Paul F Foster (DD 964) - Naval Cruise Book

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gm' J X X I I 5 -11,5 in 9'64',,xl' ,,, The ship has celebrated its first anniversary in Commission. Many of the ship's crew can remember when it seemed as though they would never see the ship, much less be able to put it through its paces. Those first confusing days of Pre-Commissioning training seem , to many , as having taken place years ago. All of the men came out to San Diego anxious to find out what it was going to be like to serve on a brand new destroyer. For many of the crew, this would be their first experience at sea , while for the o1d salts this would be their second, third or maybe their last ship. But, for everyone , from the S Old Man on down, it would be their first time on board the USS PAUL F. FOSTER. They were the Plankowners . These men were given a job to do that must be considered a great honor for any Navy man. These selected individuals would play a part unique to many a Navy career, for they would be involved in the birth of a Navy Man 'O War. Their efforts, knowledge , dedication, as well as their very person- alities, would be called upon to give the ship that undefinable spirit that would carry it throughout its years of service . To capture and preserve that spirit, if only in a minute way, is the purpose of this book. It is an attempt to illustrate how these men took the ship's motto, HONOR, VALOR, SERVICE, and forged it into their own standard of excellence . This book is dedicated to them , the Plankowners. 'N 1 x ,C ,X str :- Ur' Q' sl -. ., ,a y o r mlm 'gay 9 5 an R if 'sti .. YwftM f I ,pl ,W xzsgigk? N? ' E5 N3 g J X Vgfgqvgzgyagi N J QQYKQQ SY is KZ ,elf Qs Z ,46fD45,M,,:am ig 56523 k an rf WQE4 Q ff gay 1 l Q5 J x fm!! if E I i z 4 W l l a l x zi E x 5 A' Q . I x I f -' '- 1 ' ' 1 A V - ' 5 3 1 - It . .fl X ,Al . x ' K , wl gn., E . r ,,.- r , r -54-is , Q' ll' s , '?' z ,s 1 . -T - 'w 'L 'max Q. ws-.f.. , . - - . -- , , , , .. - ,N , ,-,.-1' gspsg , M... -Hts . .w x - ,V , . V Nl s. 1 ' ' , ,rf ,n v, W , 5,-x A x- -5,511-ju Q'1: ,, .4 . is 1 I ' YR-'fir . sE,i,gf-'Jax ' L 't'7st, ' ' .3 -'g 'fl as , 1 t , xi, ' YQ, .m2:f.f. 'f?.zg,5X -' ' '. L A .- N v-1 :.' M' , , .ar , , ' .,.- 5 N 'A X - N. 'N f' K - r f - ' 5- ' i is 5 T 2 ' ff .tx 'C Y N-' iv r ' N -Y 4- Q 'A was ' T - 0 'give f - ' , 5af:s.:sjQ ig JS, ,S , ax -f fs' 5 ' E-I H' - pay , . yr 1 rises, fx sf Mzds Q-ff ' f x - . ' 5 QR Y' f! XS?'X5fH45if 'gli ZW .. 5 -V ' ' ' ' -: - , .uw - yA1mfsflXwQs?.fVQx H ' A Q' ' 6' '- f - K V , kg.. Qu- say' -X f ' . , V Q ' fvfw visas 2 V f R H hp ggflwi, b:,.rsZ.5,1QgXi. sf 'M' ' uf- I , f , - .. ' -fswffxss ,, f vW'4Ms - - A rm r ' , E s . -' YP ' ' . 2 .-....:, , ' wa, ,Q 355. y y, A vm ., , a , X 'S frwf-K'0LSfM - , , - L , ' - Sy m -.1- J... my 7 I I , A , A I . A N , JNFL .. I , , , 1 w. ' R ' V f ' , , l r I

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UNI TED STA TES SHIP PA UL F FOSTER wp 9641 F irSt AnrziverSary in Commission 21 February 1976 - 21 February 1977

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STATISTICS Length ----- ---- 5 63 Feet 4 Inches Beam ---------- ---- 5 5 Feet Displacement ---- ---- '7 ,800 Tons Personnel ------ ---- O fficers . . . 18 CPO's . . . 19 Enlisted . . . 235 Armament --- ---- 2 Five inch 54 cal. MK 45 Gun Mounts MK 112 ASROC launcher 2 MK 32 Torpedo launchers. NATO Sea Sparrow Missle System USS PAUL F. FOSTER QDD 9645 is the second ship of the DD 963 Class and the first to join the Pacific Fleet. FOSTER is a multi-mission surface combatant that has the latest concepts in ship design and electronic systems incorporated into her combat capability. FOSTER has been designed and built by Ingalls Ship- building Division of Litton Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The all gas turbine propulsion plant provides the speed and endurance necessary to operate independ- ently over a large ocean area, while the Naval Tac- tical Data System installation enables the ship to operate offensively in support of carrier strike forces or amphibious assault forces in the air, surface, or subsurface threat environment. With antisubmarine warfare as a primary mission, FOSTER is well equipped for this demanding assign- ment. The ship is specially designed for quiet opera- tion to compliment her SQS-53 sonar in detection of submarines. This new type of sonar detects, identi- fies and tracks multiple underwater targets and is the first sonar to be linked directly to digital computers, thus permitting quicker and more accurate process- ing of target information. Target destruction can be accomplished utilizing any one of the three antisubmarine weapons systems. The MK 32 torpedo tubes will be employed in the short range situations while the antisubmarine rocket CASROCJ launcher and the flexible antisubmarine helicopter will carry weapons to longer ranges. FOSTER also carries an array of other weapons to counter a variety of potential threats, including two new lightweight five-inch guns which are fully auto- matic and electronically. Recently installed aboard FOSTER is the NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System. Designed to knock down incoming high speed air targets, the missile system can be launched in a matter of seconds. FOSTER is the largest general purpose destroyer ever built for the United States Navy. The ship has been designed with space and weight reservations available for the installation of equipment and weapons that are presently in the development stage. POSTER is destined to serve our nation in the proud tradition of her namesake, Vice Admiral Paul F. Foster.