Tirante (SS 420) - Naval Cruise Book

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fluent conversation with the Italian Port Director and pilot, I've never seen such an interested towns people as in San Remo. We permitted general visiting each afternonn which placed additional burden on the duty sections, but was obviously appreciated by the Italian and visiting tourists. This time we not only had to contend with changing dollars ,to lire, but had to go a step further and change dollars to franc and vice versa, not to mention changing of lire to francs and back again. Like I said earlier, many more frustrating hours are ahead of us. Leaving beautiful San Remo Friday morning, the 17th TIRANTE headed for Naples, Italy. While en route we were engaged in exercises putting the SS against destroyers, aircraft,and the carrier. I think we got an A plus. As usual with so many adversaries, it is no easy task, but the crew gets better'and better with each operation and overall effectiveness is quite obviously improved. For a little break in the routine and for good cross-training, LCDR Bill DONALDSON, LTJG Ed STINSON,LTJG Charlie GRAGG, TMQCSSJ Dave MARCUM, TM2CSSD Tommy BISHOP,STS2 Cssb Jim REED, and YNQCSSD Phil CPeteD PETERSON got to ride o destroyers and observe them hunting for SAM. They also got to take showers. Sunday September 26 we were visited by Peruvian RADM ECHEANDIA and Paraguan CAPT LEZCANO, both Naval Attaches in Washington D. C.Arriving by helo in the morning and leaving in the afternoon, both followed an iternary showing them some aspect of Submarining. Planning for a flag officer is never to easy--details, details. Finishing our operations 28 SEP-16 NOV Tuesday, we set a course for Naples, ,Italy.Arriving here Tuesday, the 28th of September our up-keep and replenishment period began, this being the logistical halfway point. Swim call was held again for our newly qualified submariners. Participating in this special event were LTJG Ed Stinson, MM3KSSD Danny JONES, SN KSSD Jim HEWITT, STSBKSSD Jim CShortyD SEELBINDER, FTGBCSSJ Randy RHYMAN, SNCSSJ Rich Smith, and SNCSSD Dave Koenig. I include in this letter two special events which we're very proud of and looking forward to on the lst and 2nd of October and they are the nmaking of the Hatn for ENICSSD Gary BARNO and the Hmaking of l lf2 stripesn for CWO2 Elmer MANN. There will be a nwet timen in Naples this weekend. Will tell you more about HNAPOLIH in next letter. Busy was the word for all hands during the Naples visit.A few major items underwent repair, along with the many small things that continously need fixing. We experienced some ., ... ... , ...f.. ML-- 4..ahng..LLuM4 ' I1

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It's news time again. Since so much has happened since the last letter, I'll try to fill you in as best as I can. Pulling into Rota, Spain on August 30, provided a welcomed chance of scenery, that of dusty brown instead of salty blue. Land always feels good, regardless. A mini up-keep commenced upon arrival with USS HOLLAND AS-32 personnel coming aboard as soon as the brow was over, long hours' were required in certain areas putting final touches and tweeks on the equipments particularly radio. Chief MELSON, as you know isn't to tall to begin with, but by the time we departed Rota, he was even less tall. The radiomen leterally worked themselves into a coma. After having barely learned how to convert Hgreen backsn into escudos, we were faced with the new challenge of converting pesetas, the Spanish version of exchange. The pesetas are now common knowledge, having practiced with it for six days. Before our trip is over, I'm sure we will be faced with many frustrating hours, not of deciding whether or not to buy, but deciding how much we actually paid. We were proud and happy to approve advancement of Chief McANALLY to Senior Chief and STSN SEELBINDER to STS3 on September l, l97l. Before leaving Rota, qualification swim call was held for CS2 Cssb Don GAULDEN, QMSNCSSD Rick GEORGE, and LTJG Charlie GRAGG, later having swam for his HJGH stripes. But now we have no bonafied Ensign. From what I heard the water was cold, dirty and salty but a pleasant relief after months of hard work with late hours in learning the boat and how to be a submariner, I'm sure many of you have participated, in part, in this program and you, too, are to be congratulated. Sunday, September 3,we left Rota and entered the Mediterranean sea. During the transit towards San Remo, Italy,a small resort town on the Italian Riviera, we operated with various DD's and air craft, providing them with ASWEX Anti-Submarine Warfares Exercise Services oftem referred to as sonar Hping timen. it was time well spent getting back to actual submarine type operations and not just transiting. Monday morning, September lh, we were welcomed to San Remo by many friendly enthusiatic towns people and two visiting Key Westers my wife Marygrace, and LTJG Charlie GRAGG's wife Carol-During OUT Stay many of the crew took as the local area of. San Remo. The people of San Remo were most hospitable, SO1ng to great extents to communicate with us. Our Italian Heritage Representative ENICSSD Tom SIRECI was in his glory taking only moments to refresh himself before entering into

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thing seldom previously nLiberty Launchn. After Change of Command of the to ride small boats to iforth to the tender. used by TIRANTE, the riding of ia changing berths to make room for the Commander, U.S. SIXTH Fleet, we had and from shore as well as back and Everything seemed to go adequately despite the added complications. . The sights to see and the places to go in Naples were many and varied. The NATO Exchange coupled with the Navy Exchange proved to adequatley stock gifts and dwindled necessities, respectively. Rome, Pompii, Herculaneum, Mt. Vesuvius, Amafia, Sorrento and Capri were among the nearby places most traveled. Everyone welcomed and enjoyed the visit in Naples, but as we sailed out Monday morning, M October , we were looking forward to an even more, interesting city---ancient Athena, Greece. During the next operation, Deep Furrow 3-Tl, a NATO Exercise we esperienced a disappointment, that of 'losing EN2 Jeff TOPITS. After becoming ill, he was found to have diabetes and subsequently returned to Key West for further tests and treatment. Our thoughts are with him and our hope is that he will soon be back in as fine a condition as ever maybe even a little slimmer. On 19 October, we pulled into Piraeus, Greece, which is about 15 miles from Athens. After the previous two weeks at sea, land was a welcomed sight again. Getting adapt at monetary exchanging, everyone quickly converted dollars to dracmas and soon were touring such places as the Parthenon, on the Acropolis, Thission, Agora, Temple of Zeus,Academy of Science, Byzantine Museum and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A highlights of Piraeus was a German cruise ship the HAMBURG, which moored near TIRANTE. Compared to our humble and modest 27 years old vessellwe celebrated her birthday on 6 Novemberl, the luxury was absolutely astounding. With the necessary arrangements being made,Tom SIRECI Jr.,AQ2, on USS AMERICA, joined his dad, Tom Sr.,aboard TIRANTE to ride during the upcoming operation Crehearsal for Exercise National Weekl and pulled out with us on Monday, 25 October. As we left Athens,we proceeded south for five days of operations opposing USS AMERICA off of Crete.After a week of evading and attacking the task group Cwhile instructing Tom Jr. in the art of submariningl TIRANTE sailed into Iraklion, Crete for the weekend,t at which time we bade Tom Jr. farewell and he returned to the bird farm. N