Cayuga (LST 1186) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 4 text:

3 r . sw-if I ! ...al Commander M. Alan Coble, USN A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Commander Coble was commissioned an Ensign after graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1968. He served his initial three tours of duty in USS HOOOPER CDE-10261 as First Lieutenantg USS PORTERFIELD IDD-8623 as Navigatorg and USS WILLIAM R. RUSH KDD-7143 first as Navigator then as First Lieutenant. In 1971, Commander Coble began a three year tour at the United States Naval Academy as a navigation and sailing instructor. While at Annapolis, he earned a Master of Science degree in Computer Systems Management from George Washington University. This tour was followed by the Department Head Course at Surface Warfare Officers School Command and sea duty assignments in USS BROWNSON KDD-8685 as Operations Officer and USS PENSACOLA CLSD-383 as Engineer Officer. He was next assigned as the Budget and Plans Officer at the Fleet Combat Direction Systems Support Activity, Dam Neck, Virginia. It was during this tour that he completed a Masters in Business Administration from Old Dominion University. In 1982 Commander Coble reported to USS MANITOWOC QLST-11801 as Executive Officer. During this tour, MANITOWOC participated in Beirut Contingency and Peacekeeping Operations and Operation URGENT FURY, the invasion of Grenada. Commander Coble reported to CAYUGA from the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he served as Military Assistant and Financial Management Analyst to the Assistant Secretary of Defense lComptrollerl. Commander Coble and his wife, Janyce, have two daughters: Kiley and Catherine. 2

Page 3 text:

f'. Q L- f,r,l , .I -x TL 19? The griginal CAYUGA was one of several wooden screw steamers built by the Union Navy to increase the num er of ships available to blockade Southern Ports in the Civil War. CAYUGA discharged this function well during her active service with the Gulf Blocking Squadron from March 1862 to July 1865, capturing five Confederate Vessels and sharing in the capture of another. Other actions included the battles against Forts Jackson and St. Phili on the M' ' ' ' d ' p I 1ss1ss1pp1 an the subsequent capture of New Orleans, the bombard- ment of Donalsonville, Louisiana, and a shore reconaisance of Savine Pass, Texas where the Commanding Officer, LT. D. A. Mcdermont, was killed. The ship had a displacement of 570 tons. a length of 158 feet shallow draft of 10 feet 3 inches, speed of 10 knots and an armament of one 11 inch smooth bore and three smaller cannon. The second CAYUGA was a converted harbor tug built at Baltimore, Maryland in 1892 as the merchant steel hulled schooner PENWOOD. She was purchased by the U.S. Navy in 1898, renamed POWHATAN and assigned duty as a harbor tug at the New York Navy Yard. In September 1917 she was renamed CAYUGA CYT-121 and. continued service at the New York Navy Yard where her thirty year career there ended with decommissioning in March 1928. She was 101 feet long, had displacement of 194 tons, and a speed of 10 knots. The third CAYUGA was built as LST-529 at Jeffersonville, Indiana and completed at New Orleans, Louisiana as part of the massive U.S. wartime construction program. It was less than four months from the laying down of the keel on 8 November, 1943 to her commissioning 29 February, 1944. LST-529 landed British troops and weapons at the Bai De La Seine, and two days later she engaged German planes with antiaircraft fire. After Normandy she ferried troops and equipment across the English channel until 7 June, 1945, and was then sent back to the states for deactivation. The ship was again brought back to active service for the Korean War. She spent two tours with U.N. Forces from April 1951 to April 1952 and from April 1953 to November 1953 operating off the Korean coast and in the Seas of Japan. In 1956 she received the name CAYUGA COUNTY and was transferred to Apra Harbor, Guam to serve as a Logistic Support Ship for Commander Naval Forces, Marianas area. In 1962 she provided support for Air Force Project AF 50-13, a multi-service precision geodetic survey of the islands in the Southeastern Carolines and the Australian Trust Territory of New Guinea. In late 1973, CAYUGA COUNTY was transferred to the Republic of South Vietnam where she served as the Thi Nai QHO-5021. The ship had a length of 328 feet, full load displacement of 4,080 tons, maximum draft of 14 feet, 1 inch, a trial speed of 11.6 knots and an armament of two twin and four single 40mm antiaircraft gun mounts. The present USS CAYUGA is the fifth ship of its kind to be delivered to the Fleet by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, California. The design of the CAYUGA represents a radical departure from the traditional concept of the amphibious tank landing ship. The bow doors of the old LST's have been replaced by a huge bow ramp which is pulled over the bow and supported by two outstretched derrick arms. The blunt-bow design of the old LST's has given way to a new destroyer-type bow which will enable the CAYUGA to maintain speeds in excess of 20 knots and operate with modern high speed amphibious forces. CAYUGA is especially well designed for the rapid unloading of vehicles and equipment. The 35 ton bow ramp will be lowered onto the beach or married to a causeway. Another ramp extending from the tank deck provides rapid vehicle access to the main deck and the bow ramp. Also, the superstructure is pierced longitudinally to provide for vehicular traffic from one end of the main deck to the other. CAYUGA also has a stern gate to provide for the launching and retrieval of amphibious vehicles. The ship's 10 ton booms and large helicopter landing deck further enhance CAYUGA's cargo handling capabilities. Ship's speed is controlled by a unique joystick arrangement with consoles located in two of the engineering spaces. The two variable-pitch propellers are powered by six main diesel engines and con- trolled by a sophisticated governor system that allows the engines to operate efficiently at any speed. CAYUGA and her sister ships are equipped with a bow thruster, a transversely mounted variable-pitch propeller located in the forward part of the hull to allow for fine maneuvering. The stacks are asymmetri- cally located and of unequal size so as to provide for the most efficient escape of exhaust gases. CAYUGA is equipped with modern electronic navigation and communication systems. Her armament consists of two 3 inchf50 caliber rapid fire twin mounts. 4

Page 5 text:

Commander Dav1d Hagstrom A native of Jamestown New York enllsted in the naval servlce in December 1963 He attended college at the Unlverslty of Washington under the Naval sion in June 1971 Upon commissioning Commander Hagstrom reported to USS FANNING KFF 10761 serving as ASW Officer until his transfer to the Fleet Antl Submarlne Warfare Tralnlng Center Pacific as Curriculum Development Officer In July 1975 he was assigned as Battery Control Officer aboard USS BAINBRIDGE CCGN 251 prlor to attending Department Head tramlng at Newport Rhode Island In January 1978 he toured aboard USS DECATUR CDDG 311 as Weapons Offlcer and then served as Engineer Offlcer in USS ST LOUIS CLKA 1161 from August 1980 to February 1982 Commander Hagstrom was then assigned to the staff of Commander Naval Surface Force U S PaC1f1C Fleet as Assistant Plans Offlcer untll June 1984 when he returned to sea as Executlve Officer in USS DURHAM CLKA 1141 until July 1986 Commander Hagstrom reported to USS CAYUGA from the staff of Commander Amphlbious Squadron THREE where he served as Operations Officer Commander Hagstrom IS married to the former Susan Moody of Columbia South Dakota They have three daughters Victoria Anne and Mlranda 3 1 7 x . 1 ' gtg? I '.A,A.'if J, a,, Em 5 .. . Enlisted Scientific Education Program KNESEP1 and received his commis-