USS GERMANTOWN FLEET POST OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO

Transcription

1 DEPARTMENT OF USS GERMANTOWN FLEET POST OFFCE SAN FRANCSCO N REPLY REFER TO: 5750 Ser LSD42/ Apr 87 From: To : Commandng Offcer, USS GERMANTOWN Chef of Naval Operatons (OP-05D2) Washngton, DC Subj: COMMAND HSTORY (OPNAV REPORT ) Ref: (a) OPNAVNST C 1 Encl: (1) USS GERMANTOW (LSD 42) Command Hstory for the perod from the commssonng, 8 February 1986 to 31 December (2) USS GERMANTOWN (LSD 42) ~ommsdonn~ Book 1. n accordance wth reference (a), enclogures ( 1 ) and (2) are forwarded. Copy to: Drector of Naval Hstory (OP-09BH) CNCPACFLT COMNAVSURFPAC COMPHBGRU THREE COMPHBRON SEVEN

2 1. CHRONOLOGCAL HGHLGHTS OF SHP ' S SCHEDULE ~ROM COMMSSONNG TO DECEMBER ~ ~ 8 FEB COMMSSONED USS GERMANTOWN LSD FEB MTT/PLQE FEB CREW'S CERTFCATON PHASE 20 FEB PRE-COMBAT system SHPBOARD QUALFCATON TRAL 25 FEB HOT/COLD CHECKS ON DESEL PLANT MAR LGHT OF EXAM (LOE) CNCPACFLT NSPECTED LOE MAR CREW'S CERTFCATON PHASE 1 18 MAR UNDERWAY FOR FRST TME FULLY MANNED 20 MAR FRST PORT VST ESQUMALT, CANADA 24 MAR UNDERWAY FOR SAN FRANCSCO N 28 MAR MOORED PER 45 FSHERMAN'S WARF, SAN FRA CSCO, CA MAR OPEN HOUSE WTH 1992 VSTORS 4 APR UNDERWAY FOR SAN DEGO 7 APR MOORED SAN DEGO (ARRVED HOMEPORT FOR FRST TME) 18 APR HOSTED COMNAVSURVPAC (VADM DAVS ), COMPBBGRU 3 (RADM HGGNSON) FOR LUNCHEON AND TOUR APR BROADWAY PER VST SHP, 804 VSTORS PLUS 304 RTC RECRUTS VSTED 2 MAY MTT PHASE MAY SHAKEDOWN REFRESHER TRANNG 25 MAY-13 JUN TAV WTH USS ACADA 4 JUN US0 WORLD BOARD OF GOVERNORS1 DNNER 9-13 JUN MTT PHASE 1 23 JUN NSURV 24 JUL DC MARATHON JUL 30 MOOR RODMAN CZ 31 JUL TRANST PANAMA CANAL 6 AUG MOOR NEW ORLEANS, LA 11 AUG UNDERWAY FOR PANAMA CTY, FL 12 AUG MOOR PANAMA CTY, FL 14 AUG EMBARK LCACS (EMBARK COMMANDANT USMC, GEN. P. X. KELLEY,USMC). UNDERWAY SAN DEGO, CA 18 AUG MOOR CRSTOBAL, CZ 19 AUG TRANST PANAMA CANAL 29 AUG EMBARK CNCPACFLT 29 AUG MOOR NAVSTA SAN DEGO ~ SEP MTT PHASE 11 7 OCT COMMENCE OPPE 14 OCT MOOR SOUTHWEST MARNE FOR POST SHAKEDOWN AVALABLTY (PSA) 14 OCT-13 DEC PSA 14 OCT 3M ASSST VST 22 OCT NAVSEA LS MEETNG 27 OCT COMNAVMEDCOM MCPOC VST 10 NOV SHPBOARD SAFETY NSPECTON 3 DEC ENGNE TRALS/NAVSESS EVAL OF PROPULSON PLANT 13 DEC ENTER DRY DOCK 14 DEC NAVSEA/SUPSHP NSPECTON OF HULL 15 DEC LEAVE DRY DOCK 20 DEC- 5 JAN 87 HOLDAY UPKEEP AND LEAVE PERO?

3 2. COMMAND ORGANZATON: USS GER~NTO~ (LSD-42) s under the command of CDR. Edward M. Klne, USN. GERMANTOWN spent most of 1986 n CNCPACFL. GERMANTOWN was under CNCLANTFLT from 28 July to 22 August whl!? n transt to Florda. GERMANTOWN was assgned to Commander Amphbous Group Three untl 17 October when she was assgned to Amphbous Squadron Seven. GERMANTOWN s homeported n San Dego, Calforna and s namedafter a hstorc Pennsylvana dstrct of Germantown. Now a resdental sectbn of Phladelpha, Germantown was founded n 1683 and was the ste of an mpor ant battle of the Amercan War for ndependence fought on October 4, 1777 betwe n the forces of General George Washngton and General Sr Wllam Howe. 3. MSSON, TASKS AND FUNCTONS: a. USS GERMANTOWN (LSD-42) s the frst shp of the new WHDBEY SLAND (LSD-41) class to serve n the Pacfc Fleet. C pable of speeds n excess of 20 knots, GERMANTOWN1s man propulson plant conss s of four desel engnes, each provdng more than 8,500 shaft horse power. b. The msson of GERMANTOWN s to launch knd support assault landng craft and helcopters durng amphbous operatons aganst hostle shores. GERMANTOWN s the frst shp n the Pacfc Flee to carry the new Landng Craft Ar Cushon (LCAC). The LCAC s an attack, t hovercraft wth the ablty to exceed 40 knots whle carryng a 60-ton payload. Utlzng ths new craft, GERMANTOWN forces wll be able to carry out an amphbous attack aganst a wder range of beaches than prevously accessablp to conventonal landng craft. c. USS GERMANTOWN accomplshes her msso through the use of her welldeck whch s flooded to embark and launch 4 onventonal assault craft. LCACs can enter a "dryn welldeck. After extng the shp, assault craft are drected toward the shore by the shp's Combat nformaton Center. Two helo landng spots coupled wth an ar control tower make GERMANTOF a mult-dmentonal threat. d. GERMANTOWN s equped wth the Navy's latest technology ncludng updated communcaton and combat systems, 20 an4 60-ton cranes, expanded repar shop facltes, two helcopter landng areas, domplete medcal and dental facltes and an automated computer based supply system. ~ 4. SUMMARY OF OPERATONS AND ACTVTES FOR 1986: USS GERMANTOWN was commsoned on a brght sunny 8 February. RADM J. J. Hggnson read the commsonng drectve. d eneral P. X. Kelley, USMC, Commandant of the Marne Corps was prncpal speaker at the ceremony. Unfortunetley, Mrs. P. X. Kelley, the shp's spgnsor, was unable to attend due to poor health. The ceremony, held n the well de k, lasted about one hour and ncluded speaches by RADM L. S. Severance, Jr. USN, COMNAVBASE Seattle; Mr. L. A. Smth, Presdent Lockheed Marna Systems 4roup; and COL. Em E. Shoults, USMC (RET), Amphbous Shp Aqusston ProjectManager NAVSEA System Command. Such tradtons as settng the watch and mannng the shp were observed. About 850 persons attended. Followng commssonng, the USS GERM AN TO^ entered Post Delvery Avalablty. The purpose of ths yard perod was to allow Lockheed to put the fnshng touches on the recently commssoned shp and allow GERMANTOWN'S crew to complete the fnal tranng necessary b$fore gettng underway.

4 F e,bruary- and March saw G E R M A N T 0 W N begn an E ntense seres of nspectons and tests. Commencng on 13 March were both the C NCPACFLT Lght Off Examnaton and C 0 M P HB G R U Three Crew C e M aton (Phase ). Both nspectons were hghly successful settng a trend tha k would be m antaned throughout the year. Crew C e ~caton (Phase ) w the fnal test pror to gettng underway. A seres of "Fast Crusestt proved hat the offcers and crew of G E R M A N T 0 W N were ndeed ready to set sall. 0 ne prolonged blast and "Underway, shn colorsn were met wth hearty cheers as G E R M A N T 0 W Nts crew fell nto quarters for leavqg the port of Seattle. A fter three days at sea durng whch the shp's radaton pavterns were measured G E R M A N T 0 W N pulled nto her frst lberty port of E squm alt, Brtsh C olu m ba Canada. The host shp for the wonderful fowday stay near Vctora, Brtsh Columba fkom 20 March to 24 March was HM CS KO TENAY. After beng out n the open ocean for the f!rst t e GE R M ANT 0 W N and her crew arrved n San Francsco on 28 March. G E R M A T 0 W N held an open house at ' ' Fsher m ants W arf durng whch she had over 1900 rs n two days. The remander of GERMANTOWNtsvst wasspentt g her crew; crew members were sent to Naval Staton Treasure sland for da m age control tranng. After leavng San Francsco on 4 A prfl G E R M A N k 0 W N was underway for three days wth male Mends and relatves of the crew em b ked for a Tger Cruse before pullng nto her perm anant ho m eport of M aval Staton San Dego, Calforna. G E R M A N T 0 W Nts crew conducted her f'rst flght quarters just pror to pullng nto her new ho m eport. E m barked by helcopter were two 1 televson ca m era crews and a newspaper reporter and a photgrapher nterested the Navy's newest G atortt. Frends and famly were treated to tunes by the loc Navy Band whle GERMANTOWN mooredat per 12adorned byagan$le. COMNAVSURFPAC, VADM George Davs was onterestedn the Pacf'c Fleet's newest am phhom shp. 0 n 18 Aprl V A D M "% avls and R A D M Hggnson, COMPHBGRU 3 vsted GERMANTOWN forlunch and a tour. From 12 to 23 May GERMANTOWNts crew recev d some of the mastntensve tranng that they w ould experence for all of hakedown R efkesher Tranng. GERM ANT0 W Nts crew performed admra kly F and proved to FTG that they were serous about the challenge set by the shp's m otto: ttfollo w n 0 ur Footstepstt. On June 4 GERMANTOWN and her crew were hon redto host The US0 World Board of G ovenors' Annual Dnner. The event, atten ed by nu m erous senor ofers and 13 flag offcers was held to honor San D egans who had done more than ther share to support the US 0. The a w ardees were lex G. Spanos, Arthur C. Engel, Morrs W axman, and Mrs. Edwn M eese. Other dgntares that attended the dnner were The Honorable Edwn Meese, the Attorney General of the Unted States and Bob Hope. The dnner was held n the sh 's well deck whle L G E R M A N T 0 W N was moored at Broadway Per San Dego. The week of 23 June was hghlghted by a succe ul NSU R V overseen by R A D M Buckley. Ths nspecton or fnal contract trals was to deter mne f Lockheed had provded a good product, whch ndeed they had. GE R M A N T 0 W N departed on a wmn-deployment{to Panama Cty, Florda to embark ACU-5 on 17 July. Aftertranstngthe andm ma Canal, GERMANTOWN salors became members of the "Order of the Dtchn on 3 1 July. The ten hour sea and anchor detal seemed shorter due to the ffe, th&ugh hot, weather and the nterestng hstory of the canal tself.

5 Due to,unforseen delaysn LCAC testng, GERMANTOWN wasdverted to New Orleans, LA for a week long vst fkom 6 to 11 Augus Whle n New Orleans GE R M A N T 0 W N salors partcpated n varous athle 9'c events ncludng a softball game wth a local rado staton and a 1 OK run. G E R 4 A N T 0 W N receved her berth at the Benvlle Street W arf pee of charge thanks to bows provded to the publc by G E R M A N T 0 W N salors. 850 people attended over a two day open house. G E R M A N T 0 W N got underway on 11 August to receve A C U-5 personnel and cargon Panama Cty, FL. After along two day car oonload GERMANTOWN got underway agan, ths tme headng ho me. medately e outdde Panama Cty harbor GERMANTOWN set condton 1A LCAC forthe f'rst tme and also embarked her f'rst Marne by LCAC: Gen. P. X. Kelley, USMC, Coy mandant of the Marne C orps. Arrvngforanoverrdghtstayn Crstobal, CZ G~RMANTOWN was met bya fve m ember U.S. Coast Guard Drug nterdcton Tea /m that stayed wth GE R M A N T 0 W N unm her arrval n San Dego. Just befor launchng the L C A Cs and ACU-5 to ther permanant homeport at Camp Pendelton, CA GERMANTOWN embarked ADM Lyons, CNCPACFLT foranoperato alvew ofthe LCACs. 7 0 ctober GE R M A N T 0 W N under went her frst 0 k eratonal Propulson Plant Examnaton, or 0 P P E. Due to a prevously undetected desgn flaw dscovered durng a Loss of Power to Man Machnery Console d@u 0 P P E was termnated. Except for ths one unfortunate ncdent GE R M A N T Q W Nts crew preformed exceptonally. G E R M A N T 0 W N engneers subsequen y wrote and submtted to t N A VSSES the procedures for controlng the casualty hat termnated her 0 P P E. 14 Octobersaw GERMANTOWN shftng berthsfkom NAVSTA San Dego to Southwest Marne shp yard, San Dego, C A for her 12 week Post Shakedown Avalablty (PSA). Durng ths yard perod work wasaccomplshed to correct N SU R V dscrepances and te ms covered by the ~ocdheed warranty. The f'nal phase of the PSA was accomplshed n the Naval Staton dry dock on 13 December. GERMANTOWN wasafloataganon 1~5 Decemberfollowngherhull nspecton that revealed no problems. On 20 December GER MA NTO W N's crew com men ed a two-week holday leave and upkeep perod n antcpaton of 1987 and G E R M N T 0 W Nvs rgorous em ploy m ent schedule for the new year.

6 N REPLY REFER TO: January 1986 MEMORANDUM From: Prospectve Commandng Offcer, USS GER ANTOWN (LSD-42) To: Offce of nformaton, Attn: LTJG Deware Subj: COMMSSONNG CEREMONY OF LSD-42 ~ Encl: (1) GERMANTOWNNOTE 5061 of 27 Jan 86 (2) Commandng Of fcerls Bography 1. Enclosures () and (2) are provded for your nformaton. The commssonng of the USS GERM ANTOWN s scheduled for 1000 on 8 February The pont of contact for the commssonng cerdmony s LCDR Wess phone AV /COMM (206) Should you have any questons or specal needs for the ceremony please contact Commander Wess as soon bs possble. E.M. KLN~ /