Hepburn (FF 1055) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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Separations from loved ones, friends and native soil are never easy. But no matter where we were or how many miles separated us from home, a continual chain of cards, letters and telephone calls formed a vital lifeline. We were lonely, but never alone and the emotions and remembrances we shared over great distances made the long nights so much shorter. For all these reasons and many more, we dedicate this book to our friends and families to those we left in body but never In spirit. y y M IIV '