South Carolina (CGN 37) - Naval Cruise Book

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I on commissioning on laf1UafY 55, 1975, USS SOUTH CARO- LINA CCGN-371 completed fitting out, combat systems qual1ficat1OHS, and refresher training in the Caribbean from Ma through lu y 1975. During August and' September of that year she partic- ipated in her first operational deploy- ment to the North At antic. After completing post-Shakedown re- air work at Nor ok Naval Shipyard, BSS SOUTH CAROLINA participated in exercise Solid Shield in the Caribbean Sea. From Spring of 1976 until February 1977, the shi made its first major de- ployment to the Mediterranean Sea. The period was highlighted by the first visit of a nuclear warship to Haifa, Israel. In june and july 1977 SOUTH CAR- OLINA participated in a training exercise with the Brazilian Navy and Air Force and durin this deployment SOUTH CAROLINR crossed the equator. USS SOUTH CAROLINA commenced a second Mediterranean deployment in November 1977. The shi returned to her homeport of Norfolk, Vslrginia in july 1978. After a four month repair period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the ship pre- pared for her next major deployment as she conducted maneuvers in the South Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Less than six months after her return, SOUTH CAROLINA departed in janu- ary 1979 for the Mediterranean. This third deployment to the Mediterranean ended exactly six months after it be an. The remainder of 1979 was devoteg to repair periods punctuated by short op- erations off the eastern seaboard. january and February of 1980 were filled with intensive operations and in- spections as the ship prepared for its April 1980 departure as part of the first battlegroup to deploy to the Indian Ocean for an entire cruise. Durin the eigxht month deployment, USS SOQJTI-I C ROLINA spent 92.496 of the time un- derway with onlv one four dav liberty port in late June 1980. The shipsteamed 6,200 miles durin the deployment, with a maximum ofg 175 days between liberty ports. I-Ier long awaited return to Norfolk in December 1980 was a day of pelebration for the crew and their fami- ies. After a cruise to the Vir 'n Isl ' November 1981, USS SOTITH LINA left in January 1982 for a six-and- a-half month deployment to the Med- tsrranean. A varietv of ports highlighted is deployment. The ship returned to 5 I l 13, 1982. thi, Ige?lajy1e51ceII'cise in the North At- lantic, and a two week cruise to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, rounded out an exciting year, and in january 1983 SOUTH CAROLINA arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia where she underwent an overhaul that lasted until late May 1984. . After sea trials, the ship! departed in july 1984 for exercises in t e Caribbean. After a brief return to Norfolk the ship departed again in September for refresh- er training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Following refresher training, in October 1984 SOUTH CAROLINA visited her namesake state for the first time in al- most ten ears, arriving in Charleston on October 5 1984. During this cperiod the crew entertained numerous ignitaries, including the Governor of South Car- olina. The period following the Charles- ton visit included a dependents cruise and a visit to Annapolis, Maryland, then back to Norfolk. In late October 1984 SOUTH CAR- OLINA a ain de arted for maneuvers in the Caribqnean. The ship conducted ex- ercises and visited St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands before returning home for Thanksgiving. The ship remained in Norfolk throughout December, and cel- ebrated Christmas 1984 with family and friends. In early january 1985 SOUTH CAR- OLINA began a new year by departing again for the Caribbean and exercises that would precede preparations for an- other Mediterranean deployment. Med Cruise 85 began in March, and ended seven months and 46,500 miles later. During this fourth Mediterranean cruise SOUTH CAROLINA spent the majority of the time on station off Lebanon in the wake of the hijacking of TWA Flight 847. These operations were marked b a pe- riod of 69 consecutive days underway, CAROLINA be- the first shi to during which SOUTH came distinguished as splice the main brice in the Medliler- ranean. After returning to Norfolk in October 1985 SOUTH CAROLINA underwent a post-deployment leave and upkeep Pe- 1'1Od. and again was able to celebrate Christmas and New Year's with family and friends. Following the holidays the Ship underwent an extended mainte- Dance period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, which was completed in june 1986, Shortly thereafter, Ca t. E.R Ernst as- sumed command of S3UTH'CARQL1- NA from Capt. K.R. Sydow in ceremo- nies on board Iul 12, T . month the shi villas undgligugw this time for thje fast paced Northgai lantic NATO Exercise, Northam Wg ding 86. 5 Soon after her return, SOUTH CAR- OLINA began, once again, to prepare fo overseas deployment. On December3t after spen ing Christmas 1986 wie loved ones, SOUTH CAROLINA germ. derway for her sixth Mediterranean di ployment. Upon comrpjetion of the 1987 deploi ment, SOU CAROLINA retumedi Norfolk on Iune 30 where, followin . post-deployment stand down, moved to Norfolk Naval Shipyard fora: extensive six month maintenance erioi B late February 1988, SOUTI-IICAI OLIINA was ready to leave the shipyar. having met a very demanding schedub of re airs and modifications to ensu- the sIEJip's readiness for her next oversee deployment. From 15 through 27 Iune, SOUTlr CAROLINA participated in FLEETEX. 88 in the Caribbean. This exerciseloz lowed by an Independence Day visit t. Nassau, Commonwealth of the ahamxi at the invitation of the United State Ambassador. i One month later, following tw0 wtfbg of underway midshipman trairnjnt SOUTH CAROLINA once again visite- the state for which she is namedlh August 1, 1988, in ceremonies abom- shi , the State of South Carolina ciaII adopted USS SOUTH CARQLIAJ CCC-Ill-375 as the state's flagSl'l1K-Ahz proximately 1200 people touredt 65 .5 in eneral visiting held that day- fm? Towards the end of the month o dog- gust, SOUTH CAROLINA left New again for the North Atlantic. A fHSf PM six week exercise followed which 9 with her return to Norfolk. ses Mediterranean Cruise numbeao for the ship began on Decemb9fH cruise, MED 1-89, Saw mul OLINA prove her versaUl1tY- Ions of outstanding performance 111 Yarlo ercises to roviding humanltznisneug, SOUTH CKROLINA lproved heofl be second to none. T 9 ffwnt emo -- saw Change of Command Cer sca underwa in the Mediterranean at E, A.E. MITCHELL relieved. ZPMEDII ERNST as CommandingOff1cer.ARO p 89 concluded with 5 UTH C rf NA's return to her homepoft of No 0 Virginia on june 30.

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