USS MULLINNIX DD-944

           2ND Fleet / NATO Exercises
1959              

During the next two months, Mullinnix participated in a Second Fleet Exercise, and a NATO exercise.

19 May found the Mullinnix in exercises in the Virginia Capes in accordance with COMDESFLOT 181948Z. She was accompanied by fellow second fleet veterans USS Northampton CLC-1, USS J.C. Owens DD-776, USS Fox DD-779, USS Stormes DD-780, USS Lowry DD-770, US Laffey DD-724, USS Strong DD-758, and USS Gyatt DDG-1 (Navy's first guided-missile destroyer, converted in 1957 from DD-712). OTC was COMDESRON 32 (Captain S.C. Small, USN) on Mullinnix, SOPA was COMSECONDFLEET (VADM W.R. Smedberg, III) on Northampton.

In 1956, Northampton was a unit of the Navy's first guided missile division afloat, CruDiv 6, in the first public demonstration of the Terrier missile system.

By 21 May, Mullinnix was steaming off the coast of Florida in company with Task Group 23.7 composed of Destroyer Squadron 32, USS Northampton CLC-1, USS Boston CAG-1, USS N.K. Perry DDR-883, USS Gyatt DDG-1, USS Goodrich DDR-831, and USS Turner DD-884 in Formation 40 in accordance with COMCARDIV 6 OPORDER 50-59. The OTC had been transferred to DESFLOT 6 (RADM A.H. Taylor) in N.K. Perry.

She refueled from USS Salamonie AO-26, receiving 32,239 gallons NSFO. Following refueling, she performed ammunition transfer from USS Suribachi AE-21. Mullinnix then executed life guard station duty astern of USS Nantahala AO-60 and USS Canisteo AO-59. On 22 May, the ships were joined by the main body consisting of USS Saratoga CVA-60 and USS Essex CVA-9. Following the repair of a steam leak in the main steam line, the formation was joined by USS Owens DD-776, USS Hank DD-702, USS Soley DD-707, USS English DD-696, USS W. L. Lind DD-703, sister-ship USS Blandy DD-943, and USS Berry DD-858. This massive fighting force was in accordance with COMCARDIV SIX OpOrder 50-59 and was under the leadership of COMSECONDFLT (SOPA) and COMCARDIVSIX (OTC), both in USS Saratoga CVA-60.

Mullinnix' crew kept busy participating in helicopter details, drone recovery detail, plane guard detail for both Saratoga and Essex, refueling from Saratoga, and a highline transfer with USS Hank. On 24 May, the force was joined by USS J.R. Pierce DD-753, USS Turner DD-834, USS Barton DD-722. Operating off East Coast, the force practiced Zigzag Drill, steering sinuous course. This very active day was capped off by a man overboard on the USS Essex. The sailor was recovered without injury. The following day she kept busy with life guard station duty for the USS Chuckawan A0-100 and USS Shasta AE-6 as many of the ships refueled and rearmed.

Mullinnix participated in ASW exercises with the USS Runner SS-476 the morning of 26 May. Unfortunately the Runner bettered the Mullinnix and she was placed 'out of action' for the remainder of the day. Later that same afternoon, she participated in anti-aircraft and drone firing exercises while the crew was at GQ with readiness condition I and material condition ZEBRA set. With the sun's last red ember on the horizon, the light, slanting as it set, cast its final rays upon signal bridge and stacks. Darken ship was set at 1858.

The following day was filled with ASW exercises including firing of the hedgehog batteries. Mullinnix practice circular screen maneuvers with several ships including USS Suribachi AE-21. The crew was allowed much rest as she continued in life guard station astern of USS Canisteo, refueled from Canisteo. Then disaster struck. While taking on mail the highline parted, sending the mail into the churning water.

The crew was once again at GQ for most of 28 May. Mux refueled from Canisteo again and successfully transferred personnel to USS Stormes and USS Saratoga. The powerful fleet returned to Norfolk on 30 May with Mullinnix moored starboard side to pier 23 berth 238, D&S Piers. USS Lowry moored alongside port to Mullinnix, followed by USS Hank and USS Lind. Before engineering could call it a day they took on 36,905 gallons of fuel.

Most of the summer was spent in Norfolk. There was training, both on and off the ship, transfer of personnel, new crew members reporting on board, repairs, preventive maintenance for stem to stern, drills, duty, more drills, and an occasional Captain’s Mass. Though home port is indeed home for a ship, a fighting ship like the Mullinnix doesn’t want to stay in home port too long. She gets antsy. She gets anxious. The sea is calling, Duty is calling. She was built to prowl the world looking for trouble and defending her country.

The crew was rewarded for the hard work. Under a sky that was a dull gunmetal gray and a light mist hanging in the air, Mullinnix steamed out of Norfolk on 10 June, headed to New York City.

GO TO Liberty Call New York City 1959


The balance of June and July were set aside for coordinated antisubmarine (ASW) training cruises intended to toughen up the ship's offensive/defensive capabilities in order to effectively deal with the ever-present submarine threat. The first of these cruises, accordance with COMDESRON 32 MSG 191432Z, commenced on 23 June in the company of USS Strong DD-758 and USS Sailfish SS-572. To confirm her youth, Mullinnix conducted a full power run and at 1853 reached a speed of 35 knots.

The second, took to sea on 6 July in the company of Task Unit 24.4.5 composed of units of DESRON 32, DESRON 4, and DESDIV 262 plus USS Northampton CLC-1, USS Nantahala AO-60, and USS Boston CAG-1 to continue ASW simulations. The sheer size of these exercises illustrated their importance. On 9 July the following ships participated in a ASW circular screen formation: USS Northampton CLC-1, USS N. K. Perry DDR-883, USS Boston CAG-1, USS Douglas H. Fox DD-779, USS Stormes DD-780, USS Strong DD-758, sister ship USS Manley DD-940, USS Greene DDR-711, USS McCard DD-882, USS Dyess DD-880, USS Gearing DD-710, USS Bordelon DDR-881, USS Gyatt DDG-1, USS Johnston DD-821, USS Vogelsang DD-862, USS Cecil DDR-835, USS Corry DDR-817, USS O’Hare DD-889, and USS Stickell DDR-888. Many of these ships were testing the Navy's newest anti-submarine warfare equipment.

She returned to Norfolk on 10 July only to return to Virginia Operating Area as a unit of Task Unit 201.4.1 on the morning of 13 July. Mullinnix was part of a fourteen ship contingent preparing for anti-submarine warfare in accordance with Commander Carrier Striking Force (COMCARSTIK Force) Operation Order (OPORDER) 52-59. They participated in NATO exercise RIPTIDE under the command of RADM G. W. Anderson, Jr. USN.

Shortly after midnight, in the early morning hours of 15 July, she made rendezvous with USS Saratoga CVA-60, USS Fiske DDR-842, sister ship USS Decatur DD-936, USS Benham DD-796, and USS Hawkins DDR-873. ASW exercises continued throughout the day. At 1245 on 16 July, Mullinnix acquired a sonar contact bearing 330T, range 3600 yards. After stationing the ASW Attack Team, Mullinnix and USS Johnston commenced a dual ship attack on the target at 18 knots. Two S2F aircraft and four ASW helicopters joined in to assist in the operations. The sub was successfully surfaced and was subsequently identified as USS Trumpetfish SS-425.

After receiving 41,236 gallons of fuel from USS Canisteo AO-99, Mullinnix and the others ships continued sharpening their ASW skills. Simulating numerous situations and conditions such as darkened ship, testing of chemical and collision alarms, after steering control tests, pursuing radar and sonar contacts, steering sinuous courses, and highline transfers.

In another test of her newest and ruggedness, Mullinnix conducted a 35 knot full power speed run on Sunday afternoon, 19 July. At 1818 she performed a crash back full maneuver followed by, at 1821, a crash ahead to flank speed exercise to 34 knots. While maintaining 34 knots, she commenced high speed turns using a 37-degree rudder.

The following day Mullinnix assisted USS Keppler DDE-765 on a dual ship attack, expending seventeen rounds of plaster-loaded hedgehogs. Shortly thereafter the submarine placed herself out of action and requested permission to surface. Mullinnix was then joined by HMS Scarborough F-63 and HMS Tenby F-65, both Whitby Class Type 12 frigates. The three ships continued ASW attack runs on suspected targets for the remainder of the afternoon. The exercises completed, she returned to D&S Piers and moored port side to USS Shenandoah AD-26, Pier 21 on the morning of 21 July.

On 31 July, 1959, Commander John C. Hill II relieved Commander Anderson as the ship's second Commanding Officer.

The ship begins prep for her first Med Cruise.

To be continued...

GO TO Liberty Call New York City 1959
GO TO 1959-60 Med (Part 1 of 2)

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