Shenandoah (AD 26) - Naval Cruise Book

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.v.a-m..- - . . - -.-Q--we -1 '-- M .V ,.,,...-- .-.,....,..-,......-.... - .-7 f Lui- is f-ffm-ff, , -s,-fr: ax.-an M1211 - ' .1 ua:-:mv 1:11. .. .. ..,,.. oreword . . Since the early days of the nineteenth century, when ships were made of wood and iron men were making naval tradition, when Barbary Pirates were rampant and uncontested on the high seas, the Unit- ed States has periodically kept warships in European waters, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea. Be- ginning with the War with Tripoli in 1802, and almost continuously since 1886, American sea power in this area of more than a million square miles has aided in assuring peace . . . a recognized historic responsibility of the United States. Our ships served during World War I keeping sea lanes open, and during World War II the Mare Nostrum of the Romans, later adopted by Benito Mussolini, became an Allied Pond. After the Wars, in times of great chaos, warships of the United States Navy performed useful service in facilitating the establishment of peace among the countries of the Balkans and the Middle East. The Sixth Fleet which has this duty has no base in the Mediterranean Sea. lt must remain constantly on the move, engaging in exercises at sea or calling at any of scores of foreign ports in t.he area. Rarely does the Fleet remain in any one port for more than a week: usually the visit is for three or four days. With minor exceptions each vessel of the Sixth Fleet serves for a period of four months in the Med. while on detached duty from the Atlantic Fleet. They are then relieved in a Mediterranean port by other vessels of similiar types and return to the United States ports for repairs and alterations. After organ- izational briefing, the new arrivals swing into a sched- ule of operations which trains the officers and men in independent movements and familiarizes them not on- ly with the waters in which they cruise, but also with the customs and traditions of the people of the coun- tries they visit. The four month regular rotation of the ships and their personnel permits the maximum number of ofii- cers and men to get to know the Mediterranean. In the Navy today there arc tens of thousands who have made the cruise. Some of the officers and men are old hands and know this area well: others are new, young and wide-eyed, perhaps making their first cruise in foreign waters. But for all, duty with the Sixth Fleet is considered tops : it is exciting and fascinat- ingly interesting. This hook is a brief account of the Destroyer Ten- der U. S. S. SHENANDOAH's 1951 Mediterranean Cruise.

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A f - .-.,-.,..,...,-41. ve isforzf 0 , zrf ANDOAH The destroyer fender U. S. S. SllrlN KAD-26l was built by Todd Pacific Shipyard, Tacoma. ' ' l Au-fust 18 Washington. She was commissioner on . , . .. 1945. The SHlCNANDiJAl'l is a single screw vessel, with a standard displacement of 1-1,881 tons, an over- all length of 492 feet and a beam of 69 feet, 0 inches. She is propelled by a Westingliouse geared turbine unit, capable of delivering a total of 8,500 steam horse power. The SHl'1NANDUAll is named for the beautiful Shenandoah National Park, located in the historical Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The destroyer tender is a coinparatively new type R. ship and is made in two classes: the All and the A h h the AD is primarily '1 destroyer tender it is Alt oug . . t . e. . f fvessels, especially used to repair many other ty pcs o when repairs are urgently needed. The AD can also supplement fresh water, feed water, food stores. fuel oil, dry provisions, mechanical and machinery repair and carries items for the administrative department. Following her fitting out in December, 1945 the SHENANDOAH proceeded to the Atlantic via the Panama Canal for assignment to duty under the Com- mander Destroyer From June, 1947 until August, 1947 she operated in her designated capacity as a destroyer tender with the Mediterranean Forces: finishing her tour of duty Force U. S. Atlantic Fleet. fy ff Skezzmzdoalz, HQ-26 - - he Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, she returned to t V irginia. Upon completion of her next assignment in the Mediterranean area, she returned to the Boston Naval Shipyard for a major overhaul during the period of October 3, 1947 until December 12, 1947. Leaving folk, Va., February 17, 1948, the SHENANDO h Mediterranean Fleet and participated as a unit of t e while there visited the ports: Gibraltarg Sfax, Tunisia: Argostoli, Greeceg Piraeus, Greece and Malta. After ths she then remaining a period of almost four mon returned to Norfolk, Va., June 11, 1948. Already a ' the SHENAN- veteran of three Mediterranean cruises, ' 1 b 23 DOAH again departed from Norfolk, Noyem er . 1948 to operate with the Mediterranean Fleet untn ' lk V for April 6, 1949 when she returned to Norfo , a T d vailability From July 14, 1949 the SHEIN AN- yar a . DOAH again underwent another major overhaul in the Boston Naval Shipyard. From March 20, 1950 un- til March 24, 1950 the SHENANDOAH was in dry- ' ' - N 1 lShi yard. dock for minor repairs at the Norfolk ax a p Portsmouth, Va. Departing from Norfolk she again participated as an active unit of the Atlantic Fleet. After a considerable stay at Norfolk, Va.. the SHENANDDAH departed August 1, 1950 for Charles- ton, S. C., and returned to Norfolk, September 3. 1950. The SHENANDOAH remained at Norfolk un- Ul departing February 14, 1951 to the Mediterranean. I, e 1 I