Vulcan (AR 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE CHAIN OF COMMAND 2

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USS VULCAN (AR-5) AC •h r EHifiKE a -4— ■ 1941 - 1975 l

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INTRODUCING COM NAV SURF LANT A New Command A Traditional Mission For A New Navy “...More than 220 ships and about 80,000 Navy men and women are now part of a new command called the Naval Surface Force. U S. Atlantic Fleet. No longer is there an Amphibious Force, a Cruiser-Destroyer Force or, a Service Force. Rather, the Surface Force encompasses all these functions. The unique missions performed by the former commands will continue with the same amount of pride and professionalism as in the past.” “Bean , Bullets and Blac k Oil Without fuel, ships could not sail; without bullets. guns would remain silent; and, mast importantly, without food, sailors at sea would go hungry. Thus, a small variety of ships in the Surface Force have the important mission of replenishment at sea. That is, it’s their job to take on a vast amount of supplies, rendezvous at sea with other Navy ships and pass these supplies during underway replenishment operations. Giant oilers, refrigerated store ships and ammunition ships steam with task force units to enable the amphibious assault ships, the cruisers and the destroyers to fulfill their specific obligations. Technical expertise in salvage and diving operations is also a function of Surface Force ships. When ships, for some reason or another go aground or go dead in the water, salvage ships and fleet tugs provide valuable assistance. Newer replenishment ships in the form of the combat store ship, the fast combat support ship and the replenishment fleet oiler will eventually replace several other ship types because they offer “one stop” service. That is, a ship such as the fast combat support ship (AOK) will be able to resupply the necessary food, black oil and a wide variety of ammunition from her giant storerooms. Repair tenders—called floating factories—offer many varied services to their nests alongside. Almost every type of work is done in tenders—from cutting hair, medical, dental and canvas work to machinery repair, electronic calibration and pattern making. The various missions performed by the many ship types and shore commands within the Surface Force compliment each other to make this major surface command a cohesive, well-equipped seagoing strike force. The thousands of Navy men and women serving in these ships and at the shore support facilities continue to be the most important elements affecting the accomplishment of the Navy’s mission ofsea power for peace. Naval Surface Force Atlantic Fleet 3