Midway (CV 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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Such diversity is a necessity. Contrary to beliets lcirca l95O ol several military strategists the history all the last ten years has shown that not only are many Types ot limited war possible but are an ever-present and otten recurring aanger. lt is clear that armed torces must be maintained which Ore capable Ol waging any l-rind ot war anywhere. A one-weapon, one-concept strategy necessarily ties toreign policy to an intlexible strategic concept that permits no freedom ot action and no capability to counter the numerous and devious strategems ot the Communists. Today the United States Navy can tight an air and sea war, Geography does not change. Water still covers nearly three-quarters ot the earth's surface. 9990 ot all toreign trade is transported along the lO0,000 miles ot primary ocean routes. As the United States increasingly becomes a have-not nation in terms ot many important raw materials, she becomes more and more dependent on her economic ties with other countries. Firm control ot the seas pre- vents the possibility ot a total seizure ot sea power by the Communists and maintains not only the economic, but also the cultural, political and ideolo- gical ties between the nations ot the tree world. oltensive and defensive, strategic and tactical, con- ventional and nuclear, limited and total. COUNTER-STRATEGY CONTROL OF THE SEAS Yet in spite ot the radically changed nature ot ln addition to its military mission, the Navy is modern warfare and the new responsibilities at the also an active participant in the United States' non tleet, the Navy nonetheless continues to retain its age-old missioni control ol the seas military strategy to combat communism. An lmpor tant goal at this counter-strategy is an atmosphere ide i,

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5uch fl . Qcirca 19 the hist0l i are an 4 HE onlY are THE NAVY wltltlll U onYWhe' neC955q' slf0le9 ln the world at l96l,the Cold War is a distressing Country, and E0 S:'llP C0UlCl eVe P0fllClP0l6 eltective- 1 endian: but inescapable tact of lite. At o time when actual ly in such a att e. Seated war consists ofIlY of occoslolwl fine Sl 0f'l '9 mid MOBILITY onensiv guerrilla warfare in variioia 'hotsp0lt.siea guna orbig Those who predicted the N0VY'S inevitable ohio' ventioni struggle between Egstnagior mx' :Susie ways. The lescence soon realized that a sea-borne force pos. cggwacggz 330: Z no' manly milimryl but political, sessed a tremendously valuable asset to modern nocongc' pwcll?'o?ic'ol' a.ndI:tlo:':i:E1 As long wclhhizredzeflzrisliiiilysense, mobility provides a military mini i srae In - - - -- asT rgll-ociilnmnuurizlear waTYremains unworkable as a bose wth C kgregier deirei Oli' Invulnzxslmynr lleet, l means to world domination, the Soviet effort at enemy alloc ' 'Sparse O WI cnyw on 0 090-ol present is to lessen United States prestige and influence abroad, lament discord between the United States and her allies, obtain political and economic control ol uncommitted nations, and push this country and her ideology right back to her own borders. The methods available to the West lor combating this strategy and maintaining peace are numerous, ranging from Radio Free Europe to the Organization of American States. Yet the sine qua non of an effective counter-strategy is strength military strength, Not only can military strength prevent total war, but it is an inescapable foundation for foreign policy. lt enables this country to speak with authority during periods ol crisis. lt acts as a deterrent to local military aggression by the Com- munists. lt reassures American allies. ln sum this backbone of military strength allows the United States to move decisively on both the military and non military fronts of the Cold War. THE UNITED STATES NAVY An integral part of this country s military Copa btlmes is the United States Navy From the days of colorful and legendary sea battles between crusty men ol war the Navy has evolved today into a mammouth fighting force of over 800000 officers and men including l75000 Marines and 860 ships on active duty armed with the most modern weapons and weapon systems As America 5 acknowledged First Line of Defense the Fleet covers a front of some l0O00 miles all over the World Although the great importance of the Fleet to United States military strategy is now generally accepted It was widely thought after the develop ment of so-called ultimate weapons that the era of the sea going fighting force was at an end Future wars, it was felt, would be total holocausts waged between opposing ICBM s launched from the Mother millions of square miles ot ocean, a moving naval task force is extremely difficult to locate. The location ot a land missile base on the other hand must remain stationary and therefore much easier pinpoint. Furthermore even a successful kill on one or a few sea bases would immediately alert all the other deployed naval units. Thus to be COITI- pletely eltective a surprise attack must destroy of this country's mobile bases, and destroy simultaneously--a feat of extreme ditticulty. Ottensively, mobility contributes great to a military policy. The mobile task force move immediately to an area of crisis and ashore quickly. If necessary, Army and elements can then be brought in to partiCiPUl9 any protracted hostilities. ln Lebanon, Suez the Formosa Straits, the Navy has demonstrated the advantage ot Introducing ate military strength into limited war sltuatl0I1S keep the peace. These small brush tire can thereby be contained and the threat ol military expansion can be reduced Moreovel' initial counter force can be brought to lJ60f out infringing on foreign soil, without e'lemY fire to our own country without friendly nations for logistic support, and belng lmmpered by the restrictions Ol nations It can be tree It necessary at all lurlsdtctlon whatsoever FLEXIBILITY With the ll'llFlI lSIC asset of moblllty the NUVY Comblned 0 man made asset Flexibility ep oyed fleet consists ot the attack carrier Slf' foffe the Umpltlblous landing force, the tleef ce and the mobile logistic support torce A dmposol of m'l'l0VY Planners are special dufY m antlsubmarme hunter killer forces f et Ships and a variety of weapons tram Marines Ml to the most destructive all weapons T ss I I l I S - . I - ' r . , . T . 1 . ., I I . ' - I . ' ' . . . I 0 0 I ' . - cl I - ' - 'king 1 U 1 i 1 I . . . -T . . tor , ' - - . t 1 1 , ' . . . , ll l il - . . TFUO i- ' - ' 0 . ' pick ' I - 1 Q ' T

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of friendship, mutual respect and understanfdirgg between this nation and the free nations o 8 world. It is clear that regardless of the widespread effOf'f of American propaganda abroad, the 'mPfe55'0nS that foreign peoples form of US values and standards are largely influenced by the actions and behovlOf of Americans abroad, most of whom are military personnel. Impressions so gained moY Pf0i0UndlY influence the patterns that these peoples 0dQPl 'fi their national policies visva-vis the Communist or the Free World. United States defense strategy I5 largely dependent on the extent ta which Allied and friendly people are willing to support securttY arrangements with the US. The Navy, especially the sea-going NOVY, is particularly adept in this non-military mission. A large impressive warship visiting o foreign port for a weelst parties, receptions and public visiting where possible, hundreds ol happy sailors on the beach who are anxious to purchase foreign goods and enioy the sights, publicized orphans' parties and other missionary activities, and then departure while the ship is still a popular novelty all can do much to improve foreign relations and show other coun- tries tangible evidence ol Americas military readi- ness. TI-IE AIRCRAFT CARRIER In the above picture of the N0vy's role in CU,-tent military strategy, the aircraft carrier occupies the central position. Today it is the most versatile single weapons system on the face of the earth. For the iob it does there is no replacement in sight, The Navy's ll attach carriers operate several types of fighter and attack iet aircraft, extending the Navyg offensive capability over l0O0 miles, Ag weopons these planes are configured to carry rockets. guided missiles, conventional bombs and nuclear weapat-tg, Carrier capabilities include control of th , of amphibious landings, close air support to ground troops, offensive tactical strikes against enemy installations, and fleet air defense. ln addition the CVS class carriers are equipped to perform, the anti-submarine warfare mission. e air support In general the fast carrier striking force is able to apply the precise and discriminating farce required for limited war, and until the Polaris missile sub- marine system is fully developed, the aircraft carrier with its patently armed planes will be, in coniunctgo with the Strategic Air Command and land bas il lCBM's, this country's principal deterrent to atoniiq war. In the words of Admiral James S. Russell Vi Chief of Naval Operations: The modern flexible offensive power of our Navy, the ability to opp' force with discernment, precise in location qng appropriate in degree, lies in the manned aircraft of our fleets., The aircraft carrier is their base. SEVENTH FLEET To fulfill this military and non-military the Midway, when deployed, is a key puff or' Seventh Fleet. The Seventh Fleet consists of 130 ships, includk A carriers, 650 aircraft, and 60,000 men continuing on station in the Western Pacific. The Fleet's of responsibility covers 30 million square milesfrit the Bering Sea south to Antartica, from the Hawqiig lslands westward to the Indian Ocean. Few areas ofthe world possess a greater potenlit for instability, crisis, and open hostility than theliq East. ln the Far East are three of the world'sfw divided nations: Korea, Vietnam, and China. i such volatile countries as Laos, Indonesia qst Vietnam, even a minor riot may precipitate inlot maior war. The last ten years have seen two shoot ing warsfin Korea and the Formosa Straits-i which the Seventh Fleet has participated. Witltlls awesome proximity of Russia and Communist Clllllh who are always ready to test the West's strenqb and weaknesses, nowhere are the United Stall armed forces face-to-face with the Communist tlttstt over a larger area. Yet few areas are of greater importance tolll Free World. Even notwithstanding the economit advantages of friendly relations with such staltll countries as Japan and Australia, the maintenund of freedom in the unstable countries is parametli to successful deterrence of Communist expantld Small hotspots such as Laos and South Vietnamdfl watched closely by the whole world, especiallY ll' neutral nations, as a test of strength betwll two competing ways of life. MISSION If Vice-Admiral F. N. Kivette, recent Seventh Fld. Commander-in-Chief, has described the missiotlgd the Seventh Fleet in one phrase: We're U department. In other words, the fleet is Wad, to take action if-if a foreign military threat slloltld arise 0Q0inst those countries with whom H19 UQS' has SEATO treaty obligations, and itthe num' Sliould request military assistance. If the COINS msfs luke CNY Overt action, the Seventh Fleet 0 other deployed armed forces may serve their QW pose me elY by their presence. But to be efiedm' the threat must be no mere bluff. T THE MIDWAY For 0PPl'0Ximately ten months out of 6V9 Y Years' the MlClWGY is one of three attack Ctlfflog that C0mPl'lSe Task Force 77, the fleet'S GUY. Foffief Slrlklng force. At least one of theS6 cumin. is at sea at all times. Q Most' Of the time before deployment is strai- 'WYPFOVIDQ the ship's combat readiness Gnd P0 ling trouble areas, Mgurlng her Western Pacific depl0Ym9nt' t way stands ready as a military and we . GPOI1 for the maintenance of peaC6