O Brien (DD 975) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 Qt A s g ft ,rg f V1 as-f '19 ve f is 1 r' ' A pgs 13114: . W nk, Q . iq N'-M , fgrflils ffrslanrztl tw!! :hw '.uf1?.vfg 1 ww! .'-'ram Hum Hu- tivrr1.md.s ol l'CTp10p.lm!1on. THE PANAMA CANAL Thus tar tn her Ctintrrwtsseorwtt Mfr HWS W 'wk 'ftftfif' two transuts of th0F'.1nm1t.'4 tltnat wtf' tt tt 'f-2 ff twffwfffi for the return home to San t'te',:n fwtffw' tent: Nw' Atlantic and Pacrtttt Ofenns the tianai Putrnris 9-'VHF' E11 miles through lush tropwsti toms! twfgtnf'-nt? a'C1rtr,mhat breakwater at the Atmntw: ternwntzs and Q nf't1nt.fnQ.tnthfr vicinity of San Jose' rock on the P1 1 L' 9419 The canal t set hes rn 11Ql'ntlP wed: '1'rD Ott n -4 tt 4 me Canal Zone Btntt md operwted tw the Un tt 1 Q 2 f Q t canal opened to tpnmntortnt trwttrc In Qt-4 APC serwes to shorten the IGUYITON between 'nt mt ans tonnft ts by some 7 000 mtles It rs esttm tttd tt' '1t m th Q srmrtc ned To transit the Cin tl a snap must pass throat '1 a sem 5 ot lock systems Gatun Lodts on the Atlanttc stde consrsts of a series ot three sets ot param. touts that step a snap up or down rn elevatron between a sea Rexel channel that extends Out into Ltrnon Bay tn the Carribean and 32 mule long lake Gatun whrch extends on to srmtlar locks onthe Pacrttc stde Each set of locks rs of masswe concrete constructlon wlth huge steel gates that gwe access to A -..ay -F, me , , tp- -'rp .fn 44.441 fn -z '.,.4v0-4 '.nn.N-n-an-0 ' A, F 1 A ts ' f '. w- 1-can-., 'fi' O BRIE N approaches the Panama Canal from the Pacific Side 4' , . f- rr , A ' ' ' A a , 3, 1 K- X' .f -V' V -J ' nn- ' n , 3 ,A gs. ' A tj fr i'i1 . ' I V I 4' 1 x ' - Auf. xl ',r gh, gr-N' V A . fi, 1 . 1., l .. '., Q: 'F ' s r -. U w ' 's I E? '- , rf' , . , V ,r K Q I .r - ' 4. tl 1 I. . -Q S .Q -1 X it tMx'. U., .s Q t 'w J .I 1 journey reduces shuppmg costs tw nearir a factor ot 10 ' t - xt. ., , , , . , 1 3 1 .. gt , '- 1 3.1, if r b . N- V o I -I I - 4 :Q ' 1 Q :ft 'T '- . - ' A A . , A r A 'I

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QF?-1 Hsggginq the Probe when O'BRlE N refuels at Sea during Shakedown Training. The crew enjoys O'BRlEN's first Fantail Cookout . is, all. The following workweek proved almost as taxing as the weekend. After a couple of productive mornings spent cleaning the ship for an upcoming Open House fwhich saw 4.500 Gull Coast residents visit the shipl, most of the crew wearily retreated to the local softball field at Lakeside Manor where various souls, belonging to one or more of O'BRlEN'S ten softball teams. could be found trying to outdo each other at their newfound pastime This first day of many scheduled softball games saw 6 of O'BFtlEN's 10 teams pitted against each other in grueling games The first game of the season was a contest between the Officers and CPO's. To the dismay of the Chiefs they were soundly trounced. 24 to 9. The following week brought the start of Post Shakedown Availability where many of the problems uncovered during FCT were corrected by Ingalls Shipbuilding During the month of Mav. O'BFtlEN's crew will busy themselves with monitoring all shipyard work to ensure its proper completion and, at the same time. will provide fire watches during welding operations and other hot work , as well as continuing with maintenance of the ships equipment The next commitment for the ship is a backlltting period in Long Beach Naval Shipyard where the ship will be outfitted with additional highly sophisticated weapons systems not originally contracted lor by the ship builder. This period is scheduled to begin in early July and extend through Jartuziry of 1979 During the transit from San Diego to Long Bench, the ship will have a Dependents Crtiisr- with busing provided fOr the trip batik to S80 Diego The events scheduled between the end ol PSA and the beginning of the yard period will also offer the crew some well -earned relaxation Among the events the crew is looking forward to are proposed port visits to Rodman CZ and a 3 day stay in Acapulco, Mexico Then it's on to San Diego with an arrival date of late June and sometime to spend with waiting families and friends. See you Soon! me . .H ef TT -new Rigs ,, -f Q 'P 4 ' 4 . 1 ml' N' .fc -if ' f -. 5 I' ' fa- as -' .1-1' I l

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W Q f 'f n ,ri Ml , ,- is I -2 3- ..-i 'W ff- A A A 9 ,A qV 4? , lr 5 mls? 1 V Y K Q, W ll lg r 4... - , v K .vnu nl.. ,ll A i M, r... - - s GA TUN LOCKS - The Atlantic end ol the canal. O'BFllEN enters her lirst canal lock. ' fl gal auf' r .. V V Karyn, 3 mf fl' if , r' F 'fl 5 nw r ' 6, - . 'V I r Qfl will Q35 r ff! A V r ll 9 ' l 5 3 4 x Q lv 1 .' ' 4 V , V K. A I rr . r U 53-A -y M ,, H 4- .QL 1- . v Enjoying the Fresh Water Wasndownh as OBRIEN transits Lake Gatun. r-aah lt'VC'l as lm: shin moves up or down ln i-ivvitllfirl llvbll' l'1gllf.'5 Opvlt lO allow 3 Ship into U18 loci-r.1rll:lr!r-n.rlrl-close-filo Dt'flT'ltl the water level l0 tw rqruln all-fit to 2tl.lt call thc- next l'llr7l1l r or lower level. lu'i'rlfi'Y ln till Q-slczn lock is gravity lcd through large lm full-,. in the concrete structure from the next rwgrwr lf-.rr-l Ultlnmtely, water lor the whole renter-f,a, lf. gwrlgl'.'lcrtl'rc,t lrorn lake Galun The water ' s lrliln' lm- lalw and nventuallyemptleSlnlothe fly- --.ln :ln ilzlih open and close lt IS estimated that Hg' V'fl.'1U W ualluns of water are released lrom the Ml--1 'nr the nassaqe ol each ship through the mai CJ EEFUEN made her second transit ol the canal on April 10 alter Spending a day at Flodam C Z nr- fne Pacific, side. for refueling Cuslomarily ClE3F1lEN tai-es aboard visitors lor each trip tnrrllugh :ne canal loiprovlde an opportunity lor L15 fjepondenls and military men ln the Canal Zfiflf' to enloy the beautiful scenery ol lake Gatun. T-.-.enly-six such guests were welcomed aboard lor lms trip Tl 'lE y' were given a brlel tour ol the ship and men crewed the scenery lrom weather deck levels The :rip was equally enloyed by members ol the crew Many hands could be seen lining the rails. cameras ln hand. snapping pictures of tropical scenery. or ol the antics of other crew members O'BFRlEN's second passage through the Panama Canal was an enjoyable and memorable one - for all concerned. .ama