Ponchatoula (AO 148) - Naval Cruise Book

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PUNCH Visits Perth, PONCHATOULA departed Subic Bay the morning of 7 October for a two month cruise in the lndian Ocean. During the 56 day period the PONCHATOULA would remain at sea 48 days, with 8 days in-port. On the first leg of our journey, enroute to the port city of Freemantle, Australia, we passed through the beautiful Lombrok Straits between the Island paradise of Bali and Lombok. The PONCH also crossed the equator for the second time on the way to Australia. The new Shellbacks, having been initiated early in the deployment, were more than ready to initiate their new shipmates. October 17th found us entering the port city of Freemantle, Western Australia. During our visit in Australia, American Sailors in uniform were awarded the privilege of free public transportation to and from Western Australia the city of Perth, about 15 miles in-land. Perth, a city of one half million has all the comforts of big city life, while uniquely retaining the warmth and atmosphere of a small village. The Australian People came in numbers to the ship daily and numerous tours were hosted aboard by PONCHATOULA Sailors. We departed Australia the morning of October 24th for operations that would see us refuel countless ships until pulling into Bahrain November 8th to refuel DFM. Enroute to Bahrain, we passed within 2 and a half miles of the island and Naval Communications Station of Diego Garcia. We departed Bahrain November 9th for the one day transit to Kuwait to load on JP-5. The PONCHATOULA left Kuwait late the evening of November 10 to join the Allied forces of England, Iran and the United States from the Exercise and the Midway Task Force November 17th and arrived in Subic Bay November 30. gg l

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