Nitro (AE 23) - Naval Cruise Book

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0101 QL-RJ OS3 D. Purstell, OSSN W. Ortiz, GS2 M. Keenan, OSSN M. Coss, OSSN J. G10- senger CL-RJ OS2 J. Berrier, OS2 R. Colvin, OSSN R. Schultz 26 CL-RJ OSSN S. Thilberg, OSSN J. Wujcik, OS2 A. Wack, OSSN P. Bucher, OS2 M. Keenan

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embassy and other personnel from Beirut if it ever becomes necessary to do so. On 17 March conducted a conrep with USNS SATURN to receive food and supplies. On 18 March several Marines from USS GUADALCANAL embarked for training exercises in which NITRO simulated an unarmed merchant ship to be reinforced and defended by the Marines. On 19 March NITRO conducted vertrep to deliver am- munition. Anchored in San Remo, Italy on 21 March and remained at anchor until 26 March. While in San Remo crewmembers toured the French and Italian Rivieras including Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo, Mo- naco, and Menton. Conducted a conrep at 0600 on 27 March with USS FARRAGUT to Starboard and USS C F ADAMS to Port to deliver ammunition. At 1145 conducted a conrep with USNS HUMPHRIES to deliver ammunition, at 1400 conducted a conrep with USS SEL- LERS to Port to deliver ammunition, and at 1520 conducted a conrep with USS W V PRATT to Starboard to deliver ammunition. Anchored in Augusta Bay, Sicily from 28 to 31 March to conduct inport exercises with other ships of the Second Fleet anchored there. On 29 March while at anchor in Augusta Bay, Sicily, the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable William Ball III, visited NITRO and arrived via the COMSIXTHFLEET Admiralis Barge. SECNAV was escorted by COMSIXTHFLEET and COMSERVFORSIXTHFLEET, Secre- tary Ball and escorts participated in a ceremony on the flight deck in which SECNAV awarded ESWS tEnlisted Surface Warfare Specialistl qualifications to three NITRO crewmembers and also reenlisted one of the three. SECNAV then addressed the crew and commended them for their performance in getting underway for a deployment with two weeks notice. Secretary Ball was then escorted on a tour of the ship be- fore departing via COMSIXTHFLEET's Helicopter. On 31 March NITRO was underway enroute to Toulon, France. On 1 April conducted vertrep to deliver ammunition and conrep with USS KALAMAZOO to receive fuel and deliver ammunition. On 3 April N I- TRO moored at Toulon, France, one of the major naval basesiused by the French Navy. From Toulon several members of the crew enjoyed trips to Paris and skiing in the French Alps. On 10 April NITRO got underway and received food and supplies from USNS CONCORD via . is is ,N sxgx a s X N N vertrep and conrep. Conreps were conducted on 11 April with USS SOUTH CAROLINA to deliver ammunition, and on 13 April with USS SELLERS to deliver fuel and ammunition. NITRO anchored in Naples harbor, Italy on 15 April, and departed Naples on 18 April en- route to Toulon, France. NITRO moored at Toulon on 20 April, and was underway again on 26 April enroute to Haifa, Israel. NITRO con- ducted a conrep with USS KALAMAZOO on 28 April to receive fuel, and on 30 April conducted a conrep with USS CF ADAMS to deliver ammunition. 'Li On 3 May NITRO moored in Haifa, Israel and remained there to con- duct a maintenance availability until 16 May. While in Israel NITRO crewmembers represented the United States and the Sixth Fleet in cer- emonies commemorating Israel's Independence Day. Other crewmem- bers visited many historic places including Jerusalem, Jericho, Masada, and Dead Sea, Nazareth, Tiberias, and the Sea of Galilee. N ITRO was underway again on 16 May, and on 17 May conducted a conrep with USS W V PRATT to deliver and receive ammunition. On 23 May NI- TRO conducted a conrep with USS CONYNGHAM to deliver fuel and ammunition. NITRO anchored at Cartagena, Spain on 25 May, and was underway again on 30 May to conduct a conrep with USS SEAT- TLE to deliver ammunition and receive fuel. NITRO anchored again at Cartagena and remained at anchor until 3 June when she was under- way enroute to Calvi, Corsica. On 5 June conducted a conrep with USS KALAMAZOO to receive fuel and ammunition. NITRO anchored at Calvi, Corsica on 7 June and remained at anchor until 10 June. On 12 June NITRO conducted a blue water turnover to her relief, USS BUTTE, in which 260 lifts were delivered by conrep, 240 were delivered by vertrep, and 90 were received by vertrep. On 15 June NITRO con- ducted a conrep to receive fuel and supplies from USS KALAMAZOO. NITRO moored at Rota, Spain on 18 June and was again on 19 June, homeward bound. On 27 June NITRO a conrep to receive fuel and ammunition from USS tached from the task group and headed North TRO returned home to Naval Weapons Station Earle and secured from another successful Mediterranean June,

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Operations Specialist COSJ OS's AT WORK LTQgJ G. Mmogue scores at Lelsure Suit Larry While OS2 F. Olszewski cheers him on!