Jul,Aug-Sep, Nov-Dec 1965-Jan 1966 - Navy League of Australia

U.S. 7th FLEET - BASTION OF FREEDOMIN THE WESTERN PACIFICBY VSAS.The United States 7th Fleet — largest and most powerfulin the world — is many things to many people in the Far Pacific7,000 miles from America.To communis: aggressors, the 7thFleet is a naval force to be fearedfor its mobility, versatility andpower.To the oppressed, the 7th Fleetis an image of hope to cherish andtrust.To the free, the 7th Flee: is astrength upon which to rely for thepreservation of their liberty andself-government.To many millions of people inSoutheast Asia, the 7th Fleet is aguaranior that the freedom of theseas shall be preserved and thatno enemy shall ever endanger themartt me lifelines of their countries.These people know that thefate of nations rests on the controlof the seas.To those injured or made homelessby disasters such as typhoons,floods, fires and storms, the 7thFleet is an angel of mercy, swiftlyresponsive to the humanitarianneeds of the suffering no matterwhat their nationality.Today the 7:h Fleet is sustaininga day-and-night campaign againstcommunist aggressors seeking tovanquish the freedom-loving peopleof the Republic of Viet-nam.This aggression is coming fromViet-Cong guerillas hidden injungles, making hit-and-run assaultsagainst villages, ambushing Vietnamgovernment forces, terrorisingcivilians. This aggression is extensivelyassisted by communist NorthViet-nam from whence come armsand troops. Between I960 and theend of 1964, a total of 39,000 combatpersonnel were infiltrated intoSouth Viet-nam from North Vietnam.The 7th Fleet, along with otherarmed forces, is using its power onthe side of the South Vietnamesebecause the United States governmentsupports the defence of thatPago Thirty-fourembatlcd country against externalaggression.Tension had seemed comparativelymild in the 7th Fleet untilits ships were targets of enemyaction. All elements of the Fleetbecame doubly alert and ready.Ever since the Fleet was createdin 1943, it has operated at a peakThe crowded flight dock of the aircraft carrier BON HOMME RICHARD It MM ina mirror as crewmen in foreground proper* a |ot bombor for another strikeminion ovor Viof-Nam. SON HOMME RICHARD Is on duty in tho South ChinaS*a with tho U.S. Seventh Fleet. Her planes, along with those from other carriers,toko off regularly to attack Viol Cong positions In south Vief-Nam, or to bombmilitary targets in tho communist northTHE NAVY, Nov.-Dec -Jan , 1965-1966of maximum readiness to act in ahot or cold war. anywhere and atany time.Today the 7th Fleet is flailing theenemy above and below the 17thParallel — the geographical line ofdemarcation that has divided Northand South Viet-nam since I9S4.Warship guns have pounded shoretargets; planes from carriers havesmashed all kinds of military objectiveswith bombs, rockets andmissiles; amphibious ships havelanded Marines to help South Vietnameseforces battle Viet-Congguerrillas. Fighting goes on day andnight, seven days a week.Planes from the 7th Fleet, aswell as the U.S. Air Force, areunloading 250 to 2.000 poundbombs on ammunition dumps, armybarracks, staging areas, communicationscentres, bridges, truck convoys,railroad yards, airfields, riverbarges, anti-aircraft gun emplacements,radar installations, petroleumstorage depots, naval basesand fortifications. One objective ofthese bombings is to reduce the flowof military aid to the Viet Cong.North Vietnamese MIGs havesometimes appeared in the skies tochallenge U.S. planes, but virtuallyall have been scared off or routedin combat.Speaking of air strikes in Vietnam,the U.S. Secretary of the Navy,Paul H. Nitze, said:"Since the decision to begin strikingNorth Viet-nam on a regularbasis, the Navy has flown close to6.500 sorties. At the present time.Navy planes are flying at the rateof about 2,000 sorties a month.Our forces in the area retain thecapability to double this rate ifnecessary."The 7th Fleet consists of approximately140 ships and 700 aircraft.They patrol a 30-mill:onsquare mile area in the westernPacific from the Aleutian Islands tothe Antarctic Ocean, from Hawaiito the Indian Ocean. Approximately1,500 million persons, more thanone-half of the earth's population,live in countries bordering this area.About 70.000 sailors and Marinesbelong to the Fleet. Included inthis number are 24,000 highlytrained,combat-ready members ofTHE NAVY, Nov.-Dec.-Jon,, 1965-1966the Third Marine Division, and theFirst Marine Air Wing.Hardest-hitting element of the7th Fleet is the attack carrier strikingforce which now consists of the76.000-ton Independence. 63,400-ton Coral Sea, 62,000-ton Midway.40,800-ton Bon Homme Richardand the 42,600-ton Oriskany. Acarrier normally has 60 to 90 planes,including heavy and light attackaircraft, fighters, reconnaissanceand photographic planes.Navy pilots are flying suchplanes as the A-3 Douglas Skywarrior,A-4E Douglas Skyhawk,RA-5C North American Vigilante,Grumman A-6A Intruder, F-4BMcDonnell Phantom II, E-1BGrumman Tracer, A-l Douglas Skyraiderand the F-8E Chance VoughtCrusader.The Skywarrior is one of theNavy's most powerful aircraft. Thistwin-jet, swept-wing attack bombercan carry the largest bombs. Skywarriorsare used for high-speed orlow-level attacks.The Skyhawk, nicknamed "TheMighty Midget", is smaller andlighter than many jet fighters. Thisall-weather subsonic light attack aircraftis a single-seater with one jet.The twin jet Vigilante is an allweather reconnaissance and attackbomber capable of operating athigh or low altitudes at supersonicspeeds.The Intruder, a versatile lowlevelsubsonic strike aircraft, is jetpowered and can carry the broadestarray of missiles.Fleet pilots rely heavily on thePhantom It for day and night sortiesin all kinds of weather at speedsas high as 1,584 miles an hour.These two-seat, twin-jet interceptorshave a 1,500-mile range, greaterthan most other jet fighters. ThePhantom can also carry a largeload of Sparrow III and Sidewinderair-to-air missiles.Skyraiders are used for closeground support for Marines andSouth Vietnamese governmentforces. They carry large loads ofbombs and rockets. Skyraiders haveordnance capabilities greater thanthe B-17 bombers of World WarII fame.Because of its dish-shaped radargear, the early-warning Tracer iscalled "The Saucer". These propeller-driventwin-engine craft monitorall of Viet-Nam and the Gulf ofTonkin.REFUELLING: Tho fast combat support ship, tho U.S.S. Sacramento, refuels a 7*Fleet carrier while tho destroyer Robinson comes oiongiWo for simultaneousreplenishment. Tho 7th Fleet, bastion of freedom of tho MM in tho Far Pacific,it dealing dally blows against communist Viet Cong In Mvth Viol Nam andhitting targets In North Viet-rtamtii