Robison (DDG 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS ROBISON IDDG 121 Her Mission The ROBISON'S South Pacific Cruise was a unique experience for all involved. Unlike a routine deployment to the Western Pacific, the ship would be sailing waters and visiting some ports that had not seen a U. S. Naval vessel since the close of World War II. The ship's deployment orders read in part: MISSION: USS HORNE and USS ROBISON WILL SAIL FROM SAN DIECIO ON 15jULY1978 TO CONDUCT A THREE MONTH SOUTH PACIFIC CIOODWILL CRUISE WITH THE MISSION TO INCREASE UNIT READINESS, DEMONSTRATE UNITED STATES INTEREST IN THE AREA, COLLECT PORT VISIT INFORMATION AND CONDUCT EXERCISES WITH FOREIGN NAVIES. This book is about those people and places visited by the ROBISON during her South Pacific Cruise. More so, it is about the crewmen whose hard work, time and dedication made this mission the success it was.

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USS ROBISON CDDG 127 Her History USS ROBISON, built by Defoe Shipbuilding Company was commissioned in Boston on December 9, 1961 and joined the Pacific Fleet in March 1962. ROBISON is named after Admiral Samuel Shelburne Robison. ROBISON has made eight extended deploy- ments to the far east, distinguishing herself by providing gunfire support for U. S. and South Vietnamese forces and in combat operations along theyvietnamese coastline. The ship earned seven battle stars forjservice off Vietnam. A ROBISON has an overall length of 133.2 meters and measures 14.4 meters at it's widest point. The ship displaces 4,081.5 metric tons and has a navigational draft of 7 meters. Her engineering plant can produce 70,000 horsepower and she is capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots. t During her most recent deployment she participated in numerous exercises with the French, New.Zealand and Australian Navies in the South Pacific .and visited Tahaiti, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji and American Somoa.

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Commanding ffiiief ti' .4gn.'?2g,2zwu ' 1 gy . . My I gy., V, ,fl Commander Charles I. SMITH, USN, was born in Frankfort, Indiana where he attended public schools. Following high school graduation, he entered the United States Naval Academy, and upon graduation in june 1958, was commissioned an Ensign, USN. His first sea tour was on board the escort destroyer USS TAYLOR CDDE 4687, where he served for the next two years in various junior officer billets and as Engineering Officer. Following that assignment, he attended the U. S. Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, graduating in February 1962. Selected for advanced nuclear power training, CDR SMITH's next assignments included tours at several schools specializing in that field He was awarded the Master of Science Degree in Operations Analysis in june 1964. His second sea tour included duty on board the destroyer escort USS HARLEY IDE 10291 and the USS LONG BEACH CCGN 93 In 1969, CDR SMITH was assigned to the Nuclear Power Training Unit, Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he served as the Executive Officer. His subsequent assignment to the Training and Readiness Division for the Commander Naval SurfaC6 Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet included duty as the SCU-'07 Member of the Nuclear Propulsion Mobile Training Team. Following temporary assignment from February I0 May 1977, as Executive Officer, USS TRUXTON ICGN 35l, he reported as Commanding Officer of the U55 ROBISON KDDG 121. He holds the following decorations: NBVY Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendatlonci Meritorious Unit Commendation with star, Afmel FOVCCS Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Medz with star, Vietnam Service Medal with six stars an Vietnam Campaign Medal.