Rankin (LKA 103) - Naval Cruise Book

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The RANSGN is 459 feet long and has Q beam of 64 feet. Fully loaded, she dispiczces 31300 tons with u mean :lrczft of about feel. S-he has n maxi- mum speed of lb knots and a cruising range of nearly i7,Gif!i'i miles. Carge is carried in seven holds equipped with four 35 ian beams. Almost ali cargo aombei loaded. This means that it as feaded in zazcordaavze with premranged 323255, suzh th-rztwhcfn it is off loader! in ci, amphibi a-.rs assault, it willbe .placed :whore ready for combat and in the order that will be required by the troops. As a result of combat loading, however the RANKIN is generally completely loaded by volume but lightly loaded by weight in comparison with non combat cargo ships. RANKIN's main battery consists of sixteen land- ing craft carried on deck over the cargo holds and in welin davits on either side of the ship. These boats carry personnel and equipment through surf and on to the beach where the ramps are lowered and troops and equipment debark. Once the first wave of men and equipment has landed, amphibious operations do not end. The troops so landed are ill-equipped to do more than gain a foothold. The cargo deep in the holds of the RANKIN and other attack cargo ships is needed by the troops to keep the attack going and insure ultimate success in the operation. The need to work around the clock is impera- tive. The crews of the attack cargo ship settle down to unremitting hours of backbreaking work. These are times when the greatest skill and team- work are required from both hatch crews and boat crews. Bad weather may cause the ship to roll and pitch, creating hazards for the crew who are faced with the problems of placing heavy vehicles, am- munition and other supplies into bobbing landing craft. As can be surmised from the foregoing, duty of the RANKIN, or any other attack cargo ship, is not glamorous. It is simply hard work, sometimes dangerous and usually prolonged in the support of combat troops. Neither the ship nor its crew seek out the enemy, but the enemy sometimes seeks them out. Then they must man the ship's 5 38 caliber gun, and the four twin 40 millimeter anti-aircraft mounts. Such being the story of an attack cargo ship, a ship devoid of the prodigious equipment, the capabilities, comforts and conveniences of more modern ships, she, nevertheless, has been able to attain and possess awards which are the envy of all ships. E R. KIN'S MESSION sm Ez ,K . 5 12 , x 1

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sg 5 'fi' ifff A GW at W CAPTAIN CONSTANTINO N. PIEROZZI UNITED STATES NAVY Entering the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in December l942, CAPT P began flight training in September I9-43, and receivedhis wings and commission on ll December I945. His first duty station was with VF-98, Long Beach, California. CAPT PIEROZZI then served with Fighter Squadron FIVE ABLE llater Fighter Squadron 5Il from October T946 to December I949. Fighter Squadron 5I was the first operational jet squadron in the Navy. He then attended UCLA from January l95O to August I95l. During the Korean War, CAPT PIEROZZI was Flight and Operations Officer in Fighter Squadron 87l aboard the USS ESSEX ICVA-9l. In February I953, he reported to the 3l7th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Air Defense Com- mand, McChord, AFB, Tacoma, Washington, for exchange duty with the U. S. Air Force. After attending General Line School in Monterey, California, in October I954, he flew with the Blue Angels as Operations Officer. October I957 saw CAPT PIEROZZI at CIC and Air Controller School preparing for his next billet as CATCC and assistant CIC Officer aboard the USS RANDOLPH ICVA-I5l, where he reported in April I958. After leaving the USS RANDOLPH, he attended the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, in August l96O. In l96I, CAPT PIEROZZI reported to Fighter Squadron 3I deployed with the Sixth Fleet aboard the USS SARATOGA ICVA-6Ol and assumed command on 20 .Iuly I962. In l963, he was assigned to the Office of Chief of Naval Operations lOp-342l. After leaving Washington in I965, he served as Operations Officer aboard the USS CONSTELLATIONICVA-641. In January I967, he reported as Commanding Officer of Air Development Squadron FOUR, Point Mugu, California. Captain PIEROZZI assumed command of RANKIN on April I4, I969. CAPT PIEROZZI has been awarded the Bronze Star, two Air Medals, Navy Commendation Ribbon with Combat V , American Theater, World War II Vic- tory Medal, China Service, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations, IEROZZI Korea and Vietnam Theater Ribbons. CAPT PIEROZZI skip ered the RANKIN through the Med deployment success- P fully. To him goes our gratitude and respect for a terrific fob as our Command- ing Officer. Thank you, Sir! 5