John McCain (DL 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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YEARS The U.S.S. lOl-lN S. MCCAIN CDL-3l is the second ship of the Mitscher Cfrigatel class, commissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard on l2 October l953. She is named for the late Admiral lohn .Sidney McCain, who gained fame during WW ll as the commander of a fast carrier task force in the Pacific. The McCain is 493 feet in length with a 50 foot beam and a fully loaded displacement of 4400 tons. She has automatic loading, rapid firing guns con- trolled by the latest fire control and rapid target acquisition equipment. She is equipped with the most modern electronic installations. The engineering plant has many advanced fea- tures. The main turbines develop over 80,000 horse- power and can drive the ship at speeds exceeding 40 miles per hour. The electric power plant could meet the needs of a city of 50,000 population. The refrigeration and air cooling equipment is equal to the cooling capacity of an ice plant making l00,000 pounds of ice per day. The built in fire main pumping capacity equals the combined output of five standard city fire trucks. ln the design of the ship theliving conditions for the crew were stressed. ln addition to air conditioning in all living spaces the crew has larger and vastly improved berthing and messing facilities. Prior to reporting to the Pacific Fleet in late l956 McCain spent 3 years operating with the Atlantic Fleet, from home ports all along the East Coast of the United States, including Boston, Newport, and Nor- folk. During her cruise to San Diego, our fourth home port from Norfolk, Virginia the ship transited the Panama Canal and after reaching the Pacific Ocean made a good will trip southward to Lima, Peru, and Buenaventura, Columbia. Shortly after reporting to the Pacific Fleet, the lVIcCAlN was deployed to the 'Western Pacific . . . and therein lies the tale of her cruise.

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CDR GEORGE A. GOWEN USN entered the Navy in October 1940 via the Pennsylvania Nautical School. ln November 1940 he reported 1 I I I 1 I I CDR VVILLIAM D. OWEN, IR. graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1941. During World War ll he participated in most of the major naval engagements both in Europe and in Asia. After the war ended, CDR. Owen attended the Post Graduate School at Annapolis and served on the staff, Battleship-Cruiser Eorce, Pacific Fleet, and on the staff loint American Military Advisory Group, Europe, London. During the Korean War, he commanded the U.S.S. GATLING CDD671l. Prior to assuming command of the McCAlN, CDR. Owen served as Officer in Charge of the Northern California and Nevada District recruit- ing and Officer Procurement program. to the U.S.S. SANTEE CAO-291 as Ass t Engineer- ing Officer. ln April 1942 he reported to the U.S.S. C1-IEVALIER, where he served as both Assistant Engineering Officer and as Engineering Officer. From December 1943 until February 1945 he was Engineering Officer of the U.S.S. HEN- LEY, after which he became an instructor in steam engineering at Cornell University. ln luly 1945 he began a 26 month tour of duty as Officer-in-Charge, Steam Engineering School, Newport, Rl. Following this he was a student at Cornell, and attended the General Line School, Newport, Rl. ln luly 1950 he became Executive Officer of the U.S.S. KEPPLER, and in April 1951 became Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. 1N- GERSOLL. From October 1952 until lune 1955 he served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. ln luly 1955 CDR. Gowen became Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. lOl-lN S. McCA1N CDL-31, in which capacity he served until relieved on 9 luly 1957 in 1-long Kong, B.C.C.