Ashtabula (AO 51) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE SHIP F THE BULA AS SHE IS TIIDAY THE SHIP The Fleet Oiler ASHTABULA is the first ship of the fleet named in honor of the ASHTABULA RIVER tlndian for river of many fishi which winds its way forty miles through north eastern Ohio,and in honor of the city of Ashtabula, Ohio. The ship was launched at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, Maryland on 22 May 1943 and spon- sored by Mrs. Bernice Berle, the wife of Adolph Berle, the Assistant Secretary of State from 1938 to 1944. ASHTABULA, affectionately known as the Flying A or BULA , was commissioned on 7 August, 1943, and assigned to the Pacific Fleet. The old ASHTABULA plied the waters of the Pacific for over a quarter of a century, winning fifteen battle ribbons in World War Il, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam hostilites. A highlight of her World War II service occurred during the battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. The ship was torpedoed, and miraculously no personnel were injured or fires resulted. Despite a hole 34' by 24' in her port side, through superb damage control efforts, ASHTABULA corrected a 14 degree list and continued operations, and the very next morning shot down an enemy plane returning for the kill . The old ASHTABULA became the new ASHTABULA in her second quarter century of service as the first and only ship of her type in the Pacific Fleet. During conversion in March 1968, a 400 foot mid- section, built entirely new from keel to radar antenna, was inserted and welded between the original bow and original stern, replacing the old 310' mid-section. The liquid cargo capacity was increased by over one-third, the capability to carry dry!frozenfship's store provisions and ammunition was added, and four Fast Automatic Shut- tle Transfer QFASTJ replenishment-at-sea stations were installed. These and other features make ASHTABULA a virtually new ship, with a configuration closely similar to the new AOR'S lReplenishment Oileri. ASHTABULA deployed to WESTPAC at 1000 On the 6th Of November. With the exception of two days of heavy seas, the trip was extremely smooth. Thanksgiving was spent at sea and the traditional turkey dinner was served. The transit terminated in Subic Bay on the 26th of November. The first line swing was a busy one, a total of 24 days on Market Time operations followed by Yankee Station, then to Subic. On the way to Subic, a surprise UNREP was conducted with USS ISBELL, delivering fuel and mail on Christmas Day. New Year's Day was a spectacular one in Subic Bay. The second line swing began the following day' iwith transiti for Market Time operations, then to Task Force 74.special operations in the Indian Ocean as part of Task Force 74 and on return Market Time and Yankee Station operations were resumed. X On the 5th of February after a 34 day. second line swing ASHTABULA returned to Su bic for a two week upkeep period. Upon completion of the upkeep period the ship returned to Market Time operations. During this period RADM P. P., COLE COMSERVGRU THREEXCTF 73 and party embarked on 25 February at Vung Tau for a two day visit. RADM COLE and party disembarked on 27 February on Yankee Station. On 28 February ASHTABULA changed course in the direction of Singapore fthe next R8tR porti, with an equator crossing on the 3rd of March. On 9 March we sadly departed the harbor of Singapore. Singapore is a beautiful city and is becoming a very modern city, and is one of the cleanest cities we visited. On this date we again headed for market time operations for a few unreps, then it was back to Subic Bay for fresh stores and more fuel and ordnance. On Wednesday 22 March, we set sail for Hong Kong for a much deserved R8tR period. We arrived on Friday the 24th, for 5 days of relaxation. On Thursday the 30th of March we again departed another port. We started working as soon as he cleared the har- bor-we unreped the USS CHICAGO CCG 11i, and USS WADDELL iDDG 113 and then just for practice we did a few amphibious ships. Little to our knowledge did we know that North Vietnam was starting her offensive on that date and that would later affect our destiny. On Saturday April 1, we were already feeling the effects of the offensive and this was no April fool's joke! From the dates of 20 April until the 30th of April the BULA saw a total of 47 customers, then from May 1st until 11 May the flying A saw 51 ships approach and depart our sides. Towards the month of june rumors had it we would be departing and heading home, alas they were false. june was again another month of many customers all thirsty for our fuel and hungry for our stores and in need of our bombs. The month of luly picked up our spirits-we still had our un- reps-but we now had a date that we would be arriving back in Long Beach. On Saturday night, 29 july, at approximately 24 minutes after 8 o'clock we finished our last unrep, the USS KITTY HAWK KCVA 631. lt was a joyous time for all of us aboard the ASHTABULA. We arrived in Subic on August 1st, for a brief off-load period. On Friday the 4th of August we departed Subic Bay for the last time of this deployment-our next stop, Yokosuka japan for a brief stop in order to pick up merchandize ordered through the exchange. We departed Yoko on the 12th, enroute Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, U.S. of A. for a two day stop over-for our custom check. On Wednesday 23 August we departed Pearl Harbor for our last 2,216 mile trip to Long Beach, California. Arriving on Wednesday 30 August at 9:30 A.M. THE BULA BEFUIIE GUNIIEIISIIIN , V ,,,, W , I Z,