Aylwin (FF 1081) - Naval Cruise Book

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■ AYLWIN ' S PAST USS AYLWIN (DD-47), 1914-1921 The second AYLWIN (DD-47) was built by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Com- pany, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Commissioned 17 January 1914 she was initially armed with four 4- inch .50 caliber guns, and eight 18-inch torpedo tubes. In 1917 AYLWIN was used extensively for Anti- submarine Warfare exercises with submarines L-10 and G-l in local operating areas out of Boston. When America entered World War I, she was first assigned to patrol in the Virginia Capes area protecting vital merchant shipping from possible U-Boat attack. In 1918 she deployed to join British forces and help guard against German submarine menace in ap- proaches to the British Isles. With the signing of the Armistice of 11 November 1918, AYLWIN sailed in company with light cruiser Chester (CL-1) to inspect German Baltic seaports. She returned to America in June 1919 where she participated in brief operations out of Newport, Rhode Island before entering the Philadelphia Navy Yard to join the reserves. She remained in Philadelphia until decomissioned 23 February ' 1921. Her disposal was the result of the terms of the London Treaty. r-t ' if ■ KM •J » Ik p ■ Hi omll fc«d few r jf! A knpi -•. i S t)ta» atvfr f rid Christened AYLWIN on lOJuly 1934 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, (DD-355), the third AYLWIN, was com- missioned 1 March 1935. Operating with scouting and battle forces of the Pacific Fleet, AYLWIN was flag ship for Destroyer Division 2, Squadron 1. AYLWIN ' s distinguished battle career began the morn- ing of 7 December 1941, as Japanese dive bombers flew in over Ford Island to attack Battleship Row. Escaping the confines of Pearl Harbor unscathed, AYLWIN continued her good fortune in numerous engagements in the Pacific Theater earning a total of thirteen battle stars with only two crewmembers lost and those to tropical storms vice enemy fire. When hostilities with Japan came to an end, AYLWIN headed east and transitted the Panama Canal enroute to New York Naval Shipyard where she was decommissioned 16 October 1945. USS AYLWIN (DD-355), 1935-1945

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3 ■ - 1 1 USS Aylwin The USS AYLWIN was commissioned as DE-1081 at the Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana on 18 September 1971. Built as an anti-submarine escort, she was originally homeported in Norfolk, Virginia. In June 1974, AYLWIN departed on her initial deployment to the Indian Ocean and the Middle East. Upon her return to Norfolk, she was awarded her first Battle E for overall outstanding per- formance. In October 1975, AYLWIN deployed on her first Mediter- ranean cruise. Upon her return in May 1976, she went into a twelve month overhaul at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, after which, AYLWIN moved to her present homeport of Charleston, South Carolina. She then began a series of inspections, exercises, and refresher training to improve combat readiness. Following the training period, AYLWIN joined the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean where the deployment took her to Israel and Egypt. AYLWIN returned to Charleston in October 1978 for upkeep and local operations and was underway ten months later for the Indian Ocean where she was the first USN ship to arrive off the coast of Iran during the U.S. F-mbassy Hostage crisis in Teheran. Her part in the crisis forced AYLWIN to extend through Christmas and she returned to Charleston on 7January 1980. In April 1980 AYLWIN entered Brooklyn Naval Shipyard for a twelve month overhaul. The ship received improvements including the AN SQR 18A Towed Array Sonar. On 8 June 1982, AYLWIN got underway for her fourth deploy men! to the Mediterranean. She played a major role in the evacuation of the PLO forces from Beirut and supported the MULTI-NATIONAL Peacekeeping Force efforts in Lebanon. AYLWIN returned to Charleston on 23 December 1982 and conducted inport maintenance until late spring when she deployed to the North Atlantic. AYLWIN returned to Charleston in July to prepare for an autumn of heavy operational activity. The ship deployed for a five week Caribbean cruise as Caribbean Ready Ship, participated in three major exercises, and conducted numerous local operations. During that time the ship visited six countries and was awarded her second Battle E for overall outstanding performance. MED CRUISE 84 tasked AYLWIN with extensive independent duty. She steamed with a battle group less than three weeks out of seven months, reaffirming the title Rogue Frigate. November 1984 through March 1985 found AYLWIN in a Selected Repair Availability followed immediately by a period of refresher training, midshipman training cruise, and INSURV. Her new skipper, CDR J. St. C. Craighill gave her the new moniker A Team, which accurately described the way she blazed through a myriad of inspections and operational periods. AYLWIN cruised the North Atlantic in the Fall of 1985, returning for a short port visit to Charleston before tackling FLEETEX 1-86 and MED 1-86, where extensive exercising with NATO forces honed the teamwork vital for a man-of-war. Today AYLWIN remains one of the world ' s foremost anti- submarine combatants, an asset to the Fleet and the Free World. h

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CSMM WDIKG Commander Craighill was born 22 March 1944 in Washington, D.C. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree and was commissioned Ensign from the U.S. Naval Academy on 7 June 1967. Following graduation, Commander Craighill ' s first assignment was in USS LAWRENCE (DDG 4) homeported in Norfolk, Virginia where he served first as Communications Officer and then Combat Information Center Officer. While on board LAWRENCE. Commander Craighill participated in two Mediterranean Deployments and a Regular Overhaul. In July 1970, Commander C raighill reported for duty under instruction at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He earned a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in December 1972. Upon graduation, Commander Craighill was assigned to duty under instruction at the U.S. Naval Destroyer School (now Surface Warfare Officers School, Department Head Course) in Newport. Rhode Island. In August 1983, Commander Craighill reported aboard USS GOLDSBOROl IGH (DDG 20), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as Operations Officer. While onboard GOLDSBOROUGH, Commander Craighill was selected for the Nuclear Power Program and upon completion of his tour as Head of Department was assigned to the Naval Nuclear Power School Bainbridge, Maryland and then the S3G Prototype of the Nuclear Power Training Unit, Ballston Spa, New York for initial qualification. Commander Craighill then reported in January 1976 as Reactor Mechanical Assistant on board USS ENTERPRISE (C VN 65) homeported in Alameda, California. In June 1977, Commander Craighill achieved qualification as Engineer Officer of a Nuclear Powered Ship. While on board ENTERPRISE, Commander Craighill made an extended Western Pacific Indian Ocean Deployment. In March 1978, Commander Craighill was assigned as Executive Officer, Nuclear Power Training Unit . Idaho Falls. Idaho and served until November, 1980. In January 1981, Commander Craighill attended the Nuclear Prospective Commanding Officer Course given by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors, Department of Energy prior to assignment as Reactor Officer, 1 SS NIM1TZ iCVN 68) homeported in Norfolk. While on board NIMITZ. Commander Craighill achieved his Command Qualification and participated in two Mediterranean Deployments and a yearlong Complex Overhaul. Commander Craighill is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Battle Efficiency E Ribbon, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, National I lefense Sen. ice Medal, and the Sea Service I leployment Ribbon. Commander Craighill is married to the former Kathleen Lloyd Meade born in Charleston, S.C. The Craighills reside in Charleston with their two daughters, Sarah and Leigh and one son. John Jr. was FF-i