USS MULLINNIX DD-944

1967
Unitas VIII
South America
27 Sept-7 Dec

USS Mullinnix on Unitas VIII Cruise - South America 1967



1967 Mullinnix Deck Logs
(Missing Feb Mar Jun Sep Nov Dec)

January 1967 (PDF)
February 1967 (Coming Soon)
March 1967 (Coming Soon)
April 1967 (PDF)
May 1967 (PDF)
June 1967 (Coming Soon)
July 1967 (PDF)
August 1967 (PDF)
September 1967 (Coming Soon)
October 1967 (PDF)
November 1967 (Coming Soon)
December 1967 (Coming Soon)



Excerpt from "The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944"
A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood

On 27 September, Mullinnix sailed with only 48 hours notice on a 2 1/2 month cruise which saw Mullinnix completly en circle the continent of South America, she was under the operational control of Commander South Atlantic Forces. During the cruise Mullinnix worked with the navies of several South American contries conducint ASW training exercises. The crew also did a great deal to enhance good will between the US and South America through visits to many fine ports. These were Valparaiso, Chili; Punta Arenas, Chile; Puerto Belgrano, Argentina; Buenous Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Salvador, Brazil; and La Guira, Venezuela.

GO TO Liberty Call Valparaiso, Chili 1967

GO TO Liberty Call Punta Arenas, Chile 1967

GO TO Liberty Call Puerto Belgrano, Argentina 1967

GO TO Liberty Call Buenos Aires, Argentina 1967

GO TO Liberty Call Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1967

GO TO Liberty Call Salvador, Brazil 1967

GO TO Liberty Call La Guira, Venezuela 1967



On 1 October, the ship entered and successfully steamed through the Panama Canal, tying up to Pier #1 at Rodman Naval Station, Canal Zone. She continued her journey the following day (2 October). On 3 October, the ship crossed the Equator at Latitude 00'00 and Longitude 80'47 W.

GO TO Liberty Call Rodman, Canal Zone 1967

She arrived at the Pervian Naval Base in Callao, Peru (Lima, Peru) on 5 October. The picture at the left is Mullinnix in Callao, Peru in 1967. Once fueling from a fuel barge was completed, Mullinnix continue down the West Coast of South America. She arrived in Valparaiso, Chili on 8 October, leaving the following day. The ship next arrived at Punta Arenas, Chili on 14 October. Again, only spending 1 night.

PC3 Gary J. Thielen remembers: "The cruise went down one side of South American thru the inland passageway off the coast of Chile and it was the first time we cruised thru mountains with snow caps on them...it was cold as all get out..."



The Straits of Magellan (Spanish: Estrecho de Magallanes) is a navigable sea route in southern Chile separating mainland South America to the north and Tierra del Fuego to the south. The strait is considered the most important natural passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was discovered and first traversed by Europeans by the Spanish expedition of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1520, after whom it is named. Prior to this, the strait had been navigated by canoe-faring indigenous peoples including the Kawesqar. The picture at the right is of Mullinnix steaming through The Straits of Magellan.

Magellan's original name for the strait was Estrecho de Todos los Santos ("Strait of All Saints"). The King of Spain, Emperor Charles V, who sponsored the Magellan-Elcano expedition, changed the name to the Strait of Magellan in honor of Magellan.

The route is difficult to navigate due to frequent narrows and unpredictable winds and currents. Maritime piloting is now compulsory. The strait is shorter and more sheltered than the Drake Passage, the often stormy open sea route around Cape Horn, which is beset by frequent gale-force winds and icebergs. Along with the Beagle Channel, the strait was one of the few sea routes between the Atlantic and Pacific before the construction of the Panama Canal.

20 October saw the arrival of Mullinnix in Puerto Belgrano, Argentia. The crew finally got some rest as the ship stayed in port until 23 October.

Next, Mullinnix found herself in Buenas Aires, Argentina on 27 Octover.

Ship's movement in November and December are murky as those 2 deck logs have yet to be uncovered. However, the ship did cross the Equator again at Latitude 00'00 and Longitude 43'24' W.

On 7 December 1967, Mullinnix returned to her home port of Norfolk in time for the holidays and a welcome leave period.

GO TO Liberty Call Port of Spain, Trinidad 1967

GO TO Liberty Call Roosevelt Roads, PR 1967

GO TO Liberty Call St Thomas, VI 1967

To be continued...

_______________


Crossing The Equater Card


Left to right: Scribe - YN1 Foss; Royal Judge - BMC Bedard;
King Neptune - MMCS Getz; King's Daughter - Ensign Alexander


Downed FLyer in Atlantic Rescued by Mullinnix Crew
(Note White Flight Helment With Stripes on the Flyer In The Boat)








Order of the Deep - 3 October 1967



Welcome Aboard Brochure 1967

Anti War Song (.MPG)


From Jane's Fighting Ships


Mullinnix, Unitas VIII, 1967


Mullinnix, Unitas VIII, 1967


Mullinnix, Unitas VIII, 1967


Mullinnix, Unitas VIII, 1967


Mullinnix Maneuvers with Argentina Navy, Unitas VIII, 1967


Mullinnix Mail Call, Unitas VIII, 1967


Mullinnix in Unknown Port, Unitas VIII, 1967


Mullinnix in Unknown Port w/ Local Visitors, Unitas VIII, 1967

GO TO 1968 - Shipyards / Gitmo

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