Gearing (DD 710) - Naval Cruise Book

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Operation Order CTG 237 No. 1-59 Destroyer Forces Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea 237 Fleet Flagship At Sea 21 September 1959 Task Organization: a. 237 Destroyer Striking Force 237.1 Anti Submarine Unit 237.2 Anti Aircraft Unit 237.3 Gunfire Support Unit 1. SITUATION. Tliis operation order provides for the cun-ent noncombat operations and training of forces assigned to tlie operational control of CTG 237. a. Enemy Forces. None b. Friendly Forces. (1) Red Sea Fleet under CINCSUEZ (2) Persian Gulf Fleet under CINCKUWAIT (3) Arabian Sea Fleet under CINCADEN c. Attachments and Detachments. (1) USS Gearing (DD 710) 2. MISSION. This Fleet will : a. Conduct operations to maintain a high state of readiness in support of the Mediterranean Fleet; b. Schedule and carry out training exercises and minor combined exercises ; in order to: Maintain a ready capability. 3. EXECUTION. a. Anti Submarine Unit will : (1) Maintain maximum convoy defense. b. Anti Aircraft Unit will : (1) Develop and maintain tactics to effect the defense of the fleet against airborne threats. c. Gunfire Support Unit will : (1) Wlien directed, carry out sucli measures as are necessary to support waterbome operations. X. Coordinating Instructions. (1) Tills order is effective upon receipt. (2) USS Gearing CHOP CTG 237 on 1 November, CHOP Mediterranean Fleet 14 December. (3) USS Gearing maintain close and cordial relations with naval, military, and govern- mental authorities of Middle East.

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OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT The Operations Department of the ship serves as a nerve center for the direction of the ship ' s activities. Utilizing information which is obtained through various com- munications media, it is the responsibiUty of the Operations Officer, supported by de- partment personnel, to recommend action to be taken by the ship to fulfill its missions. Once the ship has reported for any particular job, a different phase of the departmental duties takes precedence. This is the job of assisting the Commanding Officer and the Officer of the Deck by supplying recom- mendation from the Combat Information Center. Combat, as CIC is usually called, is well equipped with the tools to carry out their job. Radar, Electronic Countermeasure equipment, and various electronic systems to aid in identifying an enemy are becoming in- creasingly important in the concept of mod- em warfare. Highly trained personnel are required to operate and maintain these complex elec- tronic aids. The radarmen and electronic technicians that operate and maintain this equipment are constantly endeavoring to im- prove the efficiency of this highly special- ized team of men and equipment. Numberwise, the department is the smallest on the ship, but the size of the job they must accomplish is far from trivial. Air Defence, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Gun Fire Support for invasion forces, radar navigation — all these are within the daily capabalities of the department. Even while these more special- ized functions are being carried out routine information such as the locations of mer- chant shipping and courses and speeds to carry out formation maneuvers is simultane- ously being computed and revised to keep the bridge informed of the entire situation. The men in the Operations Department are continuously on the alert, gathering pieces of seemingly insignificant information that, when evaluated, will give the ship the neces- sary forewarning to defeat any enemy, from wheresoever he mav come.

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OPERATIONS OFFICER David E. Zweifel Oregon State 57 Loveland, Colorado CIC OFFICER Dorsey Thomas Mears, Jr. Penn State 57 Cranford, New Jersey ELECTRONICS MATERIAL OFFICER LTJG David L. Davidson Rice 58 Beaumont, Texas LEADING RADARMAN Hubert N. Webster, RDl Bert Springville, Alabama Robert D. Scouten, ETl Scotty Gushing, Ottlahoma John E. Doherty, ET2 Jack Hinsdale, Hlinois Wilbur Mooring, RD2 Will Kinston, North Carolina