Shenandoah (AD 26) - Naval Cruise Book

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The keel of USS SHENANDOAH was laid on 15 September 1944 in the Todd Shipyard in Tacoma, Washington. She was launched on 29 March.1945, and was christened by Mrs. Daniel Hunt, wife .of RADM Hunt KMCJ USN, the 12th Naval District Medical Officer. SHENANDOAH, the first ship of her class, was commissioned on 13 August 1945- The first Commanding Officer was Captain Albert C. Burrows, USN, and the first Executive Officer was Commander Hampton M. Ericsson, USN. The name SHENANDOAH was selected by the Navy Department and this is the first United States Ship to bear the name. Previously only the dirigible SHENANDOAH had been so named. Upon completion of SHENDOAH's fitting out in December 1945, the destroyer tender proceeded to the East Coast via the Panama Canal and on 12 January 1946 reported for duty to COMMANDER DESTROYER FORCE, U.S. ATLANTIC FLEET. Her home port and scene of her normal duties is Norfolk, Virginia. Since joining the Destroyer Force in 1946, SHENANDOAH has deployed to the SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean nine times, the first in 1947, twice in 1948, and in 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1961. In 1947 USS SHENANDOAH served as the First Flagship for Naval Forces, Mediterranean, commanded by Vice Admiral Bernhard H. Bieri, USN. Subsequent to 1947, the title of Naval Forces, Mediterranean was changed to the present-day United States SIXTH Fleet. On three of her deploy- ments SHENANDOAH was flagship for COM- MANDER SERVICE FORCE, SIXTH Fleet. During her tours with the SIXTH Fleet, she has visited most of the important ports in the Mediterranean including Gibraltar, Sfax in Tunisia, Argostoli and Pireaus in Greece and the major ports of southern France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and North Africa. Following her first deployment to the SIXTH Fleet, SHENANDOAH in October 1947 was over- hauled in Boston Naval Shipyard, again in 1949 she was overhauled in the same yard. Since that time she has been overhauled in Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 1951, 1954, 1957 and in 1960. Twice during SHENANDOAH's service life, in 1952 and 1956, she was awarded the Battle Effic- lency Pennant for her competence in tending de- stroyers and for performance of her battle duties. In 1958 she won the Engineering E. During SHENANDOAH's fifth deployment to the SIXTH. Fleet, in the year 1952, she .participated in lnternatlonal exercises with ships of the United 4 Kingdom, France and Italy. At that time she was flagship for COMMANDER SERVICE FORCE SIXTH Fleet. In April 1953, SHENANDOAH made a recrea- tional and training cruise to Newport, Rhode Island, Boston, Mass., and Quebec, Canada. In October of the same year SHENANDOAH embarked the staff of the COMMANDER FLEET TRAINING GROUP, Narragansett Bay and acted as flagship for the Training Group on its Caribbean Cruise. During the following summer she engaged in operations off the Virginia Capes in preparation for her 1954 de- ployment. Following her return from the Mediter- ranean in 1955 she visited San Juan, Puerto Rico, New York City and several other ports when her duties permitted. In October 1956 she departed for duty with the SIXTH Fleet and remained in the Mediterranean until her return to Norfolk in April of the following year. Soon after her return she entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for her regular overhaul period. This was followed by a trip to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for refresher training and in September and October participated in the NATO Fall Exercises. In April of 1958 SHENANDOAH joined the SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean and remained there until her return to Norfolk in Sep- tember of that year. SHENANDOAH became the flagship for COM- MANDER DESTROYER .FLOTILLA FOUR .1n March 1959, and was designated as such for nine and one-half months. The can-do tender part1c1- pated in Independent Ship Exercises in May 1959, December 1959, and June 1960 during which. she WaS consistently successful in the Various exercises con- ducted. On-20 June 1960, SHENANDOAH welcomed 134 guests aboard for a highly successful depend- ent's cruise off the Virginia Capes. Prior to Mediterranean deployment on 2 Feb- 1'U?l1'Y 1961, the SHENANDOAH underwent tW0 weeks Refresher Training off the Virginia Capes.. She Sbent six months on station as SIXTH Fleet Tender and returned to Norfolk in August 1951- Rear Admiral J. L. CHEW, Commander CrL1iS61' Destroyer Flotilla FOUR and Commander Task FOTCG 140 fP1'oj ect Mercury Recovery Forcel, Shlft' ed his flag to SHENANDOAH in March 1962. In July 1962 SHENANDOAH embarked 16 male dependents of crew members for a weeks ISE cruise to BERMUDA, BWI. Captain, o. F. DREYER, UsN, is the present Cglgnggrfding Officer of USS SHENANDOAH