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USS King DLG-10 WestPac Cruise Book 1963-64 For Sale

USS King DLG-10 WestPac Cruise Book 1963-64
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USS King DLG-10 WestPac Cruise Book 1963-64:
$79.95

USS King DLG-10 WestPac Cruise Book 1963-64
Pages are clean and binding is tight with minor bumps to edges and corners
Original owners name to inside coverInventory: BOOKBOX3

During the 1963–1964 WestPac cruise, the USS King (DLG-10) served as a critical component of the U.S. 7th Fleet, primarily acting as an escort and air defense platform during the early buildup of American involvement in Southeast Asia.

Cruise Timeline & Key Dates

  • Departure: August 1, 1963, from San Diego, California.

  • Pearl Harbor Stop: The ship arrived in Hawaii and was photographed departing Pearl Harbor on August 19, 1963, reportedly escorting the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34).

  • Return: March 10, 1964, returning to San Diego after more than seven months at sea.

Mission & Operations

The King was part of Task Group 77.5 in the South China Sea. During this deployment, her primary responsibilities included:

  • Anti-Air Warfare (AAW): Utilizing her Terrier missile arsenal to provide a protective "umbrella" for carrier strike groups.

  • Missilery Excellence: In January 1964, the ship successfully fired two Terrier missiles in a competitive exercise, earning her second consecutive Missilery "E" award.

  • Peacekeeping & Stability: The ship operated throughout the Far East to "check Communist aggression," a standard mission profile during the pre-Tonkin Gulf Resolution era of the Vietnam War.

Ports of Call

While the full 1963-64 Cruise Book contains the exhaustive list, notable stops included:

  • Subic Bay, Philippines: Used as a primary base for upkeep and repairs, including a final maintenance period in February 1964 before heading home.

  • Hong Kong: A frequent liberty port for 7th Fleet ships during this era.

  • Yokosuka, Japan: Often visited by DLG-class ships for logistics and technical support.

  • Quezon City, Philippines: The crew engaged in community relations, such as visiting the Convent of the Good Shepherd to donate toys to orphans.

Post-Cruise Maintenance

Shortly after returning in March 1964, the King entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard on April 20 for a major five-month overhaul. This included upgrading her electronic countermeasures (ECM) and installing additional Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) consoles to better handle high-intensity air warfare environments

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