Leyte Gulf (CG 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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, . Stepping Back... Arrayed for Victory LE YTE GULF History.- Naming the Navy's ninth Ticonderoga Class Cruiser LEYTE GULF commemorates the largest naval battle in modem warfare. Fought between 23 and 26 October 1944 in the Philippines, this battle virtually ending the Japanese N avy's capacity to fight as an organized force The battle marked the end of centuries of naval warfare tradition in that is was the last sea battle between forces employing battleships. lt also marked he last time surface ships employed the classic maneuver of Crossing the T when the Japanese ships attempted to enter the gulf through the Surgao Strait early on 23 October. The battle showcased three separate, major engagements. The Battle of Suri gao Straits, The Battle of Samar Island, and The Battle of Cape Engano. Called the last of the great sea battles, the Battle of Leyte Gulf used every known weapon of naval war, except mines, and in terms of sheer destruction, the battle has no rival in naval history. The battle was noteworthy in another sense, in that it saw the lst kamikaze attacks on 23 October, five planes swooped down upon escort carriers on the U.S. Seventh Fleet. This incident is credited as the forerunner of modem cruise missiles employment, and thus, the genesis of the AEGIS Weapon System. No previous U.S. Navy Ship has bome this name, although three prior Navy ships carried the name 'Leyte' to sea. Keel laid March 18, 1985. Christened Leyte Gulf In 1986. Commissioned September 26, 1987. -1991 Arabian Gulf Operations Desert ShieldfDesert Storm. -1992 Adriatic Sea Operation Provide Comfort. -1993 New York City's Fleet Week '93. I -1993 Caribbean Sea for anti-drug trafficking. K -1994 Arabian Gulf!Red Sea Operations Viligant Warrior!Southem Watch f -1997 Changed Homepoit from Mayport, FL to Norfolk, Va. I -1999 Adriatic Sea Operation Allied Force. -2001 New York in defense support and humanitarian efforts. 2001 Mediterranean Sea Operation Enduring Freedom 6 . . . . . Y ity Fleet Week 08. Station Deployment -200 Pacific Rim Global War On Terrorism in Operations Enduring Freedomflraqi Freedom New ork C' 's 7' '

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lCaptain Lester was horn in 1. l,,ori'lfirr 'onnecticut and raised in Washingtori tate. Following high school graduatio e attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School CNAPSQ. Upon mpletion of NAPS, he entered the l,'ni Sa s Naval Academy and received a com 'ssion as Ensign in May l95i3, Art initia urface Warfare training, he report l in SS IMPLICIT CMSO 4551 in l9353, a 'r served there until l986 as Chief Engine: Following his initial sea tgurg-Capgain Lester attended the,Na'i7afPo'st Graddate School in Monteieiy, Califomia. After graduation, hefattended Nuclear Power School in ofidnao, Florida and Nttcieaf Prototype Qtraining in Ballston Spa. New York. U n completion of the training pipeline i 1990, he reported as Main Propulsio Assistant in DWIGHT D. EISENH AWER CCVN 695. ln Septemlo 1992, he reported to Surface Warfare Officer School for the Department H t Course. After graduation. he reported for duty as Combat Systems Officer in USS FORD QFFG 545. t A, was A - ,.,, W, r