Harry Yarnell (CG 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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POLAND More I hail Showing the Mag. A Taranlul Palrol Boat glided in escort 700 yards oil I SS HARR K. ARNELL ' s bow as ail hands manned the rail, their stiff salutes momentarily blinking as a 21 gun salute punc- tured the air. The ensigns atop I SS KAL ' FF- MAN ' S and I SS HARRY K. ARNKM S masts viewed a port that had not seen such flags in over 71 years. On June 27. 1990 thousands of Polish citizens welcomed the Unites States Navy with open arms, friendship and hope. Preparations for this historic visit to Gydnia. Poland (less than 25 miles from Gdansk) had begun by the Rhode Island-based guided missile frigate USS KAITTM N (FFG 9) as early as January. LSS H. RR E. ' .ARNF.I.L (CG 17), returning from a six month Med deployment, had her work cut out: i e weeks to prepare for another two month de- ployment, embarking RADM T.R. Paulsen and the COMCRLUi;SGRL staff, and finaii ing details on matters from port facilities to recep- tion menus. ARNELL and KAL FF.MAN visited other North Sea and Baltic ports along with Norfolk-based destroyer I SS BRISCOE (DD 977), Heet oiler LSS .MONOG.VHEl.A (AO 178). and fast frigate ISS PHARRIS (FFl 084). These ships comprised the U.S. Bat- tle Force participating in B.M.TOPS 90, an an- nual NATO e.xcrcise designed to provide train- ing, show a commitment to NATO and empha- size freedom of the seas. While demonstrating the freedom to con- duct such operations within the geographic con- fines of the Baltic, the task group worked rou- tinely under the watchful eyes of Soviet and Eastern Block naval and intelligence units. As goodwill ambassadors, the U.S. Baltic Force covered much ground, making positive impres- sions during port visits to Copenhagen. .Amster-