Blue Ridge (LCC 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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cvadk tflctt tHasvoxy The U.S. Seventh Fleet was es- tablished on March 15, 1943, when the Southwest Pacific Force was re- named. Today it is the largest for- ward-deployed U.S. Fleet and its area of responsibility includes the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet participated in several Pacific cam- paigns, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines during World War II as the Naval component com- mander under General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Com- mander Southwest Pacific Area. Af- ter World War II, on Jan. 1, 1947, the Fleet ' s name was changed to Naval Forces Western Pacific. On Aug. 19, 1949, just prior to the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, the force was des- ignated as U.S. Seventh Task Fleet. On Feb. 11, 1950, the force assumed the name that it holds today -- United States Seventh Fleet. Seventh Fleet units participated in every major operation of the Ko- rean War. Over the next decade the Seventh Fleet responded to numerous crisis situations including contin- gency operations conducted in Laos in 1959 and Thailand in 1962. During the Vietnam War, Sev- enth Fleet engaged in combat opera- tions against forces through attack carrier air strikes, naval gunfire sup- port, amphibious operations and mine warfare. After the 1973 cease- fire, the Fleet conducted mine coun- termeasures operations in the coastal waterways of North Vietnam. Two years later, ships and aircraft of the Fleet evacuated thousands of U.S. citi- zens and refugees from South Viet- nam and Cambodia as those two countries fell to opposing forces. In recent years, Seventh Fleet has maintained an active presence throughout its 52-million-square mile area of responsibility. Ships and aircraft of the Fleet take part in more than 120 exercises yearly, ranging from passing exercises with other naval forces to large, joint combined exercises such as Tandem Thrust. Since its establishment, Seventh Fleet units have promoted friendly relations through regular port visits to more than 20 nations. In response to the Aug. 2, 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, President George Bush directed Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet to assume addi- tional responsibilities as Command, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. The Fleet Commander departed Yokosuka, Japan immediately and was joined by the remainder of his staff aboard USS Blue Ridge on Sept. 1,1990. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Com- mander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command exercised command and control of the largest U.S. Navy ar- mada since World War II. At the peak of combat opera- tions, more than 130 U.S. Navy ships joined more than 50 allied ships to form a multinational maritime force to conduct maritime intercept opera- tions, minesweeping and combat strike operations against enemy forces in Iraq and Kuwait. After a decisive allied victory in the Gulf, Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet relinquished control of Com- mander, Naval Forces Central Com- mand to Commander, Middle East Force on April 2 1 , 1 99 1 . The Seventh Fleet Staff then returned to Yokosuka. s OHtktTK WPK£

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maaraBOfaan uss Ut r XUtt cc 19) H ' ST0 Unlike its World War II prede- cessor of the same name, which had to be converted from a merchantman to an amphibious force flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) represents a unique effort and achievement in the Navy ' s Command and Control ship design. Blue Ridge is a platform built from the keel up to accomplish the mission of command coordination. In this 18,200-ton ship are the facili- ties to direct and manage every phase of command and control operations. Blue Ridge represents the accumu- lated knowledge of four decades of the Navy ' s experience in the difficult problem of control and coordination. Initially conceived as an Am- phibious Command Ship in 1963, USS Blue Ridge was in the planning and design state for four years before construction finally began at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in early 1967. On Nov. 14, 1970, the ship was commissioned with the most sophis- ticated electronics system in the Navy, thereby enabling it to serve as a com- mand ship for the Amphibious Task Force Commander, Landing Force Commander and Air Control Group Command during amphibious opera- tions. From 1971 to 1979, Blue Ridge operated from San Diego, where it deployed to the Western Pacific and participated in the following am- phibious operations: Pagasa I; Pagasa II; Golden Dragon; Song Thank (for which Blue Ridge was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon); Eagle Pull and Frequent Wind (the 1975 evacu- ation of Sa igon in which Blue Ridge was the flagship). Blue Ridge earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation for Operations Eagle Pull and Fre- quent Wind. Since October, 1979, Blue Ridge has operated from Yokosuka, Japan as the flagship for Commander, U.S. Sev- enth Fleet. Well suited to support a fleet commander, Blue Ridge deploys for several allied training exercises each year including exercises with U.S. Marine units,as well as with the Japa- nese Maritime Self-Defense Force. To stay on the cutting edge of technology, Blue Ridge continuously upgrades its command and control facilities, warfighting capabilities and methods of meeting the high visibil- ity requirements of a fleet flagship. s OKtktTK

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cvadk 3-lttt $30 Commander Vice Adm. Robert J. Natter Vice Adm. Robert J. Natter was born April 9, 1945, at his home in Trussville, Ala. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve at the age of 17 as a seaman re- cruit. Following one year of reserve enlisted service and four years at the U.S. Naval Academy, he graduated and was commissioned an en- sign in June, 1967. Natter assumed com- mand of the Seventh Fleet on Sept. 13, 1996. His service at sea, all in the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas, included de- partment head tours in a coastal minesweeper and frigate, and Executive Of- ficer tours in two amphibi- ous tank landing ships and a Spruance-class De- stroyer. He was Officer-in-Charge of a Naval Special Warfare detachment in Vietnam and commanded USS Chandler (DDG-966) and USS Antietam (CG-54). Shore assignments included Company Officer and later Flag Sec- retary to the Superintendent at the U.S. Naval Academy; Executive As- sistant to the Director of Naval War- fare in the Office of the Chief of Na- val Operations (OPNAV); staff mem- ber for the House Armed Services Committee of the 100th Congress of the United States; Executive Assis- tant to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (during Desert Storm Opera- tions in the Middle East); Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for officer and enlisted personnel assignments; and, before his assign- ment as Commander, Sev- enth Fleet, Chief of Navy Legislative Affairs. Natter was a distin- guished graduate of the U.S. Naval War College and attended graduate school, earning a Master ' s Degree in Business Management and International Rela- tions. His personal deco- rations include the Silver Star Medal; Distinguished Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit (five awards); Bronze Star Medal with Combat V; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal (two awards); Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V; Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, and various unit and cam- paign awards. Natter is married to the former Claudia Kaine of Coronado, Calif. They have three daughters: Kelly Kaine, Kendall Alice and Courtney Elizabeth. s OHtktTK