Mississippi (CGN 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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6 l 3 1 1 I l .1 xi Il ,....I,...a 2 I 5 I 5 I I I I COMMANDING OFFICER USS MISSISSIPPI CCGN 405 To the Ship's Company of USS MISSISSIPPI, their Families and Friends: SSIPPI has been in commission for slightly more than one USS MISSI . . year. During this period the spirit and reputation that will remain with her throughout her service life has been established. Although that reputation and spirit belong to the ship, they are made by the men who man her now and by others who have since departed. This book is about the fine Navymen who have made USS MISSISSIPPI the smart ship she is today. In all the years ahead, whether we advance in the f h Navy or return to civilian life, this book will recall memories o t e way we did it in USS MISSISSIPPI. In a new ship such as USS MISSISSIPPI, our experienced Officers, Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers combine the best of their ex- tensive experience gained in a variety of ships over many years. This ' i 1 professional know-how becomes the basis of the new ship s funct ona organization and personality and is passed on to the new Navymen 1n the crew. From this combination we must learn to work together as a HShip's Companyn - a crew working as a team with a com on objective. This unique combination of HOld, Fuds, Young Studs, and Lieutenant Commandersn has met with singular success in USS MISSISSIPPI. Since commissioning, we have achieved a series of successes unmatched in recent memory. From our very successful trials performance, through our superior performance in Refresher Training, in our record-setting Gunnery Qualifications, our highly successful Missile and Torpedo firing exercises, our unprecedented participation in major fleet exercises, and our superior marks in the Supply Inspection, in Communications, and in our initial Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination, we have established a record of achievement that has already become a standard of excellence. Adding to this list of achievements our very successful Shakedown voyage to several South American and Caribbean cities and our position as a fleet leader in both retention and promotion, the sum spells nTeamworkn. Our successes did not come free of cost. We have all worked very long days and nights preparing for and sharpening our skills in antici pation of our requirements. We have traveled great distances together Since our beginning. learning to pull together as a HShip's Companyn in both work and play. We now have a ship of which we can all be 1:5555 PFiUd HOU Only in her accomplishments to date but most Wepwilingdg in ger capabilities for the future. In the years ahead of excellencg ee? Eiiwlng reputation, carrying on that tradition 1841 yet alwa SS a Shed by all ??lPS named MISSISSIPPI ever since Crewi,, Y remem erlng that A ship is only as good as her With all best wishes for the future, P. M. HEKMAN, JR. Captain, U. S. Navy Commanding Officer

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PAGE 2 3 7 I3 21 28 37 47 59 Contents CAPTAIN'S LETTER TO THE CREW SHIPS NAMED MISSISSIPPI CONSTRUCTION PRE-COM COMMISSIONING CARIBBEAN CRUISE 40 DAYS RIO CRUISE THE CREW T539

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History