Hepburn (FF 1055) - Naval Cruise Book

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HEPBURN departed the Subic Bay area on 16 November to arrive in Hong Kong on 18 November for a well deserved vacation. On 26 November HEPBURN left Hong Kong enroute to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Forced to evade Typhoon IRMA, HEPBURN did not arrive in Taiwan until 1 December. A tender avail- ability along side the USS DIXIE (AD-14) allowed much needed repair work to be accomplished. On the morning of 17 December, HEPBURN was underway to participate in Exercise SHARKHUNT XI, a multi-ship ASW exercise including U. S. and Republic of China Naval units. HEPBURN ' S LAMPS helo and the LAMPS helo from USS REASONER (DE-1063) were able to exploit dual LAMPS tactics in the search for submarines. The exercise provided an excellent opportunity for training. The exchange of personnel between the USN and ROC units provided a unique learning experience for those involved. HEPBURN departed Kaoshiung on 22 December to arrive in Subic Bay on 23 December. Again the services of the Ship Repair Facility, Subic were utilized to affect necessary minor repairs. On 29 December, HEPBURN was underway to conduct a missile exercise in the Subic Operating Areas. This exercise provided excellent anti-air warfare training. The year closed as HEPBURN returned to Subic Bay on 31 December in preparation for the return home in January 1975. HEPBURN departed Subic Bay for the last time on the 8th of January. Soon joining up with the USS BERKELEY (DDG-15), USS ENGLAND (DLG-22), USS DECATUR (DDG-31), USS SAN JOSE (AFS-7) and USS TOLOVANA (AO-64), HEPBURN in accordance with COMDESRON THIRTEEN ' s op order Home Run sailed for the United States. The 28th of January brought the end to HEPBURN ' S third deployment as crew and family were reunited in a happy pier side celebration.

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WESTPAC JUN 21 1974 - JAN 28 1975 The days of June passed quickly as HEPBURN prepared for extended deploynnent to the Western Pacific. On 18 June, the ship ' s single 5 I5A gun mount was regunned and the LAMPS detachment, con- sisting of three pilots, and eleven enlisted airmen from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Three Three (HSL-33) reported onboard form the Naval Air Station at Imperial Beach, California. They brought with them a wide assortment of specialized equipment required for the maintenance of their SH-2F LAMPS Helicopter fondly referred to as ETHEL which would make HEPBURN her home during the deployment. On the morning of 21 June, HEPBURN, now under the operational control of Commander THIRD Fleet, steamed out of San Diego harbor bound for Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. Joining HEPBURN for the nonstop ocean crossing was Commander Carrier Group THREE, embarked in USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) and the USS BERKELEY (DDG-15). The transit provided ample time for numerous operational drills. On 30 June, operational control shifted to Commander SEVENTH Fleet, and on 10 July, the group arrived in Subic Bay and HEPBURN switched to the operational control of Commander Task Force SEVEN FIVE. HEPBURN was underway on 18 July for an independent transit to Sydney, Australia. After evading Typhoon IVY, HEPBURN crossed the equator on 22 July much to the displeasure of the High Tribunal of NEPTUNUS REX for the ship carried a heavy cargo of vile landlubbing pollywogs. With a crew of newly commissioned Shellbacks, HEPBURN refueled at Manus Island in the Admiralty Island group on 23 July and continued southward through the Coral Sea to arrive at Sydney, Australia on 28 July. After a week of touring the sights of Sydney and enjoying the warm hospitality of the Australian people, the officers and crew of HEPBURN steamed into the Australian operating areas outside Sydney Harbor on 4 August to participate in the Australian Maritime ASW Exercise, Joint Uniform Course (JUC) 93. With her advanced long range sonar and LAMPS helicopter, HEPBURN was the center of attraction. For the other participants from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and Canada, this was the first opportunity to see LAMPS in action. Upon completion of the exercises on 13 August, HEPBURN visited Port Kembia for three days then sailed north along the eastern coast to Gladstone arriving on 20 August. It was the first visit to Gladstone by an American warship since World War II and the welcome was one the HEPBURN will long remember. On the morning of 22 August, HEPBURN commenced her return northward to Subic Bay. During this transit HEPBURN was notified by COMCRUDESPAC that she had been awarded the runner-up position in the Battle Efficiency Competition within the squadron Departmental Excellence Awards were received by Gunnery, Missile, Engineering and Supply. On 1 September, HEPBURN arrived in Subic Bay and on 4 September commenced a tender avail ability period alongside the USS DIXIE (AD-14). Rear Admiral Watkins inspected the ship on 11 Septem ber and remarked favorably concerning ship ' s routine procedures. HEPBURN departed Subic Bay on 16 September to conduct numerous exercises in the Subic Operating Areas off the West coast of Luzon On 21 September, HEPBURN steamed eastward to Guam arriving on 26 September. On 11 October Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet, RADM Mark Woods inspected the ship in Guam commenting very favorably on the ship ' s cleanliness and state of preservation. After completing special operations in the vicintiy of Guam, HEPBURN commenced her journey back to Subic Bay on 25 October. HEPBURN ' S arrival was temporarily delayed until 29 October as she joined a sortie of ships from Subic Bay in evasion of nearby Typhoon ELAINE. On 1 November, the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable J. William Mindendorf and the Commander, U. S. Naval Forces, Philippines, RADM D. B. Shelton, visited HEPBURN. The SECNAV toured the engineering spaces and presented the Golden Snipe Award to the Engineering Department In the engine room. HEPBURN was again underway on 6 November to serve as a participant in the multiple exercise (MULTIPLEX) 2-75 on 13 November. All participating ships and aircraft exercised in a near real-world wartime situation for a short but intense period. HEPBURN ' S readiness was personally reviewed with favorable comments by the officer scheduling the exercise, VADM G. Steele, Commander SEVENTH Fleet.

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HI, I ' M HAPPY! LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE HEp RN. Our proud Lady of the Sea is a young five year old having been commissioned at Todd Shipyard, Long Beach, California on July 3, 1969. She Vi as named for Arthur Japy Hepburn a distinguished former Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Fleet, chairman of the General Board of the Navy. Naval Diplomat and veteran of the Spanish-American war and both w orld wars. Her vital statistics are: Length: 438 ft. Width: 46 ft. 10 in. Height: 120 ft. 10 in. above the waterline Displacement: 4000 tons (approx.) Full Power Shaft Horsepower: 35,000 HP Propellor: 1-5 bladed, 15 ft. dia. Complement: 17 officers 20 CPO ' S 210 enlisted Armament: Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) Launcher Basic Point Defense Missile System (BPDt S) Launcher 5 54 cal Gun Mount 4 Torpedo Tubes