Sierra (AD 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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receive repairs and tender services. SIERRX tw-rifiiiti-'-l to render services to destroyers and their t-at tri. If l -.tri Harbor until it Scbternber, lit I I. tin that il int, Sll-IRRX departed for Seeadler Harbor, Nlanus lslintl- mtl Adrnirality Islands to repair 'l'llllilJ Fl.l'Il'I l' units it the advance bases for the forthcoming invi-ion tif the Philippine Islands. Her most outstiintling rift-onipli-li, ments were the replacement of ti complete five inch gun mount on CALIFORNIA QRH-HI .intl rebuilding the starboard stern of CLAXXON tDD-Sl I I. SIERRA .il-o repaired a fIeet of LSTs in preparation for the ,issaiilt on Iwo Jima and later repaired landing craft support ships and destroyers for the anticipated strikes against the Japanese Mainland. After the war in the Pacific. SIERRA finally returned home to Norfolk July. 151123. From her home port she departed January. 1930. for her first Mediterranean Cruise. She relieved SHENANDO- AH and served as fIagship for Commander. Service Force, US SIXTH FLEET for five and one-half months. SIERRA again deployed to the Mediterranean June. 1951, to serve as the flagship for CONISERYFOR- SIXTHFLT. SIERRA sailed for the Mediterranean June 1959 for her third deployment with SIXTH FLEET in-l rf-form-fl In Norfolk in llecember to continue her work .i- .i tlestroyer tender. She was deployed to tLumt.iii.nno Hay from October to December, 1961, to tend rt-st-rw training r-hips recalled to active duty during the Ili-rlin t'risis. Nlarcb. 1962, SIERRA entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard where her two aft 5 gunmounts were re-moved and a Helicoptor hanger, flight deck, and .'Xvionit'- -hop were added. The torpedo shop was refitted for .-XSRUC' capabilities. Other improvements included in-mllation of an electronic calibration laboratory, enlargement of the print shop, and communication facilities and updating the ship's generators. Charleston, Sf. became SIERRA's new home port January, 1974. In 1975 SIERRA was again assigned to Service Group Two and became part of the new Naval Surface Force Atlantic Organization. From Charleston USS SIERRA made two more Mediterranean deployments in 1977 and again in 1979, and two Indian Ocean deployments, July, 1982 and May. 1985. SIERRA, AD-18, the SHIP WITH THE HELPING HANDS , has made substantial contri- butions to the National Defense for 41 years. Her present tender capabilities exceed the expectation of her original designers. 3

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HIP, HI TORY USS SIPIRR.-X Q.-XD-INN :N the -uf 3- r If VS N:n'y'swr1nrnmi.QI'hvt':r+t SIFRRK. 2 pe--1 gf f - f 1-,rr built in 1900, was mwgzzxrfmi Fw 'Fife N atzfi xml l'UKlllTliSSi0IN'Qi as Q1 Irvvp trazzxp-S-rf 17: W '71-i War fe The prvsvnt SIERRQX is :maimed the Szsrree-Nfrzfrie xnmxnmin range, Her kvcHu.asl.zi1. 31 IN'.'f'::1?rfr. If ', E'-jv the Tanupn Shiplwmldim: Uv. Tarzzgma. Fl -rzfiap me was I:llIIlk'hk'si on Ill Fvlwrmmry. 1943. .anti '-me Q1:?wsffq::e-rtfljv cmnmissiunvd vu 20 March 191-1. Her szstsr skzgws are the USS PIICUMUNT Q.-XD-ITB .ami FSS YOSEMITE QAD-193. SIHRH.-X is SRU ft, lv-:tg has .2 5e.a:tt wt' T3 fp, displacvs mvrv 121,111 IINNW tous Mae: and has a hull speed of :appwxim.1tely ZS kzzris. She if able to zwconxlrxmudnte PYT? offices and S30 moz: .arid xwzrzezz. USS SIERRA departed Norfolk. Yirgiztia ZF Xiejv. 2944 and aftera briefsrop in San Pzegu. Lfziirb. nie. arrived in Pearl Harbor 13 June 1944. Ai tina: H,aw.aii.a:z port. SIERRA took alongside the FSS 141-XRENHOLT.heri'irsz Shinto The christening ceremony of SIERRA, 23 February, 1943, Tampa, Florlda.

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