Lewis Puller (FFG 23) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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COMMANDER ROBERT B. JAMES Commander James entered the U.S. Naval Academy from Tucson, Arizona. Following graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Oceanography and commissioning as an Ensign in 1972, he reported aboard USS HALSEY (DLG-23) as assistant CIC Officer. He then served as CIC Officer and later as ASW Officer. In June of 1976 he transferred to USS FORT FISHER (LSD-40) where he served first as Navigation Officer, and as Administrative Assistant, then as Operations Officer. Following attendance at SWO department head course, he served onboard USS SOUTHERLAND (DD-743) as Operations Officer then onboard USS BRISTOL COUNTY (LST-1198) as Engineering Officer. In September 1982, CDR James was assigned duties with the Royal Navy under the Personnel Exchange Program. While attached to the Royal Navy, he served under the staffs of the Commander, United Kingdom and Netherlands Amphibious Group and the Commodore Amphibious Warfare staff of the Flag Officer Third Flotilla. CDR James next served as Executive Officer onboard USS CAYUGA (LST- 1186). For his initial shore duty tour, he was assigned duties with NATO at Headquarters, Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy. While there he was the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff, CDR James served as Operations Officer Onboard USS SIAPAN (LUA-2). CDR James assumed Command of USS RACINE (LST-1191) on 8 November 1991 in San Pedro, California. CDR James awards Include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. COMMANDER HAROLD D. COVERT Commander Covert graduated from the University of Kansas in 1973 and was commissioned via the Naval Reserve Training program. His first assignment was as Damage Control Assistant onboard USS WILLIAM R. RUSH (DD-714). He then served on the commissioning crew of USS MOINESTER (FF-1097) as Damage Control Assistant and later as Navigator. After a tour ashore at Navy Recruiting District, In- dianapolis, Commander Covert returned to sea as Weapons Officer on- board USS TALBOT (FFG-4). He then served as Engineer Officer onboard USS LA MOURE COUNTY (LST-1194). Commander Covert subsequently received his Masters Degree in Man- agement from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey. He then served as Executive Officer in USS NEWPORT (LST-1179), His most recent assignment was as a financial Management Officer of Other Procure- ment, Navy Appropriation in the Office of the Navy Comptroller. Commander Covert has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars, and various cam- paign medals and unit awards. Commander Covert turned over command of USS RACINE (LST-1191) to Commander James on 8 November 1991. He is married to the former Michelle McDonough of Tacoma, Wash- ington. They reside in San Pedro. 192