Ashtabula (AO 51) - Naval Cruise Book

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The most valuable product ASHTA- BULA can give the task groups is time-- time saved alongside. Alongside time is reduced from replenishment by the old three ship method of oiler, ammunition ship and stores ship to one replenishment by ASHTABULA every three days. Her modernization includes the addition of a new auxiliary electrical machinery plant that provides power to 33 deckwinches,two cargo weapons elevators, cargo pumps and air conditioning plants .When translated into pumping capacity, this means that ASHTA- BULA can now maintain a pumping rate in excess of 1.2 million gallons per hour. Perhaps the most unique feature about ASHTABULA is her Sea View panel. Like a Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea sequel where the movements of future spacecraft are controlled by operators sit- x 7,,m,,.:,.,1......, ,---- - -. .........- V - - ting at large control panels,ASHTABULA's cargo control team sits at a large 20- foot by six-foot panel from which all the valves of the intricate piping system are remotely controlled. From here, all fuel quantities, pumping rates, tanks to be pumped from and fuel temperatures are monitored and controlled even though cargo control central never actually sees the customer. Phone talkers connect with the customers and relay fuel requirements to cargo control central which replies with black oil, JP-5 and aviation gas . RETRACTABLE PAD Another contemporary feature of the new ASHTABULA is a retractable helo- copter pad. This pad can be utilized for transferring cargo other than fuel--such as mail, lubricants and even personnel. A., W, 5,14 I Q f ,Mb yy S, ,Q 5 WSSWQQD xg? Sw, ,.. ,f W V, MQWS y Y, , AXQNW by h Q Missy W' , A -,I M W., Wgiasrf 1- ,,,, V.-.,,,.f,44 r A J, is g,,S71N6 jk? 2 gawk M Sy eww' -X I , fax, .ZX Y N 6 . , W s fsffff 'f TUX: U W X- 4 4 ' 'ms ,f fs' , cfwfm Y , Nffwf , X -9 '. X . 0 xffy-A W 'ff ss ,A Q V M., ,f 1 ,M W fi., i , X, f X -' ff fp A f gag A-X Q. fit, 4 is fr 4 r csv, as , ' - ' f I ff ff iwswsw is is ,SN 'W gi! NW A i f ff, .ss ,W ,, X , . 4 N, wav s X , Z .ss I N ' 3' gf Q-f kgs ' W 7 X Mksfw ' V

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. rs' I r,.,,,- -.. was 1 0 ug., M , 1 fn W 3. ,,, ,.,,, W ,, ,, xxxxx i, ,V ffff, . ,W V A, S , V , V ' WM- WM, we W . V fri' 5 V144 A '-0-A , ,m,r-'fail W ... .... - , - -Q.: i- -,', 1 Q A ' ' .4 -Q, , - ' .. Al 1- . ' --A .,. ...av Q THE OLD A D THE E O-51 USS ASHTABULA REJOINS FLEET Almost everyone knows that the new ASHTABULA is a conversion from an older class of oiler, but just what does new mean? This book is about the new ship and her first deployment as a jumbo and it's our hope that you'll see what new meant to this crew. Strongly resembling the new AOR fre- plenishment oilerj type ship now being in- troduced to the Service Force, ASHTABULA is the first of a three ship class--virtually a new ship from keel to radar mast, 0 The old ASHTABULA underwent exten- S1 . . . . ve modification in 1968, when an entirely new 400-foot midbody was inserted .and welded between the original bow and original stern. As a result of her rebirth , ASHTA- BULA has increased her liquid cargo ca- pacity to six and a half million ga11eHS. Of black oil, JP-5 aviation fuel and aviation gasoline. ONE STOP Total displacement when fully loaded has been increased to over 37,000 tonS compared to the old ASHTABULA'S 25,009 tons. Keeping in step with the one stop underway replenishment concept, ASHTA' BULA can now carry over 500 tons of storeS, frozenfdry provisions, mail, fleet, frelght and 2400 tons of bombs, 1fJ1'0leCt11eS,and missiles. . Like the larger AOE, ASHTABULA.1S designed to support the aircraft carrier' task groups. With this mission, ASHTA- BULA will provide all replenishment Te' quirements of the task gI'OL1PS in the Com- bat zone.

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While the new ASHTABULA cele- brated her first birthday by holding swim call off the China mainland, we recalled her history during the last quarter century which saw this ship actually at sea more than 17 of her 25 years and we couldn't help think that for such an old ship she did pretty well. Sometimes we felt like we wanted to scuttle the ship when it seemed everything was breaking down falways in the middle of the nightl, but in the final analy- sis it is always the people that make up a ship's personality and it's the crew that dictates the final performance. ASHTA- BULA made a reputation of good perfor- mance throughout the Western Pacific and after all, it did get us there and back!