L Y Spear (AS 36) - Naval Cruise Book

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From: CTF SEVEN ZERO Subj: Well Done 1. Congratulations on your superb deployment to the Indian Ocean. The performance of your crew and their visible determination being the best there is resulted in SPEAR ' s many important contributions to our operations in the Indian Ocean. I have been very impressed by L. Y. SPEAR ' s willingness to pursue the difficult and complete assigned tasking even when of a nature or scope normally considered beyond the IMA level. 2. The most visible and dramatic evidence of L. Y. SPEAR ' s outstanding performance was the repair of USS DAVIDSON. The cooperation, assistance and support you offered expedited the return of a ship whose loss to the Battle Force placed restrictions on our operational capability. 3. L. Y. SPEAR has made another significant contribution to our operation in the form of cogent, intelligent and realistic appraisals and recommendations contained reference A. The thoroughness of this report reflects the same quality and effort that you have shown since you arrived. This lessons learned document will be extremely useful for our future planning and will have a lasting effect on our operations and readiness. I have extracted some key passages pertaining to TAV planning and execution for the immediate benefit of BG units perparing for forthcoming availabilities . 4. Every crewmember has a right to be proud of your many accomplishments. Again, congratulations and well done. Have a safe and speedy transit home. RADM R. E. Kirksey, USN. From: CTG SEVEN ZERO PT ZERO Subj: DAVIDSON Repairs 1. On 17 June a serious fire in DAVIDSON ' S Fireroom resulted in the loss to the Indian Ocean Battle Force of a valuable ASW escort. Responsiveness of addees since that misfortune occurred has been most impressive and effective. 2. Rapid reaction by DAVIDSON, SACRAMENTO and TRUXTUN in fighting the fire, limiting the damage, and expeditiously towing DAVIDSON to Diego Garcia began the chain of events destined to minimize DAVIDSON ' S time away from station. Upon arrival alongside USS L. Y. SPEAR, the repair expertise of SPEAR, CTF 73, and NAVSHIPREPFAC Subic Bay combined to assess the damage and progam its immediate repair. The assistance of the multitude of Supply Support organizations and expediters enabled work to progress with little delay due to spare parts - even though those parts were located thousands of miles from the Indian Ocean. Of particular note during the repair phase was the superb performance of the SRF Tiger Team, L. Y. SPEAR AJAX Repair Departments and DAVIDSON Engineers. 3. On 14 July DAVIDSON returned to sea ready to resume her duties on Gonzo Station. The herculean effort which made this possible has set a new standard for repair and supply responsiveness. 4. Well Done. RADM RAMSAY sends

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Kudos FROM: CTF SEVEN THREE Subj: Farewell 1. As L. Y. SPEAR departs the SEVENTHFLT after a challenging and highly successful deployment to the Indian Ocean, I extend my sincere appreciation for your contribution and accomplishments. 2. The challenge of providing fleet repair services to a broad range of surface ships as well as submarines was met in a super- lative manner by the Officers and Crew of L. Y. SPEAR. Your aggressiveness and flexibility in performing your duties in an isolated location, with very limited shore support and often adverse weather conditions attest to your dedication and professionalism. Although confronted with limited parts and technical documentation support for surface ships, the overall job acceptance rate of 92.4 per cent and the overall job completion rate of 94.4 percent were outstanding. The support provided to NAVSUPPFAC Diego Garcia and NMCB 30 were crucial in enabling those activities to continue to perform their missions, The effects of the extremely long logistics pipeline were ameliorated by your timely and accurate supply requirements messages and the Indian Ocean Battle Force was the beneficiary of that action. L. Y. SPEAR 1 s pre-deployment supply preparations paid marvelous dividends which were graphically demonstrated by the ability to render a 95.86 per cent gross and 99.42 per cent net fill rate to the 11,113 demands. These supply efforts significantly contributed to the ship ' s fine repair record. Your provision of the full range of support services from Barber Shop to boating and from Medical to Mars represented an important contribution to both readiness and morale. 3. The excellent reputation you earned during your stay with the SEVENTH Fleet will long be remembered. Return to your loved ones with the knowledge that you have played a vital role in supporting our Naval Forces in the Indian Ocean. You will always be welcome in Task Force SEVENTY-THREE. RADM M. P. FRUDDEN, USN From: COMSEVENTHFLT Subj: Sayonara 1. Congratulations for an outstanding job during a precedent setting deployment with SEVENTH Fleet. Operating well beyond the traditional scope of a Sub Tender and earning high praise from all your customers, you have made significant contributions to Indian Ocean Battle Force readiness through your professional and imaginative support. Your readiness and responsiveness have been particularly valuable during this critical period. Weil-Done! 2. Best wishes as you return to the Atlantic Fleet. I have been proud to have you on the SEVENTH Fleet team VADM C.A.H. TROST, USN

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From: CINCPACFLT Pearl Harbor, HI Subj: Bravo Zulu 1. L. Y. SPEAR can be extremely proud of the Fleet Repair Service rendered to Indian Ocean Battle Groups. Upon completion of deployment, the officers and crew in L. Y. SPEAR carry with them the reputation as being agressive, flexible, responsive, positive, cooperative, confident and extremely effective in providing professional Fleet Repair Services. You have demonstrated a can do attitude, a wide range professional talent, and a very diversified repair capability. On numerous occasions, timely afloat repairs have obviated return of customers to distant shore based activities. Repairs to DAVIDSON demonstrated your ability to achieve the highest standards on providing superb service. 2. Please convey my personal gratitude to all hands for an extraordinary job well-done. D. C. DAVIS, ADMIRAL, U. S. NAVY. From: COMSUBLANT, Norfolk, VA Subj : Welcome Home 1. We here in Norfolk were elated to see your message Homeward Bound. 2. As L. Y. SPEAR departs the Mediterranean for CONUS the officers and crew can be extremely proud of their accomplishments while deployed. The large number of congratulatory messages received commenting on your outstanding work during this deployment leaves no doubt of your ability to carry out vital tasks both to submarines and surface force alike. I know that results such as you have achieved come only through hard work, dedication, leadership and professionalism at all levels. I am proud of what you have done and that you are a member of my force. 3. I am looking forward to your return to the Tidewater area. On behalf of the entire Submarine Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, Welcome Home. VADM S. A. WHITE sends From: COMSUBRON SI X Subj: Welcome Home 1. I share with your families and friends the great pride and anticipation of your triumphant return to Norfolk. As I review your exploits and many accolades earned during your Indian Ocean deployment, I am reminded that people - the officers, men and women of L. Y. SPEAR made it all come together. The importance of L.Y. SPEAR ' s contributions deserve special appreciation; you can be proud of your magnificent performance. To the officers and crew of L. Y. SPEAR well-done and welcome home. 2. CAPTAIN COOPER sends. From: CNO Washington D. C. 1 . On the occasion of your outchop from the Indian Ocean I want to pass on my personal congratulations to the officers, men and women of SPEAR for the outstanding record of accomplishment which they set in support of the Indian Ocean Battle Force. I saw firsthand evidence of the quality of your work during my visit to Indian Ocean units last week where I heard nothing but praise for the high professional skills and can-do attitude of SPEAR ' s people. You can take pride in your very important contributions to the readiness of our Naval Forces in an area of critical importance to the United States. You will be a tough act to follow. 2. Weil-Done. ADM T. B. HAYWARD , USN, Chief of Naval Operations.