Croaker (SS 246) - Naval Cruise Book

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...wLth ,the unwise just about ovefr, a zvtqpovm at GIBRALTAR was requested 5011. fthe Zur mumwte shoppefus... The British Crown Co-Iony of Gibraltar is a fortress and naval base situated on a peninsula at the eastern end of the Straight of Gibraltar. It occupies an area of about two square miles. The highest point of the rock is 1,396 feet. The civil population of Gibraltar consists of about 28,000 people. In 1309 Gibraltar underwent the first of its fourteen sieges and was taken by Spanish troops under Alonzo De Guzman, but it was difficult to find settlers for The Rock. The last effort to capture Gibraltar was the great siege of 1779-1783. Spain'si price for ioining France and the American Colonies against England was a French guarantee that Gibraltar would be returned to Spain and the Great Siege was a ioint French and Spanish effort to conquer Gibraltar. The Great Siege was rather unsuccessful but an Armistice was signed in January of 1783 and the Peace of Paris later that year ended the wars. The Peaceof Paris also ended our Revolutionary War, but the American and French negotiations with England were held up because the French had to insist on Gibralter being re- turned to Spain. Eventually U.S. negotiations made a separate treaty with the British, who then agreed with Spain to return Menorca and Florida in exchange for retention of Gibraltar. - Gibraltar has been a favorite liberty post from the ships of the old Mediterranean Squadron to the ships of the new Sixth Fleet. What is inside The Rock is a military secret, but long before the war, Gibraltar was honeycombedr with rock passages. There is scientific evidence that at one time Gibraltar was inhabited by Elephants and Rhinoceroses. The most famous animal inhabitants of Gibraltar are the so called Barbary Apes which are really tail-less monkeys and the only ones roaming free on the European Continent. There are two packs with a total number of about 35 apes, who are protected by law and cared for by the Gibraltar Regiment whose commanding officer also bears the title of -- OINC APES -. Ration money for e-ach ape is provided by the Colonial -Government, births and deaths are published in Fortress Orders, and excess numbers are donated to Zoos in Europe and North America. Legend says that when the apes leave Gibraltar, British rule will end - Hence their care and protection. 6212953255 R THE ROCK OF GI BRALTAR ,X , A GIBRALTAR IS A FREE PORT FOR MANY ITEMS Some of the better buys in Gibraltar were Spanish pottery, mantillas and fans, Indian ivory and curiosities, Italian embroidery and sweaters, Swrss.wcrtches, German cameras, French perfume, and certain items from Great Britain and Ireland. Virtually every shop is on Main Street.

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n...we ZQAI Gibnalian late in the agtennoon 05 22 Ocinben and by eanly the next manning we again cvvuiued in Rom, Spain, bin: :nu me we wane HOMEWARU BOUNU!..n nHene the USS PIPER lSS409l and the USS SIRAGO lSS485l nelieved us, bonnowed haig 05 can Apanea and swapped sea Ainnieb. we than made pnepanaiionb to gei undenway gon the GOOD OL' U.S.A.!n GENERAL INFORMATION- New London is the homeport for some of the best submarines in the kno-wn world. lt has a population of over l25,000. N-ew London is the home of the world s most famous submarinesg i.e. CROAKER lBest known as The Tiger of the Mediterranean and famous for its hand-picked crewl, NAUTILUS lFirst nuclear powered submarine in the worldl, and other lesser known fighting dolphins. New London is typically American with its wide, winding, confusing expressways surrounding the area. The people of New Lo-ndon are a fun-loving people who are always willing to do their utmost to make a submariner feel at home. The Submarine Base itself provides specially trained guid'es to welcome you into the Base, to see that you find your way around the many facilities available, and to insure that no one takes your parking place by posting No Parking signs throughout the Base. These specially trained men, known as Marines , Bubble-heads , '9l58U dS 'B- -77:CQ , and other compliment'ary, well-earned names, will also see to it that your uniforms are always in good shape, that all your identification papers are in order, and that your morale is always at its highest possible level. CLUBS AND BARS--The following clubs in New London are the most frequented by those in the know: Seven Brothers lBigger 8. Better?l Tiny's Heat Wave Ernie's L Paula's Harbor i?l Marie's Some of the better clubs and bars in the New London area are: The White Hat Club The Acey-Ducey Club The CPO Club The Officers' Club The Dolphin BOQ For further information on clubs and bars contact the ship's hospital corpsmen or if he is not available, the ship's herb doctor and man-about-town, Charlie The Cook. TOURS - Excellent tours are available throughout the area. Local tours include the waterfront area, famous Bank Street, Electric Boat Shipyard, YMCA, YWCA, Navy Ho-using, Ocean Beach, etc. For further info-rmation on tours contact LTJG MC EWEN. TRANSPORTATION - Local transportation consists mostly of taxis, buses, and hitchhiking. lNOTE: The last method is frowned upon by both the military and the local authorities and therefore should be avoidedl. MONEY - Necessary in most places. The rate of exchange is l00 cents to l American Dollar. S LOCAL N-EWS RELEASES O'ur ETA has been confirmed by the CROAKER Wives. ETA : 0900 The ship was submerged 1,525,320 seconds during the cruise lNot including the rough weather submerged periodsl. Certain people on CROAKER ar.e reminded that we are now back in the States and are no longer Ambassadors of Good Will. For the information of that thrifty and wise shopper who was able to get that excellent bargain in Gibraltar, the Base Exchange has a wide selection of watch bands lboth gold and silverl to fit all makes and kinds of watches lGold bands for Gold watches and Silver bands for Silver Watchesl. The Exchange also has an excellent watch repair shop that will make extensive repair work at low prices. lt is rum-ored that IVERS, PEREZ, 8. GlORDAN'O plan to have a Landing Party as soon as they get rid of their Sea Legs .