Franklin D Roosevelt (CV 42) - Naval Cruise Book

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' , ...--. :, , .,-.1Lf.,4:..L,L..4..-..4a44-.- .... .Q .. 1-, On February 19, ROOSEVELT added another first to her record books when she became the first aircraft carrier to refuel from a civilian oiler by refueling from the SS ERNA ELIZABETH. In April ROOSEVELT participated in Operation RlVlTS in honor of Admiral Horatio Rivero. The operation included a pass in review with the maximum number of units from the Sixth Fleet available. On September 17th, FDR participated in the largest NATO exercise of the 1972 cruise, operation Deep Furrow . This annual NATO operation took the ship to the northern Aegean Sea as part of a task group. The exercise culminated in an amphibious landing at Alexandropoulos, Greece, five miles from the Turkish border. November 30, 1972, the crew began to see the end of the marathon 10 month deployment as the ship dropped anchor at Rota, Spain to be relieved by the USS INTREPID CV-11. During her restricted availability period at Mayport, from December 11, 1972 to March 2, 1973, ROOSEVELT crewmen saw much repair work done, both above and below decks. One of the major jobs accomplished was work on one of ROOSEVELT's 55 ton rudders. The repair would normally have required drydocking, but due to the high expense of moving FDR to a drydock, an underwater method was chosen instead. On September 14, 1973, ROOSEVELT sailed for Rota and her eighteenth Mediterranean deployment. Halfway accross the Atlantic a Soviet Bear reconnaissance aircraft was intercepted 150 miles from FDR and was escorted by fighters from VF-41. She relieved the JOHN F. A gags 7 KENNEDY CVA-67 at Rota on September 25 and steamed to Barcelona for liberty. On October 6 all liberty was suddenly cancelled with the news that Israel had been attacked by Arab forces. While limited liberty was granted the following day, ROOSEVELT prepared for a long period at sea. Upon weighing anchor ROOSEVELT steamed at high speed to a station off Sicily. While steaming off Sicily FDR acted as an intermediate airfield for approximately 36 A4 Skyhawks sold to Israel during the Arab-Israeli War. The ship then took station off the island of Crete with the carriers JOHN F. KENNEDY and INDEPENDENCE as the nation was placed on military alert by President Nixon. A cease fire was subsequently signed and ROOSEVELT returned to normal duty. On December 4th a plea for help was received from the Greek freighter EXPRESS I. A seaman aboard the ship had fallen 30 feet into a hatch sustaining serious injuries. An FDR corpsman was dispatched by helicopter and administered aid until the man could be transported to the Athens airport. While in port at Athens on January 14, 1974, a call for help from the Greek Red Cross brought rapid response from FDR crewman. To help combat Mediterranean Anemia more than 400 pints of blood were donated during a three month period. Enroute to Mayport March 11, 1974, FDR encountered severe weather. Seas of over 30 feet and winds gusting to 70 knots inflicted much damage to the ship and took the life of one Chief Petty Officer. As the Commanding Officer was altering course to clear the storm's path, a distress call was received.