Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) - Naval Cruise Book

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Kitty Hawk leaves San Francisco Bay on july IO, I973 after work is completed at Hunters Point. ,.1vA-- Jil? 'S A A, . vf., - L+.. . I .v,,',' ,-f xg, Kitty Hawk lcvnterl followm-tl by the .-Xustralian carrier Nlclbourm' llcftl during tht- four nation Rlnlll.-XC exerciws off the voast of H awail, St-pta-mlwr W73,

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1 -......f- a-cf.-. v i j N i Kitty Haw k, the first carrier in the Pacific to employ this multi- purpose comfcpt. was later to receixe ASN' helo squadrons IHS-4, HS-Hi and ASN' aircraft squadrons IYSJS, YS-STI for the purposr of providing the searching arm for her ASW' operational phase. Another rexision that occurred at Hunters Point was a major change in the slnp's propulsion plant. 'lilie Naxy Standard black oil fuel syslvlli was completely com erted to Na'-y Uistillate Fuel. This change allowed Kitty Hawk to meet air pollution standards by burning cleaner fuel. lfnlarged jet Blast Deflectors were installed in the Flight Deck to accomodate the F-I4 'liomcat aircraft. This modification required redesigning lflevator Number Une. Additionally, the ship endured the normal chores of paint chipping, cleaning of xi-nts and voids. thankless fire watches, and inerall Iitlviltioll. Kitty Hawk moved out of drydock on April 28, W73. 'lihen on her twelfth birthday she was named a Multi-purpose Aircraft Carrier and designated CY. Lighting off the first boiler using the clean distillate fuel occurred on May l7. The ship later performed a series of sea trials off the San Francisco coast on 28 and 29 june. Un I0 july, W73, Rear Admiral Donald C. DAVIS returned, this time not as Commanding Ufficer but as Commander Carrier Group UNE. On that same day, Kitty Hawk departed Hunters Point ahead of schedule. Refresher training began on july l 7th off San Diego in order to bring all hands, new and old, back up to speed. The sea- worthiness of the ship was also analyzed. On .August 23, Kitty Hawk and her Air Wing ELEVEN commenced a full scale ASW exercise during which the multi-purpose capability proved successful. But Kitty Hawk's greatest test occurred between the llth and 23rd of September during the four nation RIMPAC exercise off the coast of Hawaii. This limited-warfare evolution tested anti-air defense, tactical air strike, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The exercise involved 23 ships, 200 aircraft and l4,000 men including more than 3,000 Allied service personnel from Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Kitty Hawk Simulated the sinking of a number of fictitious enemy submarines as well as operated effectively in other phases of the exercise. RIMPAC proved that all these forces could work band in hand. More important to Kitty Hawk and her men was the now-proven reality of the CV concept. Captain R.E. KIRKSEY assumed command of Kitty Hawk from Captain TOWNSEND in Change of Command ceremonies at North Island on November IS, l973. The Captain previously cornlnanded USS CLEVELAND QLPD 71.