Biddle (CG 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN NICHOLAS BIDDLE (1750-1778) Born in Philadelphia, Nicholas Biddle went to sea at 13 in the merchant service. In 1772, he entered the British Navy as a midshipman. In 1773 he requested a transfer to one of the ships fitted out for a polar expedition by the Roya Geographic Society. The transfer refused, he took a leave of absence and shipped before the mast on one of the polar ships. A shipmate, Horatio Nelson, had followed the same course. When the expedition returned to England, Biddle learned of the tension between the colonies and the mother country. He resigned his commission to return to offer his services to his state. He became commanding officer of the armed galley FRANKLIN 1 August 1775. In December 1775 he was assigned command of the 14 gun brig ANDREW DORIA with the rank of captain. He joined the fleet commanded by Esek Hopkins in the expedition against New Providence. Biddle was successful in capturing many armed merchantmen, and in the spring of 1776, his little ship took two armed transports carrying 400 reinforcements for the British army in North Amer- ica (a sizable force in those days.) Late in 1777 Biddle was given command of the speedy RANDOLPH . Violent storms dismasted the ship off the Delawares Capes, but Biddle ' s seamanship brought her to port in Charleston, where she was repaired. He sailed again for the West Indies and on 4 September 1777 captured HMS TRUE BRITON along with three merchantmen whom she had been convoying. Biddle took his prizes into Charleston and was blockaded there until late in February 1778 when he successfully eluded the patrol and put to sea. On 7 March 1778, Biddle in RANDOLPH engaged HMS YARMOUTH, rated at 64 guns to RANDOLPH ' S 32. Despite the disadvantage, and the fact that Biddle was so severely wounded early in the action that he was first thought to be dead, he directed the fire of his ship. The British captain later reported that the firing was not only accurate but so rapid that Biddle fired three broadsides to his one. After twenty minutes, however, fire apparently penetrated the magazines of RANDOLPH, for she blew up. Biddle was lost along with all of his 315 - man crew.

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History The USS BIDDLE (CG-34) is the fourth ship of the Fleet to bear the name of Captain Nicholas BIDDLE, 1750 - 1778, one of the first Captains in our Navy and hero of the American Revolution who gave his life in battle. The present BIDDLE, a unit of Cruiser-Destroyer Group EHGHT, was launched in Bath, Maine, on July 2, 1965 and christened by Mrs. William H. Bates of Salem, Massachusetts. Commissioned on January 21, 1967, BIDDLE is one of the newest guided missile destroyer leaders in the US Navy and one of the most versatile ships afloat. She is armed with Terrier Anti-Air Guided Missiles; Anti-Submarine Rockets and Torpedoes; one 5 54 and two 3 50 rapid-fire guns; and can support 1 SH-2 LAMPS Helicopter. BIDDLE is equipped with the Navy ' s newest and most powerful radars, sonar and tactical data system and can steam long dis- tances without refueling. BlDDLE ' s first nine years have been busy ones. In 1968, she deployed to the Pacific and served seven months with the Seventh Elect off Viet Nam circumnavigating the globe in the process. In 1969 she again deployed to the Seventh Elect for seven months. Eor outstanding performan ce during each of these deploy- ments, BIDDLE has been awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations. A brief deployment to the Caribbean was the highlight of 1970. The latter part of 1970 and 1971 was a time for many improvements and modifica- tions to BIDDLE. An extensive overhaul by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard brought many improvemen ts in shipboard living conditions and services. Upon completion of the overhaul period BIDDLE began an extensive evaluation of a sophisticated electronic warfare installation known as SHORTSTOP. These tests took nearly a year to conduct with a two month break in the summer of 1971 for Weapons System checks and refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In April 1972, BIDDLE deployed to the Western Pacific for the third time from the Atlantic Elect. BIDDLE operated with Task Eorce 77 in the Gulf of Tonkin until late June as Air AAW, Search and Rescue (SAR) picket ship and as an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) collection ship. On the night of 19 July, BIDDLE was attacked by five MIG aircraft in two raids. BIDDLE destroyed one MIG from the first raid with Terrier missiles and possibly one from the second with five-inch and three- inch gunfire. The other MIG ' s were driven off and BIDDLE received no damage. BIDDLE departed Subic Bay on 25 September for Norfolk. Arriving a month later, she went into standown. BIDDLE remained in port until the end of March and then participated in various fleet exercises includ- ing a combined Erench - American naval exercise at the end of May. During July ' s exercise BIDDLE was assigned as task group electronic warfare commander. During the exercise BIDDLE fired four missiles at drone targets scoring two direct hits. For this performance BIDDLE was awarded the Top Shooter Award by VADM J. G. FINNERMAN, Commander, U. S. SIXTH Fleet. BIDDLE remained in port until November. BIDDLE got underway in late November for a combined Canadian - US naval exercise in the North Atlantic with units of U. S. Navy, U. S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Navy. On 10 December an awards presentation was held onboard in Norfolk in which the ship received two awards. The first was the Navy Unit Commendation presented by VADM D. C. PLATE, Deputy CINCLANT- FLT. This award was presented For exceptionally meritorious service from 4 May 1972 while engaged in combat operations against the enemy in North Viet Nam. The first half of 1974 BIDDLE spent in port preparing for her upcoming deployment. On 14 June, BIDDLE deployed to the Mediterranean. On 12 July, BIDDLE steamed east toward the Cyprus crisis. On 8 September, BIDDLE was called to render assistance in search and rescue operations for a TWA airliner, which had crashed into the sea fifty miles west of Greece. She remained in port until March when BIDDLE got underway for Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine and a complex overhaul. On 15 March 1976, BIDDLE left Maine and commenced a drydock period in Bayonne, New Jersey; returning to Norfolk in April. She conducted systems testing and refresher training at Guan- tanamo Bay during June and July.

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o COMMANDING OFFICER CAPTAIN ALBERT L. HENRY, JR. Captain Henry was b orn in Atlanta, Georgia on 8 June 1935. He attended local schools in College Park, Georgia and in May 1952 was graduated from the Georgia Military Academy where he won an honor student appointment to the LI. S. Naval Academy. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy in 1956 he was commissioned an Ensign and reported aboard USS BREMERTON (CA-130) as F Division Officer. Following this tour, he served as Gunnery Officer and Senior Watch Officer, USS GEARING (DD-7I0). In October I960 he reported to Commander, Charleston Naval Shipyard for duty as his aide and served in this capacity until July 1962 when he entered the U. S. Naval Post- graduate School at Monterey, California. After graduation from Postgraduate School in June 1963 with an M. S. degree in Management, he returned to sea duty as Commanding Officer, USS SENECA (ATF-91). Next he served as Executive Officer, USS W. C. LAWE (DD-763). In October 1966 Captain Henry reported to Washington, D. C, for duty as the Long- Range Strategic Plans Officer, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. While serving in that assignment until March 1969, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal. His second command came in May 1969 when he assumed command of River Assault Squadron 15 in the Mekong Delta, Republic of Vietnam. This tour was followed by a six month assignment as Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans on the staff of Commander, U. S. Naval Forces Vietnam. During his two assignments in Vietnam, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V , the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V , the Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. Captain Henry reported in July 1970 as Prospective Commanding Officer, USS OUELLET ' (DE-1077) under construction at Avondale Shipyards Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana. OUELLET wa commissioned in Charleston, S. C, and later joined the Pacific Fleet in April 1971. Upon comple- tion of OUELLET ' s first WESTPAC deployment in August 1972, he was relieved and reported next to Washington in September 1972 for a three year tour as Executive Assistant to the Commander, Navy Recruiting Command. He was graduated from the National War College in June 1976. Captain Henry assumed command of BIDDLE in August 1976. Captain Henry is married to the former Shelby Jean Howell of Tyner, North Carolina. They have two daughters, Susan (8) and Ruth (5).