Dubuque (LPD 8) - Naval Cruise Book

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Table of Contents Page 1 Middle East Force Deployment Page 2 Histoiy of USS DUBUQUE (LPD-8) Page 3 Table of Contents Pages 4-5 CAPT D. L. Wetherell, Commanding Officer Pages 6-7 CAPT A. G. Balian, Commanding Officer Pages 8-9 LCDR S. F. Halter, Executive Officer Pages 10-11 SMCM J. L. Witterman. Command Master Chief Pages 12-13 Underway, Shift Colors Pages 14-15 Executive Assistants Pages 16-17 Crossing the Line Ceremony Pages 18-21 Deck Pages 22-23 Operations Pages 24-25 Communications Pages 26-30 Engineering Page 31 LCU 1665 Pages 32-34 Supply Page 35 Combat Cargo Page 36 Navigation Page 37 Administration Page 38 Medical Page 39 Dental Page 40-41 Air Pages 42-43 Holiday Routine Pages 44-45 Ceremonies Pages 46-47 Potpourri THE CUTTING EDGE Page 49 Contingency MAGTF 3-88 Page 50 COL J. H. Admire, Commanding Officer Page 51 LTCOLD. M. Bevis, Executive Officer Page 52 MGYSGT P. R. Miller Page 53 Candids Page 54 S-1, S-2 Page 55 S-3, S-4 Page 56 Radio Battalion Page 57 Medical Department Pages 58-61 Candids Pages 62-69 Aviation Ground Element Pages 70-77 Ground Combat Element Pages 78-85 Combat Service Support Detachment Pages 86-91 LAAD Detachment Pages 92-96 1st Recon BN, 3rd PLT, B CO Pages 97-101 Potpourri Pages 102-107 ....Ports of Call Pages 108-109 ....Tiger Cruise Pages 110-115 ....Potpourri Pages 116-117 ....Homecoming Page 118 Staff

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OUR SHIP USS DUBUQUE (LPD 8), the second in a series of modified LPD 4 Class Amphibious Transport Docks, is in principle a combination of three older type amphibious ships; the LSD (Landing Ship Dock) , the APA (Attack Transport) . and the AKA (Attack Cargo Ship) . The fea- tures which these ships passed along to the LPD are as fol- lows: a flight deck and well deck from the LSD, troop carry- ing capability from the APA, the cargo handling and stow- age capability of the AKA. In addition to these features, USS DUBUQUE is 569 feet long and has a maximum beam of 105 feet. Her full load displacement is 16,500 tons. She is equipped with twin screws driven by modern high pres- sure steam turbines coupled with turbine reduction drives. These modern high pressure steam engines give DU- BUQUE a speed of better than twenty knots. Since more than a million gallons of fuel are carried aboard, DU- BUQUE ' S range capability matches her speed. The ship ' s a armament consist of two three-inch, rapid fire guns. Her electronics suite includes a full spectrum of air and surface search radar. All of the ship ' s living and working spaces are fully air conditioned. When fully combat loaded, DUBUQUE carries almost 1,500 men as well as 2,500 tons of combat equipment, jeeps, trucks, tanks and amphibious vehicles. One of the most striking features incorporated by DU- BUQUE ' S designers is the flexibility of employment. Not only does she carry at a considerable speed a vast amount of cargo and troops, but when she arrives at the combat area, she can land them either through the air or by boat or both. DUBUQUE ' S flight deck is immediately apparent to the observer. The entire after portion of the ship provides a flight deck spacious enough to carry up to six large hel- icopters at a time. During an amphibious assault, troop hel- icopters can be landed, fully loaded, and then lifted off in a matter of seconds. Less obvious is DUBUQUE ' s capability to handle a variety of assault boats from her spacious well deck . In essence, DUBUQUE ' s ability to literally sink or ballast down makes her well deck a protected harbor from which to operate her boats relatively free from the effects of rough water. This unparalleled capability brings a new dimension to our amphibious warfare capabilities to handle the land- ing and the expeditious resupply of troops on an unfriendly beach. Combining the capability to transport large numbers of troops and enormous quantities of supplies with the abili- ty to land anywhere in the world by either sea or through the air, DUBUQUE and her sister ships bring a new dimen- sion to amphibious warfare. She typifies the flexibility in- herent in the modern Navy to apply power where and when needed in measured quantities and with minimum response time. INSIGNIA OF USS DUBUQUE (LPD 8) EXPLANATION OF DUBUQUE SYMBOLOGY The DUBUQUE insignia depicts and interweaves the relationship of the origin of the name, the first and second ships to bear the name and the defense of our American Her- itage. The raised tower located in the lower portion of the Eight is in a reproduction of the gravesite of Julien Du- buque, founder of the city of DUBUQUE. The two raised stars centered on either side of the eight symbolize the PG 1 7 and the LPD 8, the two U.S. Navy ships to bear the name of DUBUQUE. The ship ' s motto, Our Country: Heritage and Fu- ture , is a creation of a member of the commissioning crew. It expresses the deep feeling of pride and respect the DU- BUQUE crew members have for their country. Navy men of the past including those of the first DU- BUQUE (PG 17) have bestowed upon this crew a rich heri- tage of heroic Navy Tradition in building, upholding, and defending the United States. Navy men of the present crew of the DUBUQUE (LPD 8) and all who serve aboard here- after are pledged to support and defend the United States in order to assure her an equally glorious future. The dominant figure eight backed by the drawn sword represents the ship ' s ever present capability to stand stead- fast in defense of our beloved country.

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3 O u U E O CAPT David L. Wetherell, USN Captain Wetherell was born in Grand Junction, Colo- rado on January 24, 1943. Upon graduation from high school in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, he attended the University of Nebraska on a Navy ROTC Scholarship. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical En- gineering and was commissioned an Ensign, USN in June 1965. Captain Wetherell has served tours afloat as Com- manding Officer of USS GAINARD (DD 706), Weapons Officer of USS BAUSELL (DD 845), and Executive Offi- cer of both USS THOMASTON (LSD 28) and USS TA- RAWA (LHA 1). He has served as Commanding Officer of USS INFLICT (MSO 456), USS MONTICELLO (LSD 35), and Assault Craft Unit FIVE, and was Officer in Charge of a Patrol Craft (PCF 51) during combat opera- tions in Vietnam. Ashore tours have included duty as Navigation and Operations Instructor at the University of Idaho NROTC Unit and duty on the Staffs of Commander, U. S. Naval Forces, Marianas and Commander Amphibious Group Eastern Pacific (Now Amphibious Group THREE) . His last assignment was as Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans for COMPHIBGRU THREE. Captain Wetherell is a graduate of the U.S. Naval De- stroyer School, the College of Command and Staff at the U. S. Naval War College and holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Idaho. Personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and various unit awards. Captain Wetherell is married to the former Carol Ann Keller of Allentown, Pennsylvania and the couple has one daughter.