Lofberg (DD 759) - Naval Cruise Book

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CONTENTS SHIP'S HISTORY . . PAGE 3 WARDROOM ..... PAGE 4 THE CHIEF'S ...... PAGE 10 LEAVING SAN DIEGO . PAGE 12 HAWAII ....... PAGE 13 MIDWAY . . . PAGE M GUAM ..... . . PAGE I5 OC DIVISION , , . D PAGE 17 OI DIVISION . , , PAGE 20 SUPPLY ..... , , PAGE 25 HONG KONG . . . PAGE 30 RESCUE AT SEA . . . PAGE 35 Ist DIVISION . . PAGE 36 2nd DIVISION , , PAGE 39 AS DIVISION . . . PAGE 42 GUNFIRE SUPPORT , PAGE 44 HONG KONG . . . PAGE 55 M DIVISION . . PAGE 50 R DIVISION , , PAGE 64 KAOHSIUNG . PAGE 67 YOKOSUKA . . PAGE 73 HOME . . . PAGE 75 RUSTER . . .............. PAGE 73

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WEST PAC CRUISE of the USS LOFBERG am 7599 22 March 66 - 24 Septemb

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HIP, HI TUR Y The U.S.S. LOFBERG is named for Com- mander Gus Brynwolf Lofberg in recognition of his conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy forces in World War Two while serving as Com- manding Officer of the U.S.S. Little. - On 4 September 1942, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Commander LOFBERG, as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. LITTLE, challenged the numerically superior Japanese naval force which was shelling American po- sitions on the island. His ship scored numerous hits upon the enemy vessels before it was spot- lighted by two enemy destroyers. Caught in a curtain of fire, the LITTLE was set aflame. Commander LOFBERG was lost at sea during the battle. LOFBERG is a 2200 ton short hull destroyer of the SUMNER class. The keel was laid at San Francisco, California by the Bethlehem Steel Company on 4 November 1943 and chris- tened a year later for a cost of eight million dollars excluding armament. The LOFBERG completed her Shakedown cruise too late to participate in World War Two. The LOFBERG was at Pearl Harbor on 9 August 1945 when the Japanese forces surrendered. Although too late to reach the forward area prior to the cessation of hostilities and con- sequently not experiencing any combat duty before the war ended, the LOFBERG continued westward and arrived in the Japanese area in the fall of 1945. Assuming the duties of flagship for Commander Mine Squadron Three, who con- trolled the clearing of mine fields in that area, LOFBERG served in that capacity until the end of December 1945, at which time courier and patrol duty along the Chinese coast was assigned for a period of three months. During this time, Shanghai, China was frequently visited in addition to Sasebo, Tokyo, and Okinawa. Brief visits were also made to Tsingtao, and Taku. LOFBERG then returned to the'States, arriving at San Francisco on 28 March 1946. LOFBERG then acted as training ship for the Naval Base at Treasure Island, San Francisco. Upon completion of this duty the LOFBERG was assigned to the Inactive Reserve in the Third Fleet and was based at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Following a complete overhaul in the early months of 1947, LOFBERG departed San Francisco in April, and operated in San Diego waters for several weeks. Upon completion of the shakesown cruise, the LOFBERG returned to San Francisco and conducted several Naval Reserve Cruises, visiting Victoria, B.C., and Juneau, Alaska, in addition to Port Angeles, Seattle, Esquimalt Harbor, and Ketchican, Alaska, during the various training cruises. Gunnery exercises were conducted off Cape Flattery and also off Tatoosh in the Puget Sound. The ships of Destroyer Division 212 were assigned to Destroyer Division 71 on 1 July 1947 and the LOFBERG, flagship of DesDiv 212, became the flagship for Commander Destroyer Squadron 7. On 30 September 1950, shortly after the United Forces had been committed in the Korean Hostilities, the flagship LOFBERG, steamed for Korea and Far Eastern waters with Destroyer Division 71. LOFBERG completed three tours of duty to the Far East during the Korean action, serving with the fast carrier task forces off both coasts of Korea, providing naval 'gunfire support, and patrolling the Straits of Formosa, in addition to conducting numerous training exercises. Early in 1951, during the coldwinter months of January and February, the LOFBERG, while on its first cruise to the Far East during the Korean hostilities, joined the battleship MISSOURIfin the bombardment of Hangnum, Kansong, and Kangnung, east coast of Korea, and then escorted the Mighty Mo to the west coast of Korea and on to Inchon. Wonsan was included among the bombard- ment assignments during the second and third cruises conducted during the Korean action. During the third cruise LOFBERG, while serving as unit of the bombardment forces off the east coast of Korea, remained in Wonsan Harbor for six weeks while participating in the longest naval seige in history. Since the cessation of hostilities in Korea, LOFBERG has served with the United States Far Eastern Forces on eleven occasions in addition to the Western Pacific tour which is covered on the adjoining pages of this cruise book. ' ' - In 1962 LOFBERG underwent the Navy's Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization Program CFRAM ID. During this period the ship was modernized and had its service life extended several years at a fraction of the cost of a new ship. Among the new installations added to LOFBERG were DASH CDrone Anti-Submarine HelicopterD weapons system, variable Depth Sonar, Combat Information Center, Anti-Sub- marine Warfare Center, as well as numerous electronic equipment. Since Fram, LOFBERG'S assignments have included several patrols on the Formosa Straits, fast carrier operations, a tour with the Pacific Fleet Hunter-Killer Group Alfa , Market time patrol and ,Naval Gunfire Support missions in Viet Nam.