Elrod (FFG 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. TITLE PAGE 2. SHIPS CREST COAT OF ARMS 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS 4.-5. LOOKING BACK 6. CO BIOGRAPHY 7. XO BIOGRAPHY 8. COMMAND MASTER CHIEF 9. GO ' S FOREWORD 10.-13. SUPPORT DEPT. 14.-19. COMBAT SYSTEMS DEPT. 20.-23. ENGINEERING DEPT. 24.-29. SHIPS CONTROL DEPT. 30.-31. AVIATION DEPT. 32.-34. D.C. OLYMPICS 35. SEA AND ANCHOR 36.-39. UNREP 40.-45. GRIT AND PRIDE 46.-47. ESWS 48.-53. HELO OPS 54.-59. FANTAIL COOKOUT 60.-65. ESCORT SERVICE 66.-70. ELROD SUPPORT 71.-73. CANDID PICTURES 74.-75. ELROD (HIMSELF) 76.-77. XMAS PARTY 78.-79. AUTOGRAPH PAGES 80.-91. LIBERTY CALL 92.-95. ELROD NEWS 96.-112. CREWS CANDIDS

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LOOKING BACK A. s the Guided Missile Frigate, USS ELROD (FFG-55), approached Buoy Charlie, her homeport of Charleston ' s Harbor entrance buoy, many thoughts of the past six months spent in the Persian Gulf lingered in the minds of the crew. It all started with a six week transit across the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Intense training was conducted daily to prepare for convoy operations to protect reflagged American ships. After a brief stop in the Azores (Portugal) for fuel and seven days in Palma, Spain, ELROD was ready to continue ahead to her upcoming transit of the Suez Canal. Immediately upon ELROD ' S arrival to the Gulf, the crew was put to work using skills in which they were drilled. ELROD spent 90 ' c of her time in the Gulf at sea, conducting a variety of operations. Her first escort mission resulted in a mine being discovered by an ELROD lookout which led to the mine ' s immediate destruction. During the third mission ELROD observed the results of an Iranian small boat attack on a merchant ship and responded immediately to provide humanitarian assistance. During another assignment ELROD took part in the rescue of twenty crewmembers from a Korean mer- chant ship that had been attacked. One of the two SH-60B Lamps M K III Helicopters assigned to ELROD and a helicopter from the British warship HMS SCYLLA conducted the complete and safe evacuation of the merchant ship ' s crew. While ELROD was assigned to the Middle East Force, her helicopter detachment, HSL 44 Det 3, led by Lieutenant Commander R.L. Dick, flew over 1000 hours while in the Persian Gulf, more than any other ship that has been stationed there so far. From one end of the Gulf to the other, ELROD was on patrol or conducting escort missions. After three and a half months of this demanding assignment she was relieved to start her 7,500 mile journey home. On her way home ELROD had three good, hard-earned liberty ports. The first was Aquaba, Jordan, dur- ing which the crew enjoyed an all day tour up to the top of snow touched Jordanian mountains and experienced Jordanian Culture at its best. From Jordan ELROD transited the Suez Canal once again and proceeded to Genoa, Italy. In Italy ELROD and her crew enjoyed numerous tours and ski trips to the nearby Alps. Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, was an excellent place where the crew enjoyed Italian cuisine. After three days in Genoa ELROD proceeded to a port visit in Toulon, France. Toulon, located on the French Rivi- era, was very beautiful and exciting. Several members of the crew were able to take a two day tour to Paris and as in Genoa, other crew members went on snow skiing trips to the nearby Alps. After stopping in the Azores for fuel ELROD was ready for the last leg of their journey home, crossing the Atlantic once again. The ship made its turn toward the Charleston Naval Base as it passed under the Cooper River Bridge. The thoughts of the past six months faded as new ones came into mind. Dreams of spending time with friends and loved ones now raced through the minds of the sailors onboard ELROD. It was time to get back into circulation and put the memories of the Persian Gulf behind.