Renshaw (DD 499) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 52 text:

A' .,., - . . vi, Q, lrf ' 13 ' J . 1 ' J! H .,,, , . ,AP Left, the RENSHAV' s dramatit f'5' y G' in a stormy sea. B our partner for several days in the Tonkin Gulf, the USS CHICAGO, bristles with sophisticated radar gear and missiles. YANKEE TEAM No one will likely forget the day we were suddenly there, in the Tonkin Gulf, with the North Vietamese coastline looming up in the Horizon. The railings were jammed with silent crewmen staring off towards the hazy grey-green hills. Now the training was over. We were assigned to guard the USS KEARSARGE, the aircraft carrier we accompanied to Japan. RENSHAW hawked the KEARSARGE constantly, visually by day and with radar by night. When she turned, we turned. When she added five knots the plume of water from our stern rose high into the blue Tonkin sky. It became a constant sight to watch the submarine patrol planes as they came gliding over us in that last precious mile before 'touchdown and a safe land ing It must have been a comforting sight from above seeing us bring up the rear When we weren't guarding the KEARSARGE our guns were needed to protect other 48 large ships, ironically so sophisticated in weapons systems that a small torpedo boat could possible slip in unchallenged by the awesome yet nearly helpless missile- armed ship and fire at will. We performed such a service for the mighty USS CHICAGO, a guided missile cruiser many times our size. When we departed, the CHICAGO was pleased with our work, and she told us so. Other guard assignments included the dramatic attack carriers, with their jet fighter-bombers that are performing so brilliantly in the air over North Viet Nam. Day in and day out these screaming aircraft were launched and recovered while we carefully watched and waited to act least an emergency arose Yankee Team operations for the RENSHAW were not bloody but they were exciting We were on time and did the Job without flaw It is happily as simple as that Q ' I - . ' 9 9 0 0 . ' U O I 9 0 ' - 0 an il

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WA. Ji U' ,gf From left are: Moberg, EM3, Leithner, FN, Headley, EN2, Robertson, FN, and Atwater, EMFN, in a serious discussion over the boat engine. Elf mf ' if . I I From the left: Moraoco, MMFAX, Connell, MM2, and Pearson, MR2. Here are: Triplet, EMFN, Gladkowski, EM3, and Randolph, FN. f X Y A A 'DX ' ' - -'r 3F ,vm nt , Telephones And Torches If Nw it 1,5 r'-'fu 1 A Mis-945 f' N. K f , Yi , '. 9 ' H ' p , 1, t 1 A-:5 -5 A X fl I 4 ' 'x I E ,,.ffgf'

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4 ASW operations in the Tonkin Gulf were ,V 13 , y conducted away from the general fray. Submarines Shoreline And Small Craft A formation of SH-3A helos. This type is used extensively in pilot rescue and ASW operations. Here a destroyer partnering with RENSILLAW closes a smoking sub marker. Submarines were sent to operate with Task Force 77 in the Gulf. Here is a rare sight - a surfaced sub in daylight. , V fl ag . igffgi I, W., '.+f'fq iw it E f Qfiiiif A f 'L ',Jf.J! !Q ' V f 'V ' , 745 'x,.Y5 gf,-M X ' ' g,,,: 1i' f L y :A .1 A ,V 51,10 , y me yyuy f 'wma An S2F aircraft, MAD boom extended, roars by RENSHAW. Our carrier, the U.S.S, KEARSARGE, carried many such planes.