Richmond K Turner (CG 20) - Naval Cruise Book

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- it ',. 's.t .t'- . Nxt , t 'Xvk- '15 CAST A GIA S SHADOWU P We, as Americans, sailors and members of the greatest warring contingent in the history of mankind quite often become vreoccupied with being Americans. Comfort comes natural when tied to a pier enjoying eight hour workdays, weekend iberty and the convenience of family and home. All too often we lose track of world events or are complacent about the ffects of war in the Middle-East and it's effect on our daily lives. When we hear of fellow Americans risking and often acrificing life and limb in the name of our Ensign our response, quite often. is l'm glad that isn't me. There is no iuestion that no man or woman enlists for the opportunity to risk either life or limb, but along with the uniform goes the .nowledge and the responsibility that one day, in some remote corner of some distant continent, that sacrifice may become personal one. We, the crew of Richmond K. Turner have, by being here, accepted a challenge and a responsibility to protect and defend he sovereignty of not only The United States, but all peoples dedicated to freedom. That is a challenge never to be taken ightly. That challenge, like it or not, has brought us into the hot seat of world conflict and out again. lt is in the Med that he most is to be lost or gained for the cause of freedom. It is the Med that for 712 months exacted it's toll on individuals, amilies and equipment and sent us home to a world a little different as we are different for having been there. We accomplished every tasking with the dedication and pride that has made Turner the finest Battle Cruiser in the ltlantic fleet and some would argue the world. We have accepted the responsibility and the consequences for being Americans and being Navy. In so doing, we have represented our nation and our cause well. There is no question that the initials RKT are at the top of every Mediterranean in the report in every Soviet CIC from Rota to Beirut. There is also no ioubt that we made a difference and that the cause of world peace was well served by our presence. Can there then be any lloubt that we, the crew of Richmond K Turner CG-20 did, indeed, Cast a Giant Shadows . A , .x..NQ,. i M 'X er's the .the l ice

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is al 't 4 RK TUR ER RICHMOND K. TURNER is one of nine Leahy Class guided missle cruisers. She was built by New York Shipbuildin Corporation at Camden, New Jersey. Her keel was laid on January 9, 1961. She was launched on April 6, 1963, and me commissioned at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on June 13, 1964. After joining the Pacific Fleet, RICHMOND K. TURNER completed five deployments to the Western Pacific, all of which included action in the Vietnam conflict. On May 5,1971 Turner was decommissioned at Bath Iron Works for an extensive modernization of her anti-air warfare capabilities and assigned to the Atlantic fleet. Turner was recommissioned at Bath Iron Works on May 27, 1972. Since her recommissiofting, Richmond K. Turner had deployed on a Unitas cruise to South America in 1973 and participated in Operation 200, which included the International Naval Review in New York City, on the occasion of the nations Bicentinnial Celebration on July 4, 1976. In 1978 she was assigned Two special operations, the surveillance of Soviet task group and surveillance operations off the coast of Nicaragua, for which she was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. Additionally, RICHMOND K. TURNER has completed six highly successful Mediterranean deployments as a unit of the United States Sixth Fleet. Her last deployment included participation in the Grenadian operation URGENT FURY followed immediately by duties in the eastern Mediterranean operating with units of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in around Lebanon. For her participation in Grenada and Lebanon, RICHMOND K. TURNER was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Expeditionary Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Named after Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner, USN, who distinguished himself as a commander of the Pacific Area Amphibious Force during World War II. USS RICHMOND K TURNER is equipped to escort and protect hi h speed - 8 cargerhforces against enemy air, surface and subsurface threats. In order to accomplish her mission the ship is equipped 't N wid t e avy's newest long range surface to air missle and surface cruise missle systems, modern long range air, surface d 1 n n n o n n n n C an un erwater detection and tracking equipment and anti-submarine weapons which include two Terrier missle launch- prfg systems., opelAnti1Submarine Rocket QASROCJ launching group, two triple-tube torpedo mounts, two four-cannister ar oo ' p n miss e aunc iers, and two 20mm close-in-weapons-system mounts RICHMOND ' ' f t d h F K. TURNER has an overall length of 533 feet with a maximum beam of 55 feet Her navigational draft i526 ee an er ull load displacement is 8 500 tons She is powered by steam turbines and is ca able of s eeds in excess of30 ' ' P P . knots. USS RICHMOND K. TURNER KCC-201 is a unit of Cruiser Destroyer Group TWO, homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. ,2.rf ?:' . gt 'QM' A .. .M VM Y .. . Aw I , . V f 958-na0gT ' , W ' 'e' lf. t , ev. 2,7 .gui v Jw-i7,gg...,'Lg -an F bu R..