England (CG 22) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN C. NEIL AMMERMAN UNITED STATES NAVY

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This Guided Missile Cruiser IS the second United States Navy ship to bear the name ENGLAND Both have been named in honor of Ensign John Charles England who was killed in action on the battleship USS OKLAHOMA during the attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941 The original ENGLAND was a destroyer escort KDE 6355 which established an unmatched record during World War Two by smking six Japanese submarines in a twelve day period This action occurring in May of 1944 destroyed a scouting line of submarines and caused the Japanese to erroneously re orient their defenses USS ENGLAND actions which contributed so importantly to the allled victory in the Pacific USS ENGLAND CCG 225 was built by Todd Shipyard Corporation of San Pedro California and commissioned on December 7 1963 With a length of 533 feet a beam of 54 feet and a full displacement of over 7 800 tons the ship IS powered by modern steam turbine engines and can reach maximum speeds in excess of 30 knots ENGLAND is equipped with TERRIER guided missiles anti submarine rocket torpedoes CASROCJ two twin 'S 50 caliber rapid fire gun mounts and two triple tube torpedo launchers Her extended range sonar provides early detection and engagement of hostile submarines and her computerized Naval Tactical Data System QNTDSJ coupled with radar guided missiles presents a formldable threat to attacking aircraft and hostile ships From April 1970 to June 1971 ENGLAND underwent an extensive modernization and rebuilding program at Bath lron Works in Bath Maine. Her present configuration and modern weaponry reflect the latest naval technology at the time of her recommissioning on June 26 1971 and present a powerful peace-keeping addition to the U.S. Navy. Homeported in San Diego California ENGI AND has completed numerous deployments to the Western Pacific. She is a member of the Pacific Fleet s Naval Surface Forces and serves as a unit of Cruiser-Destroyer Group FIVE. CDE-6355 was awarded a Presidental Unit Citation for her

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CAPT AMMERMAN was born in Greensburg, PA, in April 1932. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve program in 1949, qualified a year later for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy, and graduated with honors in 1954. As an ensign he served aboard the destroyer McCAFFERY for two years in the gunnery and engineering departments. He next served as Executive Officer of USS PORTAGE CPCE-9025, and in 1957, as Commanding Officer of USS ELY QPCE-8801, his ship was one of the first to transit the new St. Lawrence Seaway. In 1958 he was assigned to the National Security Agency for duty in the area of technical intelligence. He then attended the University of Maryland for graduate work in applied mathematics and earned a Masters Degree in 1961. After another year of doctoral studies, he became Missile Fire Control and Talos Missile System Officer on USS OKLAHOMA CITY, Seventh Fleet flagship, and was involved in the initial naval action in the Gulf of Tonkin during August 1964. For his work in the field of nuclear weapons effects completed in 1967 at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, Livermore, CA. CAPT AMMERMAN received the Joint Service Commendation Medal. CAPT AMMERMAN reported aboard USS STANDLEY QDLG-321 in October 1967 as Executive Officer. He later served as Assistant to the Deputy Director, Research and Technology, ODDR Sc E, from November 1968 to June 1971, and received the Legion of Merit for outstanding management of research and development programs. CAPT AMMERMAN assumed command of USS JOHN S. MCCAIN KDDG-361 in September 1971. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat VH for his actions during hostilities off the coast of the Republic of Vietnam and North Vietnam between April and October 1972. Most recently, CAPT AMMERMAN was Professor of Naval Science and Commanding Officer of the NROTC Unit at UCLA. He is married to the former Pamela Henderson, also of Greensburg, PA. They reside in Westlake Village, CA, with their four children: Lisa, Dirk, Craig and Brian.