South Carolina (DLGN 37) - Naval Cruise Book

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ND l 'SOURCES HULL 596 REEL LAID l2, lf70 Dliill 37'SOUTH UROLIIIA lunrtrlrt ll. leiviff EEL LAYING lllecenlber I9 0 Mrs. Margaret Middleton Rivers authenticating the keel of the USS SOUTH CAROLINA fDLGN-37? on I D ecember l970, ohservncl by Mr. C. L. Ackerman, President of Newport News Shipbuilding, With a beginning on a cold waterfront, a truly and fairly laid keel was the first step for USS SOUTH CAROLINA to become the fifth ship to bear the name. At Newport News Shipbuilding and Dryd0Cl4 Company on il December i970, the chain of events began forthe crew which would eventually man this nuclear guided missile frigate- To install and maintain two nuclear power plants, the engif1eeVin9 department studied, drilled, and molded themselves to a rigid scheduler From the initial fill of the reactors to the ORSE fOperational RSGCWV Safeguard Examl, the nuclear trained personnel f NUCS l m0l 'f0lned their readiness and very, very often worked extremely long hours. Nuclear powered propulsion is only part of SOUTH CAROl.lNA'5 uniqueness. installing and learning to operate two Tartar misSile systems, an antisubrnarine rocket system CASROCl: two 5'lnCll 54 caliber lightweight guns, four torpedo launchers and long Hinge Sonar equipment was a iob that demanded many long hours of not onlY 'he men of the shipyard,but the whole of Weapons Department,and evel'Y'fne in the Precommissioning Unit. During the period between keel l0Ylf19 and move aboard in September i974, thousands of hours were Spenl by future crew members learning the technical skills needed to 'Un the ship.

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The SOUTH CAROLINA is a CCN-36 class frigate with a design overall length of 596 feet and an extreme beam of 61 feet. Her full load displacement is approximately l0,000 tons with a maximum draft of 30 feet 5 inches. To propel this massive ship through the water at speeds in excess of thirty knots, the engineering spaces house two nuclear fission reactors which power a set of geared turbines and twin screws. This type of propulsion gives her the added high speed endurance and staying power which is vital to our modern Navy. SOUTH CAROLINA's mission is to operate independently, or in company, with strike, antisubmarine, or amphibious forces, against possible submarine, air, and surface threats. To accomplish this task, SOUTH CAROLINA will incorporate the power of two Tarter missile systems, fone forward and one aftlg an antisubmarine rocket system lASROClg two 5-inch 54 caliber lightweight guns, and four torpedo launchers, Additionally, SOUTH CAROLINA will utilize the ANXSQS-26CX long range sonar equipments rounding out her capabilities as a three dimensional fighting ship. Maintaining SOUTH CAROLINA in an action ready posture will be the job of the 33 officers and 5l2 enlisted men who comprise her crew. It is these men who will write the history of the fifth United States Navy Ship named SOUTH CAROLINA. 'Pea 509 A Q 4, Q4 95' 'N umo AND we The official crest of the USS SOUTH CAROLINA is highly symbolic of the ship it so strikingly represents. The circular shield displays the never ending diligence and continuity of service with which the SOUTH CAROLINA will serve the United States Navy. Below the shield, written in colors of Navy blue and gold, are the words of the motto of the State of South Carolina, Prepared in Mind and Resources, a motto which the USS SOUTH CAROLINA will be proud to uphold. The bright red outline of the state, superimposed over the gold anchor represents the ship surrounded by the Navy blue waters over which it will reign. In the right-hand portion of the state outline is the symbol of the atom, power source of the new frigate. The five gold stars spaced across the shield are a reminder that this is the fifth ship named SOUTH CAROLINA to serve in the United States Navy. Finally, the overall color scheme of red, white and blue, leaves no doubt as to the nation which this ship so proudly serves. fb

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LAUNLHI Mrs. J. Fred Buziwordt ciwrisfens The USS SOUTH CAROLINA KDLGN-373 i July 1972 cJfNewpor1' News Shipbuilding und Drydock Company.