Muliphen (AKA 61) - Naval Cruise Book

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HUILQ 14- 7 'P' . 7 ' . II I 4 An' ' E Y. 1' I um -Q3 -- , I! A S I 9: If 5, 1 Q 4 4 - - Q ' ,O I 'X I S .. . I - --3-. 5 e .- 1 ,Q N va- ph Q ,- ' ZZ.- :-... ' A 'Taxa ' t ' gibb-'-1sz.,,S'.I.j 7 -ef. df. , -' 'iagrf-syel T0 THB OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE USS MIJLIPHEN: This 1961 Mediterranean deployment of the US MULIPHEN has been a highly successful cruise. During our six months in the Mediterrean the MULIPHEN was a part of the United States SIXTH Fleet and was required to maintain a high degree of readiness. She lived up to this require- ment. Her performance during our numerous training operations and in- spections proved that at all times she was ready. In addition, her pre- sence alone meant a great deal toward the continuence of peace and fre- edom. All of us were personally involved in the mission of building good will, of continuing friendship among nations. We became active members of our People-to-People Program every time we went ashore or visitors aboard ship. Being a credit to our uniforms and to was of equal importance with our military mission. This too welcomed our country the MULIPHEN d id well . 'During the cruise the possibility of a crisis in Berlin to grow. It made us especially aware of the significance of to our country. continued our service I am proud of the MULIPHEN and the job she has done. I am proud of the ship and of the officers and men who make the MULIPHEN. No com- manding officer can do his job without the support and cooperation of his crew. I had both of these and I want to extend my heartiest thanks to each of you for them. Each of you have every right to be proud of your- self and of your ship. May this book recall for you some of the fond memories you may have of this cruise. It records what you did for your country during this time warmest regards, rj. skurmmas, Jr. Captain, U.S. Navy Commanding Officer CAPTAIN SAUNDERS ADDRESSES THE CREW PRIOR TO ENTERING A FOREIGN PORT.

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'TI I I I I I I I I I Ship' s History and Mission THE ATTACK CARGO SHIP,USS MULI- PHEN IS ONE OF THE FEW SHIPSIN HER CLASS TO REMAIN IN ACTIVE SERVICE CONTINUOUSLY SINCE COM- MISSIONINGAND A MAJOR COMPONENT OF AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRONS OF THE FORCE. SHE IS PRESENTLY UNDER COMMANDER AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON FOUR, CAPTAIN GEORGE HUTCHIN- SON AND IS COMMANDED BY CAPTAIN T. F. SAUNDERS. BUILT IN 1944 AT KEARNY, NEW JERSEY AND COMMISSIONED ON 23 OCTOBER 1944 AT THE NEW YORK NAVAL SHIPYARD, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, SHE IS ONE OF 62 VESSELS OF THE ANDROMEDA CLASS BUILT DURING WORLD WAR II- 1943 TO 1945. IN OCTOBER 1944, THE MULIP FLEET PREPARING HER FOR COMBAT ACTION . SHE IS NAMED, AS ARE MAN I 2. -rl 5 ' 'K 'lr 41 If if iiiyii ixymw I-fn 'HHH Kiiiyy ifiiil kiiygy 'xiii' W H , I , , I, X .A i N i A' f BATTLE ENSIGNS FLOWN AT IWO .IIIVIA AND OKINAWA HEN WAS TRAINED BY THE NEW AMPHIBIOUS FORCE OF THE PAC GA Y OF THE SHIPS OF THE GATOR FORCE, AFTER A STAR. MULIPHEN BEIN MINOR STAR IN THE CO NLIKE THE STAR CMINORD, USS NIULIPHEN HAS PRO c IOUS SOUADRON FOUR AND ALSO TO THE U.S. AT'-ANT' FLEET. NSTELLATION CANIS MAJOR, LJ VEN HERSELF TO BE A MAJOR COMPONENT OE AMPHIB THE IVIULIPHEN IS A C-2 TYPE, WITH AN OVERALL LE FEET. FULLY LOADED SHE CAN CARRY APPROXIMATEL NORMALCRUISING SPEED IS 15 KNOTS AND F6 NGTH OF 460 FEET AND AN OVERALL BEAM WIDTH 0 ER Y 14,000 TONS OR 340,000 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO. H ILE5 . AT NORMAL SPEED SHE HAS A CRUISING RADIOUS OF 17,000 M THE MULIPHEN, ALONG WITH THEOTHER SHIPS OF HER CLASS, WAS DESIGNED AND EQUIPPED TO CARRY TROOPS ANDTHEIR EQUIPMENT TO TI-IE SHORES OF ENEMY TERRITORY FOR AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT ON SELECTED BEACIIE5 SHE HAS SEENACTION AT IWO JIMO, SAIPAN, AND OKINAWA, AND ALSO SUPPORTED MARINES AT BIERUTI I-E BANON IN JULY 1958. ON THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE AKA IS TO LOAD, TRANSPORT, AND LAND COMBAT EQUIPMENT AND TROOPS AN ENEMY BEACH. THE MULIPHEN IS PREPARED TO CARRY OUT HER MISSION. .W . Y s ff-S-.. . Af. . f '- S T 'Q2,B'....-4.151 381. IFIC

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1 1 sl' I M q I .I , CAPTAIN THOMAS F. SAUNDERSI COMMAND! G OFFICER FRAN- CAPTAIN THOMAS F. SAUNDERS, A NATIVE OF FRESNO, CALIPORNIA, ATTENDED SCHOOLS IN THELSSSGINEER- CISCO AND BERKELEY AREA . HE RECEIVED THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICA UNIVERSITY ING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY, IN MAY 1939. WHILE ATTENDING THE EAR BE' HE WAS MEMBER OP THE NROTC UNIT, RECEIVING HIS COMMISSION AS AN ENSIGN IN THE NAVY A Y PORE GRADUATING. O CAPT' IN 19410, WHILE WORKING AS AN ENGINEER FOR ASSOCIATED INDEIVINITY COMPANY IN SAN FRANUSC THE DE' SAUNDERS WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS A POUR--YEAR TOUR ABOAWRHOMP- STROYER USS BALCH CDD 3635. LATER, HE WAS ORDERED TO COMMAND T1'11f DITSTROYIZRI USS THE PRO- SON CDD 6275. THE THOMPSON WAS LATER CONVERTED TO A MINESWEEI-ER IN F'RLf.15'ARATlON FOR WHILE IN POSED LANDINGS IN JAPAN. POR HIS PART IN MINESWEERING OPERATIONS IN TIIIi EAST CI-IIN-A SEA ENT A5- COMMAND OF THE THOMPSON, CAPT. SAUNDERS RECEIVED THE COMMLNDATION RIUHON- SUBSEQU AT L09 SIGNMENTS INCLUDED TEACHING NAVAL SCIENCE FOR TWO YEARS AT THE LINIVIQRIQIT-Y OV CALIFORNIA SENIOR ANGELES, DUTY ABOARD THE TANKER PASSUMPSIC OPERATING IN THD PAC11' IC, AND ATTliND'NG THE COURSE AT THE MARINE CORPS SCHOOL AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA . SER, IN THE SPRING OP 1951 , CAPT. SAUNDERS WENT TO THE OFFICE OF'l'H1'f C1111 I O1 N-NVAI.. OPERATIOEEILDING VING IN THE OPERATIONS REQUIREMENTS SECTION AS COORDINATOR IDR VIII NAVY'S ANNUAL SHlP1953.HE PROGRAM AND AS A WORKING MEMBER OF THE SHIP CPIARACTERl93,1AIfUfQw ETOAHTI, I T,wINI'- CNC 'N EQUENT- ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE RADAR PICKET SHIP, USS ROGERS CDDR S'!Ij11N IHI IEIAI5-II IC AND SUBS LY REPORTED TO THE COMMANDER NAVAL FORCES, PHILIPPINES . WASH'- CAPTAIN SAUNDERS REPORTED ABOARD THE MULIRHEN FROM THE NAVAI 1'-Q1'11f X12H'Il l,,,AI11ORATORYCAPTAIN INGTON 25, D.C. WHERE HE SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND 1'7l1'llYAY IDIFWCTOR' RE5'DE SAUNDERS, HIS WIFE, HELEN AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN, THOMAS F., I IIVI II, AND ,IDAN, STEVEN' IN FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA. II.. Mil..1.4T