Edisto (AGB 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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The construction of the U. S. Navy icebreaker Edisto was authorized by Congress on December 17, 1943. The ship's keel was laid by the Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Pedro, California on May 15, 1945 and was commissioned on March 20, 1947. The USS Edisto was named for Edisto Island, South Carolina, located just twenty miles south of Charleston, South Carolina. The island is named for the Indian tribe that inhabited the island and surrounding area. Since her commissioning the Edisto has become a well-seasoned veteran of both polar seas and has been credited with many outstanding assignments. On May 10, 1963 Edisto received her present commanding officer, Com- mander N orval E. Nickerson. On her northern deployment in june 1964, Edisto transited Prince Christian Sound instead of rounding Cape Farewell at the 'southern tip of Greenland and is believed to be the first naval vessel to do so since 1941. On 10 December 1964 Edisto departed for the Antarctic. She steamed south and transited the Panama Canal stopping for a brief visit at Rodman Naval Base and Panama City. On 20 December the equator-crossing cere- mony was held and all slimy pollywogs were duly initiated into the Royal Order of Shellbacks. On December 29th the Edisto arrived at Valparaiso, Chile and after a brief sto headedt P l P p o a mer eninsula via Punta Arenas, Chile and arrived 12 january 1965. Here Edisto had the sole responsibility of constructing a new United States research station. The mission was ac- complished on 28 February, and on the way home Edisto stopped for rest d l an re axation in Montevideo, Uruguay and Rio de Janeiro Brazil just , . before arrival in Boston, the ship received an urgent request to rescue 20 scientists from Arlis II, a floating ice island research station off the coast of Greenland in the Arctic. Edisto answered the call and after a brief stop in Boston for reprovisioning, headed to the Arctic and encountered the heaviest ice conditions of her career. After three weeks of fighting and blasting her d way, E isto reached Arlis II and made a dramatic rescue and returned to Boston on 19 May 1965. -5-af-gs.: I.,-.11 .-,J ...f-. Q..:-rs-2 , .544-A-s.---1, 1,179 .Q-.41 --.L-tr '..- -V--.-f -.-.w - - -- v- -- -- --M -4 -l- ' ' - -,.--.,,. ,,... ., . . ..

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1 To the Officers and Men of Task Unit 43.5.l: For your accomplishments during DEEP FREEZE 65 in the con- struction and establishment of Palmer Station, the United States' newest Antarctic station and the only one in the Antarctic Peninsula area, you may well be proud of your contribution to the scientific endeavor of our country and return home secure in the knowledge of a iob well done. N. E. NICKERSON Commander, U. S. Navy Commanding Cfficer, USS Edisto lAGB-2l Commander Task Unit 43.5.1 4 l