Mississippi (CGN 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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History

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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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I X III' 1 ff' sie TI-Ie first MISSISSIPPI a side wheel steamer, was 220 feet long, displaced 3,220 tons, ond was Iaid down by I d I h Y rd inlI839' built under the personal supervision of Commodore Matthew C. Perryg commissioned Phiaepia Navy a I 22 December I84l, Captain W. D. Salter in command, and launched several weeks later. Af s eral ears of service in the Home Squadron, during which she performed experiments crucial to the tr ev y develosment of the steam Navy, MISSISSIPPI Ioined the West Indian Squadron In 'I845 as Flagship for Commodore . . . . . d d Perr . During the Mexican War, she took part in expeditions against Alvarado, Tamplco, Panuco, an Laguna o Y Ios Terminos, all successful in tightening American control of the Mexican coastline and interrupting coastwise commerce and military supply operations. She returned-to Norfolk for repairs I January I847, then arrived Vera Cruz 2l March carrying Perry to take command of'the American Fleet. At once she and her men plunged into amphibious operations against Vera Cruz, supplying guns and their crews to be taken ashore for the battery which fought the city to surrender in four days. Through the remainder of the war, MISSISSIPPI contributed guns, men, and boats to a series of coastal raids on Mexico's east coast, taking part in the capture of Tobasco in June. MISSISSIPPI cruised the Mediterranean during 'I849 - SI, then returned to the United States to prepare for service as Flagship in Commodore Perry's momentous voyage to Japan. The squadron cleared Hampton Roads 24 November 1852, for Madeira, the Cape of Good Hope, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, which was reached 4 May 1853. - The squadron now approached Japan by calls in the Ryukyus and Bonins, and entered Tokyo Bay 8 July I853. Commodore Perry proceeded, in one of the most difficult, skillful, and significant navalfdiplomatic missions ever recorded, to negotiate a trade treaty with the Japanese, hitherto absolutely opposed 'to opening their country to Western trade and influence. After further cruising in the Far East, MISSISSIPPI and the squadron returned to Japan 'I2 February 'I854 and 3'l March the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed. MISSISSIPPI retUrr1eCl to New York 23 April I855, and again sailed for the Far East I9 August 'I857,t0 bCI5e at Shanghai and patrol in support of America's burgeoning trade with the Orient. As Flagship for Commodore Josiah Tattnall, she was present during the British and French attack on the Chinese forts at Taku in June 1859, and two months later she landed a force at Shanghai when the American consul requested her aid in restoring order to the city, torn by civil strife. Sheureturned to ordinary at Boston in I860, but was reactivated when the Civil War become inevitable. She arrived off Key West to institute the blockade there 3 June I86I, and five days later made her first capture, schooner FOREST KING bound with coffeen from Rio de Janeiro to New Orleans. On 27 NOVeml99l'f0II N0 fI e0S'f PGSS, MiSSiSSiPpi River, she IOIFWCIIVINCENNES in capturing British bark EMPRESS, again carrying coffee from Rio to New Orleans. The following spring she ioined Farragut's squadron for the planned assQUIf an New OI'IeUII5' Ahe' Several UITBFTIPTS, on 7 April I862 she and PENSACOLA successfully passed over the bar at Southwest Pass, the heaviest ships ever to enter the river to that time. A5 FUVICIQUI bV0U9I'Ii his fleet UP the river, a key engagement was that with Forts Jackson and St.PhiliP 24 April, during WIIICIII MISSISSIPPI 'CII Confedefafe Wm MANASSAS ashore, wrecking her with two mighty broadsides. The city was now doomed, and MISSISSIPPI, her heavy draft making her less suitable to river operations than IIQIIIGI' ships, remained off New Orleans for much of the next year. 'Ordered upriver for the operations against Port Hudson, MISSISSIPPI sailed with six other s ips, PCIVS while She sailed alone. On I4 March IS63, she grounded while attempting to pass the forts gU0fdII'I9 POII I'IUd,50I'I- Undef enemy fire, every effort was made to refloat her by her commanding Officer Captain Melancthorl SITIIIIII End his executive officer, later to be famed as Admiral George Dewey. At last her machinery was destroyedhhijr BTHGYY S-Pllfed, and she was fired to prevent Confederate capture. When the flames reached her magazmeS,5 ' ew up and sank, losing 64 of her crew, the ships in company saving 223. I-I' lashed irl l