La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 9 text:

. Q. - . ..V,.,...., ,Y,,?n,VMW,,w:N h , ' 2 ' I I El ' L 4-1 ' .Q 9 -Lk . .. igfrz ' 1 , -,', - - ---,, .---H-,-.. .... .,..........-.......,g..,?.1-.,,,,.,,.,,, ,,,,, , dental facility, sophisticated closed-circuit television systems, accomodations for an admiral and his staff, a helicopter hangar, and a ceremonial awning on her flight deck. With a coat of white paint to reflect the Middle East's hot sun, LPD-3 became ACF-3 fmiscellaneous Com- mand Shipj on July 1, 1972, and on August 24, she assumed her duties as COMIDEASTFOR flagship. The Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast, as she is affectionately called by the crew, steamed an average of 55,000 miles annually, calling at ports in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She also participated in annual naval exercises with allied nations in the area. In February 1979, LA SALLE assisted in the evacua- tion of 260 American and foreign citizens from the Iran- ian seaport of Bandar Abbas. The evacuees were shut- tled bytwo British hydrographic ships to LA SALLE, which was waiting off the Iranian Coast. The operation earned the ship and crew the Humanitarian Service Medal. At the outset of the Iranian Hostage Crisis in Novem- ber 1979, LA SALLE was the focal point of US. activity in the Arabian Gulf While on station off the coast of Iran, LA SALLE was at sea from November 19, 1979 to Jan uary23, 1980, a total of 74 consecutive days, earning the Navy Unit Commendation Pennant. The combination of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, and the Iran-Iraq War which began during the summer of 1980, brought about a dramatic increase in the com- mand and support responsibilities which were' placed upon the crew. For their efforts during those arduous contigency operations, the crew was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal. A . In November 1980, LA SALLE was relieved as flag- ship for Commander, Middle East Force by USS CORONADO KAGF-112 Iformerly LPD-112. While re- turning stateside for the first time in 816 years, LA SALLE'S crew rescued six Norwegian Merchant Mari- ners from their burning vessel, which was off the coast of Sardinia. Shortly after her arrival sta teside in December 1980, LA SALLE began an extensive 860 million overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Again, many changes were made to the ship, including a signiHcant increase in air conditioning capability, replacing and upgrading the ship 's four turbine generators, adding a large elec- tronics package, removing two 3-inch, 50 caliber anti- aircraft guns and replacing them with a close-in self- defense weapons system. The overhaul was one of the largest and most extensive for a Navy non-carrier type ship. . A After a period of trials and training in the Western Atlantic, she returned to the Arabian Gulf area, and resumed her duties as Flagship for Commander, Middle East Force in June 1983. Since her return to the Middle East, LA SALLE has operated in the area, as well as visi ting several Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean littoral countries. ' 5

Page 8 text:

3, ll LA SALLE'S LA SALLE'S MISSION As a forward deployed unit LA SALLE s primary mission .is to provide flagship facilities and support for Commander Middle East Force ICOMIDEASTFORI and his embarked staff LA SALLE is also tasked to support the mission of COMIDEASTFOR by fostering goodwill and understanding between the United States Middle East and Western Indian Ocean countries through port visits Joint na val training exercises and operations Addition- ally LA SALLE provides logistical and other support within her capability to other U S Naval units assigned to COMIDEAST- FOR The Middle East and Western Indian Ocean coun tries continue to increase in importance as areas of considerable glob-l interest both economically and politically COMIDEASTFOR and LA SALLE play a significant role in advancement of U S interests in this part of the world and receive the attention of the highest government officials LA SALLE S NAME Amphibious Transport Docks KLPDQ are named for cities which take their nam es from explorers and developers of the United States Thus LA SALLE is named after the city of La Salle Illinois which took its name from the French explorer Rene Robert Ca va THE LA SALLE CREST The ship s crest com blnes features relating to the explorer the city and the ship s mis sion Its upper right corner bears the charges from the coat of arme right corner bears the charges from the coat of arms of La Salle s family an eight point star and a rabbit The fort on the lower left side represents Fort St Louis which was built by La SAlle in 1628 on the banks of the Illinois River The ele vated ground on which the fort stands is know as Starved Rock The city of La Salle is not far from the site of this fort The back ground anchor symbolizes the Navy and the sea the motto across the anchor s base Fa cilitas Ad Marem translates to Versatility At Sea , , . . 7 7 , . , . . I f , l v I I . , . 0 0 a ' a 7 7 . , 4 I 7 2 V lier, Sieur de la Salle. . , . . . . , . , A - f , . , . KK Y? ' , 7 rr 1 1 ' ' 71 If ' ' 1 JJ ' 4 HIsToR Y g On February 22, 1964, 23 months after her keel was laid at New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, New York, the present LA SALLE was commissioned LPD-3. She joined her sister ships, USS RALEIGH and USS VANCOU- VER, as the third in a class of new amphibious transports. As an Amphibious Transport Dock, LA SALLEis trademarks were mobility, flexibility and versatility. She had the capability to carry more than 800 combat-ready Marines at high speed to an area of amphibious operations. In addition, she transported ammunition, cargo, vehicles, and fuel to support the Marines. i Within her well deck, which can be flooded, boats are carried to transport men and materi- als. The offloading of equipment and supplies is aided by the use ofa deck mounted crane, eleva- tors and conveyors, plus a six-unit monorail overhead crane system within the well deck. The flight deck is available for airlifting men and supplies by helicopter. In keeping with her trademarks, LA SALLE? operating schedule has been far from routine. In May 1965, she served as flagship for Com- mander, Amphibious Forces Atlantic during the Dominican Republic crisis. In December of the same year, she helped evacuate Construc- tion Battalion SIX from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and carried 950 tons of equipment back to the United States, including 106 vehicles, 50 miscellaneous carrers, and one 41 -ton crane. In November 1966, she made history by being the Hrst ship of h er size to successfully recover a GEMINI capsule, and the first ship ever to re- turn a capsule to Cape Canaveral after recovery. In May 1969, she served as an experimental launching platform for the A V-8 HARRIER aircraft, becoming one of the first ships to oper- ate with the supersonic, Vertical Takeoff and Landing KVTOLI tactical Hghter-bomber. Through 1971, LA SALLE served as an am- phibious force flagship for various commands. Opera ting in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Medi- terranean areas, she took part in numerous am- phibious exercises with US. Forces ,in conjun- tion with other NATO Navies. Selected to replace the USS VALCOUR IAGF-12. as flagship for Commander, Middle East Force KCOMIDEASTFORJ, in January 1972, LA SALLE began an extensive overhaul. New facilities were installed to suit her new role. She was outHtted with elaborate command communications equipmen t, a weather satellite receiver, additional air conditioning, a modern

Page 10 text:

ew CO DI G O FICER CAPT. H S. ELDREDGE 6 Q . .IQN ,QU N 5. 1 I 4 I I L