Page 4: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 15, 1980)

Third Navy Destroyer Tender

Launched At NASSCO Yard

A crowd of several thousand watched the recent christening of the USS Cape Cod (AD-43) at the San Diego yard of National

Steel and Shipbuilding Company. She was the third Gompers Class destroyer tender to slide down the ways at NASSCO during the past 18 months. A fourth, (AD-44), is sched- uled to be launched in December 1981.

Sponsor at the ceremonies was Mrs. Betty

Evans Murray, wife of Under Secretary of the Navy Robert J. Murray, who was the key speaker of the day. Their younger daugh- ter, Victoria Ann Murray, served as maid of honor.

Other participants in the program were

John J. Glynn, USN, Chaplain, Naval Surface

Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; C. Larry French, president of NASSCO; Capt. W. Todd Hale,

USN, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, San Diego; Capt. Stuart Piatt,

USN, Deputy Commander, Naval Sea Sys- tems Command, Contracts Directorate; and

John M. Murphv, vice president, corporate relations, NASSCO.

Following the launching ceremony, Vice

Adm. Lee Baggett Jr., USN, Commander,

Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, laid the keel for the AD-44.

The Cape Cod — like her sister ships Yel- lowstone and Acadia launched last year — is

No matter how you look at it, complete lighterage and towing service...from one source...is always faster, easier and more efficient...for you.

Gillen has earned an enviable reputation as the company with the full experience and diversified equipment vital for the more-than-satisfactory execution of any lighterage assignment since 1865. ^ Henry Gillen's Sons * LIGHTERAGE, INC. 21 WEST MAIN ST., OYSTER BAY. NEW YORK. N Y. 11771 • 24 HOUR SERVICE (212) 895-8110

COASTWISE TOWING • BARGING • LIGHTERAGE

TUGS • BARGES • FLOATING CRANES

Sponsor of the new ship was Mrs. Robert J. Murray, wife of U.S. Navy Under Secretary Murray (left). Their daughter, Victoria Ann Murray, was maid of honor.

At right is NASSCO president C. Larry French. named for a U.S. geographic area; in this case, the historic cape off Massachusetts where the Pilgrims first landed.

The 642-foot-long ADs are the first de- stroyer tenders of their type designed since

World War II, and will replace aging fleet tenders that have been in continuous service for more than 30 years. The 22,000-ton (displacement) Gompers Class tenders will provide repair and supply services to new destroyer type ships that have advanced missile, antisubmarine, and electronics sys- tems. They have more than 50 shops, in- cluding facilities to service nuclear power plants. They will provide repairs and mod- ifications that do not require drydocking, and will carry spare parts, weapons, muni- tions, and medical and dental personnel.

NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of

Morrison-Knudsen Company, currently has under contract four Navy ships, four 37,500- dwt product carriers, and three 44,000-dwt product carriers.

Destroyer tender USS Cape Cod (AD-43) was launched recently at San Diego yard of National Steel and Ship- building Company. She is third of class launched at the yard.

SSI Introduces Emergency

Anchor Windlass System-

Literature Available

A barge operator in Argentina is among the first customers for a new radio-controlled, emergency anchor windlass system that has been designed, developed, and is now being

PICTURE THE

ADVANTAGES OF

COMPLETE • LIGHTERAGE

SERVICE 6 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News