New Orleans (LPH 11) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 The UDT personnel practice their roles in the recovery. ,QI

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,JF The mock-up of the command module is rolled out onto the flight deck.. Prior to the actual splashdown, New Orleans con- ducted many pre-recovery SlMEXes or practices on the way to the recovery site after leaving the Pearl Harbor Naval Base on lanuar 18th y . The exercises were geared with the actual Apollo pick- up in mind. This was a period when the pilots and crewmen from NAS Imperial Beach based Helicopter S d - ' qua ron Six and New Orleans crew had dress re- hearsals in order to be completely ready for the big day February 9th, A boilerplate mock-up of a command module was utilized. Additionally, a point of splashdown was simulated and all forces necessary for the actual pick-up .were employed as if it were the real thing. Even the CBS-TV and radio pool crews rehearsed their opera- tions through the SlMEXes and developed what has been called the most impressive coverage ever on a recovery . The new techniques included using a television camera in a helicopter as well as using a gyro-mount on shipboard cameras to eliminate some of the roll previously noted on other missions. Playing the part of the astronauts in each of the practices were members of UDT-ll, the team of swim- mers that attached the flotation collar around the capsule on splashdown and opened the hatch for the astronauts to exit the capsule These men were b i . . rought on board ship, quarantined and ive VIP ' g n receptions many times during the course of the SlMEXes. and hoisted by the special aircraft crane -' ' . -X .N 'PT 'e -as e Y A K - X-fs. -W 'e'--K-9 A A ..4,.. Y A' ' ' viii'-n A I A f A

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,s'Y' CROSSING THE Ll ln the tradition of greasy slimy polliwogs the world over, here the senior polliwog on board, the Executive Officer Commander james W. Olson and his trustee aide Chaplain Cecil B. Threadgill performed their duties. Tradition has been honored since the days of the Phoenicians, that when a ship crosses the equator, honors must be rendered unto King Neptune. New Orleans was no exception. The afternoon of january 26th was re- served for Polliwog watch standing. For you must know that any craft who'd fain Cross the Great Sea Lord's Royal Domain, Must pay the tribute that King Neptune wishes And be received by mermaids, bears, and fishesi We will see you on the morn, And any who resists will wish he had not been born. iFrom the Crossing the Line ritual of the British Navyl The Crossing the Line ceremonies are of such ancient vintage that no one really knows when or where they were derived. Such cere- monies took place as far back as the Middle Ages, and even before that when ships crossed the thirteenth parallel or passed through the Straits of Gibralter. These ceremonies were extremely rough and were supposed to test the novice crewmen, or boots, to see if they could endure the hardships of a life at sea. The Vikings reportedly practiced similar ceremonies upon the crossing of certain paral- lels. Consequently, many historians believe that the present day. ceremony was passed on from the Vikings to the Angles, Saxons and Normans, continuing to our present time. -Q.,-,,..,,, tum... On the evening of the 26th, Davey jones and the royal headsman appear to present Captain Nloore with his orders for the following day and to inform the crew and the senior polliwogs that King Neptune will make his appearance the following morning. The Royal Sheriff insures that King Neptune's orders are carried out.