Robert E Peary (FF 1073) - Naval Cruise Book

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Anzac Day 'Lest We Forget' The reverent motto signifying Anzac Day - a national holiday in remembrance of Australian soldiers and sailors killed during the battle of Gallipoli in 1915. ln typical 'Down Under, fashion the day is both somber and festive. lt begins early in the morning with parades, wreath laying ceremonies and emotional speeches to remind the veterans and reiterate to the young that the country's security has always depended on the sacrifice of a few. Once respect has been given its proper due, the afternoon and evening see the day end with glasses held high in pub or home rendering a proper Australian salute to those lost in battle Peary was honored to participate and witness this articularly memorable day and we all were impressed with P the sense of unity, free spirit, and zest for life which has made Australia special and forged some of the best fighting men and women in the world. From the Bob E, we salute you and say 'sleep proudly, your bravery has not been forgotten., mt? CDR Mathis presents a wreath in Geraldton ceremony A rlfle Salute IS med from pearys famall Peary honor guard in Geraldton

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USS Robert E. Pear DE12 The second ship named in honor of Rear Admiral Peary was the ocean escort USS Robert E. Peary IDE 1321. Launched on January 3, l943, she was commissioned on May 3l, 1943. With an overall length of 306 feet and a designed speed of 24 knots, this 1200 ton escort drew an eight foot draft, carried six officers and l80 men. She was armed with three 3-inch 50 caliber guns, two 40mm guns in a single mount and eight 20mm guns. Her antisubmarine warfare capability was provided by two roll type depth charge racks, eight single depth charge projectors and one hedgehog type multiple depth charge projector. Operating in the North Atlantic theater during World War Two, Robert E, Peary served escort duty for over twenty transoceanic missions for merchant vessels, aircraft carriers and troop transports. Decommissioned on June l3, I947, Robert E. Peary was attached to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until her namc was strickcn from the Naval Vessel Register on July l, l966. She was sold for scrap on September 6, I967. USS Robert E. Pear FF 107 35 i l USS Robert E. Pear IFF 10732 was launched June 23, l97l and commissioned September 23, 1972. The twenty-second Y . ship in the Knox frigate class, she is designed to operate as a conglomerate ant1a1r,antisurface and antisubmarine warfare platform. T0 accomplish her missions, this 438 foot, 4200 ton ship is equipped with the best hull mounted and variable depth sonar systems in the fleet today, as well as highly sophisticated air, surface search and fire control radars, a satellite communications system and a wide array of other passive and active electronic sensors. Peary carries the LAMPS helicopter, which is capable of delivering an antisubmarine torpedo, the ASROC launching . . . . . . -. l.b d the group, which fires rocket assisted torpedoes and the antiship Harpoon cruise missile, a single 5 inch 54 ca 1 er gun an Basic Point Defense antiair missile system. ' fr - - ,- tt . ,- t.-JL i -.. w...,2,l. ', ..- 13

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Task Group Qevent -five Point Two On January 24, 1970, L'omniander Destroyer Squadron Tywntv-five, USS Cochrane tlDDG 2lJ, USS Robert li. p,-,,,. jFF 107.29 and Liss tml-it tifif l053J sailed from Pearl Harbor for a deployment to the South Pacific. Upon entering thc Seventh Fleet area of responsibility, this group of ships became a surface action group under the operational control of Commander Seventh Fleet and was designated Task Group 75.2 under the direct command of Captain RB. Hoffman. The mission of Task Group 75.2 during the deployment was primarily to conduct exercises with the armed forces of the allied countries in the South Pacific. These mutually beneficial exercises were conducted at every opportunity with the Royal Fiji Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy and Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy and Air Force. Additionally, a major combined exercise with the navies of Australia and New Zealand was conducted in the 'lasinan Sea off of Sydney in late March. This two week exercise was designated as Joint Unit Course 100 HUC l00j and was designed to train all participants in antisubmarinc warfare, anitair warfare and convoy protection. .IUC 100 was of great benefit to all of us, especially considering that this was the first opportunity that most of the crews of the U.S. ships had to exercise with the navies of an allied country. Although their navies are small by our standards, they are well drilled, highly trained and very professional. Other missions of Task Group 75.2 were to project a U.S. military presence in an area which seldom sees US. Navy ships, promote good will and evaluate the capability of a small group of surface ships to operate in remote waters without the benefit ofthe normal US. Navy logistics support. ,K A43 WE 'mer' ,sl v-'X' 5 W X ..1. -sv-sf' ww