Virginia (CGN 38) - Naval Cruise Book

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. 4 ,,,,-- .,...xq., . .:,,, K FE , .,-,-.-,,,,-,Iwi-T L A VA b . . ,. , Wq? ,,... .... , , pg. , ..-N , Mhwmv- H, - A.,, Virginia. The MERRIMACK was raised by the Confederates and rebuilt into an ironclad ram, commissioned CSS VIRGINIA. The VIRGINIA was an innovation in naval war- fare. On March 8, I862, CSS VIRGINIA en- gaged the U. S. frigates CONGRESS and CUMBERLAND blockading the Chesapeake at Hampton Roads. After inflicting a fearful slaughter of the gun crews of CONGRESS, VIRGINIA rammed CUMBERLAND, causing her to sink off Point Comfort. VIRGINIA sustained minor damage during the engage- ment, and retired up the James River for repairs. On March 9, the Union ironclad MONITOR arrived in Hampton Roads, much to the relief of the greatly diminished blockading forces. At 8:00 A. M., the VIRGINIA and the MONITOR engaged, thus opening a new era in naval warfare: The Era of the Ironclads. At noon on March 9, the VIRGINIA dis- engaged the MONITOR, and hauled off to Norfolk. This ended the first battle between iron ships, with neither one winning a victory. CSS VIRGINIA was destroyed at Craney Island in May, I862, to prevent her falling into the hands of advancing Union forces. , X ' ,J The first VIRGINIA was one of the original thirteen frigates built for service in the Continental Navy. The VIRGINIA was among the first appropriations of the Contin- ental Congress for use in the small privateer force called the Continental Navy. VIRGINIA was ready for sea in 1777. After waiting a year to run the British blockade of the Chesapeake Bay and a series of misfortunes, she was crippled by British ships, captured, and conscripted for use in the British Navy. The second VIRGINIA was a 'schooner built in I797 for use in the U. S. Revenue Service. Commissioned on June 25, I798, she assisted the Navy Department in protecting commerce from armed French privateers on the Southeastern coast of the United States. VIRGINIA number three, a-74-gun ship- of-the-line, was laid down and constructed in I82I, but was never called to service. She was broken up in September of I884. The fourth ship to bear the name VIR- GINIA was originally the wooden-hulled steam frigate USS MERRIMACK. The MERRI- MACK was burned and scuttled in Norfolk Navy Yard as Union troops attempted to destroy or burn all that could be used by the Confederate Forces advancing through ,MW

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The Watch is Set CONTENTS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ...... .... 2 THE CREW ............... .... 8 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT .... .... I O OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT. . . .. . .12 SUPPLY DEPARTMENT .... .... 2 0 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT ...... .... 2 6 ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT .... .... 2 8 NAVIGATION DEPARTMENT. . . . . . .41 COMBAT SYSTEM DEPARTMENT. . . . - . -43 THE CREW AT WORK AND PLAY. .. . . . .52 THE FUTURE ............. -.-- 3 4 CREDITS .... '--- 9 5

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, ' ' M... 4 -ff' 7 ,, ,, W ,, ffvf, , MM W ,,., -,4.,.,, ,. V V V, MV V Z , il i ,iv ,fl My M, Q X 4 My .f ,. , V W, s . , 1 V ,V V , J : A A Q ri M If I f ,, f ,V ... In , M + 1 1 'Q M. jf M V. f ff gp yy I . fr its 4 . ff l X 5 - Q , 4 it I I , . , fe rrr I W. V Q x, VV.f 4 ,Vf WWW VVVV VV? V V VAV . V if ? Z 1' fy 4 1' I fp V., W .. .VV qV QV ,, V V ,, ,, , , 4 , u , U' I mfwg, 1 VV'VV f V 'iffy we ne gl Ji, .,:,,.4lw ..z.a...usw 4 W ,- . 4 .V M 4 - . 1 . 9 .V CSS VIRGINIA was built in Richmond and went into action June QI, IS64. The VIRGINIA ll was used as a mobile gun platform by General Lee in the defense of Richmond. She was destroyed by Confederate forces in April, l865, prior to the evacuation of Richmond. The sixth VIRGINIA, the fourth U. S. ship to bear the name, was captured block- ade runner NOE-DAQUY. She was renamed VIRGINIA after capture, and outfitted for war. She cruised off the Carolinas in search of Confederate raiders until July IS, l863, when she departed Norfolk to ioin the West Gulf blockading Squadron at New Orleans. In November of l963, she, participated in am- phibious landings at Brownsville, Texas a move intended not only to wrest Texas from Confederate control, but also to pre- clude the possibility of a movement into the state by French troops, then stationed in Mexico. From the 'time of herb capture until she was sold in November of l865, she captured or destroyed fourteen enemy vessels. The next American ship to be named for The Old Dominion was the battleship VIR- GINIA IBB-135. She was launched under the sponsorship of Miss Gay Montague, daughter of the Governor of Virginia, on April 5, l904. In September and October of l906, she was part of the fleet stationed off Havana, Cuba, ready to protect American lives and property during the insurrection. On December I6, l907, the VIRGINIA was one of the sixteen great white battleships which passed in review before President Theodore Roosevelt as they set out, from Hampton Roads, on their famous world cruise. The circumnavigation of the globe led the Great White Fleet to many countries on their 48,0U0 mile goodwill mission. They finally returned to Hampton Roads February 22, i909 to once again pass in review before Pres- ident Theodore Roosevelt. The eighth VIRGINIA, CGN-38, is the first ship of a new class of Nuclear Powered Guided Missile Cruisers, the VIRGINIA class. Her keel was laid on August I9, l972, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, in Newport News, Va., being authenticated by Miss Virginia Warner, daughter of the Honorable John Warner, then Secretary of the Navy. Miss Warner returned to Newport News on December I4, I974 to christen the VIRGINIA. VV VV. ,, f, ,