Mataco (ATF 86) - Naval Cruise Book

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OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT f I Left t Ri ht: lst Row, RM 3 R, L, Rosser, QM3 Chapman, SN J. H. Sichak, QM2 LA. SaI1SOD, LTJG R. L. Stark, SM3 l M, M,0He?1d.ry, PN3 G. A. Skaggs, RM1 R.R. Bayless, YN2 RJ. Marks, ETR2 R, D. Schroeder, ETN2 C. M. Pache, RM2 C, E, Perry, SM3 T, L, Brown, QM2 W. A. Lindskog, QM3 A. G, Foltz, ETR3 T. B. Batts, HM1 S. Sweigaft. RD3 L. L. Rangel, RD3 S. T. Miller X OPS The 21 Men of OPS, A11 think MATACO is tops. The Men with the Scope, I Watoh for other Boats. + The Guys with the Light, I Flash oode day or night. Where would we be without the ET'S? Who keep the Gear going. And then there's Doo, He keeps the Germs from growing. The Radiomen are neat, W They keep us in Tune with the Beat. - The Gyuy with the Wheel, Think its a good deal. 9 And of course the men with the Pen, Who sign us up for Ten. Oh what would MATACO do Without these chosen few? A. FOLTZ SWALL.0w ar Breownprou Mvg I A LIGHT OUT YoNDER i I

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TRAVEL LOG September 4th 1969 seems like a long forgotten da now, W' '1d ' - - - -' ering the separation with their men for the next seven rhonths. Albfast colfltheelwlililstjleglsrlgrltltifsdstliivearririidfnlg ogdggrwfy End n' n . Slowly t e MATACO slips from the berth and heads out the San Die o ch nn l h f 32 000 'l month cruise. The day is bright, but spirits are low. Wh t ld h g a' e on t e start 0 a ' ' ml e' 7 ' gf 311, from the oldest sailor to the newest boot , his fiafstvifrhe at iexaqyage bl-mg' That same question was m the mmds Point Loma llghf fades Ovef the hOIiZOn, steady on course 2670 , destinationg Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning off 11 September, we arrived in Pearl Harbor. Visits from the staff, stores loaded aboard and a last check for spare partsi wo nights of liberty in Honolulu can brighten the spirits of any crew. We are now reafly ready. As the MATAC slips quietly past the memorial of the USS ARIZONA, the pilot house is still. Honors are rendered to the sailors of another war. Then Hawaii .fades in the swells of the beautiful blue Pacific. n On September 21st we arrived at l31k1n1 Atoll. An LCU was sunk in the lagoon and MATACO was asked to help raise it, Forltwo days the divers pumdped voids and patched leaks, then MATACO pulled the half sunken craft toward the beach. There it was grounded, pumpe dryl and reiloated. Our first job was a success. On September 23rd we took Y C-502028 S in tow and headed for Fniwetok. T e next. day we released the tow and started for our homeport , Subic Bay, R, P, As we entered Subic Bay on the morning of the 2nd of October, the reen mountains looked welcoming after weeks at sea, but there was work to be done. Fuel and stores were low. Many tgings that can only be done inport were wait- ing, so it was 'turn to for the men of MATACO. On the evening of October 9th, MATACO took the after section of the Destroyer EVANS in tow. The next afternoon it was sunk quietly at sea. On the 11th of October we pullednalongside a strange looking craft in Subic Bay. YHLC -2 CRANDELL was a heavy lift craft used Harbor Clearance unit ONE.. Waltzing Matilda was taken in tow and we then started out the chan- nel, Ong Mati da would veer from side to side trying to get anything within its reach. When we arrived in Vung Tau, MATAC had traveled 8O0m1les, YHLC -2 1, 100' miles. We released the YHLC -2 in Vung Tau, RVN on the 16th of October and headed up the coast to DaNangi In DaNang we picked up AFDL-22, a oating drydock, and started back down the coast to Cam Ranh Bay. We re- leased the AFDL in Cam Ranh Bay and Igpt some long awaited mail. There is nothing more welcome than a letter. By the 22nd of October we were bac in S ic Bay. After a short rest, we left Subic Bay enroute Sasebo, Japan on the 3rd of November. The trip to Sasebo was rough. The gales swept through the Bashi Channel. MATACO rolled and pitched and rolled, but on the Sth day of November, arrive in Sasebo with only minor storm damage. A two day turn around, and we left Sasebo for Guam with YFRN -412 in tow. We arrived in Guam on the 18th and departed on the 20 of November with a section of the world's largest drydock AFDB 1 Few will for et T hoon Lorna 520 rolls and turkey sandwiches for Thanksgiving Subic Bay never in tow, - , g yp , . looked so good as when we passed Grande Island and released AFDB-1 on December 2nd. The next day we tried to ' ' ' It then ca sized and sank. provide services for the Philippine Navy. After faulty starts one run was made at the target. p Oh well, it was an old target anywaty. On December 7th we departed or Vung Tau and picked up the YHLC -2 and returned to Subic on the 16th of Dec- ember. Then'two days were spent providing target services for the Royal British and Australian Navies. They were crack shots. ' On December 21, we departed Subic, for Singlaplcijre, and as fate would have it at 11A. M. Christmas Day MATACO crossed the Equator. There were now 70 more S e acks in the Navy. After three days of R and R in Singapore we departed on the 29th of December with YFNB-27 in tow, with destination DaNang, RV . We returned I0 Sllble OH the 7th of January. , . 3 On 13 January we de arted Subic and arrived .Hong Kong on the 17th ofjanuary for 5 days of R and R, We left Hong Kong with a fresh coat of paint and latest styles for the states. Where? back to Subic Bay to pick up YOG-71 and take it to DaNang. We left DaNang on the 31st of I anua? bound for Sasebo and arrived there on t e 5th of February. After h two weeks o upkeep and a target tow we departed or t e states. The MATACO'S work however, was not yet finished. Arriving in Pearl Harbor on the 7th of March, we refueled d f S Francisco d d d EX-RENSHAW D -449 'n row boun or an . an eparte on the 9th mth A - Q J 1 ' d S We released the two and head- The Golden Gate was a welcome sight after 7 months away from the Unite tates. . g ed for our home, San Diego, Each person can best remember his own feelings, as the lines went over in San Diego, journey's end,

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Ki..- 1 so GUPPY Ready for wash down f H Q Ditch the comic book, here comes the OOD Code it Al, we're being watched MR. CLEAN ' ' 'vt 2 fwyf 121, . W A I mi V, f f