Rochester (CA 124) - Naval Cruise Book

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14 June 1954 To my Shipmates: r - Few, if any, naval vessels have been as fortunate as the good ship ROCHESTER during her fourth cruise to the Western Pacific. Since she left Long Beach shortly after New Year's Day she has crossed the equator for her first time, visited the principal ports of southeast Asia, and been chosen as flagship for Vice Admiral A.M. Pride, USN, Commander of the United States Seventh Fleet. Pearl Harbor, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon, Yokohama, Osaka, Hong 'Kong, as well as Yokosuka and Sasebo - these are names which call to mind unique sights, new friendships in oriental countries, and happy days in the ROCHESTER. With the arrival of Admiral Pride and his staff the ROCHESTER became First Lady of the Fleet in a new and different way. It has been a busy cruise, one filled with hard work and effec- tive operations at sea. as well as liberty in a wide variety of new and interesting ports of call. We took pride in Ushowing the flagu and in being the representatives of the friendliness, dignity, and strength of the United States. Everywhere we went the ROCHESTER and her crew were in every respect a real credit to our nation. This Cruise Book will help you recall some of the things you have done, some of the people you have known, some of the places you have been in l954 while you helped man our ship with such distinction I know that each of you takes a personal pride in what we have accom- plished together during these five and a half months. In my thirty years of Naval service l have never been shipmates with a more enthusiastic, loyal group of men. Your devotion to duty has made our ROCHESTER the happiest, smartest, cleanest ship in the Eleet. I will always be very proud of the ship and of each of you. Well done! Good luck to all of you! , JOHN QUINN

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I O layout and production TOM W. MITCHELL, SN staff LCDR HENRY J. BEUKEMA LTJG WILLIAM R. LOWRY LTJG J. THOMAS SIMONET LTJG ROBERT G. MORRIS ENS GEORGE K. FRASER, Jr. RICHARD E. DOWD, SN art NORMAN J. BUECHE, MMC JOHN CHIRILLO, SN photography ROLLAND A. HERRIGES, PH2 GEORGE T. SCHALLER, SN JACK LOGAN, SN publishers TOPPAN 'PRINTING CO MITSUYOSHI YOSHIDA D., Tokyo, Japan

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About Our Ship .... The Rocussrz-:R is a cruiser of the Om-:con Cirv class. She dis- places 17,000 tons, is 673 feet long and 70 feet wide. Her sister ships are the 0m-:con Cirv and the ALBANY. All three ships of this class are distinguished by having only one stack in place of the usual two. Her armament consists of nine eight-inch turret cannons, twelve five-inch guns, and 20 three-inch guns. She has four screws and can make speeds in excess of thir- ty knots. Her fuel supply, if she runs at average speeds, is ade- quate to take her over 10,000 miles. The Rocussrsn is a floating home away from home to some 1200 men and seventy- five officers. Her wartime complement, slightly higher, is 1448 men and 82 officers. Thus, on an average peace-time day, over 3500 meals are prepared in her galleys. From top to bottom the ship might be compared to a ten-story building, with plenty of basement room to store precious fuel and water. But no ten-story building can be divided so adequately into so many watertight compartments so quickly. Her men do every kind of job you can think of. There are cooks, barbers, soda jerks, cobblers, retail clerks, laundrymen, pressers, bakers, printers, postal clerks, and pho- tographers. There are teletype men to copy the world news as well as official ship's traffic, there are men to keep the ship clean and painted. There are men who make the fresh water we use, men who look after the guns and men who chart our course and tell us where we are. The Rocnssrl-:R has operated in both major oceans. Since the outbreak of the Korean War she has seen action in every major engagement of that conflict. 0n her campaign ribbon she wears seven battle stars. This cruise she took us 23,510 miles from Long Beach to Long Beach, via Pearl Harbor, Manila, the equator, Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Chinhae, Sasebo, 0saka, and Hong Kong. As flagship for Commander SEVENTH Fleet, she has played host to a wide variety of important guests. Her reputation throughout southeast Asia is unexcelledg in many ports she is what the people think of when they hear the words 'United States. The Room-:srsn completed her fourth Far East tour after five and a half months away from home. A distinguished ship, with a distinguished record and crew, she can be proud of what she has accomplished and confident of what she will accomplish in the future.