Vancouver (LPD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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CDR. Christopher B. PETERSON, USN CDR PETERSON was born in Graniteville, Vermont on I May I936. He attended schools there, in Westboro, Massachusetts and Norwich, Connecticut. CDR PETER- SON holds a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Chemistry from Elon College in North Carolina. After being commissioned an Ensign from OCS in l959, he served until I963 in the Oceanographic System, first at Grand Turk Island in the British West Indies, and then at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. CDR PETERSON then served as CIC Of- ficer in USS OKINAWA CLPH-35 from I963 until I966. His next tour from I966 to I968 was in USS HALSEY CCG-235 as Navigator. A first tour, I968 to I97O, in OPNAV COP- O7J, involved strategic research and development on the now known Trident sub- marines. From March I97I until September I972, CDR PETERSON served as Executive Officer in USS SANTA BARBARA CAE-285. In October l972, he returned to OPNAV COP-OSD OP-39, the Surface Warfare Manpower and Training Requirements Division, for a follow-on Washington tour. It was during this tour that CDR PETERSON was ap- pointed to the Surface Warfare Officers Study Group, one which ultimately recommended adoption of the Surface Warfare Officer qualification Ensignia now worn by IIIO Officers. CDR PETERSON reported to USS VANCOUVER and relieved as Executive Officer on I May I976. He is married to the former Linda Schneider, they have two children, Todd, I4, and Mark, II.

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THE STCRY GF THE LPD The story of the LPD, Amphibious Transport Dock, is the result of years of research and practical experience in both war and peace. Previous approaches to amphibious warfare have necessitated different types of ships, LPA for troops, LKA for cargo, LSD for boats, and LPH for helicopters, combined into a small task force to do the job that the single LPD can do independently. Modern warfare requires amphibious ships that can answer a call for support with rapid, powerful and variable response. The LPD is that type of ship. She is able to carry over SOO combat equipped Marines plus most of their accompnaing weapons and cargo at a speed in excess of 20 knots. She employs both amphibious landing craft and helicopters in effecting the over-the-beach assualt against the enemy. Troop spaces aboard the LPD are roomy, air conditioned quarters capable of supporting Marines comfortably for extended periods at sea. Facilities for handling cargo include a large freight elevator, automated pallet conveyors, forklifts, bridge cranes, and pallet jacks. This combination of modern, dependable cargo handling equipment all but eliminates wasted effort in cargo handling and insures extremely rapid reaction time for embarkation or debarkation. The story of the LPD has been actively dramatized by VANCOUVER. VAN- COUVER was the first LPD to be tested in the Vietnam war zones. She demonstrated the versatility and reliability of the LPD in numerous combat situations. While on many occasions, heavy seas prevented LPA's and LKA's from lowering their boats during amphibious assualts, VANCOUVER's pre-loading techniques in the preventive well deck of the ship enabled her to off-load on schedule and provide needed support for the Marine operation ashore. In short, the LPD offers all the tools of amphibious warfare in the most modern and efficient forms. All encompassing facilities offer the Amphibious Task Force Commander choice, not change, in seeing that the job gets done.