Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) - Naval Cruise Book

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FLIGHT QUARTERS Flight Quarters. Might Quarters, all hands man your flight quarters stations. All hands not involved in flight quarters stand clearof . . You hear it so much that you could recite it from a coma. The smoking lamp goes out and you know not to wear any hats topside or throw any articles over the side. Yet no matter how many times the ship goes to Flight Quarters, whether it be for routine training. VERTREP. fast-roping or. best of all. mail delivery. the men who are actually involved in Flight Quarters, the chock and chain- men, signalmen, fire fighters and tele- phone operators all must be ready at a moment ' s notice for the slightest mis- hap. It ' s kind of hard to keep your focus when you ' re out there for a few hours, said a tlight quarters member. SN De- cruise, but it ' s something you ' ve just got to do. The fact that there were no mishaps on WESTPAC during Flight Quarters is something everyone can take pride in. But that focus must still never waver, no matter how many times we hear the words, Flight Quarters. Flight Quar- ters ... Above-A Marine helicopter hov- ers for a landing on a stormy No- vember day. Lefl-Hcio on deck! Another heli- copter prepares to take otT. F light Quarters

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AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS Amphibious operations arc the sole reason for HARPERS FERRY ' s exist- ence. The ship is the cargo variant to the LSD 41 Whidbey Island class of Dock Landing Ships and is capable of carrying up to two Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) and 15 Amphihious Assault Vehicles (AAV). During the deployment. LCAC 43 and 79 from Assault Craft Unit 5 de- ployed with HARPERS FERRY. The LCAC were essential to each and every exercise the ship conducted, sending the Marines of the I 1th Battalion Landing Team and over five tons of their equip- ment ashore for the beginning of Exer- cise Eager Mace in the desert of Kuwait. .Amphibious warfare is one of the most crucial elements in the United States Navy ' s ability to project power overseas. HARPERS FERRY has proven successful at accomplishing any and all objectives assigned to her. Right-LC 79 cruises along on the Hiiy to another beach. Anyone who has ridden an LCAC knows why trips are called nights. Lel ' l-. n LC XC is guided onto the beach at .Assault Craft Ihiit .■ headquarters near Camp Pendleton. Bottom Lel ' t- lt ' s a lish. it ' s a tank . well, it ' s sort of both. An AAV splashes and heads lor land. 1 4 • Amphibious Operations