Sicily (CVE 118) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

On the last day of January l949 Rear Adm T l-l. Robbins relieved Admiral Hos- kins The same day the SICILY departed from Norfolk enroute to Matanzas, Cuba, to participate in anti submarine exercises During these exercises the SICILY used an airborne early warning team for the first time in her career and achieved excellent results. After enjoying a two-day period of liberty and recreation in Matanzas, the SICILY re- turned to Norfolk where she re- mained until the latter part of February, when she departed for the Spring Second Fleet exercises in the vicinity of Vieaues. This was the first full scale job for the SICILY-her task was to provide anti-submarine support for the entire assault force. Ap- plying an entirely new technique of submarine detection, main- taining a constant sonobuoy bar- rier, the main assault group was successfully covered from sub- marine attacks. Without a doubt this was the most successful anti-submarine de- fense that the SICILY had ever conducted. During this operation the SICILY scored an- other first by being the initial carrier to use a tactical em- ployment of air- ships Cpoopy-bagsl in a fleet exercise wherein the com- plete logistic sup- port to the airships was furnished by a carrier. After com- pletion of her task the SlCll.Y pro- ceeded to Bridge- town, Barbados, where her crew had four davs of well- earned rest and recreation before returning to Nor- folk.

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Upon her return to the states, the SICILY participated in independent operations off the Virginia Capes and then sailed for Guatanamo Bay, Cuba, for much needed refresher training. She then entered anti-submarine warfare training at Key West, Florida, where her crew was trained in the uses and capabilities of her new undersea weapons. l-lere it was that the SICILY was whipped into shape to act as an integral part of an anti-sub- marine unit. After a few days in Norfolk for liberty and upkeep, she was underway once again, this time to participate in the Navy's annual cold weather operations as a full-fledged anti- submarine carrier. With the completion of the cold weather operation, she returned to Norfolk where she was to remain for the holidays to give liberty to her crew and to repair the damage sustained on the northern Cruise. X' , ,afyi 1.-,, g I, , Y nv 5,11 ' f Y ' I Q 21, , fx. -kr' if i ' V i 5 l 5 I s 5' Q in 'R ' , . 3 ' ' K at 'Ei fm KL , 34 is A I 3 Wa ' 'qi ' X fA,54.. ' wlfgiiitffs f 'R 5' 5 t 1 'A -- zo, . -15,-L, - Vw, 5a,1,, 'f 3 Y ggi R t X l ,-af If-'qu 'iff

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For Memorial Day V949 the SICILY was sent to Portland, Maine, where the otticers and men participated in the Memorial exercises and annual encampment at the Maine Veterans ot Foreign Wars. 1- f -. L' . U I I 1 v I l I g ig? if . , 3 I , I I T, l 3 ' ' ' ' I I I I 'lilly Q W - i : A A x . VA l. if ! f I I' 's'f::g:. C , 4 3:1 , ,jr Q ' 11501, , C ,ff 1331-, j.: ' , U H . vl- d it lifiiftta-if l , . 124 , . A. -i .Lil fi The latter part ot June the SlCll.Y was underway to con- duct a reserve and midshipman cruise that took her to the ports ristobal, Canal Zoneg then she returned to her home port. On July 25th Captain Pirie was tain C. l-l. Duerteldt. Four days later Rear Adm. ot Ciuatanamo Bay, Cuba, and C relieved by Cap Robbins hauled down his personal flag and transferred his statt to the USS Mindoro CCVE-l2Ol.