Lewis Puller (FFG 23) - Naval Cruise Book

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WELCOME ABOARD USS RACINE (LST - 1191) The USS RACINE (LST-191), a tank landing ship, is named for the city and county of Racine, Wisconsin. She is the second ship of the fleet to bear the name. The RACINE was built by National Shipbuilding Company of San Diego. Her keel was laid 13 December 1969 and she was launched on 15 August 1970 under the sponsorship of Mrs. Edwin B. Hooper, wife of Vice Admiral Hooper, Director of Naval History. The USS RACINE was commissioned on 9 July 1971 at Long Beach, California, with Rear Admiral Horace V. Bird officiating. The primary mission of RACINE is to land tanks, vehicles and other heavy equipment directly on a hostile beach during an amphibious assault. There are two methods of amphibious landings; one over the bow, the other from the stern. The over the bow method is the reason for the huge derrick arms extending some 90 feet beyond the bow. The derrick ' s arms hold a bow ramp over which up to a 60 ton tank may be driven directly onto the beach or onto a floating causeway. Amphibian vehicles may off load directly from the stern while the ship is still underway through the use of a stern gate. The ship is also designed with a helicopter deck so that she can participate in vertical envelopment amphibious operations. RACINE is 8,000 tons and able to steam in excess of 20 knots for an Indefinite period of time. Maneuvering such a large ship in on a beach would be an impossible task without assistance. To give assistance, a bow thruster is added. This is a separate variable pitch propeller mounted on the forward part of the hull. Using the bow thruster, the conning officer is able to move the ship laterally through the water; ' sport car handling for a limousine. ' The RACINE conducted five deployments to the Western Pacific in its first ten years of commissioned service, which included service during the Viet Nam War. In January 1981 the RACINE was assigned to the Naval Reserve Force. The mission of the Naval Reserve Force is to provide trained units and qualified personnel available in time of war or emergency. In order to accomplish this mission, the ship is composed of sixty percent full time active duty personnel and fo rty percent reservists who train one weekend a month a two weeks of active duty each year to maintain their proficiency in amphibious warfare. RACINE has been assigned to Surface Squadron ONE, homeported in Long Beach, California since 15 January 1981. BASIC STATISTICAL DATA Length 522 Feet Beam(width) 69 Feet, 9 V2 Inches Displacement 8,300 Tons(Full Load) Mean Draft(depth) 15 Feet(Full Load) Shaft Horsepower 16,000 Speed Over 22 Knots Propulsion Twin Screws, Variable Pitch, Powered by Six Diesel Engines Bow Thruster Single Speed, Variable Pitch, Located Forward Armament Two 3-Inch, 50 Caliber Rapid Fire Twin Mounts Cargo Capacity 2,000 Tons 190

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USS JOHN A. MOORE ' S 1991 PROMOTIONS AND AWARDS Promoted to First Class RMl Veasey HTl Hornbarger ETl Lavoie Promoted to Second Class SM2 Rieck RM2 Dominguez SH2 Summerhill MS2 Evving BM2 Alverez HM2 Broomfield YN2 Dunning FC2 Hohler ET2 Jeffers FC2 Smith Promoted to Third Class BM3 Honea GMM3 Kent EN3 Karlovetz ENS Lawless Surface Warfare Officer LT Ballister LTJG Loper Enlisted Surface Warfare ETl Lavoie BM2 Buttars STG2 Herbes ET2 Clark Navy Commendation Medal LCDR Landon Navy Achievement Medal LT Pupo LTJG Martin LTJG Stone OSC Marias SMl Garrison SHl Robinson FCl Cheeseboro EMI Cook STGl Miller ET2 Jeffers GSE2 Starkey FC2 Allen SH2 Crabtree GMG3 Carper BM3 Alvarez MS3 Evving GSE3 Peterson SUPPLY DEPARTMENT RECEIVED THE BATTLE E 189

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YEAR IN REVIEW JANUARY 1991 3M INSPECTION FEBRUARY 1991 AMPHIBIOUS REFRESHER TRAINING TRAV SAN FRANCISCO MARCH 1991 SMA AMPHIB OPS SOCAL APRIL 1991 MTT (16-18) R AVAIL MAY 199 1 COMMODORES PERSONNEL INSPECTION COMMAND INSPECTION (28-29) PRE-TRE FTG 119 (18-19) JUNE 1991 PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL DEPART LONG BEACH TO POHNPEI JULY 1991 POLITICAL FORUM - MICRONESIA AUGUST 1991 TRANSIT TO LONG BEACH AMPHIB OPS HAWAII TIGER CRUISE SEPTEMBER 1991 WEAPONS OFFLOAD OCTOBER 1991 ENTER YARDS (SWM) ENTER DRYDOCK NOVEMBER 1991 DRYDOCK CHANGE OF COMMAND DECEMBER 1991 DRYDOCK EXPLANATION OF THE SHIP ' S INSIGNIA The emblem to represent the ship borrows heavily from the emblem of Racine, Wisconsin, the namesake of LST 1191. The figures laboring with an anvil are symbolic of the industrious laborers and creative craftsmen who have brought prosperity to the city of Racine, Belle City of the Lakes . The eagle, our national emblem, stand for freedom - that great treasure which we have so long enjoyed and which the USS RACINE is charged to protect. The anchor is symbolic of USS RACINE ' s crew and the Great Lakes sailors of Racine who brought supplies to the city, enabling it to grow and prosper. The links of chain surrounding the emblem are symbolic of RACINE sailors past, present and future, all joined for the common goal - the preservation of freedom. The motto of the USS RACINE - HONOR, VIGILANCE, VALOR , represents the ship ' s company; ever vigilant and ready to serve with honor and valor. USS RACINE LST 1191 191