U.S.S. Allen M. Sumner DD-692 | |||||
Northern Europe - September to October 1957 |
Official Ship's Deck Log - 1957
The USS Allen M. Sumner departed the D&S Piers in Norfolk on the morning of September 3rd as part of Task Unit 201.8.2. The Task Unit destroyer escort for the USS Tarawa (CV-40) and USS Northampton (CLC-1) was comprised of the Sumner, USS Moale (DD-693), USS Ingraham (DD-694), USS Zellars (DD-777), USS Laffey (DD-724), USS Lowry (DD-770), USS Huntington (DD-781), USS Massey (DD-778) and the USS Sperry (DD-697). Tactical maneuvers were undertaken during the Atlantic crossing enroute to Bangor, Ireland. On the 13th DesDiv 161 joined the escort of the USS Intrepid (CV-11) as a part of Task Unit 28.9.5. The next day the Unit anchored in Bangor Bay, Northern Ireland remaining there until the 17th when back at sea she returned to the USS Tarawa formation. During this time she took part in the NATO exercise "Strikeback".
On the 23rd, the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) and the HMS Gambia joined the Group. On the night of the 28th there was a collision with another formation unit and the USS Suribachi (AE-21). The 30th found the Sumner, Moale and Ingraham detached and they proceeded through the Ijmuiden Locks of the North Sea Canal to enter Amsterdam, Netherlands where they remained until October 11th. Back at sea again the formation was joined by the USS Essex (CV-9) and USS Forrestal (CV-59) and their support units. The USS Boston (CAG-1) joined the formation and on 21 October Sumner joined the Northampton in observing missile firing by the Boston. With the war games over she tied up to the D&S piers again on the 22nd.
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