San Diego (AFS 6) - Naval Cruise Book

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Comnussicned amid the braentennlvar celeoatvans ol S-an Diego, Cam. LN San Drago Coptured the hearts or her UGNTGSOKG city. In tum, the combat stores ship U rCOl'DO!'Of6d the city's Zilih birthday svrnbol h the ships seal. the shios crest shows SAN DIEGO tmnsbrring sup-pi-es by highline sirnukanecus-'y 'o an aircraft carrier and a destroyer. as al three shbs ste-am toward an unknown One ol SAN DlEGO's two cargo helicopters NOVBTS overhead, while a third customer ship awaits her tum in the background. The citys gold and brown anniversary embtem depicts a Spanish conquistador with halberd, and a priest carrying a cross. The three spires emanating from the bottom at the cttys crest are in commemoration of the three U.S. Navy ships named for the city of San Diego,

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' , F : 1 fy ' K rf' 1 , K. xx - 1 . V , M R X Conrep Refueling - 4 Vertrep THE BEST in action 5 A ,

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.. USS SAN DIEGO has a Df9SfiQiOUS background. AFS-6 is the third ship to bear the name ofthe southem Califomia city. The first SAN DIEGO, CACR-65, an OITTWO r d ' ' ' ' ' . u e cruiser, was commissioned in 1907. Dunng World War I, she escorted convoys across the Atlantic Ocean. She was sunk by a German mine laid off the coast of Fire Island N.Y Juty19. 1918 Succeeding her was the light cruiser SAN DIEGO QCL-535, commissioned January 10, 1942i After eamin a 9 distinguished record in the Pacific Theatre in World War ll, she was decommissioned in August 1945 The current SAN DIEGO, built by the National Steel and Shipping Co., San Diego, Califomia, was commissioned in May 1969 amid the celebrations of San Diego's, bicentennial anniversary, and shifted to her current Norfolk, Va. homeport ln early 1970. Sixth ofthe MARS class combat stores ships, SAN DIEGO has reaped hershare ofhonors in her short life, including Ship ofthe Year' by Commander Service Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1970, honors from the National Defense Transportation Association as the best transportation unit in the Navyf' in 1976, twice received Meritorious Unit Commendatlons from the Chief of Naval Operations and was awarded the 1980 Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award. Before departing on her 1982-83 Mediterranean Cruise, SAN DIEGO captured the coveted Battle Efficiency the Communications C and golden excellency awards in Damage Control, Combat Information, Deck Seamanshlp, Engineering and Gunnery...all which strengthened her nickname as The Best . The 581-foot ship is designed as a 'floating supermarket , with a mission to resupply U.S. Sixth Fleet ships whlle underway by connected replenishment, vertical replenishment or both. In port, the combat stores ship has used barge, boat, helicopter and sometimes even tractor trailers to deliver her cargo. SAN DlEGO's tive cargo holds arethe spacial equivalent of 160 railroad boxcars. Within them are everything from nuts and bolts to candy bars. She stocks enough fresh and frozen foods and provisions to feed 25,000 men for six weeks. and she also refuels ships, too, thus providing a one-stop shopping capability. sl- A :f I-Ll. , . k'iw., ri C. i