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USS Austin LPD-4 1985 |
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 I used the Austin cruise book for most of the images and the schedule to help determine the order of events while I was CO. |
Change of Command September 20th,1985
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I relieved Captain Fred Olds off Capo Teulado, Sardinia on September 20th,1985  |
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I gave a great deal of thought about my strengths and weak points to be an effective Commanding Officer of Austin. First, because I had no background in amphibious operations, I decided that I would delegate the conduct of amphibious operations to Austin's Executive and Operations Officers and the Marine Battalion Landing Team (BLT) Commander. Second, I would concentrate my efforts to provide enthusiastic leadership, ensure the safety of the ship, improve crew morale, defensive and power projection operations, and a "warrior" mentality. |
Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group (MARG 2-85)
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Amphibious Operations Team Leaders
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| CDR Jim Adams USS Austin Executive Officer (Until December 20th) |
LCDR Jim Jones USS Austin Operations Officer |
LTCOL Hagerty
USMC Commanding Officer Battalion Landing Team (BLT) |
It turned out however that we would not conduct any classic amphibious operations for the remainder of the deployment!
Instead, we were directed to get underway the afternoon of the change of command to steam independently to the eastern Mediterranean to take up a position off the coast of Lebanon called Operation Lily Pad to provide a landing platform in case the embassy in Beirut had to be evacuated.
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The transit to Operation Lily Pad provided me the opportunity to conduct training and establish establish my proprieties with the officers and crew of Austin.
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Inport Cabin Dinners While Underway
I established the practice of inviting the BLT Commander or his Executive Officer and three of the BLT officers along with two of Austin's officers to dinner in my inport cabin while underway. The inport cabin had a table for twelve which was ideal for these dinners. My Executive Officer, Jim Adams, was on the bridge during these dinners. I thought these dinners would be important for encouraging positive relations between the BLT 3/8 and Austin's officers. BLT 3/8 had been aboard Austin in 1984 when it was blown up by terrorists in Beirut. Many of the BLT officers and some of Austin's officers were aboard Austin during that difficult period. Also, I leaned a great deal during these dinners!
Bridge Training
Captain Olds was a outstanding ship handler. But my impression was that rather than using a positive constructive approach to correct mistakes by bridge watch standers, he would often berate them and take the con himself. The result was that many of the bridge watch standers had little self confidence and were hesitant in executing their responsibilities.
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During the
transit, we
conducted many
Man Overboard
drills and
other ship
handling
training to
create a
positive
environment on
the bridge and
instill self
confidence in
the watch
standers. I would initiate the training event from the starboard brige wing and the XO, Jim Adams would observe the functioning of the bridge watch team. |
Weapons Training
I decided that the transit would provide a great opportunity to conduct training of ships bridge crew and practice firing the 3" gun and 50 caliber weapons. I had my cook, George, bring a basketball to the bridge wing which he threw overboard to initiate the weapons training event.
USS Austin Weapons Capability
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The Close in Weapons System (CIWS) was an automatic system and did not require crew training. We fired the gun to make sure that it was working! |
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The 3" 50 dual gun was located forward of the starboard bridge wing so was in an ideal location to observe the effective operation of the loading of shells and firing of the gun! |
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I designed eight firing
positions; 2,4, 6, and 8 on the port side forward
of the bridge and 1, 3, 5, and 7 on the starboard
side. This gave me the opportunity to control
firing of the 50 cal guns using the IMC voice
communications System from the starboard bridge
wing. |
I had read Patrick O'Brians's Master and Commander at Sea series which stressed the importance of exercising the ship's weapons!
The XO, Jim Adams, Ops Officer Jim Jones, and First Lieutenant, Jim Peed would often join me on the bridge wing to evaluate the progress of the 3" 50 and 50 cal gun crews. This training proved to be significant in that the crew enjoyed firing the guns and proved to be very important for Lily Pad Operations!
The Achille Lauro Operation
VADM Kelso and Genaral Vessey
 VADM Kelso
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We had only been on station Lily Pad a few days when I received an urgent "Red Phone" call from Commander Sixth Fleet, VADM Frank Kelso! His message was brief and to the point; approximate quote "Bo, you are about to receive tasking directly from the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Vessey! I have trust in you that you will make excellent decisions as to your actions in this matter". |
 General Vessey
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Note: I had met RADM Kelso when I played tennis with him in Norfolk I was VADM Greer's Aide in 1974.
General Vessey's tasking
The cruise ship Achille Lauro has been highjacked by terrorists when leaving Beirut. The Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yassar Arafat, has offered Achille Lauro safe haven in Larnaca, Cypress. Your tasking is to prevent Achille Lauro from entering Larnaca.
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We received the tasking just after dark. After consulting with the XO, Ops Officer, Jim Peed, our First Lieutenant, and our Chief Engineer, I decided not to use our 3" 50 gun. Instead, I decided to use our 50 cal gunners and personnel with spot lights. I gave instruction to the Chief Engineer to give me as much power he could without "losing the load" and and tasked the Operations Officer to request the following rules of engagement; shoot across the bow and shoot the ruder if required! |
At
2300, we were
positioned
outside
Larnaca
blocking the
harbor. We
were making
about 21
knots. At
2400, I had
all eight 50
cal gunners.
their spotters
and the search
light
operators
jammed into my
at sea cabin.
I instructed
them to load
HEI rounds in
their guns and
fire as I
instructed
them using the
IMC. They were
excited; their
eyes were very
wide. They
took their
positions. We
spent the
night
identifying
potential
Achille Lauro
contacts and
used "lead
pursuit
Tactics"
(Achille Lauro
was capable of
making 26
knots) to join
on contacts.
We instructed
each contact
to stop. If
they didn't
stop, we fired
HEI across
their bows.
When they
stopped, we
used the
search lights
to identify
each contact.
None were the
Achille Lauro.
About 0300, an
S3 Viking from
USS Coral Sea
that was
steaming in
the central
Med was
observed
overhead! The
Carrier Group
Commander was
RADM Jerry
Breast who was
the XO of
VA-82 on our
Vietnam
deployment.
It turned out that Achille Lauro had steamed south toward Egypt and was boarded by special forces personnel taking their leader in custody who was later transported to the US. Note: Our request to shoot across the bow was not approved!
It turned out that Achille Lauro had steamed south toward Egypt and was boarded by special forces personnel taking their leader in custody who was later transported to the US. Note: Our request to shoot across the bow was not approved!
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It
was clear that
after the
Achille Lauro
adventure,
operations on
Lily Pad may
not be so
routine after
all. The OPS
Officer, Jim
Jones, and I
had numerous
discussions
about how we
should prepare
the Austin for
potential
possible
terrorist
attacks on our
Lily Pad
position. As a
result, we
continued to
practice
training with
our 3/50 gun
and our 50 cal
gunners.
Numerous
basketballs
were used as
targets and we
made sure that
our CIWS was
ready for
close in
attacks. |
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USS Issac Kidd DDG 993
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I realized that I was the designated Senior Officer Eastern Mediterranean. There was only one other US Navy ship operating in the eastern Med, the USS Issac Kid DDG 993. The USS Issac Kid was a Kid Class of the Arleigh Burke DDG Aegis guided missile destroyer. She was operating independently with the Israeli Navy off of Haifa. Although she was not in my operational control, I thought it would be good idea to contact her Commanding Officer an d set up a meeting. We did so and we met somewhere between Lily Pad and Haifa. |
The
USS Issac Kid
was named
after RADM
Issac Kidd who
was killed
aboard the USS
Arizona during
the Japanese
attack on
Pearl Harbor.
I had visited
the USS
Arizona during
my tour with
commander
Third Fleet in
1979 to 1980.
I had also
visited with
his son Issac
Kid Jr,
CINCINCLANT/CLANTFLT
on numerous
occasions
during my tour
as the Aide
and Flag
Lieutenant at
COMNAVAIRLANT
in 1975.
So,
visiting USS
Issac Kid DLG
993 was of
particular
interest to
me.
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Lt Jim Peed, our First Lieutenant aboard Austin had ensured that our GIG (a boat assigned for use of the Commanding Officer) was in tip top shape for my visit. I was given appropriate honors as I boarded the USS Kid and was given an excellent tour of the ship and enjoyed meeting with her outstanding Commanding Officer. |
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The remainder of our first trip to Lily Pad was unremarkable. We held swim call, did some fishing, and took the opportunity to do some painting of the ship's hull before heading to our first liberty call in Naples.
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Underway Replenishment with USS Seattle AOE 3
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We were
relieved on
Lily Pad by USS Seattle AOE 3. We received fuel via underway replenishment which gave me my first opportunity to observe Deck and Engineering Departments work together. It was a positive experience! |
Steel Beach Picnic
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Our "Steel
Beach Picnic"
was conducted
on the forward
portion of the
flight deck. Also, It was a great chance to spend some time with the crew in an informal environment. I was encouraged by the positive comments I received. Of course they were coming down off a morale high point produced by the Achille Lauro operation! |
Med Moor Planing
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I
conducted a
planning
meeting in my
inport cabin
somewhere
along the
route in the
Ionian Sea. It
was another
great
opportunity to
use the large
table as the
Executive
Officer (Jim
Jones, the OPS
Officer was on
the bridge),
Jim Peed, our
First
Lieutenant, Lt
Marrin (The
Sea and Anchor
Team OOD), and
several Chief
Petty Officers
responsible
for executing
the deployment
of our anchors
and providing
the stern
lines for the
Med Moor
operation were
present. I was surprised that their was a lowlvevel of experience in Med Mooring in the assembled group.I found that my experience with Sratoga inside the breakwater using the bollards was very helpful. We came up with a plan that worked well when we actually perofrmed the Med Moor! |
We had a beautiful view of Mt Etna during our transit of the Straight of Messina.
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Our transit from the Straight of Messina to Naples
We had a beautiful view of the active volcano Stromboli during our transit
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Our transit from Capri to Naples
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We were scheduled to pass by Capri about midnight. I put in my night orders for to ODD to wake me in my at sea cabin as we approached Capri. We were scheduled to pick up the pilot at dawn to enter the breakwater and execute the Med Moor. |
Unfortunately,
it didn't work
out that way.
For some
reason the OOD
did not wake
me until we
were steaming
toward the
breakwater at
Naples at 12
knots.
Fortunately, I
had experience
on two
occasions
aboard
Saratoga
entering the
breakwater at
Naples. As I
entered the
bridge, I
determined
that we were
way too close
to the
breakwater and
ordered the
OOD to go all
back full. We
stopped at the
pilot pick up
point.
It
was a close
call!  |
We picked up the pilot as scheduled and executed the Med Moor.
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We Arrived in Naples on October 14th, 1985
When I stepped off the stern on to the dock, I noticed a new Navy mine sweeper moored along side Austin. A called out to their watch stander and asked if the Captain was aboard. He was, and I got a nice tour of his vessel. While we were enjoying a up of coffee, in the small officer's mess, I noticed a ;photograph of VADM Waller's wife of her christening the mine sweeper. VADM Ed Waller was one of my Commanders during my tour with Third Fleet in Hawaii.
Alphonso Maglia's Heart Attack
Our Supply
Officer, LT
Steve
Sterrett, and
I had a
meeting with
Alphonso
Maglia over
lunch in my
inport cabin
to discuss "vendor"
issues in
Naples and in
our next
scheduled
inport period
in Palma.
Toward the end
of our
meeting,
Alphonso
experienced
shortness of
breath and
significant
chest pain.
Fortunately,
our Medical
Officer, Lt
Johnson was
aboard and
arrived in a
few minutes.
We made
Alphonso as
comfortable as
we could until
an Italian
ambulance
arrived to
take him to
the hospital
where he
recovered
without
incident.
Toward the end
of our stay in
Naples,
Alphonso gave
me a case of
his family red
wine as a
thank you for
assisting in
his recovery.
Note: The
wine was
terrible and I
tossed it
overboard into
the
Mediterranean
for some
future
archeologist
to find!George and Dal Tedesco