A FORCE FOR PEACE

States strongly allied with Mediterranean and other free Nations guards the Mediterranean Sea and our long range program of economic aid and mutual defense results in an adequate local strength to discourage all aggresses the instrument chosen to provide military power is the United States sixth fle [Music] at the norol Virginia naval base ships which will relieve those now on duty with the sixth lead prepare to depart for the Mediterranean thousands of items are taken [Music] aboard PL Supply a good sized Airfield spare engines and parts for those planes to keep them in first class operating condition all the different kinds of ammunition needed and food enough to feed thousands of men in the American tradition to The Men Who man the ships fleet's overall objective may become obscured by the sweat and toil of preparing for sea to each man six Fleet duty is a job to be done sprinkled with some personal sorrow and a few bits and pieces of pleasure like native sons of all Nations they love their Homeland they don't look forward to being away for 6 months or more greatly diminished is the personal desire for participation in the struggle which helped take the sting out of wartime departures in its place is a certain dogged determination to do a good job and pride in the highest degree of technical skill in the history of the Navy [Music] the inevitable moment of departure arrives there's a lump in your throat that won't go away as you try to pack 6 months of goodbyes into a few awkward minutes on a duck there's a deep sadness that won't disappear until he returns who can foretell what may happen before they're together [Music] [Music] again all the ages of man are [Music] represented [Music] they've seen dad leave them seven times in the last 5 years and he hasn't been home for Christmas in 3 years when the gang ways are removed the last physical ties between the ships and the nation they represent cease to exist tugs move the big flat top into the channel familiar Hampton Roads landmarks such as Old Point comt and Fortress Monroe fall a Stern on the port side in these Waters Naval History was made almost 100 years ago when the Monitor and the meramac fought the world's first battle between Ironclad ships [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] this is a captain speaking as you all know the Intensive training and preparations which we have been undergoing the past few months have been pointed towards our next tour of Duty in the sixth Fleet in case you're asking yourself just how important it is let me call on some past history to help you assess the importance of a strong force for peace in the Mediterranean two World conflicts in less than 30 years find this country unprepared to defend itself or help our friends today we on this ship are a symbol of America's new belief that in strength is a means to prevent War more our part is to make the next 6 months of our military life in peace time count strongly towards helping prevent years of war and millions of casualties we can be proud of this power we possess because no peac loving nation has any cause to fear us the willingness and the cooperation you have all shown makes me know that our ship the Randol will be a good ship a happy ship and the pride of the six Fleet carry on heading Eastward across the Atlantic the six Fleet relief element makes good speed toward its new Duty station 12 Days Later the carrier Randolph and two escorting destroyers approached jalter gateway to the Mediterranean Jets from the USS forest all someplace in the Mediterranean welcome their relief ship back to its old cruising grounds friendly porposes make up another welcoming committee 3,000 M from home the British Crown Colony of jalter a 21 gun National salute for [Music] jalter with the carrier anchored the Destroyers proceed into [Music] Port outside the harbor other newly arrived destroyers steam by on their way to relieve their counterparts operating in the [Music] Mediterranean in the afternoon the huge gray shape of the super carrier forestal arrives in company with two destroyers ready to be relieved after 6 months Duty in the med following morning froy arrive from another area of the Mediterranean they too will soon be relieved and return to the [Music] states formal calls on dignitaries ashore are one of the more important duties of flag officers in many ports Hands Across the sea in the interests of mutual defense of a vital area affecting the welfare of 200 million people and world people on way to the on the bridge transfers of equipment men and information have been completed the relief element has the duty and is ready to put to Sea on its way to join other Fleet units for the very vital purpose of training the Randolph is is [Music] underway now secure the anchoring [Music] detail Sunset finds the ships on an easterly course in a peaceful sea life aboard ship settles down to a normal underwe routine everyone has a job to do and a time to do it just like back home some people work while others sleep or relax in the wardr tomorrow's flight schedule is delivered flight quarters 0515 [Music] get some sack time while you can for those with the midnight to 4:00 a.m. watch coming up it's easier to stay awake than to turn in Taps Taps lights on all hands turn into your bunks maintain Silence about the deex the smoking lamp is out in all birthing spaces the evening prayer almighty God as we enter Upon Our periods of operation and Liberty in the Mediterranean Grant to each one of us a high resolve to do whatever tasks are assigned us to the very best of our ability to live with our fellow men in the highest degree of friendship to keep ourselves pure in thought in word and in deed and at all times to keep open to thee The Avenues of approach and communication [Music] amen flight quarters flight quarters All Hands man your flight quarters stations first stop for Pilots is the ready rope on the hanger deck maintenance Crews check out planes and prepare for the launch on the flight deck planes are fueled armed and spotted gentlemen we've got a Max effort this time we've got 11 aircraft on the deck and we'll launch two divisions and an additional section I'll take the lead division Mr Maddox will take the second division Mr Green the third section Mr O will stand by you have your aircraft assignments on the board I want you to get off here smartly make a good clearing turn off the bow when you're catted and proceed to the Rendevous area 8 mil on the starboard Beach Pilots man your planes let's go [Music] t first two planes are moved up to catapult position [Music] the Angel takes station for rescue [Music] [Music] work firefighters and asbest Suits stand by during takeoffs and Landing the flight surgeon and two Hospital Corman are also on hand the Catapult men worked within inches of searing hot jet exhausts precise timing and superb teamwork keep accidents low and efficiency [Applause] [Music] High [Music] within a few minutes all the Jets are launched prop planes follow both flights are on their way to support a combined British Italian us amphibious Landing exercise now to get the flight deck ready to take them back aboard [Music] it pays to advertise even on a carrier at se while the carrier prepares to recover more aircraft some of the fleet's Destroyers are conducting anti-aircraft firing and anti submarine exercises someplace overhead a plane tows a sleeve at high [Music] speed radar pinpoints the target for the gun then there are submarines attached to the six Fleet much of the time they operate independently of the other ships carrying out their own special training exercises but from time to time they assimilate an attacking force of enemy Subs a worldwide count of over 800 submarines with over 2/3 of them potentially hostile indicates that should a major War occur subsurface Warfare will be waged on a gigantic scale the submerged submarine equipped with the most modern electronic tracking equipment tries to penetrate the Destroyer screen and strike at the heavy ships the Destroyers try to pick him up on Sonar and ATT once they have him some ships are detached to form a hunter killer [Music] group high speed and exceptional maneuverability puts the group in position to drive home its attack to the south of the carrier group Italian British and US ships carry out a combined amphibious Landing exercise US Marines part of the reinforced Battalion continuously embarked in six Fleet ships and British royal Commandos swarm asore to capture and hold the beach [Music] head after the exercise British Italian and US commanders meet aboard the Salem Flagship of the six Fleet to evaluate the exercise within a few weeks some of these same commanders will witness the newest Marine Corps developments in amphibious te techniques at other distant points in the Mediterranean push button Warfare gets a workout this Cruiser launches regulus a long range surfac to surface guided missile that can carry an atomic Warhead hundreds of miles carriers and submarines can also launch regulus controllable accurate and potent regulus is the predecessor of long range Fleet ballistic missiles now under development in another area of the Mediterranean is an anti-aircraft guided missile Cruiser it launches surface to a guided missiles the range and accuracy of these missiles have been tested many [Music] times [Music] early the next morning another carrier joins the task group seldom do heavy ships of the six Fleet operate in World War II Type task groups the ever present danger of atomic attack precludes the bullseye formation of bygone days today the big ships join up for brief periods and then separate always presenting to potential enemies an elusive mobile Target who exact location cannot be predicted in advance by ballistic missile computers not Far Over the Horizon is the cruiser Salem where the Salem will be at any particular time is often a big question even to ships in the fleet for the Salem operates independently covering the many different widely dispersed units as circumstances require as is his custom commander of the six Fleet frequently makes informal calls on ships at Sea where birds are the aerial taxis of the [Music] fleet probably no Admiral ever had more colorful side [Music] boys Mobility of the fleet depends upon the tankers which rondevo with the ships every few [Music] days while the ships bands give out with the Rhythm hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel oil jet fuel and Aviation gas flow through suspended [Music] hoses along with the oil some of the fleet's many visitors are transferred to the carrier by [Music] Highline this is the modern version of the daring young men on the flying trapes a steady stomach is required equipment but they haven't dunked a man in [Music] months rural mail carrier to the fleet is the cood carrier on board delivery plane from the mail distribution center in Naples the average delivery is about 2,000 lb and the plane makes six Landings a week average time for a letter from the states to reach the ship is 7 Days sometimes all the mail received goes to other ships may call mail call all division mail POS lay down to the post office and pick up your divisional mail but mail call the sweetest music This Side of Heaven means that some of this load was for the carrier today is Sunday and church services are held as exercise schedules permit small ships however have no Chapin appropriately enough the angel lends a helping hand destroyers have no open deck space where helicopters can land but Rescue helicopters have a hatch and a windless fob Destroyer one sky pilot to take care of the spiritual needs of men engaged in hazardous occupations thousands of miles from home in addition to everything else during during the day planes have been launched and recovered continuously tonight and for the next six nights night carrier operations are [Music] scheduled if everything goes as planned these chicks will return to the bird farm about 2230 along a deserted section of the coast of Sardinia the following morning the carrier Franklin D Roosevelt newly arrived from the states rondevo with the task unit in company the two ships head for open water and scheduled air operations Roosevelt carries Navy supersonic fight [Music] new Navy supersonic heavy attack aircraft are also carried by the [Music] Roosevelt steam catapult the extra push needed to get the big birds Airborne today the op schedule calls for practice runs with side winders deadly accurate heat seeking guided missiles Randol Pilots will make practice runs on each other no missiles will actually be [Music] released rough Seas begin to plague the carriers the Destroyer boys should be getting submarine pay primary flight control center is concerned as planes low on fuel try for a quick Landing the first plane comes in high and cautious and the stern of the carrier drops out from under [Music] it the last plane's fuel is almost gone he either makes at this time or [Music] ditches there will be a meeting in the ward room for all division officers upon securing from flight quarters in the cruise quarters there's been a sudden Revival of interest in dress uniforms haircuts and well shine shoes other ships of the fleet are experiencing a similar Awakening of Interest well read hudats are being replaced with more important [Music] books how do you say hello beautiful in [Music] Italian