Underwood (FFG 36) - Naval Cruise Book

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U NDERWOOD NAMESAKE CAPTAIN GORDON W. UNDERWOOD United States Navg Captain Gordon Waite Underwood was born in New York on 3 June 1910, and at an early age moved with his family to Portland, Oregon from where he was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy in the class of 1932. At the Naval Academy he proved to be an outstanding student and superb athlete. He earned letters and starred in football and track. He was awarded the coveted Academy Sword for athletic excellence. Following his graduation from the academy, Captain Underwood served in USS OKLAHOMA. This tour was followed by training at the U. 5. Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. After his graduation he served in the Submarine 5-21, USS MISSISSIPPI and USS VEGA. In 1941 he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a Masters Degree in Marine Engineering. Upon his return to sea duty he was assigned to the Staff of Commander Submarine Squadron TEN as Squadron Engineer supporting submarines on war patrol. In January 1944, he was assigned as the Command- ing Officer of USS SPADEFISH C55-4119. on this ship during three war patrols he was credited with the destruction of seventy-six thousand tons of enemy shipping including one aircraft carrier, the HIJMS SHINYO. For each of his war patrols he was awarded a Navy Cross and in recognition- of the great successes of the first two patrols SPADEFISH was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. His record of success in his war patrols remains one of the most notable in the history of the U. 5. Navy Submarine Service. Captain Underwood, following his retirement from the Navy in 1962 after 30 years service, with distinction, became associated wit, Spelin Inc., Mountain View, California in which company he was Vice President. He was also Vice President of Filter-Aire Company of Hollister, California, until his-retirement. He died 15 January 1978 at the age of 67.

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? . 3 - .,. ' l... ,war ' ff iffy-.Az H 62.1-3 2 ' ' ' I. K is Shield: Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy and represent the sea and excellence. The chevron is a symbol of strength. The dolphins refer to Commander Underwood's three highly successful submarine patrols in the Pacific during World War 11, for which he was awarded three Navy Crosses, represented by the crosses on the shield. Crest: The trident, torches and laurel are adapted from the Naval Academy device and are used to symbolize naval prowess, fire power, and excellence of capabilities. The sword refers to the highly ' if 2 coveted Academy Sword awarded to Captain Underwood for athletic excellence during his train- ing at the United States Naval Academy Motto: Whensoever hostile aggressions...require a resort to war, we must meet our duty and convince the world that we are just friends and brave enemies. Thomas Iefferson Letter to Andrew Iackson December 3, 1806 SHIP'S COAT OI? ARMS THE FIGHTING DEVII.'S SHIP'S CHARACTERISTICS H ISTO RY USS UNDERWOOD is the twenty-ninth OLIVER HAZARD PERRY CLASS Guided Missile Frigate and the first in the third generation of the class. UNDERWOOD's primary mission is providing in-depth protection for military and merchant shipping, amphibious task forces, and underway replenishment groups. UNDERWOOD can swiftly employ surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, rapid-fire 76MM gun, a Close-In Weapons System CCIWSJ, and anti-submarine warfare CASWJ torpedoes. Embarked LAMPS MK III SH-60B helicopters are an extension of UNDERWOOD'S fighting capability able to strike over-the-horizon hostile surface and sub-surface threats, and counter hostile air threats. The propulsion system is a two-engine, computer-con- trolled gas turbine power plant similar to those found on a DC-10 commercial airliner. The engines can be on-line and operational in just a few minutes. Commissioned 29 January 1983, UNDERWOOD conducted her maiden deployment with U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Her key role in the search and recovery effort following the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster earned the ship the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation. In 1986 The Fighting Devils were awarded the Battenburg Cup and earned the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation as the BEST SHIP IN THE ATLANTIC FLEET . UNDERWOOD has participated in numerous Counter Narcotics Operations in the Caribbean Sea and several major six-month deployments, including assignment in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Storm. A For the ship's sustained outstanding performance and consistent readiness to go in harm's way UNDERWOOD was presented the Battle Efficiency Award CBattle E , for the 1993 competitive cycle. UNDERWOOD recently completed her fifth major deploy- ment, conducting multi-national Maritime Interdiction Force Operations in the Red Sea. UNDERWOOD'S homeport is Mayport, Florida. On behalf of the Officers and Crew, I would like to extend a hearty Welcome Aboard ! Displacement: 4100 ........ ......... T ons Dimensions: Length ....... ' ................. ....... 4 5 feet Beam ............................ ......... 4 5 feet Navigational Draft .................... 24'! 2 feet Complement: 15 Officers, 17 Chief Petty Officers, I 175 Enlisted I Propulsion: Two General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbines, 40,000 Total Shaft Horse- power, One Controllable Reversible Pitch Propeller, y Two 350 Horsepower Electric Drive Auxiliary Propulsion Units Auxiliaries: Four 1000 Kilowatt Ship's Service Diesel Generators Maximum Speed: 28 '+ Knots Two SH-60B LAMPS III Multipurpose Helicopters MK 13 Guided Missile Launching System with STANDARD Surface-to- Air Missiles and HARPOON Surface- to-Surface Missiles, 76 MM Rapid Fire Dual Purpose Gun, Two Triple Tube Antisubmarine Torpedo Mounts Medium Range Digital Sonar, SQQ-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar Long Range Air Search Radar, Surface Search X Navigational Radar, Electronic Support Measures Receiving Set, Digital Fire Control System Command and Control: . . . Digital Computer System which integrates all Weapons and Sensors Aircraft: Armament: Sensors:

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COMMANDING OFFICER Commander A. Conway Halsall was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on 8 November 1953. After receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Loui- I A siana State University, he entered the United States Navy i-qq through the Nuclear Power Officer Candidate Program. Commander Halsall received his commission from Of- ficer Candidate School in October 1975. Ordered to USS MISSISSIPPI CCGN 403, Commander Halsall was assigned to the precommissioning crew. He served as Reactor Controls Division Officer, Repair Divi- sion Officer, and Chemical and Radiological Control As- sistant In 1982, Commander Halsall completed a successful Persian Gulf Deployment while serving as Operations Officer on board USS STUMP CDD 9785. From 1983 to 1986, Commander Halsall was an in- structor at the University of Virginia Naval ROTC Unit. He earned a Masters Degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1986. Commander Halsall reported in February 1986 to USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CCVN 691 as Electrical Of- ficer for a two-year tour. IKE successfully completed an eighteen-month complex overhaul and pre-deploy- ment workup. In February 1988, Commander Halsall reported to the Senior Officer Ship Material Readiness Course CSOSMRCJ in Newport, Rhode Island as an instructor. In October 1990, Commander Halsall became Execu- tive Officer onboard the USS DAHLGREN CDDG 435. He completed the UNITAS XXXII Deployment During that time, DAHLGREN won the Battle Efficiency E and all departmental awards. Commander Halsall commanded USS UNDER- WOOD from 22 October 1992 to 6 Iune 1994. UNDER- WOOD was awarded the coveted Battle Efficiency E Award and made a clean sweep of all departmen- tal awards. UNDERWOOD deployed to the Northern Red Sea to conduct maritime interdiction opera- tions in support of UN sanctions against Iraq. Coirunander Halsall has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal Ctwoj, the Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy E Ribbon Qthreej, Sea Service Ribbon Cthreej, and Expert Rifleman. Commander Halsall is married to the former Bridget DiBerto of Virginia Beach, Virginia. V Sunday stress relief . . It's easier to V Yes, shuttle operations again. ofHoad through the barrel :QM