Long Beach (CGN 9) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

WESTPAC If one port could be called the home of the N avy's Western Pacific fleet, it would probably be Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. On April 29th LONG BEACH sailors got their first glimpse of this vast naval base as the ship tied up, outboard of the USS CHI- CAGO and the USS SAINT PAUL at Alava Wharf. This was to be a short visit, just long enough to make final checks on vital electronic gear and make final preparations for relieving the USS BIDDLE of PIRAZ duties. With all systems up we pro- ceeded to the Gulf. We would return to Subic four more times before the end of our deployment, and such places as B-6 Annex, the Chuckwagon, and China Seas would become common names to the men of the LONG BEACH. On the morning of May 5th, the LONG BEACH entered Danang Harbor for a half day of operational briefs. For much of the crew this was their first look at a place they had only read about in the papers. But for others, it was another return trip, an area they already knew far too well. With brief- ings completed, the LONG BEACH continued her trek to her station. On May 7th we offically relieved the USS BIDDLE of active control of PIRAZ. LONG BEACH controllers and radarmen were now to experience what had been for many only theory. As PIRAZ ship. LONG BEACH was to have overall responsibility for air control of all allied traffic over the Gulf. PIRAZ meant a grinding 24 hour surveillance of all air space. It was a job we knew to be vital and one which we grew to know well. i Q, xy 1

Page 15 text:

MONDAY The waiting was over. Yard periods, readiness inspections, and the anticipation were a part of the past. The future held a seven month deployment with its urgent operational commitments. But to most men, the future was still a long ways off. Monday was just a simple day of reflections and last looks. A last look at gray Long Beach skies, friends, wives, and the children. With a final look toward shore, LONG BEACH cast off her mooring lines and eased away from the comfort of Pier Echo. Her first stop was to be Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, but ultimately her destination was the Gulf of Tonkin. Clearing the breakwater with 12,000 miles of open sea ahead, LONG BEACH rang up flank speed and headed for what was to prove to be one of her excit- ing deployments in the ship's history. Three and a half days later the LONG BEACH slid into Mike Pier, Pearl Harbor. This was to be a brief visit, and most of the ship's time was spent in comprehensive meetings with CINCPACFLT personnel. But many of us did get a quick oppor- tunity to see the exciting Waikiki. Hawaii was to be our last U.S. liberty for almost seven months, and on the morning of April 20th we weighed anchor again and headed for Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, our final stop before assuming PIRAZ CPositive Identification Radar Advisory Zoneb duties. I 1, f f , 3 a, ,A pw S, '. cp, 1, 1 4 '.. ...t,..... Z, K W x ig vs R? YA Q it Xl Q A ., . W va YA x 13 A My ,f W. f .,g4g,, , .....,q,.,..,,,,,..,r..,,.,,, ' el' 4 MW ,1-C 1' -,'S,,, YU, q.9fC'Wf,f?:gJ' K ww f 4, ff' X 7'fi?f'9?3 ,. V- , f

Page 17 text:

Sunset Strip, Olongapo. Relieving the USS BIDDLE