Glacier (WAGB 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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The USS GIACIER (AGB-4) opening up the channel of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze 63. ■ • • v. A ». Are you sure I ' m not boring you? I ' m trying to give you just some of the high-lights without going into too much detail. Why d on ' t you get another cup of coffee before I continue? There; — better? Okay now, where did I leave off? Oh, yes. We departed New Zealand ' s capital January 3, and spent a week at Port Lyttelton provisioning before returning to the ice at McMurdo to take aboard observers and special personnel trained in Antarctic research. On January 21, I steamed independently from McMurdo on a voyage of sur- vey and exploration along the Ross Ice Shelf, and the little- town coast of Marie Byrd Land. During the latter half of the month, a survey of 400 miles of the shelf was completed. While confirming charts of the Marie Byrd Land coast and carrying out hydrographic work, events a thousand miles away brought an end to my scientific endeavors on Febru- ary 5. The fast ice at McMurdo had begun to break out, threatening equipment and cargo still in the process of being transferred from offloading sites to McMurdo Station. On February 9 I was back at McMurdo, the voyage of explo- ration, however, it achieved some highly significant results; namely, the plotting of over 1,000 miles of shoreline from 167 E to 130 W. I remained at McMurdo most of February to assist with the mooring of other ships, provide helicopter support, and aid in the preparation for the seasonal evacua- tion of the station. Finally on February 28, I took on cargo and passengers for the return trip to New Zealand. Arriving there March 6, we received word that my services would be required for yet another mission in the ice. Boy, was my crew ticked; we were supposed to head for home! It was reported that the vessel REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA resupplying the South African scientific station on the Prin- cess Martha coast of Antarctica ' s Queen Maud Land, was caught in the ice with a damaged propeller. More than half- way around the Antarctic continent from McMurdo, the ship was unable to free herself from the thick ice. On March 8, the South African government made an official request for U.S. icebreaker assistance, and I received my orders to — GO!. Looking back, I guess my reputation as Mighty G had become world-wide. Anyway, off I went on March 15 for the long 5,400 mile journey to the stricken ship. While halfway there, on March 22, the South African ship informed us that the ice had broken up. The next day, word was re- ceived that the ship had freed herself and was progres- sing northward to open water. Our rescue mission was terminated, we turned toward Capetown, South Africa, arriving April 2. I was escorted into port by the South African Navy and received a fly-over from their Air Force. The South African government and citizenry of Capetown did everything possible to make our visit a happy, interesting, and rewarding experience for my crew. I in turn, had open house , with more than a thousand persons visiting me for guided tours. Depar- ting April 5, we then visited Rio de Janeiro and San Juan before completing my around the world voyage which was a neat trip, even if we did get back later than planned. Mighty G (name does sort of grow on you, doesn ' t it?) turned right around and departed September 17 for the eighth season of Antarctic operations (1962-63). We tran- sited the Panama Canal September 28, and arrived in Lyttel- ton on October 21 for 11 days of final preparations, before heading for the continent on November 2. By the 14th 1 had reached the fast ice and was breaking a channel into McMurdo Station, 63 miles farther south. Upon completion of that job, it was back to Wellington (Yeeeah!) for drydock- ing and my annual new blades. Upon completion of repairs, I returned to McMurdo to tow cargo ships to their offloading sites. Due to the unusually heavy ice conditions in

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Next was Deep Freeze 61 (196061). my sixth voyage to the Antarctic region. I departed Boston October 13. 1960. and arrived in Lyttefton. NZ on November 21. There I took on supplies destined lor the Antarctic bases, including sev- eral tons of explosives and construction materials for use at the proposed nuclear reactor site at McMurdo Base. Most of December was spent breaking a 21-mile channel through the fast ice of McMurdo Sound opening the way to the base for supply shqis. On December 24. upon the arrival of the smaller Wnd class icebreakers. I departed McMurdo for Lyttleton and then Wellington for drydockmg and repass, which included the usual replacement of my propeller blades broken during channel operations. During my stay in Wellington. I received a rare peacetime award the Navy Unit Commendation. This award was for my Bellingshausen achievement of Deep Freeze 60 as part of Task Unii 43.13. How rice my crew looked at the full dress ceremony, we were all very proud We departed Wellington January 29. 1961. enroute to the .Amundsen Sea area to rendezvous with my cousin USS STATES ISLAND | AGB-5 and commence an exploratory expedition into the frozen Amundsen and Bell- ingshausen Seas. The coast of Thurston Peninsula was sighted on February 6. and 1 headed into the Bellingshausen Seas. The coast of Thurston Peninsula was sighted on Feb- ruary 6. and I headed into the Bellingshausen. During Deep Freeze 60. if you remember. I had penetrated this ice4Illed sea. but this time I went still farther making observations and charting coastlines along the icebound Eights Coast putting scientists ashore where no man had stepped before. On February 11. I finally reached the eastern extremity, where my helicopters by chance spotted the University of Wisconsin ' s Ellsworth Highland Traverse, just completing its overland trek from Byrd Station to a site on the Eights Coast The meeting of the two expeditions ' leaders onboard commemorated a significant although unexpected, rendez- vous in Antarctic history. On March 23. having completed the season ' s operations, I beaded for the ports of Montevi- deo. PJo de Janeffo. and San Juan arriving home on .April 27. where 1 underwent repair and overhaul, spending most of the summer months in the Boston Naval Ship} nard Early faQ found me on my way to my seventh .Antarctic operation as a member of DF 62. Transiting the Panama Canal on October 14 I took a direct route to Lyttleton arriv- ing November 3 There I took on fuel and tons of cargo des- tined for Antarctic bases. Left Leytelton November 9. and entered the belt of pack ice gating the continent where 1 rendezvoused with a tanker, cargo vesseL and two smaller icebreakers. I led them through TOO rrdes of ice sometimes five to seven feet thick, arriving at McMurdo Sound on November 18. I then began breaking the earliest channel ever attempted in Deep Freeze history, progressing at the rate of two miles a day. On November 27. with a 16 mile channel broken through the ice I towed the tanker and cargo vessel to the mooring sites along side the ice shelf for offloading. This was the earliest date that supply ships had ever been able to reach and off load at McMurdo Base Returning to Wellington I entered drydock for replacement of my badly damaged propellers, my repetitive casualties of my annual battle with the ice of McMurdo Sound Drydock- ing also gave my bruised bottom a chance to rest Crunch- ing ice is like walking on graveL it smarts — believe me!! Getting my blades dinged up or ripped off doesn ' t exactly tickle either! How would you like getting one or two toes yanked off your foot even - year — know what I mean?? ADM Arieigh A. Bute. USV Chief of Nasal Operasons is presented witfi a plaque by a Belgian Officer while attending operation SHAPEX iff at Camp VoiuceauL near Paris. France, in June I960. The plaque, which win be deli- vered to the LSS GLACIER I AGB-4). commemorates ai ship ' s relief of fte Belgian Antarctic Exped on in February 1939L

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the Sound that year, my customary exploration trips were canceled, and I remained on scene clearing the channel and escorting supply ships: very routine, very dull. But I got to go back to Wellington the end of January for another two weeks of drydocking (two vacations in one trip. — how ' bout that? ) before departing for Boston. Once more after starring for home, we received the call to provide assistance to two ships. One of the ships, the THALA DAN. was beset in ice. while the other vessel, the NELLA DAN. had an ill seaman aboard. It took me until February 26 to come within helicopter range of the NELLA DAN and air evacuate the patient onboard The THALA DAN had been passed a day earlier as ice conditions had allowed her to free herself and proceed without assistance. On March 4. we armed at McMurdo station where the patient was placed on the last flight of the season ' s Deep Freeze operations to New Zea- land Finally, on March 11. I got to depart for the U.S.. with the 35.900 mile operation coming to a close for us, I arrived at Newport. Rhode Island, on .April 20 for two weeks of administrative and material inspections. YUCK! Double yuckl! How my crew and I hated them: especially after a long deployment. Boy. what nerve they had in those days! Finally I got to Boston, and spent a quiet summer at the Bethlehem Shipvard undergoing extensive preparations for Deep Freeze 64. My ninth Deep Freeze operation (1963-64) began October 4. 1963. We arrived at the Canal entrance and transited the same day. staying overnight at Rodman Na al Base for fuel. Nineteen days later. I moored at Lyttelton: where after a week ' s stay loading up. we headed for the .Antarctic ice. Once again the trip to the fast ice was interrupted, as we were called upon to give assistance to a sick seaman aboard the HMNZS ROL1TI. After a harrowing transfer by small boat in heavy seas, a successful appendectomy was performed on board during the worst of sea condtions. Shortly after the channel to McMurdo began to take shape. on November 22. I became the flagship of Task Group 43.1 when Captain Price Lewis. Jr.. shifted his flag from my cou- sin USS ATKA (AGB-3 ). The main channel was completed mid-December, and I proceeded to be instrumental in the recovery of the D-8 tractor from under 32-feet of water, where it had been lost the pre ious DF. We also recovered two 10-ton ice sleds adrift on an ice-floe. We spend Christ- mas and New Year ' s in .Antarctic waters, then headed for Hobart. Tasmania, late January for mid-patrol break, before heading south again for the second phase. That was a bummer . I missed my annual Wellington belly-rub and new skates . — know what I mean? Well anyway, the month of February was spent conducting a scientific survey of the little known Ross Sea Island On March 5. we departed McMurdo with 109 passengers bound for Lyttelton after a successful summer , and set sail March 21 for the long trip home. I arrived in Boston .April 21. concluding a highly successful participation in DF 64. and spent the summer in an interim overhaul status at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, and the Bromfield Corporation in East Boston. Upon completion of minor surgery and cosmetic face-lift . I left for New York City for my annual Operational Readiness Inspection (Brzzfft! ) and a weekend visit to the World ' s Fair lYeeeah!). returning home the end of July and remaining until the fall: giving my crew some much needed rest (and me tool). October 5 brought Deep Freeze 65. my 10th. The voyage to Panama was une entful and I transited the Canal easilv (see — 1 hadn ' t gained a single pound in ten years — 1 was still a trim 17.800.000 pounds!). During the 20day trip to Lyttelton. readiness training was emphasized. Arriving November 3. 1964. I was immedately made Host ship for .Antarctic Week festivities already in progress. During those two da -s 1 recehed more than 15.000 — count them — 15.000 New Zealand visitors. .After that refreshing stav. we turned to the annual task of cutting the ice of McMurdo Sound. The 19 miles of channel and the breaking of ice in Winter Quarters Bay was completed in 14 da -s. This enabled me to moor at Hut Point on December 5. the earliest sh ip arrival at this location in Deep Freeze history. The remainder of the month was spent escorting cargo ships into McMurdo Sta- tion. On December 20 I pulled my orders to proceed to Lyt- telton for resupply and rest . Got there the 26th and all hands enjoyed the New Year ' s holiday under the warm New- Zealand sun. On the third day of January in the new year of 1965. we set sail toward McMurdo. and arriving about Janu- ary 10. commenced the Western Ross Sea Islands. Balleny Islands. MacQuarrie Ridge Scientific Expedtion. Twenty-two scientists representing the United States. New Zealand, and Australia were on board to participate in this international expedtion. Investigations in the fields of oceanography, marine and terrestrial biology, geology, geodesy, and mag- netics were conducted. Mighty G was able to accomplish two .Antarctic firsts during the survey making the first known landng on Sturge Island. Completing the scientific surveys, we returned to Lyttelton in preparation for the long journey home, arriving .April 12 in Boston. The next month. May 27. marked the tenth anniversary of service for me. Since my commissioning. I had spent a decade of service in support of Deeep Freeze operations. Commemorating this occasion, the commanding officer at that time, CDR Fau- ghman. officiated at the traditional shipboard cake-cut-