Los Alamos (AFDB 7) - Naval Cruise Book

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n,,U.,..vf.- ---- -Q ---W ----------- -H-.h...f.....i...., he . , , ,A Above: Is it a network newsroom? A Pentagon strategy room? No on both counts: it's the dedication of a crew's lounge, mid-19805, by QL to R1 COMSUBRON 14, XO and CO of AFDB-7. Below: LCDR Lacoss, then-CO, pauses to say a few solemn words about the new crew's lounge dartboard. iThis crew's lounge is now Female Berthing.1 In another case of history repeating itself, the after outrigger was skeletonized more that nedt once, above, for reasons of our inactivation, 1 right, for the 1969 yard period. msil gi3':YiYSir:F17fg'i fi-.r' 1' ff 'nf' Q l-.LL-ik.. . ,,,,,, ...NY ,. .,,,,,,.. N, .. - 2. . ,h us- J. -.L.1:..--1A.-. ,,.,n-,,.'71'a.l'. -It ' Left: In 1964, AFDB-7 self-docked her bravo pontoon, seen here just clearing the inboard port wingwall while being removed. Right: About 26 years later, this almost identical photo was taken during the 1990 alpha and bravo pontoon changeout. Interesting the way history tends to repeat itself, isn' t it? And now, it's time for DRYDOCK TRIVIA! A series of little facts and statistics, designed to increase your knowledge about LOS ALAMOS! Did you know ...? 1963 holds the record as the year with the most dockings, 28. 1972 holds the record for most submarine dockings in a year, 20. ' Over 30 years LOS ALAMOS averaged 14.8 dockings per year. Our total dockings numbered 454. Our total submarine dockings numbered 304. In 1984 one of our dockings was aboard a Royal Navy drydock, HMS NEPTUNE CAFD-601. LOS ALAMOS sent her dock- ing Officer, Dockmaster, and line handlers to dock USS NATHANIEL GREEN KSSBN- 6361. The largest vessel docked in LOS ALAMOS was BETELGEUSE KAK-2601. Her dimen- sions: 454' 9-5f8 long X 62' 1-518' wide, 9000 tons. The submarine that holds the record for most dockings is USS ULYSSES S. GRANT fSSBN-6311, with 13. Three oth- ers, THEODORE ROOSEVELT ISSBN- 6001, LAFAYETTE ISSBN-6161, And ALEXANDER HAMILTON QSSBN-6171 tie for second place with IZ each. The EBM submarine with the fewest dock- ings was FRANCIS SCOTT KEY CSSBN- 6571, with only one. Close contenders are WOODROW WILSON ISSBN-6241, KAMEHAMEHA QSSBN-6441, GEORGE BANCROFT QSSBN-6431, and LEWIS AND CLARK CSSBN-6441, with two each. We have docked 39 of thef41 PBM sub- marines in 30 years. The two holdouts were SIMON BOLIVAR KSSBN-6411 and BENJAMIN FRANKLIN iSSBN-6401. Now, don't you feel really smart? A-hsrx21Ai':!1'vifi.-Ewa56311Zif?..filiLL1L. f!1H2.Ei1lC'LZ1GKGi:iQ!I-5iB'fBMb?.n'S!3b?li'S!. :- , , . , -- M. 1 'H x . T 0 The following three photos are not from LOS T'- ALAMOS's history, but their historical importance merits ,,, inclusion here. Their own captions speak for themselves ff. lf i , . ifrom Floatin Dr Dock Trainin Manual , 19531. 1,5 Y , ff3'i? V nw, . ' , if 3 2 W , f yrigx Afffg, ,,5 ',Qf j.: f',.ffd ' 57,-s,qX K L hz I ' - ...- . f 1, ...W 1 .. As ,f.,,,. ,f .,, , 7 -Qcfyw' fn ' 4 f .W .fWaf'2:yQW,I,fff-BWI? , W -Q 'f W , . . , .sr Q M-A., 1 2, ,QQ 70- fr' ' ff V ,, , F, N-,.,,f '2Y1.r1,vf,:,a':-1 . H f I 1-N n'F,,,i-yyxtxgz QA, Wgswf I 3, ' I iz, ., -75 ev,.7 4 ff X, ,, :a'?.5,Fg:1 ' fi ' M 2' , ai ' 1 'X ' ff .5 ' Nw-, : fp 3 'iw W-msvww, I 4 I ff, ii 5 , Q ,f 1 r l f ' 562,71 4:35 I im! ,W fi ::.w,.: 2259225 L N 1 i 5119 sxfrmitzi an -Wa Terr X 2 lLf,'I?'i3 222533722 KI: 2511 I3Si'Ii'S .. 'i'1-'n ,, v:7: 9 'ii 2: 1 '-a Q 'R Y W! L if 4 .4155 uf' 4 ' E . .,,, v . , . 3. 13 izezmf-iwzffv

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,-eg112,fQ3'h A Brief History of LOS ALAMOS and the Holy Loch It is fitting at this point to touch upon the history of LOS ALAMOS, because she has played a vital role in the mission of the submarine fleet for the past thirty years, but it is equally fitting to bring to light certain facts about her construction, original commissionf ing, and pre-Holy Loch history. Space does not allow the mention' ing of every fact, so only those felt to be most pertinent will be seen here. LOS ALAMOS is one of seven sectional drydocks originally desigf nated Advance Base Sectional Dock CABSDD. ABSD 1 f 3 were ten-section construction with a lift capacity of9l,000 tons. ABSD 4 f 7 were sevenfsection construction with a lift capacity of 56,000 tons. ABSD 7 was designed under the direction of the Bureau of Yards and Docks by the consultant marine engineering firm of Frederick R. Harris, Inc., New York fMr. Harris KEY DATES 06 Jan 45 First commissioned USS ABSD-7 . Mar 45 Original construction of all sections completed fnote that commis, sioning was held prior to completion of constructionl. Aug 45 Under tow via Pearl Harbor and Enweitok to Kwajalein when hostili- ties in Pacific ended. Aug 46 Designation changed from ABSD 7 to AFDB 7. Aug 46 Decommissioned. Jan 47 Berthed in Green Cove Springs, Florida. 01 May 61 Four sections QA, B, C, Dj activated in early 1961 and departed Mayport, Florida, on this date enroute to Holy Loch. 01 Jun 61 Arrived in Holy Loch. 03 Jun 61 Assembly and erection of AFDB 7 commenced by approximately 350 men and officers of Mobile Con- struction Battalion FOUR and 150 men and officers of AFDB 7. 10 Nov 61 Placed infservice and cus- was formerly RADM Harris, i tody transferred to COMSUBRON 14. Chief Of Bufeaul- The Original Top. AFDB-7 seen from af., 1969, with D pontoon removed, during 3 yard period. Nm items 20 NOV 61 First docking, USS construction of the sections was aSf 02X:fa'W?:'S-and '1 'PC'S2'f'f'I1j0fh'Zi2aag2 fog GEORGE WASHINGTON QSSBN completed in March 1945 by the Arms 1 p ly h 1969 s i. Y... slr.. Q..e.n'.i-1.11. ri.. im efes ungpm of af. 598J. Shipyardsz gh k dh hf dl ZAFDB 7 h AS 33 in dock, b ecause in reality AFDB-7 co Id have NOV First undocking. cleaned on SSBN 598. l 08 Jul 64 Self-docked Section B. AIG Pollack Stockton Stockton, California QEFOB-7137 name USS LOS BICIDIF Chicago Bridge Sr Iron Works Morgan City, Louisiana 2,4 Jun 91 Last Submarine docking, E PittsburghfDes Moines Steel Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USS WILL ROGERS QSSBN 6591. W- 19 April 1973: Charlie Engine Room receives a new diesel engine. AFDB-7 undergoes a crane changeout, very likely in late 1960s. Sub tenders have come and gone during the past 30 years, but only LOS ALAM' OS has been constant. 1991 photo show' ing USS SIMON LAKE QAS-33J. TIE? 157- :1'.31f'f'7f rv'-'EXW' r?7f??5155iP?f!.TiE?P'? f 1f 1 -'ff' Xwvfrfz-rf-fr-. -':f,:1-- vw. fa- --v--.W ,.,,. fm K M .. - -- -f- - . V 1 -1. - - .,,.-nz. -. 1 .:'-rfvm..-Hb. 571. fxmziw-'zrnv-:vm .ww-:fm-Y.,-4.-m-.1-.-v, f,-,....f-.,.-.,,-,,.-..v..m.fnrmw1wri1s:9-!1:3'.!,4ifSfS

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Edinburgh Castle, in Scotland's capital, is home to the annual Military Tattoo, a display of military bands and elite units. F Left: EMFN Hendrix hides from his girl by a shop in Inveraray, home of lnveraray Castle, seat Argyll of the Dukes of since the 14th c. Right: Also from the 14th c., Glamis Castle, in T side, the scene of Dun- can's murder in Shake speare's Macbeth. ay- 14 Travel and Lei The LOS ALAMOS sailor, when it came to travel and leisure opportunities, found himlherself in a uniquely lucky position: that of being smack-dab in the heart ofthe histor- ical highlands! Only a few miles away in every direction are ancient castles, ruins, historic villages, and all manner of interesting and exciting landmarks. Edinburgh and Glasgow are a scant hour or two to the east by various modes of transport, offering shopping, shows, and other activities. For those with a sense of wanderlust, just across the border are England's charms: from York and Newcastle in the north, to Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, and Lon. don in the south. f' The ruins of St. Blane's Chapel, on the Isle of Bute, date back to the 12th Century, the original monastery was erected in the 6th, and destroyed by Vikings at the end of the Sth Century. Two scenes from St.Andrews: far left, the ruins of St.Andrews Cathedral, once the biggest church in Scotland. Left, the West Port, main entrance to the old town. Built in 1580, it still serves as a thoroughfare to St.Andrews citizens. Y The Paddle Steamer WAVERLEY, Last Ocean-Going Paddle Steamer in the World , can take the traveler to many locations along the Clyde Coast. ii, N, - ,. .