Current (ARS 22) - Naval Cruise Book

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LCM-8 SALVOPS - DUG PHO,RVN TWO UCM-EIGHT ' S LIE BROACHED ON THE SHORES OF CAP MIA. U.S. ARMY BASE CAMP IS SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND. CURRENT ' S TOUR OF VIETNAM DIDN ' T END IN THE NHA TRANG-CAM RANH BAY AREA. TWO HUNDRED MIL-ES AWAY FROM THE HOSTIUE FIRE ZONE, WHILE ENROUTE TO TAIWAN, THE SHIP RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO RETURN TO VIETNAM. THE ARMY HAD RUN INTO DIFFICULTY IN LANDING THREE LCM ' S. THE BOATS HAD BROACHED WHILE SUPPLYING THE ARMY CAMP AT DUC PHO. CURRENT ARRIVED ON THE 26TH OF APRIL AND SURVEYED THE CRAFT. TWO OF THE LCM-8S LAY SIDE BY SIDE ON THE BEACH, AND THE OTHER SUNK IN THIRTY FEET OF WATER FOUR HUNDRED YARDS OFF SHORE. IMMEDIATELY THE OUT- BOARD BROACHED BOAT WAS DETERMINED UNSALVAGEABLE BECAUSE OF THE WEAKENED CONDITION CAUSED BY THE POUNDING OF THE SURF AND THE AMOUNT OF SAND WHICH HAD FILLED THE OPEN VOIDS. TWO SETS OF BEACH GEAR WERE LAID AND AFTER TWO DAYS OF CONCENTRATED EFFORT, THE SHIP DRAGGED THE SAND FILLED BOAT CLEAR. NOW THE INBOARD LCM HAD AN OPEN PATH TO THE SEA. CURRENT ' S TOW WIRE WAS MADE FAST AND POWER APPLIED TO THE CAPSTAINS. THE BEACH GEAR PULLED THE INBOARD BOAT TO SEA. SEVENTY YARDS FROM THE BEACH THE BOAT, AND TWO WEEKS OF BACK BREAKING WORK SETTLED TO THE BOTTOM. AN UNOBSERVED PUNCTURED BOTTOM HAD MADE THIS LCM ALSO UNSALVAGEABLE. CURRENT CARRIED THE BOAT SEVENTY FIVE MILES TO QUI NHON. IN THE HARBOR, THE LCM WAS LOWERED TO THE SANDY BOTTOM WHERE A LARGE FLOATING DERRICK LIFTED IT CLEAR OF THE WATER FOR THE FINALE TO A TWO AND A HALF WEEK SALVAGE JOB. CURRENT REFUELED AND SAILED FOR THE PHILIPPINES AFTER 32 DAYS OF SALVAGE.

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CAM RANK BAY C-141 Salvage Operations Q) o o o o 9 o o o • o • o O O ONE OF THE JETS FOUR LARGE ENGINES IS UIFTED ABOARD g) l TJG VINCE WEIS ATTACHES LIFTING WIRE TO TAIL SECTION OF PLANE IN 70 FEET OF WATEI , lt= AFTER ONE HOUR OF STEAMING, CURRENT ARRIVED AT CAM RANH BAY WHERE AN AIR FORCE C-141 HAD CRASHED AFTER TAKE — OFF IN 70 FEET OF WATER. CURRENT ' S JOB WAS TO RETRIEVE SELECTED PARTS OF THE GIANT JET TRANSPORT FOR CLOSER EXAMINATION BY AN AIR FORCE INVESTIGATION TEAM. ONE OF THE JET ' S FOUR ENGINES WAS LIFTED ABOARD THE SHIP AND THE TAIL SECTION DRAGGED INTO SHALLOW WATER FOR OBSERVATION. AFTER THE INVESTIGATING TEAM WAS SATISFIED IT HAD DETERMINED THE ACCIDENT ' S CAUSE, CURRENT DEPARTED THE AREA.

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FROM: COMNAVFORV TO: USS CURRENT INFO: COMSERVPAC COMSERVGRU THREE UNCLAS 1. I WISH TO EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMAND FOR THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC EFFORTS DURING CAP MIA LCM EIGHT SALVOPS. WELL DONE. RADM VETH SENDS. 12 MAY 1967 l-CM-e AT QUI NHON BEING UIFTED CI EAR OF WATER BY ARMY YARD DERRICK. CONNING STATION HAS BEEN CRUSHED BY CURRENT ' S BOW DURING 8S MIUE JOURNEY. FROM: ASMINO CTF 73 TO: USS CURRENT INFO: COMSERVRON FIVE COMSERVPAC UNCLAS YOUR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE DURING THE LAST THIRTY DAYS OF CONTINUOUS SALV OPS IS NOTED WITH PLEASURE. THE SALVAGE AND TRANSPORTATION OF ONE LCM 85 MILES TO QUI NHON INDICATES THE HIGHEST ORDER OF SEAMANSHIP. WELL DONE TO ALL HANDS. 10 MAY 1967