Leyte (CVA 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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G UCUST Rising high above the clouds of Sicily, the majestic Mount Etna poses an everlasting threat to the lives of inhabitants of nearby communities. GATEWAY to Sicilian culture and history, the seaport town of Augusta proved to be a very interesting and typical native town. I This large Italian naval base is strategically located at an extreme tip of Sicily, the largest, most fertile, and most populous island of the 'Mediterranean Triangular in shape, Sicily is separated from the mainland of Italy by the Strait of Messina. More than two-thirds of Italy's wine is produced here, a great portion of the vineyards being located near Augusta. i Containing the most fertile farm land in Sicily, Augusta produces a large portion of the wine of Italy. r -,..-.- -.-....i.,.,., ,, . ., nl,-ff-nfnnm.-Q, nwmlu ' f v f .mm-m..f-vu.. f I 'nw 1 W-v .in.f:un1-'mf-,m. ,. ,.-, ff m v Q 1 -an wfu.-emu. . .Quant x - I . m ws smssmxfs sw ww x

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Upper Left: Chief Lakin and the Leyteys eighteen-piece military band-of which we are justly proud. These talented musicians sup- ply us with music from Autry style to Beethoven scores, render -honors, music for our dances, and provide the Marines' Hymn for Captain's Inspection. Upper Right: The Sight book reads, ull-31-28, 24 36.81 This relatively inanimate data that ENS Frazier and Quartermaster Hailstone have compiled will be converted within a matter of minutes to a definite position on our navigational charts. Lower Left: YVith His parallel rulers in one hand and the dividers in the other, QMC C. E. Budd determines our track through the devious approach off Yeni Kala into Izmir, Turkey. Lower Center: You WVou1d be happy, too, if your relief had reported aboard. Apparently CDR Reid has just informed CDR Hasel- ton that he is ready to assume all of the duties, responsibilities, and obligations of the Navigation Department. Lower Right: QM2 Simpson takes a cut using the bearing circle to sight a fixed position on the distant beach. 'When at anchor, a bearing watch is constantly maintained on the bridge to see that we remain within our specified anchorage. VVHEN UNDERVVAY, a quartermaster's day begins an hour or so before sunrise, if he doesn't have a watch, and ends after the 2000 position report has been given to the Captain. During exercises at general quarters, air defense, fueling, piloting, and sea detail, the bridge is manned by QMS. Besides these stations, there is always a Navigating Quartermaster on watch to assist the Oihcer of the Deck and the Navigator, a Quartermaster of the VV'atch in the Pilot House to record the events of the watch for the Officer of the Deck, and at the same time, a Quarter- master is on watch in Steering Aft to take steering control there in case of a casualty. At anchor Quartermaster watch is maintained to check our position. Regardless of whether we are to anchor, or by some lucky 'break tied up, there is a Quartermaster of the VVatch on the Quar- terdeck acting as the Starboard Arm of the OOD. The old adage, HCONSTANT VIGILANCI3 Is THE PRICE or Goon NAVIGATIONN is well understood by the men of the Quartermaster Gang.

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CATANIA is one of the -most thriving of Sicilian cities. Situated at the foot of the 10,8711 foot giant, Mount Etna, the city has suffered repeatedly from volcanic eruptions and vio- lent earthquakes. In 1669, the terrible Etna seethed with rage, send- ing down tons of molten lava upon the city, causing the destruction of a great many of her antiquities. The city had only begun to recover from the erup- tion of Etna when, in 1693, a violent earthquake killed more than 18,000 of her people. CATANIA has had a long and distin- guished history. Foun- ded long before the birth of Christ, she has played a major part in many of the struggles of Europe. The city was head- quarters of the Athen- ian troops during the war between Athens and Syracuse in 432 B. C. The Cathedral of Catania, founded in 1091 by Count Roger, is a fine building and is worthy of the at- tention of all who visit the city. CATANIA is nowre- viving with gre at splendor and has much more the fea- tures of a metropolis than Palermo. The principle streets are wide and well-paved with lava. Most of the edifices have an air of magnificance un- known in other parts of the island, and the town has a title to rank with the ele- gant citiesof Europe.