Harlan County (LST 1196) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 72 of the 1973 volume:

A i •i MMNMHga .  w  ' w THE 1973 MED CRUISE Ifl OF THE USS HARLAN COUNTY s 1 I twenty 3 and fourteen officers, she can out 1500 tons of tanks, trucks, . ave proven to be the most ver- ult forces. HARLAN COUNTY and ships of her type artillery and assa ult vehicles under combat conditions. -lity over the tank landing ships of World War TT lize the amphibious forces and thus help meet ; spots at the right time with the right amount of equipment and number of Vernon C. Smith Commander, U.S. Navy COMMANDING OFFICER Commander Vernon C. Smith, a native of Midland, Michigan, was commissioned an Ensign on 2 August 1956 upon graduation from the Integration Program of the Officer Candidate School, Newport, R.I. He had previously served eight years as a U.S. Navy Electronics Technician. Commander Smith has served on the USS RANKIN (LKA 103) as Communications Officer and Navigator, and on the USSAULT (DD 698) as Engineering Officer. He has commanded the USS ROCKVILLE (EPCER 851) and USS AVENGE (MSO 423) and the USS WASHOE COUNTY (LST 1165). He has served ashore with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations where he was Head, Joint and Allied Communications Procedures Unit; and at the U. S. Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif., where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineer- ing Science. While commanding the USS WASHOE COUNTY (LST 1165), from August 1968 to February 1970, Com- mander Smith was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V. Additionally, he was awarded two Gold Stars in lieu of his second and third Bronze Star Medals. During this time the USS WASHOE COUNTY (LST 1165) had the distinction of being awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for various operations off the Cau Mau Peninsula, Republic of Vietnam while operating as a unit of Landing Ship Squadron Nine and Task Force 115. Prior to being detailed as Commanding Officer, USS HARLAN COUNTY (LST 1196), Commander Smith was assigned to the Defense Communications Agency, Washington, D.C. where he served as Plans Officer. He was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his performance during this tour. LCDR. D. A. Ablowich EXECUTIVE OFFICER TABLE OF CONTENTS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT M Division 12-13 A Gang 14-15 R Division 16-17 E Division 18-19 DECK DEPARTMENT . 1st Division 22-23 2nd Division 24-25 3rd Division 26-27 OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT OI Division 30-31 OC Division 32-33 SUPPLY DEPARTMENT 34-35 CB ' S 36-37 THE CRUISE 38-49 LIBERTY 50-59 LIFE AT SEA 60-64 99 ■9999kP .-.;«—• - 1 _ - 1 99l ■ 9r 99T m m mW 99 99 99 99 9C ■■ ■ _ Sv Wr ' BI 9999 99 9 9 9 91 _ ' i irHii ■ gB ft g H T ' | iii u , — - — f MIBall —WM3BB ' ' ■ ■ I ■ ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT M DIVISION CW03 Warren C. Gaskins ENCM Samuel Esely ENC Robert Gaines EN1 Jack Malloy EN2 C. V. Cates EN2 H. N. Lejeune EN3 J. F. Allen EN3 C E. Altoff. Jr. EN3 L. J. Brennan. Jr. EN3 T. L. Dittrich EN3 M. D. Pemberton FA J. W. Blackmon FA D. L. Burwell ENFN D. N. Epperly FN L. B. Carr FA S. C. Hamilton FA R. T. Hresko FA D. J. McColley FA J. L. Pittman FA A. L. Plybon FN G. E. Washington FN I. L. Snider FN J. R. Sweeney. Jr. EN2 R. P. Maben MR2 J. R. Smith BT2 G. G. Ximenez EN2 W. C. Hines A GANG EN3 R. D. Beasley EN3 D. R. Cumpston EN3 E. J. Perez EN3 R. R. Rhodes FN P. D. Brewer FN D. K. Butts ENFN F. E. Hill ENFN J. W. Miller FN S. J. Purinton ENS. John W. Batchelor Damage Control Assistant HTC Linwood T. Brown HT1 Alan H. Marcotte HT3 T. M. Hannigan FN J. D. Brent FN R. N. Jacoby HTFN D. K. Montgomery HTFN W. C. Naughton FN C. K. Rhodes HTFN D. C. Sargent FN R. Terraforte R DIVISION ENS. Louis L. McGinty E Division Officer EMC Kenneth G. Murphy EMI William J. Hannigan IC1 Charles K. Needels, Jr. EM2 J. V. Kincaid EM2 J. H. S mith EM2 J. R. Woodhead EM3 L. M. Aspuria EM3 K. Burton EM3 K. Neal EM3 D. R. Cox ICFN W. E. Beck EMFN S. D. Lackner EMFN R. A. Lautzenheiser EMFN W. K. Malone EMFN L. J. Riley EMFN L. E. Ward DECK: DEPARTMENT LT. Roy W. Tobin 1st Lieutenant mrw LT. James A. Hooper 1st Lieutenant, relieving ENS. Thomas M. Lynskey 1st Division Officer BMCS Phillip L. Light Ship ' s Boatswain BM1 John E. Mclntire BM3 J. R. Allen BM3 J. A. Castelli BM3 C.J. Lowe SA E. A. Abad SN G. D. Accoo SA A. T. Agorrilla SN D. C. Banks SN R. E. Colbert SA D. M. Cosca SA L. Crummitt FIRST DIVISION SA A. H. Delgado SN D. W. Ferguson SA S. D. Goodwin SA K. R. Jones SN K. R. Kline SA J. P. Ortner SA S. N. Pierce SN M. R. Shafer SN D. Smith SA W. W. Whiteside BMC Bobby R. Baker BM2 Clyde M. Gruhl BM3 E. P. Carroll BM3 W. E. Cramer BM3 D. T. Smith SA A. S. Atkinson, Jr. SR F. C. Bacon SN V. L. Bishop SN W. J. Brown SR J. S. Calhoun SN T. L. Collins SN S. D. Dunn SECOND DIVISION SN N. Guajardo, Jr. SN S. R. Freeman SN C. F. Hawkins SN D. R. High SA S. McKenna SN A. T. Mergillano SR J. F. Morris SN K. F. Schweizter SN T. J. Shea SA C. J. Sinnott SN J. C. Topper SA F. M. Woodruff ENS. Manton A. King Asst. Weapons Officer GMG1 Jammie N. Price GMGl George A. Burbach FTG2 R. T. Abruzzese GMG2 G. M. Cote FTG2 E. D. Stevens GMG2 T. T. Thurman FTG3 D. M. Estes GMG3 F. Henry GMG3 H. L. Nix GMG3 D. A. Prusia FTGSN C. S. Brennaman GMGSN A. J. Medina THIRD DIVISION OPERATIONS AND NAVIGATION ?l !m ' LTJG Andrew J. Allen Operation Officer P LTJG Patrick D. Lantier Navigator YNC Phillip M. Whitney ETC Robert F. Sherman ENC(ss) Charles A. Rowe, Jr. OSl Nathaniel J. Crumby 3M Coordinator OSl Michael F. Hoffman ET1 James E. Miller PN1 Anthony J. Repicci HM1 Phillip N. Ruch ETR2 E. M. Sedlak HM2 M. L. Waugh ETR3 R. D. Bowles OS3 J. P. Copeland YN3 J. M. Grimes ETR3 E. G. Harper YN3 D. C. Steinhof YN3 M. L. Swisher SN S. A. Bridges OSSN T. D. Briggs : OI DIVISION PNSN T. R. Gormley. Jr. SN W C. Homan OSSN T. G. Keever YNSN M. L. Laswell ETRSN J. K. Mitchel SN R. W. Ogle OSSN C. C. Sparkman 8 LTJG David E. Jones Communications Officer ib. V % ,:5 i, ■ §,,, .... ilLZS ggpk2 . OC DIVISION RMC Mailie L. Tackett SMI Daniel F. Ballard RM2 E. G. McFarland RM2 J. S. Pope, Jr. RM2 P. L. Wood RM3 R. C. Barnes RM3 J. V. Lawrence PC3 J. Looney QM3 R. L. Carter PCSN C. R. Green RMSA M. L. Hooks RM3 K. L. Kelly RMSA M. E. McDonald SN R. Oliver SN R. R. St. Amand SUPPLY DEPARTMENT ENS. Larry D. Bouts S. C. Supply Officer DK1 Gus E. Morris SHI Jack E. Spruill SD1 Perfecto O. Madaya SD2 J. L. Co CS2 T. L. Hamacher CS2 R. A. J. St. Onge SK3 R. E. Bortell SK3 R. A. Delapaz SK3 G. V. Henry SH3 R. A. Kirk SK3 J. H. Libo-on SK3 F. J. Rodriguez SH3 A. Smalls CSSN J. H. Ellis SKSN C. J. Etheridge SN J. J. Kane SN J. L. Mayes SN C. L. Offitt SDSN P. H. O ' Hara SN K. H. Roberts SHSN W. W. Satterfield SKSN R. O. Turner CSSN J. E. Woodhouse KNEELING: SN E. J. Kuronya, SA R. A. Switzer, SN D. E. Heroux, SA B. J. Daignault, SW3 R. Oliver, 2ND ROW: ENS, J. P. Romano, SA J. Jirau, SN J. L. Hadley, SN J. D. Swogger, E03 M. R. Provencio, SN D. R. Sears, 3RD ROW: CM2 J. L. Todd Jr., E02 N. C. Adkins, BMC R. Bonnet Jr., BM2 J. W. Webb CB ' s «5?k i M ENS J. P. Romano , t UNDERWAY On the morning of 7 June 1973, the USS HARLAN COUNTY left Little Creek, Virginia for six months of extended operations with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. On 8 June she loaded the marines and equipment she would carry throughout the cruise, and rendezvoused with other units of Amphibious Squadron Six for the Atlantic crossing. I f MMfc ' m MARINES No sooner had we gotten underway than several of the more clever found that marines could actually be fun. Some one captured the fabled seabat and the postal service managed its first delivery on mail buoy number one. ' Did I do good? Huh coach? ' The marine in his natural state. The ship-to-shore movement; what being over here was all about. SHIP-TO-SHORE Ship-to-shore movements were conducted at Carbonerras, Spain: Timbakion, Crete; Porto Scudo, Sardinia; Saros Bay, Turkey; and Gythion, Greece. USS HARLAN COUNTY provided the Boat Group Commander for every operation involving the entire squadron, and acted as the Primary Control Ship, directing all waves of boats and amphibious vehicles into the beach. At Saros Bay she was Primary Control Ship for the annual NATO amphibious exercise, Deep Furrow. Military representatives of the NATO countries were present, including COMPHIBLANT, Vice Admiral C. Edwin Bell. Everyone would agree, however, that the squadron pre-dawns were the most fun. It isn ' t every day you get to have reveille at 0230. My! You can see all sorts of things from this close to the beach. The Nashville launches her LVT ' s. Neck and Neck with the Austin ' s front runner. HARLAN COUNTY ' S boats are 1-2-3 in the squadron boat races. All beachings were not all business. IN TO THE BEACH Beachings or causeway marriages were conducted at Timbakion, Porto Scudo, Saros Bay, and Gythion. USS HARLAN COUNTY was the first ship of its class to con- duct a marriage in the extremely narrow bay at Porto Scudo. At Gythion we managed our first dry ramp ever. In all, HARLAN COUNTY proved adept at running aground in a business where some people spend a great deal of time trying to avoid it. Everything did not always go according to Hoyle, and one would doubt that the causeways had ever even heard of the fellow. REPLENISHMENT Five vertreps were conducted to replenish the ship with fresh provisions throughout the cruise. During October and November refuelings were con- ducted about once every two weeks to maintain the fuel load at or near 100 per cent. If nothing else, replenishment kept you from wondering what you were going to do with your Sundays! Commencing the approach on the HMS GREY ROVER. Lifeguard station for the USS SEATTLE. BRASS Of eternal puzzlement was the question, Does all this brass tour every ship in the Navy? If they did, it surely would be all they ' d do. The only solution is that it must have something to do with the very best crew, aboard the very best ship, in the Fleet. Vice Admiral Daniel J. Murphy, Commander Sixth Fleet, visits the ship in Porto Scudo, Sardinia. Rear Admiral George F. Ellis, Commander Amphibious Group Two. Commodore D. Mason Wells, Commander Amphibious Squadron Six Vice Admiral C. Edwin Bell, Commander Amphibious Force Atlantic. 66T755 E On 4 August, USS HARLAN COUNTY at- tached her first Battle Efficiency E to her bridge wings. Accompanying it were the communications green C , the operations green E , the amphibious assault award and one white gunnery E . Most noteworthy was the fact that HARLAN COUNTY won the Battle Efficiency Award during her first year of operation. Had there ever been any doubt she would? The Captain accepts congradulations for the ship from Vice Ad- miral Ellis. The Captain adds the finishing touches to the Battle Efficiency Award. LT. Tobin fills in the Amphibious Assault Award . ... and LTJG Allen and LTJG Jones apply the green E and the green C . The tours proved to be money well spent. VALENCIA 25 JUNE TRIESTE 14 JULY RM2 Holbrook havin ' a party. The inescapable shore patrol. GUT! t « 2 -■ -i. T fe ICFN Beck tastes the fruit of the Italian vine. VENICE 18 JULY NAPLES, ROME 25 JULY ATHENS 2 AUGUST CORFU 16 AUGUST BARCELONA 28 AUGUST - 14 SEPTEMBER MYKONOS 7 OCTOBER sae LIFE AT SEA 7 JUNE - 20 DECEMBER m Cruise Book Office 815 West Little Creek Road  ,,.— . Norfolk, Virginia 23505 . if i j j fill 1 II ■ yn j m m ■ £ A f I « ; .