Endurance (MSO 435) - Naval Cruise Book

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SNl3 Hyatt, counting his blessings Dignitaries and Congratulations E E IC1 Weeks and EN3 Foley hit the deck ...and came up fighting '

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word: can happen

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. . .and that's just the tail-fin! Z1-ZZ, 1970 On the evening of 21 November 1970, U.S.S. ENDURANCE was enroute to Market Time Patrol Area Seven as Task Unit 115.6.7, following an underway replenishment. Enroute to the area, the U.S.S. ENDURANCE became involved in,an operation with two larger Coast Guard cutters which concerned the interception of a potential enemy arms infiltration trawler. As the action developed, ENDURANCE closed, challenged, and identified the possible infiltrator as ahheavily armed SL3-type trawler, transporting arms and ammunition to the Viet Cong in the lVlekong Delta Area. The trawler did not respond to challenges, and ENDURANCE, after unsuccessful warning shots, took the trawleruunder destructive fire from all mounts that could be brought to bear. The trawler immediately began to return fire with a 75 IVllVl recoilless rifle and heavy machine guns, and made a determined attempt to ram ENDURANCE. ENDURANCE outmaneuvered the trawler, while firing heavily into the cargo and ship control areas, after nearly twenty minutes of gunfire exchange and heavy casualties, the trawler broke off from the engagementwith EN DU RANCE, and began to close the coast. Shortly thereafter, EN DU RANCE directed the five-inch gunfire of the Coast Guard cutters against the trawler, the fire was effective, and at 0018 on 22 November, the trawler was observed to explode and sink in shallow water close to the- coast of Vietnam. Y This battle action, in which ENDURANCE played a key role, resulted in the destruction of an enemy infiltration trawler, denying to the enemy Viet Cong in the lVlekong Delta the arms, ammunition, and supplies they need so desperately to continue their war efforts. For their outstanding and heroic performance under enemy fire, EN DU FRANCE sailors received a total of seven Bronze Stars, nine Navy Commendation lVledaIs, and nine Navy Achievement lVledals, and all hands received the Combat Action Ribbon. In addition, the ENDURANCE was recommended for award of the Presidential Unit Citation.