Blue Ridge (LCC 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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nlike her World War II predecessor of the same name, which had to be converted from a merchantman to an amphibious force flagship, the United Stales Ship Blue Ridge represents a unique effort and achievement in the Navy ' s Command and Control ship design. Blue Ridgeis a platform built from the keel up to accomplish the mission of command coordination. In this 1 8,200-ton ship are found the facilities to direct and manage every phase of command and control operations. The Blue ? tfee represents the accumulated knowledge of ' four decades of the Navy ' s experience in the difficult problem of Control and Coordination. Initially conceived in 1963, Blue Ridgewas in the planning and design stage for four years before construction finally began at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in early 1967. Three and a half years later, on November 14, 1970, she was commissioned. Blue Ridge utilizes her main battery of computers, communications gear, and other electronic facilities to fulfill her mission as flagship for the United Slates Seventh FPeet and her secondary function as a command ship for the Amphibious Task Force and Landing Force Commanders during all phases of fleelwide operations. To maximize the Task Force and Landing Force Commanders ' ability to effectively utilize the vast amount of incoming information. Blue Ridgeh-ds a Command and Control complex which is divided to give precise control of a certain aspect of the operation to a specific control module. At the heart of the Command and Control complex are two computer systems— the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) and the Amphibious Support Information System (ASIS). NTDS, through information provided by Blue Ridge rddixrs as well as through data links with other fieet (Continued on page 4, top)

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April 1 985-March 1986 USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19) COMMANDER SEVENTH FLEET Table of Contents History of the USS Blue Ridge 2 History of the Seventh Fleet 3 Commanders of the Seventh Fleet 5 Commanding Officer 6 Commander Seventh Fleet 7 Executive Officer 8 Chief of Staff, COMSEVENTHFLT 9 Commanding Officer, 1984-85 10 Change of Command, November 1985 11 Hong Kong 16 Hong Kong Navy Day 20 A Run to Freedom 24 First Annual Talent Show 27 Crossing the Line 30 Thailand Phuket 36 Pattaya Beach 40 Blue ? ((i;e Shadows Novorossiysk 42 Dry Dock 43 Shinto Ceremony for CIWS 47 Father Daughter Cruise 48 Helo Detachment Change of Command 52 Basic Point Missile Defense System 53 1985 Sister Ship Cruise 54 Penang 60 Singapore 62 Blue ? V ,?e Birthday Celebrations 64 Visit by the Sultan of Brunei 66 Marine Corps Ball 68 Marines 210th Birthday 72 Marcomdet Change of Command 73 The Blue Ridge ' in Competition 74 A Team Captures WRT Trophy 76 Christmas 78 Tiger Cruise 82 Philippines Cebu 84 Manila 85 VIP Guest Cruise 86 Subic Bay 92 Martin Luther King Commemoration 94 Rescue of Fishermen 97 Team Spirit ' 86 98 Korea 108 Additional Anniveraries 110 Ship ' s Company Administration Department Ill NAVSURFPAC DAT Team 115 Chaplain ' s Department 117 Communications Department 118 Deck Department 122 Engineering Department 125 Intelligence Department 129 MARCOMDET 130 Medical and Dental Departments 131 Navigation Department 133 Operations Department 134 Supply Department 138 COMSEVENTHFLT Staff Flag Administration 142 Staff PAO 147 Marine Detachment 148

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- v »- COMSEVENTHFLT X , :msr 4 ' W m: - he U.S. Seventh Fleel was established March 15, 3 ■ 1943, when the Southwest Pacific Force was renamed. The Fleet participated in several World War II Pacific campaigns, the most famous of which was at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. After the war, the coast of mainland China became the Fleet ' s operating area, and in 1 947, its name was changed to Naval Forces Western Pacific. Three years later the official designation reverted to Seventh Fleet, just prior to the outbreak of hostilities in Korea. Seventh Fleet units participated in every major operation of the Korean War. Two days after South Korea was invaded in June 1950, Task Force 77, the Fleet ' s attack carrier striking force, was formed. The first Navy jet aircraft used in combat flew from a Task Force 77 carrier, and the famous landings in Inchon, Korea, were launched from Seventh Fleet amphibious ships. Combat action (Continued on page 4, bottom)