Lansing (DER 388) - Naval Cruise Book

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During the period covered by this book, LANSING ' S primary assignment has been as a Navigation Air Search and Rescue Ship for U.S. Naval Aircraft patroll- ing the Pacific Radar Early Warning Barrier. Our secondary mission has been the detection and reporting of air contacts discovered by our radars. In perform- ing these functions, we operated under the control of the Commander Barrier Force Pacific on what were called Barrier Patrols. Barrier Patrols or Pickets, as they were nicknamed, usually lasted about 24 days, port to port. Very few other types of naval vessel spend that long a time at sea without seeing land. Only those who have actually made DER pickets out of Pearl Harbor can fully appreciate what they were like. Our stations were off the Aleutians. Our fuel capacity was such that consistently bad weather on sta- tion, as was usually the case in the winter months, left us barely enough fuel to get back to port. Securing water for washing and eating off paper plates to con- serve water due to fuel shortages was often compulsory. With the boiler secured during the night to save fuel there was no steam for heat to the berthing spaces or coffee for the mid and morning watches. It was frequently necessary to lie to in disagreeable weather where continual rolls of 25-30 degrees were the accepted way of life. Salt water on the decks inside the ship due to cracks in the hull from rough weather was often encountered. The monotony of our long periods at sea had to be experienced to get the full impact of DER duty. The time between patrols, or Inports as we called them, averaged out about 23 days. Of this, 5 days were normally spent underway off Pearl Harbor conduct- ing destroyer type exercises, such as gunnery shoots, chasing submarines, engi- neering drills, underway replenishments, or CIC exercises. The rest of the In- port was required to get the ship ready for the next Picket or cope with numerous inspections. Unlike the Submarine Force, where they have two complete crews for their Polaris submarines employed on similar duty, everything had to be done by one crew. Often liberty had to be curtailed to meet the many demands. The In- port was invariably spent in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and, although there is much to be said for Hawaii, our schedule didn ' t allow much opportunity to Join the Navy and See the World. Under these conditions, you all produced superior results and proved beyond a doubt that you are sailors. You met every challenge and we made every commit- ment. We can all look back upon our tour in LANSING with a sense of pride and feeling of accomplishment. With the above thoughts in mind, this book is proudly dedicated to the Ship ' s Company, USS LANSING (DER 388). R. T. SHULTZ Lieutenant Commander U. S. Navy Commanding Officer

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HISTORY The USS LANSING commemorates the naval career of William R. LANSING, Aviation Machinist ' s Mate First Class, U.S. Navy. LANSING participated in an aerial flight in a patrol plane in action with Japanese Forces during the Aleutian Islands Campaign in June 1942. Opposed by heavy anti-aircraft fire from ship and shore batteries, LANSING participated in a determined divebombing and strafing attack on Japanese Ships in Kiska Harbor. While manning his exposed and unpro- tected station at the engine controls during an attack on 11 June 1942, he was killed by enemy fire. On 15 May 1942, the keel of a destroyer escort was laid by the Brown Shipbuilding Company, Houston, Texas. During the next 15 months this keel grew into a sleek destroyer escort, and on 2 August, USS LANSING slid down the ways. Commissioning took place on 10 November 1943. 3 December of that year found USS LANSING in Bermuda, for training under the Destroyer Escort Shakedown Group. Upon comple- tion of training, the ship joined the now famous Atlantic Fleet convoy escort force, and participated in numerous crossings. During this time two encounters with the enemy took place - both in the Mediterranean Sea off Oran, Algeria. After VE day, LANSING underwent a lengthy overhaul, then reported to the Pacific Fleet on 1 August 1945. She did not arrive in Pearl Harbor until after VJ day, how- ever, and was therefore sent back to New York, where she arrived in October 1945. The ship operated with the Atlantic Fleet until January 1947 when she was placed in reserve status at Jacksonville, Florida. From June 1952 until June 1954, LANSING donned a coat of white paint and served as a unit of the United States Coast Guard. Early in 1956, LANSING entered the shipyard and work began on converting her for her new mission - that of a Radar Picket Escort Vessel. The conversion included extensive modification of both hull and equipment, with the result that she no longer bore much resemblance to her former destroyer escort silhouette. The latest elec- tronics equipment was installed, and modernization of the entire ship took place. To compensate for the long and dreary hours ahead on the North Pacific Barrier, every effort was made to provide for more comfort and recreational facilities for the crew. In 1956, LCDR G. N. DE BUER, USN, assumed command and the ship was recom- missioned. LANSING has been home ported in Pearl Harbor ever since, and in 1958, under command of LCDR E. D. FLORY , USN, served with Joint Task Force SEVEN, participating in the Atomic Tests at Eniwatok and Johnson Island. In 1960, when former President EISENHOWER made a trip to the Far East, LANSING, then under command of LCDR E. W. OSTLUND, USN, served as a life guard vessel for the Pacific crossing.