Dixon (AS 37) - Naval Cruise Book

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Navy Mission On paper, the mission of the Navy is easily defined. It involves keeping our vital sealanes open so the trade on which our country and our allies depend will flourish. In time of war we have the added responsibility of denying that freedom to our enemies. As a world power, the United States Navy maintains a presence in all the major oceans, and keeping the Navy at peak efficiency many thousands of miles away from home requires a tremendous amount of team work and coordination. This teamwork concept involves the individual seaman, as well as the largest ships, for in order to get the job done, all hands must turn to. The maintenance of a strong Navy can be equated to a football team in that many people have different jobs to attain a common goal. We have elements in the Navy to run interference much like an offensive lineman, the pilots and airplanes aboard our carriers might be considered the fast wide receivers or defensive safeties. The quarterback, of course, would be the various commands involved. As a submarine tender, DIXON might be viewed as the bench. A place for the athlete to go to rest, get his equipment repaired, or from which a replacement can be drawn. More appropriately, the DIXON motto Ready For Service sums up her immediate mission. Support the tended units, provide the stores they need, the upkeep on their equipment and assistance to their personnel with medical and dental care, ships store and mail services. Without benches , such as DIXON, the forward units in our fleet would be hard pressed to maintain their offense and defense. 24-25

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Dixo USS DIXON (AS-37) , a nuclear submar- ine support ship is the first ship of the fleet to be named DIXON, and the second ship in her class. She honors Confederate Army Lieutenant George E. Dixon, who helped construct and command the Confederate submarine HUNLEY during the Civil War. He is credited with the first sinking of an enemy ship in combat by a submarine. The keel of the DIXON was laid September 8, 1967 and the ship was launched June 20, 1970. Comissioning took place in Norfolk, Virginia on August 7, 1971, after which she transited to San Diego, California and began support duties in November 1971. DIXON her crew of 1160 provide logistic and technical support for as many as 12 submarines, including simultaneous support of four submarines alongside. As a combination supermarket and service station for submar- ines, DIXON is equipped with a wide variety of facilities throughout her 12 decks. With some 30 shops on board, her services range from a metal foundry to a watch making shop; with all kinds of machine tools, and test equipment. DIXON is designed for the specific mission of intermediate level support to attack submarines. In accomplishing this mission, DIXON performs the maintenance which is beyond the technical capacity of the submarine crew. In addition, she also supplies food, parts, pay, medical and dental assistance, and weapons support. This constant support keeps our submarines and our Navy READY FOR SERVICE. The principal resources available for accomplishment of the DIXON mission are a crew of dedicated, trained personnel and modern, well maintained equipment and facilities. The USS DIXON is our Navy ' s Finest Submarine Support Ship.

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Commanding Officer CAPT R. L. Wolfe Captain Roderic L. Wolfe was born in Newark, Ohio, the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Eugene Wolfe. He graduated from high school in Arlington, Virginia in 1953. Following graduation, he entered Harvard College, graduated in June 1957, and was commissioned with the rank of Ensign. Upon commissioning he was assigned to the H. J. Ellison (DD 864) where he served in various billets including Gunnery Officer. In 1960, he went to Submarine School and Nuclear Power School in New London, Connecticut. Following Nuclear Prototype training in Windsor, Connecticut, Captain Wolfe served in various billets in USS SKATE (SSN 578). He was then assigned as Engineer Officer of the USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN 601) . After graduating from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1968, he was assigned to USS DACE (SSN 607) as Executive Officer. Captain Wolfe ' s next assignment was to the Staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific with the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. He was then assigned as Prospective Commanding Officer of USS L. MENDEL RIVERS (SSN 686) , during construction and later. Commanding Officer. Prior to being ordered to USS DIXON (AS 37), Captain Wolfe was the Senior Naval Instructor of the Chief of Naval Operation ' s Prospective Engineer Officer Course and an instructor on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operation ' s Senior Officer Ship Material Readiness Course in Idaho Falls, Idaho.