La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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Home 5weet The 500-member crew of USS La Salle re- turned to their homeport July 3 after a $6.6 million, three-month maintenance period in Malta. It also marked the rejoining of the La Salle Sixth Fleet staff team. More than 725 different jobs were completed between Malta Drydocks. USS Emory S. Land and USS La Salle. The yard period included repairs and upgrades literally from bow to stern. External work included an overhaul of the anchor windlass gear, installa- tion of a new rubber-hulled inflatable boat and crane and replacement of the ship ' s boat and aircraft crane. The ship ' s stern gate was removed and steel plating put in its place. Essential maintenance re- pairs were carried out to the ship ' s power plant. Several major steam valves in the two main engine rooms were replaced or overhauled, as were the force draft blowers, which feed air into the ship ' s main engines. As an amphibious command ship, and the Sixth Fleet Flag Ship. La Salle has some of the most advanced communication and navigation systems in the Navy. Communication upgrades were made to the ship ' s internal phone system, e-mail and Internet. Navigation upgrades included a new laser gyrocompass system which was installed in Malta and tested enroute to Gaeta.

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Lite on La Salle usually wasn ' t usually easy or slow-paced. Life in Gaeta, however, was. For the most of us who came from the United States to Italy, getting used to the pace of living in Gaeta took some time. There were ways, however, to help ease into La Dolce Vita, the sweet life. First, start your morning off atTristina ' s for a cappucino and cornetto. Many Sailors started off this way and it ' s just what the dottore ordered to get a jump on the day. Work. Not usually easy, but not too cGife