USS H. B. WILSON DDG-7 - Westpac 1971 (page 1)
USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG-7)
To add to the story. If the photos were taken from CVA-34 during HBW's return from 1971 deployment, then they were shot on 10 Dec as TU 17.5.2 (HBW, RUPERTUS, HW TUCKER) crossed the International Date Line, with Ens C. R. (Rod) Girvin at the conn. One more photo while alongside ORISKANY and we might have seen ship's dog, Halfhitch, in his life jacket supervising the evolution. HBW arrived San Diego 0n 18 Dec.
C. G. Farnham
DAYS OUT OF HOMEPORT 342 (67%)
MILES STEAMED >20,xxx
WESTPAC DEPLOYMENTS 11 JUN 71 – 18 DEC 1971
PORTS VISITED
17 AUG 70 – 3 JAN 72
LONG BEACH, CA
SEAL BEACH, CA
PEARL HARBOR, HI
SUBIC BAY, R.P
YOKOSUKA, JAPAN
KURE, JAPAN
BUCKNER BAY, OKINAWA
DANANG, RVN
HONG KONG, BCC
SINGAPORE
17 Report aboard USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG-7 at Long Beach Naval Shipyard (LBNSY)
18 Relieving briefings by ship and Naval Shipyard representatives
19 Relieving briefings
20 Change of Command, CDR Farnham relieved CDR H. C. Mustin as Commanding Officer
21-31 Continuing Regular Overhaul (ROH), LBNSY
29 ROH, move ship to drydock
30-31 ROH, drydock
01-30 ROH, LBNSY, drydock
01-31 ROH, LBNSY. Leave drydock
07 ROH. COMDESDIV 212 visit
10 ROH. COMDESDIV 212 Change of Command
19 ROH. Fuel ship
23 ROH. NRFC Audit
26 ROH. NRFC Audit
27 ROH. Light off 1A boiler. NRFC Audit. Personnel Reliability Board Mtng
28 ROH. SAS/EAM briefs
29 ROH. Light off 1B boiler
30 ROH. Light off 2A boiler
31 ROH
01-30 ROH LBNSY
12 ROH. Dock trials / FAST cruise
17 ROH. Visit NSMSES, Pt. Hueneme
18 ROH. FAST cruise
19 ROH. Underway for machinery sea trials
23 ROH. 14A2 ASW team trainer
24 ROH. 14A2
26 ROH. THANKSGIVING
30 ROH
01-18 ROH, LBNSY
08 ROH. Flotilla NINE Nuclear Safety Mtng, San Diego
09 ROH. COMCRUDESFLOT ELEVEN, COMDESDIV 212 visit
10 ROH. Nuclear Weapons Trng Center course 916
11 ROH. Underway for weapons sea trials
14 ROH. Underway for weapons sea trials
15 ROH. Underway for RFIS (radio frequency interference survey) & swing ship
16 ROH. Underway for antenna radiation patterns
18 Complete ROH LBNSY.
19 Transit Long Beach to San Diego. Moor Pier 3 NAVSTA San Diego
20-31 San Diego
25 San Diego. CHRISTMAS
29 San Diego. Zone Insp
30 San Diego. Zone Insp.
31 San Diego
01 UPK San Diego, Pier 31N2
02 UPK San Diego
03 UPK San Diego
04 San Diego. Commence SQT (missile test/trial). NGFS trainer
05 San Diego. NGFS. COMDESDIV 212 embark
06 Enr NWS Seal Beach. NGFS trainer. Medical insp. Z-1-CI
07 NWS Seal Beach, load ammo. Enrat San Diego, Pier 31N
08-11 San Diego
11 Underway for SQT at PMR (Pacific Missile Range). Z-2-GM
12 PMR SQT. Z-2-GM. 15 knot economy trial. Brief stop Long Beach
13 PMR SQT. Z-2-GM, Z-26-S, Z-24-G
14 PMR SQT. Z-2-GM, Z-11-S. ARR San Diego Pier 26S
15 San Diego. Refuel. SQT
16 San Diego. SQT
17 San Diego
18 Underway for SQT. Z-29-S, Z-2/3-GM
19 SOCAL OPS. SQUAW ASW tgt. Z-2-GM, Z-3-S
20 SOCAL OPS. 20 knot economy trial. Z-2-GM
21 ARR San Diego, Pier 24S. RAVIR trainer
22 San Diego. TYCOM PMS visit. NAVSECGRU visit. PMR Ops brief. RAVIR trainer. ASW trnr
23 San Diego
24 San Diego
25 San Diego. RAVIR trainer
26 Enr PMR, via NWS Seal Beach. 25 knot economy trial
27 PMR SQT missile firings – 5 TARTAR shots. ARR San Diego, Pier 24S
28 San Diego. Complete SQT
29 San Diego. Nuclear Safety Council
30 San Diego. Shift to Buoys 20-21
31 San Diego
01 San Diego, buoys 20-21. Commence RFT (Refresher Training)
02 Buoys 20-21. RFT. NAVSECGRU training. Naval Gunfire School Ship (GFSS)
03 Buoys 20-21. RFT. GFSS
04 Buoys 20-21. RFT. GFSS. NUCWEPS RFT. Shift berth to Pier 41N
05-07 Pier 41N. RFT
08 Underway SOCAL for RFT. Anchor San Diego 214
09 U/W RFT. FTG-1AA, Gen drills
10 U/W RFT. Z-9-AA, Gen drills
11 U/W RFT. NGFS/Shore Bombardment at San Clemente Isl. Engineering/Damage Control drills
12 U/W RFT. NGFS, Eng/DC drills. Pier 42 San Diego
13-15 San Diego
16 U/W RFT. Fuel at LaPlaya. Z-6-S. Anch San Diego 214
17 U/W RFT. Z-23/27-G, Z-6/16-U. Anch 213
18 U/W RFT. Eng/DC drills. Buoys 20-21
19 U/W RFT. Battle problem. Fuel LaPlaya. Buoys 20-21
20 San Diego
21 San Diego
22 U/W RFT. Z-25/30-G, Z-7-U (USS BAYA)
23 U/W RFT. Z-7-U (USS MENHADEN). Anch 213
24 U/W RFT. Z-6-S, Z-26-S. Buoys 20-21
25 U/W RFT. Battle problem. Buoys 20-21
26 U/W RFT. Z-10-CC, Z-13-CC. Fuel LaPlaya. Buoys 20-21
27 San Diego
28 San Diego
01 U/W RFT. Z-17-AA, Z-10/12-CM. Eng/DC drills
02 U/W RFT. Eng/DC drills. Buoy 16
03 U/W RFT. Z-6-CC, Z-22-CI. Eng/DC drills. Buoy 16
04 U/W RFT. Z-10-GM. Fuel LaPlaya. Buoy 16
05 San Diego. 14A6A ASW trainer
06 San Diego
07 San Diego
08 UW/RFT. Man Overboard. Z-2/5-CI, Z-3-GM, Z-12-U. Eng drills
09 U/W RFT. Z-41-GM, Z-18-AA, Z-10-GM, Z-25-G, Z-11-S, Eng drills
10 U/W RFT. Z-26/28/29-S (w/USS KANSAS CITY)
11 U/W RFT. Z-26/28/29-S (w/USS ORISKANY), Z-6-AA. Buoy 16
12 U/W RFT. Final battle problem. Complete RFT. Pier 32S3
13-31 San Diego. Embark COMDESDIV 212
15 San Diego. TAV (USS S. GOMPERS)/DATC Availability
16 San Diego. TAV/DATC. Comm drills
17 San Diego. TAV/DATC
23 Sam Diego. “Big Brother” (AIC-ex)
24 San Diego. Annual Medical Inspection
25 San Diego. Ship’s “Dog” reported aboard
30 San Diego. Z-12-CM
31 San Diego. TYCOM Boiler Inspection. AAW team training
01-06 San Diego, Pier 31N. CHOP to COMDESRON 17. TYCOM 3M Insp. AAW team trnr
02 San Diego. 3M Insp. AAW tm trnr
03 San Diego. Embark Sea Cadets..
05 San Diego. TYCOM boiler insp. PMR preps. FORACS preps
06 San Diego. 14A6 ASW trnr
07 Underway, SOCAL ops. Load fuel/ammo/missiles at LaPlaya. Z-5-U (USS MENHADEN)
08 SOCAL ops. SQUAW ASW target. FORACS, San Clemente Island
09 Arr San Diego, Pier 35N2.
10 San Diego
11 San Diego
12 Underway for COMPTUEX 2-71. Z-17-U, EWEX, AAWEX
13 CTX 2-71. Full Power Trial (SAT). EWEX, AAWEX
14 CTX 2-71. PMR ops
15 CTX 2-71. Z-29-S. Gun tests. Z-6-U
16 CTX 2-71. ULM-4 (U), Z-17-AA. PXO Barry reports. Moor San Diego Pier 35N3
17-30 San Diego
19 San Diego. RegPubsInsp. DATC availability
20 San Diego. Z-12-CM
22 San Diego. NWAI (NucWepsAcceptanceInsp).
23 San Diego. NWAI
29 San Diego. Command Inspection.
30 San Diego
01 San Diego. Pier 35N3
02 San Diego
03 Underway local ops. ULM-4, Z-23-G, Z-30-G, Z-2-CI, SQUAW ASW tgt
04 Underway. SQUAW ASW tgt, Z-16-U,Z-17-U (USS BLACKFIN). Arr San Diego Pier 35N2
05-23 San Diego. TYCOM Intel brief
06 Comm drills
07 In-port damage control drill package
11 Commence POM (prepare for overseas mov’t). Z-12-CM, Comm drills. Install SLQ-20
12 COMSEC brief. 14A2 ASW trainer
13 ASROC loadout. 14A2 ASW trainer
14 Human Relations Council
17 Engineering plant light off. Landing Party training
18 COMDESRON 17 embark
19 NGFS trainer
20 NGFS trainer. AIC trainer
21 NGFS trainer. TYCOM annual Ball
24 Underway SOCAL ops. ULM-4, Z-6-U (USS RONQUIL), AAW, EWEX-3
25 PMR (Pacific Missile Range) missile firings – 3 warhead successes, 1 TLM success, 1 TLM fail
Z-29-6 (USS GUADALUPE)
26 Arr/Dep NWS Seal Beach for ammo. Arr San Diego, Pier 35N
27 Underway local ops for Dependent’s Cruise. Moor Pier 35N
28-31 San Diego
01-10 San Diego. POM
11 Underway for WESTPAC (Western Pacific). ULM-4, Z-2-CI, Z-6-AA, Z-17-AA
12 Test fire guns. General drills, AAWEX
13 Join USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) for transit to Hawaii. CIC/COMM drills
14 Fuel from ENTERPRISE. CIC/COMM drills
15 ASWEX, Z-10/12-CM
16 Hawaii opareas. Z-13-CC, Z-2-CI. NPLG (nite plane guard for ENTERPRISE
17 Fuel from ENTERPRISE. Z-13-CC, Z-2-CI. NPLG
18 Z-13-CC, Z-23-G, Z-30-G, Z-6-AA, AAWEX, NPLG
19 NPLG, Z-13-CC
20 NPLG
21 NPLG, Z-28-SZ-29-S (USS KAWISHIWI). Arr Pearl Harbor Pier M2. Call on Dep CINCPACFLT
22 Underway local ops. W-2-U/Z-16-U ( USS RUPERTUS, USS FLASHER). Arr Pearl Harbor Pier 25
23-25 Pearl Harbor
25 WESTPAC briefings
26 Underway for Subic Bay, PI with ENTERPRISE & RUPERTUS
27 Enr Subic
28 Midway Island for refueling
29 Crossed International Dateline – No 29th
30 Enr Subic. On Soviet TU-95 picket station
01 Enr Subic Bay, RP. Fuel from ENTERPRISE
02 CHOP to SEVENTHFLT. Test fire guns
03 Fuel from ENTERPRISE
04 Enr Subic
05 Enr Subic
06 Enr Subic. Fuel from ENTERPRISE
07 Arr Subic Bay, RP, Alava Wharf. ULM-4 (FAIL)
08-13 Subic Bay. SRF (Ship Repair Facility) work conference
09 COMCRUDESFLOT 11 Chg of Cmd. Call on COMNAVPHIL
12 SLQ-20 installation
13 Call on CO SRF
14 Underway independently enroute Yokosuka, Japan. Load ammo, Subic Bay. SUBOPS with USS BONEFISH
15-20 Enr Yokosuka
17 Okinawa, SAMEX Z-36-GM (fail), Z-6-AA, Z-41-GM, Z-17-AA, Fuel Buckner Bay
20 ULM-4. Arr Yokosuka, Pier 8
21-25 Yokosuka, Japan
21 Sea of Japan PARPRO (Peacetime Air Recon Protection) briefs. ROC (Repub. China) media visit
22 SOJ briefs
24 Japanese Midshipmen cruise briefs. Orphans visit
25 Embark 10 Japanese Midshipmen
26 Underway for Kure, Japan w/Midshipmen. Gun test fire. Junior Officer shiphandling
27 Enr Kure/Eta Jima.
28 Anchor Eta Jima, Move to Kure. JMSDF (Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force) reception
29 Kure
30 Kure. Tour Hiroshima. Dinner with Kure Mayor
31 Underway enr Yokosuka via Inland Sea
01 Enr Yokosuka. SUBOPS with USS GRAYBACK
02-08 Yokosuka, Pier 7
03 COMCRUDESPAC visit/dinner
04 NSA (National Security Agency) ops brief
05 Asst Secretary of Navy (Johnson) visit
06 ASN Johnson visit
09 Underway with USS BROOKE for Sea of Japan PARPRO ops. ULM-4. Comm drills
10 Enr SOJ PARPRO. Leap Frog shiphandling, Z-12-CM, C-13-CC
11 SOJ ops. Soviet TU-16 BADGER overflights
12 SOJ ops. TU-16 overflights. Engineering drills
13 SOJ ops. Eng drills
14 SOJ ops. Fuel from USS PASSUMPSIC. TU-16F overflights. Eng drills
15 SOJ ops. Eng. drills
16 Enr Yokosuka. Shiphandlling drills with BROOKE
17 Arr Yokosuka Pier 6. ULM-4
18 Yokosuka
19 Underway for Soviet Fleet surveillance ops, Northern Pacific (NORPAC)
20 Enr NORPAC SurvOps
21 Soviet SurvOps, Kurile Islands. TU-16F overflights
22 Soviet SurvOps, Kuriles/Kamchatka. Eng drills
23 Soviet SurvOps, Kamchatka. Eng drills
24 SurvOps, Petropavlovsk Kamchatka. Mass TU-16 overflights. Trailed by Soviet RIGA Class DE
25 SurvOps Petro. RIGA DE trailing. Fuel from USS PASSUMPSIC
26 SurvOps Petro. RIGA DE trailing. Soviet S-2-T overflights. Joined SovFlt – KYNDA CG, KOTLIN, KRUPNYY, SKORYY DDGs, NOVEMBER SSN
27 SurvOps Petro. SKORYY trailing. Fuel from PASSUMPSIC (w/SKORYY interference)
28 SurvOps Petro. SKORYY trailing/PETYA DE trailing. Fuel fm PASSUMPSIC
29 SurvOps Petro. PETYA/SKORYY in trail. Fuel fm PASSUMPSIC
30 SurvOps Petro. SKORYY in trail.
31 Complete SurvOps. Enr Yokosuka
01 Enr Yokosuka (storm)
02 Enr Yokosuka (gale)
03 Arr Yokosuka, Pier 8. ULM-4. CTU 71.0.4 (PARPRO)
04-11 Yokosuka
12 Underway enr Republic of Vietnam (RVN). Relieved CTU 71.0.4 by USS KING (DLG-10)
13 Enr RVN. Gun tests
14 Enr RVN. Fuel Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Z-10-GM, Z-17-AA, Z-2-CI
15 Enr RVN. Z-24-G, gun tests
16 Enr RVN. Z-24-G, gun tests. Fuel from USS PONCHATOULA
17 Arr RVN, MR-1. Emb COMDESRON 17. Commence Naval Gunfire Support RVN (NGFS) – 136 rounds
18 RVN NGFS – 45 rounds. ASW with USS BLUEBACK. Fuel from PONCHATOULA
19 RVN NGFS – 98 rounds. Rearm from USS MAUNA KEA (near collision)
20 RVN NGFS – 209 rounds. Refuel from PONCHATOULA
21 RVN NGFS – 180 rounds
22 RVN NGFS – 111 rounds. VERTREP (helo) from USS NIAGARA FALLS
23 RVN NGFS – 182 rounds. Rearm/VERTREP from KILAUEA
24 RVN NGFS – 242 rounds. Fuel from PONCHATOULA
25 RVN NGFS – 156 rounds
26 RVN NGFS – 110 rounds. Rearm/VERTREP from KILAUEA
27 RVN NGFS – 130 rounds.
28 RVN NGFS – 189 rounds
29 RVN NGFS – 192 rounds. Brief stop Danang, VN, host LTGEN Dolvin CG XXIV Corps
30 Brief stop Danang. Refuel from USS KANSAS CITY. Enr Hong Kong
01 Enr Hong Kong
02-08 Hong Kong, BCC
02 Mary & Joe Indelli visit (to 7 Oct)
04 HMS ALBION reception
07 Typhoon Elaine
09 Underway enr Subic Bay, storm evasion Typhoon Gloria. COMDESRON 17 depart
10 Enr Subic Bay, storm evasion Typhoon Faye
11 Brief stop Subic Bay, medevac FN Hooker, underway for storm evasion
12 Underway for storm evasion
13 Arr Subic Bay. SSI, Reg Pubs inspections. FN Hooker died NavHosp Subic
14-16 Subic Bay
15 Memorial service, FN Hooker. PMS inspection. CDS-17 embark
17 Underway, enr RVN. ULM-4, Z-16/17-U. Rescue Phil fishing boat
18 Enr RVN. Gun tests. Fuel from PONCHATOULA
19 RVN NGFS – 118 rounds, DMZ. VERTREP from NIAGARA FALLS
20 RVN NGFS – 298 rounds.
21 RVN NGFS – 194 rounds. Rearm from KILAUEA
22 RVN NGFS – 149 rounds. Fuel from PONCHATOULA. Typhoon evasion, Hester
23 Typhoon Hester evasion, South China Sea
24 RVN. Fuel from USS NAVASOTA
25 RVN NGFS – 274 rounds, Hoi An tgts. UNREP from KANSAS CITY
26 RVN NGFS – 30 rounds
27 RVN NGFS – 79 rounds
28 RVN NGFS – 21 rounds. UNREP from KANSAS CITY
29 RVN NGFS – 30 rounds. VERTREP from NIAGARA FALLS
30 Enr RVN MR-IV
31 RVN NGFS – 214 rounds. Fuel from USS GUADALUPE
01 RVN MR-IV NGFS – 326 rounds
02 RVN MR-IV NGFS – 217 rounds
03 RVN MR IV NGFS – 307 rounds. Rearm USS MAUNA KEA
04 RVN MR IV NGFS – 419 rounds
05 RVN MR IV NGFS – 167 rounds. UNREP MAUNA KEA and GUADALUPE
06 RVN MR IV NGFS – 30 rounds
07 RVN MR IV NGFS – 398 rounds. Enr YANKEE STATION. CDS 17 trf to USS MORTON
08 Enr YANKEE STATION (Gulf of Tonkin). Fuel from USS WICHITA
09 Enr YANKEE STA. Brief stop Danang
10 YANKEE STA. Fuel from PONCHATOULA
11 NORTH SAR STATION (NSAR). UNREP
12 NSAR. Fuel from NAVASOTA
13 NSAR
14 NSAR
15 NSAR. Shiphandling with USS KING
16 NSAR. Fuel from NAVASOTA
17 NSAR
18 NSAR. Enr YANKEE STATION
19 YSTA. Planeguard. Fuel from GUADALUPE. CDS 17 embark
20 Enr Singapore
21 Enr Singapore
22 Arr Singapore Man-of-War Anch. SEVENTHFLT reception
23-26 Singapore
25 THANKSGIVING
27 Underway enr Subic Bay. Crossed Equator
28 Enr Subic Bay. POLLYWOG initiation
29 Enr Subic Bay
30 Arr Subic Bay. ULM-4
01 Subic Bay
02-18 Underway enr San Diego at 2020 with USS ORISKANY (CV-34)
03 Transit San Bernardino Straits
04 Fuel from ORISKANY
08 Fuel from GUADALUPE
10 Fuel from ORISKANY
13 Brief stop Pearl Harbor for fuel, customs
18 Arr San Diego Pier 32N
18-31 San Diego
21 CDS 17 Change of Command
01-06 San Diego
06 CDR Farnham relieved by CDR Jensen
FAMILYGRAM
TO ALL THE WILSON’S KIN
August 1971
With one third of HENRY B. WILSON’s deployment to the Western Pacific behind us I wish to take this opportunity to discuss with our loyal supporters at home what we have done thus far and what the next few months may offer. Much of what I have to say you may already be aware of through letters from your man in WILSON. At the outset I offer the purely personal belief that the cruise is passing rapidly at this end, and would hope you at home so find it as well.
The trip across the very, very broad Pacific consumed nearly a month. Long by customary experiences, this was so because of our assignment to escort the nuclear powered aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE throughout, including a week and a half of operations in the Hawaiian area during which time ENTERPRISE pilots polished up their flying skills. WILSON did have several days in Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu, and many of the crew used the time to good advantage to see those areas for which “Pineapple Land” is famous. The stop at Pearl Harbor was useful as well for purposes of fixing some obstreperous equipment which “went haywire”, and to top off our storeroom supplies.
Leaving Hawaii on the 26th of June with ENTERPRISE and destroyer RUPERTUS, of our own Destroyer Squadron SEVENTEEN, WILSON made the lengthy transit to the U.S. Naval Base, Subic Bay in the Philippines (just north of Manila). We did stop briefly enroute at Midway Island for fuel on the 28th. ENTERPRISE was a fine traveling companion, providing donuts and cases of coke to us during our periodic trips alongside her for fuel. Her 1,100 foot length to our 432 feet, 90,000 tons to our 4,600 tons, and 4,800 men against WILSON’s 340 provide rather dramatic comparisons in size. Our frequent refuelings, every other day or so, were necessitated by a very high transit speed which found us burning fuel at a 2,000 gallons per hour rate (WILSON is not a Volkswagen). Pleasantly enough, our trip was made unscathed by the endless summer typhoons (hurricanes to some of you, perhaps) that course through the Pacific.
The 7,000 mile journey across the Pacific ended for us at Subic Bay on the 7th of July. We had no June 29th, since crossing the International Dateline just west of Midway Island permitted us to turn our calendars directly from June 28th to the 30th. I should mention in this regard that Subic Bay time is 15 hours ahead of San Diego time. The 7-14 July stay in the Philippines was warm, wet, and a period of intensive work by the crew. The heavy workload did not, however, prevent some time off to utilize the many facilities at the naval base, and to become acquainted with the adjacent town of Olongapo.
WILSON departed Subic Bay on July 14th a bare step ahead of Jean, the next “scheduled” typhoon, enroute to Yokosuka, Japan (at the southern end of Tokyo Bay). Saturday the 17th, was exercise day off the coast Okinawa. We fired a TARTAR missile at a jet target (WE claim we hit it), and did a good deal of gun shooting at other airborne targets. The day ended with a short stop at Buckner Bay, Okinawa to top off the fuel tanks; a stop so brief as to preclude any sightseeing of drought-stricken Okinawa.
On then to Yokosuka, arriving early on the 20th of July for a six day in-port stay. The recent withdrawals from overseas installations have hit Yokosuka pretty hard, and it is now a shadow of the great naval installation it was in times past. Nevertheless, a wide variety of inexpensive, high quality, foreign merchandise remains available, with prime bargains offered in china, stemware, cameras, stereos and watches. On the tourist side, ten of our men made a two day climb of spectacular Mt. Fuji (12,388 ft.) and a bus load traveled off for a day in Tokyo. Several other package tours have since been conducted as well. We have also embarked on a spirited softball and basketball athletic program, though resultant aches, pains, blisters, etc. are occasionally more memorable than the win or lose element.
The highlight of the cruise thus far was a 26 July to 2 August trip to Kure, Japan, located on the Inland Sea. WILSON had embarked twelve men of the Japanese Navy for a goodwill -- orientation trip. Kure is a heavily industrialized city not frequently visited by foreigners. A city of some 240,000, its most notable products were giant sea-going oil tankers (the largest then present being a monster 370,000 ton ship). A bonus aspect of the Kure trip was found to be nearby Hiroshima. A very modern city of nearly one million inhabitants has replaced the Hiroshima that was obliterated by the atomic bomb in 1945.
Following another week in Yokosuka, WILSON put to sea on 9 August for special operations in the Sea of Japan (between Japan and Korea). We return to Yokosuka on the 18th, but can perhaps anticipate yet another trip of the same sort before the end of the month.
Where do we go from here? Most of September will find the ship at sea off Viet Nam. The schedule beyond September is not on the street yet, but if it runs true to form we may expect most of our operations for the remainder of the cruise to be in Viet Nam waters. There should be a five day visit to Hong Kong, probably in October, and perhaps a short trip to some other port such as Singapore. And, of course, there will be other stops in Subic Bay.
A review of what I have said thus far may indicate there has been more play than work. Let me correct any such impression. Ten hour days in port and sixteen hour work days at sea are the routine. Most of the men exceed these figures frequently. A ship requires continuous maintenance to keep it ready for whatever it may be called upon to do. WILSON is an extremely complex ship, and it is kept going only because this fine crew keeps it so with a combination of skill, intelligence, patience, and dedication that would amaze Americans unfamiliar with ships. It is perhaps unfair to attempt to single out any particular group among the crew for special recognition, but if pressed to do so I suppose I would have to go along with the engineering personnel. Their hours are not only long, like the rest of the crew, but their working environment carries the additional challenges of working in very hot spaces, some of which range well above 110 degree temperature. In short, I must say that your men are the sort one wants to have around when the going gets tough. They won’t make the front page of the newspapers for their efforts, but then so many of those who do could not carry the shoes of WILSON’s men.
Before closing I must add a reminder. In my last letter I advised that families with problems should employ the services of the American Red Cross or a nearby military chaplain. There have been thus far two or three instances where this has not been done. The difficulties in responding appropriately to those situations have been quite time consuming. Please, please, please, contact the Red Cross or the chaplains if you have problems that may require your man to come home. We are short handed and must have every man assigned available for duty to meet the ship’s commitments; hence we cannot send men home unless your local agencies are unable to assist by means of their own resources.
This has been too lengthy; thank you for your kind attention, and 18 December still looks firm for return to San Diego.
Sincerely,
C. G. Farnham
Commander, U.S. Navy
Commanding Officer
FAMILYGRAM
TO ALL THE WILSON’S KIN
28 November 1971
SEASON’S GREETINGS!! The normal joys of the advancing Christmas season are heightened considerably for the men of the “Magnificent SEVEN” as we begin the voyage home to San Diego. At this writing, HENRY B. WILSON is enroute from Singapore, where we celebrated Thanksgiving Day, to Subic Bay, together with the aircraft carrier ORISKANY and our Destroyer Squadron SEVENTEEN sister ships RUPERTUS and HENRY W. TUCKER. This group is to remain at Subic Bay from 30 November until 2 December, departing late that evening for San Diego via Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the final 7,000 miles to the United States.
Saturday the 18th of December is our Christmas present. I expect that the ship will moor at pier 2, San Diego Naval Station about 0930 (9:30 a.m.) on that morning. During the following thirty days we will try to get all those desiring off the ship and on leave for about two weeks each. For you San Diego residents, our arrival time should be carried in the local newspaper, or you may call the Cruiser-Destroyer Force Operations Office (235-2206) on 16 or 17 December to verify our pier assignment and arrival time. We will be assigned a “host ship”; their customary functions being to provide directional signs at the gates, parking space near the pier, and generally they offer coffee, juice, donuts, etc. for the early arriving dependents while you fidget about waiting for the ship to moor. Mothers, please keep a firm grip on small children while on the pier -- it can be a dangerous place. One final item on this subject -- bring your best smile; we’ve been waiting a long time to see it. (Watch out for our little dog, Half Hitch -- he has not had liberty since the ship left San Diego.)
On to what we have been doing since the last FAMILYGRAM. WILSON’s stop at Yokosuka, Japan in mid-August was barely long enough to get the 19 August letter in the mail to you. After fueling, topping off storerooms and refrigerators, and fixing a few things, the ship departed on short notice just before midnight on the 19th for a high speed run northward along the Kurile Islands chain to the Soviet Kamchatka Peninsula (an extension of Siberia). Though the Russians routinely observe the U.S. Navy’s maneuvers and operations at sea, we rarely have a reciprocal opportunity. The trip to the North Pacific gave us that opportunity, and for the remainder of August we observed Soviet ships and seamen at sea. It proved to be a most worthwhile and productive event, and added much to our Navy’s understanding of how the other side does things. The northern excursion offered a marked contrast to the heat of Japan, with a light snow flurry coming our way on at lest one occasion. An unfortunate aspect of that trip was our total isolation from the postal system for a lengthy period. Many of you doubtless recall very well the mail drought at that time.
WILSON returned to Yokosuka on 3 September, remaining in port until departure on 12 September for the Republic of Viet Nam. As customary for WILSON, the 2,200 mile trip was made in haste; the reasons this time being a need for our long range guns, and a purely personal desire to avoid typhoon VIRGINIA, then bearing down on Japan. Following a brief stop at Buckner Bay, Okinawa for fuel WILSON was on the “gun line” and firing into the alleged Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the Republic of Viet Nam and communist North Viet Nam bright and early on 17 September. During the next 13 days our gunners launched nearly 2,000 of their 65 pound projectiles into the no-man’s-land of the DMZ. There is no way of determining the total results of the gunfire support effort there since the DMZ is a “neutral area”, inhabited only by the North Vietnamese army (in violation of international agreement) engaged in the movement of men and arms into the Republic of Viet Nam. The extent of their effrontery in this regard includes the flying of a massive North Vietnamese flag right in the middle of the DMZ, a flag we could view clearly from 15 miles distance.
WILSON stopped briefly in the Danang area on 29-30 September, and then sailed for an eagerly awaited seven day visit to the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. A Hong Kong stop is the frosting on every ship’s deployment. With four million people (98 percent Chinese) jammed into a 400 square mile area on the communist China coast, Hong Kong offers a wealth of nearly everything: shopping, scenery, entertainment, and a choice of either oriental or occidental atmosphere according to one’s own desires. Hong Kong is a “free port”, and there is little if anything one cannot find in its limitless shops at the most attractive prices imaginable.
The “overnight” trip form Hong Kong to Subic Bay began on 9 October, and finally ended on the 13th. Typhoons FAYE and GLORIA alternately barred our way, and the very uncomfortable trip also presented us with tragedy. Fireman Edward Hooker became ill after leaving Hong Kong, making it necessary for the ship to put into Subic briefly on the evening of the 11th to have him placed in the hospital. FAYE chased the ship to sea again the following morning. As the storm passed and WILSON returned to Subic on the 13th, we were informed that Fireman Hooker had passed away, the result of severe complications which defied all healing efforts of the hospital staff. A memorial service was held aboard ship for our shipmate by the Squadron Chaplain.
We left Subic Bay on 17 October, to resume bombardment of the DMZ on the 19th. Interruptions in the transit were occasioned by the necessity to rescue two young Filipino fishermen whose boat had caught fire and sunk off the Subic Bay entrance, and we took time to practice our anti-submarine skills with exercise torpedo shots at a friendly submarine (both were successful). We managed to have but 4 days at the DMZ before typhoon HESTER came roaring across the South China Sea. Our evasion course took us south along the Viet Nam coast. Due to an erroneous typhoon position report (from a satellite) we skirted narrowly across the path of HESTER just before she slammed into Viet Nam, leaving a toll of damage and homeless behind equal to the best the enemy has been able to do. The 25th of October found HESTER gone and WILSON lending her guns to support a Vietnamese operation against a communist base camp south of Danang. The ship then moved 80 miles to the south for 4 days of gunfire support, and late on the 29th we were ordered south around the bottom of Viet Nam to the Gulf of Siam. Our gunners laid 3,000 projectiles into enemy positions in the bleak, swampy U Minh Forest of Viet Nam between 31 October and 7 November. Though scheduled to remain on the gun line until 19 November, our gun barrels reached and exceeded the allowable limits of their life, with more than 3,000 rounds fired through each, and it was necessary to assign WILSON to other pursuits or provide new guns. With so few days remaining before going home, a Subic Bay trip for new guns was vetoed.
Before leaving the subject of gunfire support I should note a significant peripheral aspect, that of replenishing ammunition. With the capacity of our magazines limited it was necessary to rendezvous frequently with ammunition ships to replace the bullets used. Each projectile weighs 65 pounds and is sent on its way by a separate 45 pound can of powder. The ammunition is delivered to us over a wire from the ammunition ship as the two ships steam alongside 100 feet apart. Once aboard, the entire crew is turned out for the backbreaking task of moving the ammunition to the magazines. On one occasion, three hours were required to load and stow 54 tons of ammunition.
The ship was next sent north to the Tonkin Gulf on 7 November to complete her final two weeks of operational commitments. From the 9th to the 18th we served as a rescue platform for carrier based aircraft in that area. Fortunately, the ship was never called upon to go to the assistance of aviators in distress. Late on 18 November WILSON set a course for Singapore, joining up with our present group of ships along the way for the 1,300 mile trip.
Several objectives attended the Singapore visit. It offered an opportunity to have repaired a variety of equipment that had been overworked during the preceding 36 days at sea. Singapore is also an excellent shopping port, ranking alongside Hong Kong in the eyes of many. It is a very, very busy and densely populated area, with two million people living in a 225 square mile area. Every day brings ships from all corners of the globe to service Singapore’s bustling commercial markets. Perhaps the highlight of the Singapore trip, however, was “crossing the line”; the Equator. For seamen, this confers eligibility to enter the Royal Realm of Neptunus Rex, to share thereafter in the bounties of his munificence. King Neptune is a stern and demanding ruler, however, and all those who would propose to enter his domain must satisfy his very exacting admission prerequisites before they emerge from lowly “Pollywog” status to being accredited as “Shellbacks”. Very simply, there occurs an initiation ceremony which is conducted by the Shellbacks for (at the expense of) the Pollywogs embarked. I’ll leave it to your man in WILSON to describe in detail the events of that traditional (and most memorable) ceremony.
WILSON has been a valued asset to the SEVENTH Fleet during the past several months. No other ship has tackled the variety of duties, or performed with the reliability, that WILSON has during this period. The reasons for the success of the ship have been the individual and collectively outstanding performance of the men -- your men -- who have made the ship do what it was designed to do as it ranged the length of the Asian Pacific Coast. To cite specific names and jobs well done would raise the probable risk of omitting many who have quietly and expertly carried their full share of the load, and I prefer not to accept that risk. It has been a team effort by a group of young, and some not so young anymore, men of whom you, the Navy, and the United States can be so very proud. A number of the men will be awarded medals or letters of commendation for distinctively superior performance of their duties during the deployment.
This will be my last message to you, for I am to be relieved by Commander Robert L. Jensen in early January. Be assured that I leave WILSON with regret, as I have been privileged to associate with some of our nation’s most loyal and skilled citizens during the past year and a half in WILSON. I should add, as well, that you at home, particularly WILSON wives, have been of tremendous help to us all through your enduring support and perseverance in our absence. You have my deepest gratitude for this.
On behalf of the men of HENRY B. WILSON, may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, complete with the spirit and joys which are inseparable from that Holy day.
With sincere appreciation,
C. G. Farnham
Commander, U.S. Navy
Commanding Officer
p.s.: some deployment numbers for the statistically minded:
During the period 11 June to 18 December 1971, USS HENRY B. WILSON ---
Was away from San Diego 190 days
Was at sea 141 days (74%)
Was in port 49 days
Traveled 40,000 nautical miles (54,795 “land” miles)
Consumed 3,800,000 gallons of fuel
900,000 gallons of fresh water
2,700,000 gallons of boiler water
Replenished supplies at sea 44 occasions
Fired 5” projectiles totaling 5,727 rounds (186 tons)
Promoted or selected for 38 men
Re-enlisted 11 men
Sent home on emergency leave 8 men
Visited the ports of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Kure, Japan;
Subic Bay Philippines; Danang, Viet Nam; Buckner Bay, Okinawa; Hong Kong, B.C.C.; Yokosuka, Japan; Singapore
USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG-7)
OPERATIONS CHRONOLOGY
1970 17 AUGUST – 31 DECEMBER
17AUG – 18 DEC Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Regular Overhaul (ROH)
20 AUG CDR C. G. Farnham relieved CDR H. C. Mustin
29 AUG – 1 OCT Drydock
19 NOV Machinery sea trials
03 DEC Electronics sea trials
10 DEC Weapons sea trials
15 – 16 DEC RFIS / ARP range tests
18 DEC Complete ROH
19 DEC ENRAT San Diego
20 – 31 DEC San Diego
1971 1 JANUARY – 31 DECEMBER
01 – 5 JAN San Diego
06 – 07 JAN NWS Seal Beach, CA, ammunition loadout
08-10 JAN San Diego
11 – 14 JAN San Diego area local operations area exercises
15 – 17 JAN San Diego
18 – 20 JAN San Diego area local ops
21 – 25 JAN San Diego
26 – 27 JAN Local ops
28 – 31 JAN San Diego
01 FEB – 12 MAR Refresher Training (RFT) Fleet Training Group San Diego
08 – 12 FEB Underway RFT
16 – 19 FEB Underway RFT
22 – 26 FEB Underway RFT
01 – 04 MAR Underway RFT
08 – 12 MAR Underway RFT
13 MAR – 06 APR San Diego
07 – 09 APR Local ops
10 – 11 APR San Diego
12 – 16 APR COMPTUEX, San Diego op areas
17 APR – 02 MAY San Diego
03 – 04 MAY Local ops
05 - 23 MAY San Diego
24 – 26 MAY Pacific Missile Range ops
27 MAY Dependent’s Cruise
28 MAY – 10 JUN San Diego – POM
11 JUN – 22 JUN ENR WESTPAC with USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)
22 - 25 JUN Pearl Harbor, HI
26 JUN - 07 JUL ENR Pearl Harbor – Subic Bay, Pearl Harbor, HI
08 – 13 JUL Subic Bay
14 – 20 JUL ENR Yokosuka, Japan
21 – 25 JUL Yokosuka
26 – 28 JUL ENR Kure, Japan
29 – 30 JUL Kure
31 JUL – 2 AUG ENR Yokosuka
03 – 08 AUG Yokosuka
09 – 17 AUG Sea of Japan, PARPRO ops
18 AUG Yokosuka
19 AUG – 3 SEP SPECOPS NORPAC Soviet Surveillance ops
04 – 11 SEP Yokosuka
12 – 30 SEP ENRAT Tonkin Gulf, Naval Gunfire (NGFS) ops
30 SEP – 01 OCT ENR Hong Kong, BCC
02 – 08 OCT Hong Kong
09 – 13 OCT ENR Subic Bay, via typhoon evasion
14 – 16 OCT Subic Bay
17 OCT – 19 NOV Vietnam – Tonkin Gulf ops, NGFS / SAR
20 – 22 NOV ENR Singapore
22 – 26 NOV Singapore
27 – 30 NOV ENR Subic Bay
01 DEC Subic Bay
02 – 18 DEC ENR San Diego
13 DEC Pearl Harbor
18 – 31 DEC San Diego
1972 01 – 03 JANUARY
01 03 JAN SAN DIEGO
03 JAN CDR Farnham relieved by CDR Robert Jensen
July 28 Arrived Kure, Japan
July 29 and 30 at Kure, Hiroshima
August 23-30 Up north chasing the soviet fleet.
Sept 12, departed Yokosuka, Japan final time
Sept 14, refueling at Buckner Bay Okinawa, 11 am to 1:15 pm
Sept 17 – 30 Vietnam
Sept 30 – DaNang
Oct 2 arrived in Hong Kong 5 days Art spend several at Hong Kong Hilton
Oct 18 to Nov 18 Vietnam
Nov 16 ship barbeque
Oct 25 South Vietnames ships along side
Oct 25 Half Hitch was HBW mascot who disappeared one day, we never did find him
Nov 22 arrived in Singapore
Dec 1 depart Subic
Dec 13 Pearl Harbor to refuel, customs
Dec 18 arrived at San Diego.
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