Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 8 text:

HARPERS FERRY ' S HISTORY USS HARPERS FERR (LSD 49) was commissioned on 7 January 1995 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Upon ar- rival in its new home port of San Diego. HARPERS FERRY received a magnifi- cent Welcome Home reception orga- nized by the wives of the crew. After a brief stand down, the ship em- barked on an ambitious training cycle which would prepare her for deploy- ment. HARPERS FERR ' excelled at e%er endeavor. From the initial Com- mand .Assessment of Readiness and Training, through the complete Tai- lored Ship ' s Training .Availability cycle, the crew learned, trained and became a capable team. HARPERS FERRY was also tested by every major inspection. From Com- bat Systems Ship Qualification Test in March 1995, to Light Off Assessment in October, Operational Propulsion Plant Examination in December and Logis- tics Management .Assessment and Ship- board Explosives Safety Inspection in January 1996. HARPERS FERRY passed them all with flying colors. The hard work and dedication of the crew of HARPERS FERRY was recog- nized conspicuously. First, the crew earned the coveted Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet Golden Anchor award for 1995. This award is presented to the ships which boast the highest re- tention rates in the fleet. Second, HARPERS FERRY won the Com- mander Naval Surface Forces Battle Ex- cellence award. The new ship and crew of a little over a year before was now a combat capable, deployabie warship ready to become a key player in the Navy-Marine Corps team; and her work started immediately. In March 1996, HARPERS FERRY departed on a five-week mission to Pan- ama City, Florida, to embark two Land- ing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), This cruise was highlighted by two trips through the Panama Canal and some well-deserved liberty ports. The crew enjoyed revisiting New Orleans, spring break in Panama City and the exotic sights of Acapulco. Upon returning to San Diego, HARP- ERS FERRY began immediately pre- paring for the six-nation Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) ' 96 Maritime Exer- cise. The embarkation of two LCAC, 15 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV), 21 five-ton trucks, 13 HUMVEEs, over 500 tons of cargo and 370 Marines of the 1 1th Marine Expeditionary Unit re- quired careful planning and coordina- tion. RIMPAC was a success and gave the crew an immense feeling of satisfac- tion for a job well done. Today HARPERS FERRY is looking towards the future. Having just com- pleted its first six-month deployment, the ship is due for an overhaul, and will enter the shipyards in May, 1997, Among the features HARPERS FERRY will add will be the new RAM SSDS missile system. In the future, as in the past, the crew of Team HARPERS FERRY will be called upon to serve her country where she needs them most. With such a fine ship around them, the men will find motivation in the deeds of those Sailors who helped bring HARPERS FERRY to life-her plankowners, and those who guided her through her first deploy- ment. 4 • History

Page 7 text:

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 ( ruiscbiH)k StalT 2 I ablcol Contents History 4 Mission 5 Commanding OITiccr 6 Executive oniccr 7 Commanding Officer of Troops 8 Command Master Chief hirst Sergeant 9 JamiK Day 10 I light Quarters 12 Amphibious Operations 14 I NRIP VERTREP 16 Birthdays 18 Singapore 20 Malaysia 22 Holidays 24 VBSS Operations 26 Marines in the Field 28 I iberty in the Ciull 30 Admirals Generals 32 Award Ccremonies Reenlistments 34 ustralia 36 VVESTPAC Moments 40 WogDay 42 I iger Cruise 44 Marine Homecoming 46 Navy Homecoming 48 Deok Department 50 1st Division 52 2nd Division 60 3rd Division 56 1-ngineering Department 64 Division 66 1 Division 68 M Division 72 R Division 78 Operalutiis Deparlriicnl ■ ■• 0( Division 84 Ol Division 88 Of Division 92 Ol Division 94 Supply Department 98 S-1 Division 100 S-2 Division 102 S-3 Division 106 S-4 Division 108 Nav Admin Department 110 Navigation Division 112 Administration Division 114 Medical Department 116 Dental Department 119 ACU-5 122 Ship ' s Platixm 128 Lima Company 132 Headquarters Platoon 134 1 St Platcxm 136 2nd Platixm 141 3rd Plalixm 146 Weapons Platoon 151 MSSG 156 Engineering Detachment 158 MSSG 162 MotorT 164 Maintenance 168 Suppiv 172 Communications 174 MSSG 176 AAV 178 CAAT A 184 LAR 189 LAAD Stinger 19-1 Headquarters and Service Battalion 196 WESTPAC Babies 200 Tahk Of Contents •3

Page 9 text:

HARPERS FERRY ' S MISSION Designed to Iruiisporl aiul larul arn- pliihioiis assaull vchitlcs, laiulirig trait iiul Umlcd Stales Marine ( orps tr(H)ps ,iiul egiiipmenl aeriiss a potentialK hos- lik- shore, I ' SS HAKIM RS I I KKV is a ke L )inpi neiil nt I he amphibious loiLes whieh carr oiil the USS Navy ' s I orssaii! I lom the Sea strategy. As Mich, HAKIM KS I 1 KK is an integral member ol the Naval I xpedilionarv I nrces which niainlain American lor- sard presence around the world. Her ihility to conduct diverse, sustained imphibious warfare directly supports the rapid build-up of combat p4)wcr trotn the sea lor operations ashore in consonance with national interests. MAKIM:KS M;KK is the first of four new cargo variants to the LSI) 41 class ol amphibious assault ships whose pri- mary physical feature is her well deck. The well is Hooded, or ballasted, to launch and recov er landing cralt and as- sault vehicles through the stern gate, which can be hvdraulicallv raised and lowered l.nteiisivc cargo and rolling stock storage capacity is available in the extended vehicle storage area, which is connected to the flight deck and well deck bv vehicle ramps. In addition, HAKIM RS II KRV has a Might deck lor cargo or pervmnel transport and is ca- pable ol handling the largest militarv helicopters in use todav. HAKIM RS I I RRNs weapons suite consists ol twt) state-of-the-art (fWS (Close-in Weapons System) anti-ship missile defense gun mounts. She alst) carries six .50 caliber machine guns and two 25 MM chain guns to enhance her capability against last patrol boats and other surface craft. l.C.M allow HARPHRS FF.RRY to conduct high-speed, over-the-hori .on amphibious operations. Riding on a blanket ol air in speeds in excess of 30 knots, LC. ( have access to 70 ) of the world ' s beaches, as compared to the 17 ' Ht access alTorded conventional land- ing craft. Directly complementing one an(»ther. amp idi- bornc and sv; ;-ccd, ilcxibilitv and itidiicuvcrjbiiiiy HAKPi KS M KKV was designed to berth and feed 504 Marine Corps trtK)p , in addition to her o kn 350-man crew Support for the crew and cm- barked landing force includes a %hip ' » store, laundr . b.r ' p library television studio. ; messing facilities and v-wii . tunhcr stressing sell ul- filted with aii : sisc array of repair and machinery shops and medical and dental facilities Since commissioning in January. 1995. HARPERS FERRY has been conducting training in her diverse mis- sion areas HARPERS FERRY operates with style and professionalism, promot- ing the highc-st standards of operational readiness, personal growth and team- work Mission 5