of 460 feet and a beam of 63 feet. ARCTURUS was built in 1943 by the Moore Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and cele- brated her silver anniversary in 1968. Originally christened SS GOLDEN EAGLE, she served with the Merchant Marine until 1961. Following overhaul and conversion, the U.S. Navy formally commissioned her ARCTURUS in November 1961, taking her name from the principle star in the constellation, Bootes. Since commissioning, she has served with pride as an ' ' under- way supermarket for the Service Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Nearly 800 ships have received food, stores and freight from her during her busy nine year Navy Career. ARCTURUS carries suf- ficient food stuffs to supply 30,000 men 30 days in addition to large quantities of non-edible stores. In her five holds, ARC- TURUS stores over 180 varieties of fresh, frozen and dry provisions. In carrying out her primary mission as an ' ' underway super- market ARCTURUS plies the waters of the Atlantic and Medi- terranean in support of the U.S. Navy ships in these waters. The year 1970 has seen ARCTURUS in the Mediterranean twice and also with the Amphibi- ous Forces on two occasions. One of the benefits of these trips is the ports visited such as; Bermuda; Malta; Malaga; Spain; Palma de Mallorca and others. A particular sense of pride is the three E ' s on her stack and bridge signifying a clean sweep in all available awards for the 1970 competitive year. The big red E on the stack is for Engi- neering excellence, the blue ' ' E is for supply excellence, and the white E signifies Battle Efficiency overall.