Comte De Grasse (DD 974) - Naval Cruise Book

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Count bids Norfolk farewell I Underway . , . January 8 1983 Excitement, anxiety, and sorrow filled the hearts of COUNT's crew as the 563-foot destroyer slowly pulled away from Pier 24. Already, early in the morn- ing, the sailors had kissed and said goodbye to their loved ones. Leaving homeport and venturing out to the North Atlantic was not a new experience forthe COUNT. Just weeks earlier the ship and crew spent two months on the high seas of the North Atlantic. Now, however, the COUNT was deploying on a full six-month cruise, to join STANAVFORLANT in Ply- mouth, England. One of the advantages of a NATO cruise is the frequent port visits. This was a chance of a lifetime to see Europe, to travel its Coastlines, to experience its culture, to take in its countryside, to return with memories never to be forgotten. STG3 Gibson and TM3 Wilson ftop leftj, share in the excitement of getting underway. Top right, BM3 Mackey and ENS Henning are ready on the forecastle. Below right, GMG3 Rabinowitz: ready on the shot-line. COMTE DE GRASSE fopposite page abovej: All systems GO. Above far right, line- handlers bring in the lines. Below far right, the COUNT shoves off from Pier 24 to head out into the Atlantic.

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STANAVFORLANT The Standing Naval Force At- lantic CSTANAVFORLANTJ is a unique naval entity. It is the first permanent international squad- ron ever formed. lts roots go back to 1960, when it was proposed -that a NATO Anti-submarine War- fare Task Group be formed. By 1963 discussions had progressed and a suggestion was put forward undergo a joint training program and demonstrate NATO solidarity abroad. In mid-December 1967 the STANAVFORLANT concept as we know it today was approved by the Defense Planning Committee of the North Atlantic Council. The Supreme Allied Commander At- lantic CSACLANTQ was authorized LANT are nominated in rotation by the nations assigning ships to the Force. They are appointed for a one-year term, and sail in a flag- ship of their own country's navy. To this point Commanders came from UK, USA, Canada and the Netherlands. In 1984 the German Navy will provide a flagship and Commander. that an extended exercise be con- ducted for a small NATO task group of four to six frigates. It was proposed that this group take part in selected NATO exercises, to activate and operate the Standing Naval Force Atlantic shortly afterward. 13 January 1968, in Portland, UK, in a short Ceremony, the Standing Naval Force came into being. Operational command of STAN- AVFORLANT is held by SACLANT. Commander in Chief Eastern At- lantic CCINCEASTLANTJ, with headquarters in Northwood, UK controls the Force when operat- ing in European waters. Usually the ships will operate some sev- enty percent of the time in the Eastern Atlantic area, therefore operational planning for the Force is under the overall direction and coordination of CINCEASTLANT. Commanders of STANAVFOR- 'Z ff A 1 C-sip-iff .-51' .5,-, riv, - e -J-gr 6 'Q ,4- I 'il Binding together this multi-na- tional force is its common pur- pose. lts mission has four basic objectives. First, the Squadron must be capable of rapid deploy- ment to a threatened area in times of crisis or tension. It repre- sents an immediately available deterent naval force, SACLANT's Immediate Reation Force. Second, STANAVFORLANT is charged with contributing to NATO maritime effectiveness. This is achieved through partici- pation in both large and smaller- scale NATO exercises. Further- more, in the course of providing continuous squadron experience and training, STANAVFORLANT serves as a development vehicle for new NATO tactics. Third, STANAVFORLANT dem- onstrates the solidarity of the alli- ance by showing the flags of the various member nations in a sin- gle multi-national force. Normally, during the course of the year, the Squadron will visit some twenty- five to thirty ports, including a de- ployment to the east coast of the United States and Canada. As the fourth objective, the Squadron could form the nucleus around which a more powerful and versatile naval force could be built.