...and that was the year that was 1951.
|
The year 1951 begins with Half Moon moored at Base St. George in New York. Commander John Forney is in command. Many of the crew have enjoyed a holiday leave with family and friends but now they are reporting back aboard as their will soon be a deployment. Half Moon goes on Bravo stand-by status on the third and then late in the afternoon of January 8th she sets sail for Argentia, enroute Ocean Station Dog. Arriving in Argentia on the 11th, she makes a brief stop and heads back out to sea the same day for Dog. Two days later she relieves her sister ship, Casco and assumes the duties of Ocean Station Dog. On the 15th Half Moon is directed to intercept and standby the disabled SS Nereus in position 43-46N 42-56W pending the arrival of a tug. Nereus makes its engine repairs on the 16th and Half Moon returns to O.S. Dog that same day. After a rather uneventful patrol, she is relieved on February 3rd by the Unimak and heads for Argentia. Half Moon arrives Argentia on the 5th and leaves that same evening. Close to home port on the 8th, she receives a distress call from the fishing vessel Reid east of Moriches. She takes the Reid in tow and in some heavy weather proceeds slowly for New York. The Half Moon finally reaches her home port on the 9th.
The ship is only briefly in port for a week or so when she departs on February 17 for the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland. She travels south along the New Jersey coast and then up Delaware Bay to intercept the C & D Canal. The trip through the canal is uneventful and she enters Chesapeake Bay for the short run to Curtis Bay. The ship moors at the yard in the early afternoon of February 18 for 5 weeks of maintenance and repairs. Half Moon departs Curtis Bay on March 21st and heads down the bay for the degaussing range in Norfolk, Virginia. After demagnetising the hull she makes the trip up the coast, arriving back in New York on March 23rd.
Four days later she goes back on standby status and then departs on April 1st for Ocean Station Charlie. Six days later, after a brief stop in Argentia, she arrives on station and relieves the Casco. After an uneventful 3 weeks on Charlie she is relieved by the Barataria on the 27th and heads for Argentia and then home, arriving on May 3rd.
On May 29th Half Moon makes a short trip to the Navy Ammunition Depot in Earle, New Jersey then returns to Staten Island. She departs again on June 4th for Cape May, New Jersy, arriving the following day for SATP. She returns to New York on June 8th.
On June 17th Half Moon heads out New York harbor and heads east and north for first Argentia and then Ocean Station Baker between Labrador and Greenland. On the 22nd she once again relieves the Casco. The Half Moon has three weeks of relatively uneventful weather patrol and is then relieved by the Barataria on July 13th. This time Half Moon has no stop scheduled in Argentia and she proceeds directly for New York, arriving on July 19th.
Almost one month later, Half Moon is called upon for a different sort of duty. She departs NY on August 12th for the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut to pick up a contingent of future officers for a training cruise. After several days of training exercises in Nantucket Sound, Half Moon heads for Halifax, Nova Scotia for a two day visit, arriving on the 18th. The ship departs Halifax on the 20th and proceeds to hold training exercises while enroute Bermuda. Nearing Bermuda she is ordered to assist and escort the SS Constantia. The Half Moon and Constantia arrive Bermuda on the 25th. After three days in Bermuda, Half Moon departs for New London, conducting further training while enroute. The cadets are off loaded on September 2nd and the ship returns to New York, arriving on September 4th.
After just 3 days she is back on standby status and then departs on Septembewr 11th for Ocean Staion How located off the Virginia Capes. A day later she relieves the Casco and conducts an uneventful patrol. Half Moon is relieved by the Barataria on October 3rd and arrives back in New York a day later.
Little more than a week goes by and Half Moon is standing out to sea once again, this time headed for Underway Training in Newport, Rhode Island. The crew completes her training on November 2nd and the ship returns to New York on the 3rd.
The crew gets to enjoy an almost 3 week long stay in port before it's time to go back on standby status and make preparations once again for Ocean Station duty. This trip will be to Station Easy located in the Sargasso Sea. Half Moon departs for Easy on the 23rd and relieves the Casco on the 27th. Three uneventful weeks later, Half Moon is relieved by the Unimak and heads for New York. She arrives St. George Base on December 22, in time for Chistmas.
A few days later, on December 27th, she makes the short move across the harbor to the New York Naval Shipyard where she will be when New Years eve rolls around.
|
New Years Day, 1952 finds the Half Moon moored at the New York Naval Shipyard. Skipper Commander John Forney is replaced by LCDR Raphael T. A. McKenzie on January 3rd.
Half Moon departs New York on February 11 for a quick stop in Argentia then on to Ocean Station Dog. She relieves the Casco on February 16 and is, in return, relieved by the Unimak on March 8. Half Moon stops briefly in Argentia on the 10th and proceeds to New York. The ship makes another brief stop at the NAD Earle, NJ to off-load ammunition on the 13th. She ties up to Pier 26, North River later that same afternoon.
Four days later Half Moon moves over to Todd's Shipyard in Hoboken, NJ for 5 weeks of maintenance and repairs. She leaves the yard on April 21, bound for NAD Earle to reload her complement of ammunition. She returns to Base St. George the following day to prepare for her next deployment.
Half Moon departs New York on April 27th bound for Ocean Station Baker, by way of Argentia. She relieves the Coos Bay on May 2 and assumes her duties. While on station an iceberg is sighted that will pass close aboard. The lookouts determine that there is something moving on the berg and soon a large polar bear is sighted jumping off the berg and swimming toward the ship. See the story of Half Moon's encounter with the bear. The Half Moon is relieved by the Barataria on May 23 and heads directly for home, arriving Base St. George on May 28.
Half Moon made the short trip across the harbor to Todd's Shipyard on June 5. She remained there until June 15 when she departed for training in Newport, Rhode Island. She completed her training on June 20 and returned to New York the following day.
While moored to Pier 26 in the North River Half Moon was involved in a collision with New York Central Tug #10 on June 26th. The following day she made the short trip to NAD Earle and then went back to Todd's Shipyard to have the damage from the tug repaired.
Half Moon remained in the yard until July 22nd when she sailed for Ocean Staion How via NAD Earle. She arrived on How on the 24th and relieved the Coos Bay. While on station she was forced to leave for an urgent MEDICO. The ship made the run in to Hampton Roads to evacuate the sick patient and then resumed her duties on station. The Unimak relieved Half Moon on Aug 13 and she arrived back at Base St. George the following day.
Bright and early on the morning of August 24 Half Moon pulled away from Base St. George for the 11 hour trip to Newport, RI. Three weeks of Refresher Training ensued with the crew earning an overall mark of Good. She left Newport on September 12 and returned to Pier 44 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Two weeks later on the 25th she moved over to Base St. George.
On October 3 Half Moon departed New York for Argentia, the first leg of her trip to Ocean Station Delta. She makes the brief stop in New Foundland on the 6th and continues to Delta. She arrives on station on October 8 and relieves Coos Bay. Five days later she sends an urgent message to COMEASTAREA that she must leave station for an urgent MEDICO. She leaves the western limits of Delta on the morning of October 14 and arrives St. Johns, NFLD the next day. After a brief four hour layover she returns to her assigned duties, reaching Delta in the early morning hours of the 17th.
Nine days later Half Moon responds to a distress call by the SS Hoperidge northwest of the station. She proceeds to assist and briefly leaves station on the 27th. Two days later with her relief already enroute, Half Moon is ordered to proceed off station to relieve the Barataria in assisting the F/V Newton southwest of station. Half Moon and Barataria switch roles on October 30. The trawler St. Nicholas picks up the survivors and arranges a rendevouz at sea with Half Moon. The survivors are transferred by small boat to Half Moon who then departs for Gloucester, Mass. She meets CG-83487 in the outer reaches of Gloucester harbor and transfers the survivors for the last leg of their trip home. Setting a course for New York, she arrives at Base St. George on November 4 after a very eventful patrol. On Nov 5 she moves over to Brooklyn to prepare for the next deployment.
Half Moon departs New York on November 18 for drills off Newport, RI in Narragansett Bay. She arrives Area 29 on the morning of the 19th and conducts drills until the following afternoon. SHe returns to New York without incident on the 21st.
Three days beore Christmas Half Moon bids family and friends farewell and heads out of New York harbor bound for Ocean Station Echo. After spending Christmas day enroute, she relieves Chambers on December 26th. She will be on station and performing her assigned duties when New Year's eve rolls around and the year comes to a close.
|
The year 1953 opens with Half Moon
| O. S. Echo | Jan 1 | Jan 16 | ||
| Enroute Bermuda | Jan 16 | |||
| Bermuda SAR Standby | Jan 19 | Jan 27 | ||
| Moored Base St. George | Jan 30 | |||
| - - - - - - - | ||||
| Enroute Argentia | Mar 14 | |||
| Argentia | Mar 18 | Mar 18 | ||
| O. S. Coca | Mar 21 | Apr 14 | ||
| Argentia | Apr 16 | Apr 16 | ||
| Moored Base St. George | Apr 19 | |||
| - - - - - - - | ||||
| Enroute Moorings, Cape May, NJ | Apr 26 | |||
| Moorings, Cape May, NJ | Apr 26 | May 1 | ||
| Enroute CG Yard Curtis Bay | Apr 26 | |||
| CG Yard, Curtis Bay | May 2 | Jun 5 | ||
| Moored Base St. George | Jun 6 | |||
| - - - - - - - | ||||
| Enroute Degaussing Range, Narra Bay | Jun 15 | |||
| Degaussing Range, Narra Bay | Jun 16 | Jun 16 | ||
| Moored Base St. George | Jun 17 | |||
| - - - - - - - | ||||
| Enroute Argentia | Jun 20 | |||
| Argentia | Jun 23 | Jun 24 | ||
| O. S. Bravo | Jun 26 | Jul 17 | MEDICO St. Johns, NFLD | |
| Argentia | Jul 19 | Jul 22 | Tow F/V The Holy Family | |
| Moored Base St. George | Jul 26 | |||
| - - - - - - - | ||||
| Enroute Newport, RI | Aug 9 | |||
| Arrived Newport, RI | Aug 9 | |||
| Departed Newport, RI | Aug 14 | |||
| Moored Base St. George | Aug 15 | |||
| Enroute Bermuda | Aug 27 | |||
| Bermuda | Aug 29 | Escort A/C Gull Lima | Three hurricanes | |
| Moored Base St. George | Sep 20 | |||
| - - - - - - - | ||||
| Enroute Norfolk, VA | Sep 27 | |||
| Arrived Norfolk, VA | Sep 28 | Underway Refresher Training | ||
| Departed Norfolk, VA | Oct 16 | Grade of Satisfactory | ||
| Moored Base St. George | Oct 18 | Permanent Station Change from Bklyn to Staten Island | ||
| - - - - - - - | ||||
| Enroute O. S. Hotel | Oct 25 | |||
| O. S. Hotel | Oct 26 | Nov 16 | ||
| Moored Base St. George | Nov 18 | Via Gravesend Bay | ||
| - - - - - - - | ||||
| Enroute Argentia | Dec 27 | |||
| Argentia | Dec 30 | Dec 30 | ||
| Enroute O. S. Bravo | Dec 31 | |||
|
New Years Day of 1954 found Half Moon
| O. S. Bravo | Jan 1 | Jan 22 | |
| Moored NY Naval Shipyard | Jan 27 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute O. S. Echo | Feb 16 | ||
| O. S. Echo | Feb 20 | Mar 12 | |
| Enroute Bermuda | Mar 12 | ||
| Bermuda | Mar 15 | Mar 16 | |
| Moored NY Naval Shipyard | Mar 19 | ||
| Moored Base St. George | Apr 24 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute Argentia | Apr 28 | ||
| Argentia SAR Standby | May 1 | May 22 | Towed F/V Flo |
| Moored Base St. George | May 25 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute Argentia | Jun 27 | ||
| Argentia | Jun 30 | Jul 1 | |
| O. S. Delta | Jul 3 | Jul 24 | |
| Argentia | Jul 26 | Jul 27 | |
| Moored Base St. George | Jul 30 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute Newport, RI | Aug 8 | ||
| Arrived Newport, RI | Aug 8 | ||
| Departed Newport, RI | Aug 13 | ||
| Moored Base St. George | Aug 14 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute Todd Shipyard | Aug 19 | ||
| Todd Shipyard | Aug 20 | Sep 10 | |
| Moored Base St. George | Sep 10 14 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute O. S. Echo | Sep 14 | ||
| O. S. Echo | Sep 18 | Oct 9 | |
| Enroute Bermuda | Oct 9 | ||
| Bermuda | Oct 11 | Oct 13 | |
| Moored Base St. George | Oct 15 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute Newport, RI | Nov 7 | ||
| Arrived Newport, RI | Nov 7 | ||
| Departed Newport, RI | Nov 26 | ||
| Moored Brewer Drydock | Nov 27 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute Argentia | Dec 7 | ||
| Argentia | Dec 10 | Dec 10 | |
| O. S. Coca | Dec 12 | Dec 31 | MEDICO St. Johns, NFLD |
|
The year 1955 begins with Half Moon
| O. S. Coca | Jan 1 | Jan 2 | |
| Argentia | Jan 4 | Jan 5 | |
| Moored Base St. George | Jan 8 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute Argentia | Mar 6 | ||
| Argentia | Mar 9 | Mar 10 | |
| O. S. Delta | Mar 12 | Apr 2 | |
| Argentia | Apr 4 | Apr 5 | |
| Moored Base St. George | Apr 8 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute CG Yard Curtis Bay | Apr 16 | ||
| CG Yard, Curtis Bay | Apr 17 | May 25 | |
| Narragansett Bay | May 26 | May 26 | |
| Moored Base St. George | May 27 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute Bermuda | Jun 9 | ||
| Bermuda | Jun 11 | Jul 2 | |
| Moored Base St. George | Jul 4 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute Argentia | Sep 11 | ||
| Argentia | Sep 14 | Sep 15 | |
| O. S. Delta | Sep 17 | Oct 8 | |
| Argentia | Oct 10 | Oct 11 | |
| SAR - F/V Saguieria Dafas | Oct 12 | 43-38N 59-59W | |
| Moored Base St. George | Oct 15 | ||
| - - - - - - - | |||
| Enroute O. S. Echo | Nov 8 | ||
| O. S. Echo | Nov 11 | Dec 2 | |
| Moored Base St. George | Dec 6 | ||
|
The year 1956 begins with Half Moon
|
The year 1957 begins with Half Moon
|
