Midway (CV 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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CCLD WAR HRONOLCGY 22 March WWhile the Midwoy's crew is spendlng the third of seven scheduled days ot rest and relaxation In in Hongkong, the ship is suddenly ordered to gel Undoef' way in the morning and move quickly to the South Chino Sea oft the coast at South Vietnam. Taken by surprtsfit the crew is forced to leave in Hongkong over 513,000 ln deposits, shirts and other clothes. lThese deposits plus much laundry were later recovered by a special Supply Department task force.l The cause of the sudden departure is the rapidly deteriorating situation in the small, landlocked lndochinese country of Laos. ln the dense, uncivilized jungles and rugged mountains, a rebel army, supported and supplied by Russia and Communist China, continues to move south, advancing against the poorly trained and in many cass poorly equipped Royal Laotian Army. At issue is possible military intervention by the US andfor SEATO, which has pledged aid to Laos. 23 March Underway early in the morning, the Midway moves south. Throughout the Far East, the complicated US military machine is alerted. Other units of the Seventh Fleet the Lexington, Coral Sea, Bennington and gmoller WPP0'l '-NPS m0ve to designated positions in the South China Sea, 27 March To increase her capacity to aid a limited ground war, the ship moves to Subic Bay for eight hourg to onlaad VMF-3ll, a Marine F8U squodron, '2 April The day being Easter Sunday, holiday routine isicgbsgrlied. Many people turln out for .Egger Church Ser- . ater bask on the flight deck tn the hot tropical sun The weather continues hot, in the low nineties. The sea :K water injection temperature is 84 degrees In Laos and in Bong, lmols, the two sides exchange offers ol conditionol qeosehresl but the fighting in Laos's steam- lflg jungles COt'ttir1Ue5, S Apfll AS hopes continue to T550 for a cease-tire, the Midway glgbrdered to 'proceed agoin fo u tc Bay, this time to Offlood the Marines Rumors of a trip North are persistent, yet Q, Seo the ship lives in ignorance. A5 day after broiling doy posses' the average sailor feels like C pown on a great chess board, He hos no idea when a move is comin nor.to where or for who, purposi, He is curious, anxious, bored. He Q X reads the morning news of confer proposals, plans, and wonders wh erases' difclfsslofw, studies, and be done with it. Meunwhil' e COn',lU5l fight it out circles again around a stationary PTMLhe hMtdway steams in 9 April-To relieve the monoiony 'Lt e South China Sea, held on the flight deck, featuring such 90.0 Olllmpiad is drag race and a swab throwing Co Events GS 0 bridle event, a tug of war, the burly Eighth est. ln the final crew from the Air Department bests everond lf0nQClr deck hefty, ominous-looking chiefs. ln the Yone including The is at last ordered North. meantime the ship