High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 13 text:
“
Cruiser ' s Big Guns Finally See Action Aboard USS Newport News, Tonkin Gulf— The world ' s larg- est, heavy cruiser, the USS New- port News, is now serving with the U. S. seventh fleet off Viet- nam. Th only ship on active ser- vice boasting rapid-fire 8-inch guns, the Newport News arrived in the Gulf of Tonkin October 9. Only hours after taking up sta- tion, the ship leveled her guns against the North Vietnamese coastline and fired in combat for the first time in her 18-year history. The ship ' s main battery of nine 8-inch guns are unique be- cause of their fully automatic loading system. At a range of 13 miles, the guns could fire about 90 projectiles, over 10 tons of explosives, before the first shell strikes the ground. This fire power is complemented by a dozen 5-inch dual purpose and eight 3-inch antiaircraft guns. The bulk of Newport News ' s operations thus far have been in support of Operation Sea Dragon —an effort north of the demili- tarized zone designed to help stem the flow of war supplies. An average day on Sea Dragon operations finds the cruiser ' s 1,184-man crew called to battle station three or four times for strikes against targets which in- clude bridge approaches, water- borne supply craft, transporta- tion choke points, radar sites, supply ferry approaches and coastal defense sites. In addition to Sea Dragon op- erations, the Newport News has given gunfire support to U. S. Marines fighting near the demil- itarized zone. The ship stands off the coast- line ready to fire at a moment ' s notice. Often, she is required to keep her guns in action around the clock. Norfolk is the home port of the 717 foot, 20,950-ton man-of-war commanded by Capt. Lindsay C. McCarthy. The crusier is cur- rently serving as flagship for Rear Admiral Walter V. Coombs, commander of the sev- enth fleet crusier-destroyer force and Operation Sea Dragon. The ship formerly was flagship for the commander of the second fleet and Striking Force Atlantic. Tast Gun ' SetsRecord In Vietnam NORFOLK— The heavy cruiser Newport News, biggest and fast- est gun in the East, dumped more than 250 tons of steel and high explosives on the North Vietnamese in her first three weeks of action. The ship left Norfolk Sept. 5 and arrived on the gunline off North Vietnam Oct. 9. Since then most of her time has been spent shelling commu- nications along the North Viet- namese coast. The rest of it has been spent firing support mis- sions for the embattled Marines just south of the DMZ. The Newport News ' nine 8-inch guns have a fully automatic load- ing system and can fire faster than any guns of their size afloat. Firing at ranges of more than 13 miles, the nine guns can put 90 shells weighing more than 10 tons into the air before the first one strikes the ground. The Newport News will hold the record for size and rate of fire until the battleship New Jer- sey, now being prepared in Phil- adelphia Naval Shipyard, brings her nine 16-inch guns to bear on the enemy early next summer. Cruiser Is Supporting Marine Unit (New York Times News Service) Saigon— The heavy cruiser Newport News, moved from the Atlantic fleet to Vietnam- ese waters in October, will be used to support the 3d Ma- rine division along the demili- tarized zone, a Navy spokes- man disclosed. The cruiser, dubbed the fast- est gun in the Tonkin gulf, js the only cruiser in the Viet- nam war that uses an auto- matic rapid fire system ena- bling her 8-inch guns to pump 90 rounds into the air before the first hits the ground. The U. S. Navy spokesman said the cruiser was shifted to the job of shelling North Viet- namese artillery and staging sites along the demilitarized zone four days ago. During her first month of duty in the Pa- cific, the Newport News was used along the North Vietnam- ese coast, firing at coastal bat- teries and targets inland, the spokesman said. The Navy spokesman said the Newport News was moved to the demilitarized zone to provide continuous long range hitting power with her 8-inch and 5-inch batteries.
”
Page 14 text:
“
Hostile fire was an everpresent threat to the NEWPORT NEWS and her escort destroyers while on connbat missions. Photo credit Doyle, H. 10
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
