Intrepid (CVS 11) - Naval Cruise Book

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BATTLE EFFICIENCY E 1964 1965 A s w HA 1965 FLATLEY AWARD 1964 Great decisions are not easily made. Factors contributing to the decision to send Intrepid to join the Seventh Fleet in the waters off Vietnam took months and years of blood and sweat by the men of her crew and embarked air groups. But the decision to send Intrepid back to the waters she knew as a neophyte carrier. . .back to the once familiar Pacific where she battled with the Japanese in the Western Carolines, in the Mar- shalls and in the Leyte operation, was based on sound military thought. Two major questions had to be answered be- fore number eleven could make her way East- ward to the Orient. The first question was could the Intrepid, and anti-submarine support warfare carrier, be converted rapidly and efficiently to the role of an attack carrier. And the second question was could this twenty-three year old lady do the job that the larger, newer, and more modern attack carriers were in fact doing in the South China Sea. The answer to the first question was in the affirmative. INTREPID could and would be converted from a CVS to a CVA. And again it Why She was Chosen: was not by luck or chance or whim, but by hard work and a spirited CAN-DO attitude on the part of all hands that was responsible for the smooth conversion to an attack carrier role. Historically, this CAN-DO attitude has pervaded the decks of the Fighting l for many years prior to the Great Decision. And it is im- portant to show how this excellence manifested itself. In July of 1964 INTREPID learned she had won the 'coveted Admiral Flatly Memorial Award for having the best CVS operating safety record in fiscal year 1964. Rear Admiral Paul Master- son was designated by Commander Sixth Fleet as the Chief of Naval Operations' representative to make the presentation to INTREPID on 21 August 1964. Over 600 Intrepidmen crowded in Hangar Bay One to hear Admiral Masterson, a former Intrepid skipper, make the presentation. This plaque is representative of all men aboard INTREPID. All of you know that everyone had a major portion in winning it. lt is a great pleasure as a former Commanding Officer of INTREPID to get the opportunity to make the presentation on behalf of the Chief of Naval Operations. The highly competitive crowd was accepted by Captain J. G. Smith, then Commanding Officer of INTREPID. The plaque reading, Admiral James H. Flatley memorial award for Aviation Safety ASW carrier operation still hangs on the ship's quarterdeck. The Flately award was just the beginning. Efficiency is defined as the ability t0 produce the desired effect with a minimum of effort or waste. INTREPID proved herself to be the most efficient CVS in the Atlantic Fleet in 1964. She won the UE . Of all the major and minor awards Intrepid had won, none held the prestige of this Battle Readiness Efficiency Award. INTREPID broke a string of five yeGI'S straight that the USS RANDOLPH held the E in the anti-submarine warfare carrier class. Randolph's message of congratulations to Intre- pid said: Congratulations to Intrepid on winning the UE. Your splendid achievement in fiscal 1964 will inspire us all in fiscal year 1965. Rear Admiral Donald E. White, Commander of Carrier Division Twenty aboard INTREPID add-ed his personal congratulations: Congratulations and well done on winning the Battle Efficiency award and four depart-

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READINESS mental awards. I am proud to be flying my flag from such a fine ship. Yes, INTREPID had won four departmental efficiency awards: Operations, Air, Engineering, and Weapons. In addition one of lntrepid's four embarked air units-Helicopter Squadron Three, was notified that it had earned the Battle Read- iness Efficiency pennant for the second con- secutive year. Two other air units on board won recognition in aviation safety. Both CVSG-56 and Air Anti-Submarine Squadron Twenty-four were declared winners of the annual Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award. The UE was presented to INTREPID on I5 September 1964 by Vice Admiral Paul H. Ram- sey, Commander Naval Air Forces Atlantic. ?