Blue Ridge (LCC 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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the backside of a beautiful spring day in 1975. 12 MHH|imMn| H|M ■ '

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CTF-76 MISSION Commander Amphibious Group ONE, who also serves as Commander Amphibious Force, U. S. Seventh Fleet and Commander Task Force 76, is tasked with directing and coordinating the movement and actions of the amphibious ships deployed to the Western Pacific. Homebased in White Beach, Okinawa, COMPHIBGRU ONE, operating from various flag ships including USS BLUE RIDGE, schedules and controls over thirty ships and craft ranging in size from small Mechanized Landing Craft (LCM ' s) to Helicopter Landing Ships (LPH ' s). He controls Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG ' s) normally com- prised on an LPH, a Landing Platform Dock (LPD), an Assault Cargo Ship (LKA), a Landing Ship Dock (LSD) and one or more Landing Ship Tanks (LST) with em- barked Marines, ready to react to emergency situations anywhere on short notice. During combat, COMPHIBGRU ONE is responsi- ble for the most complex form of warfare imaginable, amphibious assault. In such an operation, his main concern is putting a hard-hitting Marine landing force ashore and keeping it there. In peacetime, his major concern is somewhat altered. At present his major task pertains to training and readiness preparation. This is accomplished through exercises such as Bayanihan. 14