THANKS TO DENNIS C. MILLER, SH2, USS MATTAPONI, 1966-70, FOR THE MAPS AND INFORMATION
“The easiest vision of the Mattaponi off North Vietnam is as an old gun fingter. Her quick draw was an emergency breakaway with a destroyer and DLG* or CLG* along her sides. Evasive maneuvers were her way of getting out of Dodge. This is important in a theater where the good guy always returns fire after being fired upon – rules of engagement for land based targets – so the Russians can get out of the way.” – Dennis C. Miller
DLG’s and CLG’s are old converted “big destroyers” and WW2 cruisers outfitted with landing pad for one Sea King helicopter and guided missiles for air defense against Soviet Migs, jet fighter aircraft.
Underway Replenishments 1-7 October 1966
| 1 October 1966 | ||
| 0814 | USS F D Roosevelt CVA-42 | Port |
| 0829 | USS Chandler DD-717 | Stbd |
| 1649 | USS Dale DLG19 | Port |
| ???? | Unnamed-Secured 0200 | ???? |
| 2 October 1966 | ||
| 0510 | USS Newell DER-322 | Port |
| 1028 | USS Advance MSO-510 | Stbd |
| 1341 | USS St. Paul CA-73 | Port |
| 1345 | USS Larson DD-830 | Stbd |
| 1448 | USS Walke DD-723 | Stbd |
| 1750 | USS Repose AH-16 | Stbd |
| 3 October 1966 | ||
| 0104 | USS Hanson DD-832 | Stbd |
| 0705 | USS Uhlmann DD-687 | Stbd |
| 0851 | USS Constant MSO-427 | Stbd |
| 1011 | USS Hull DD-945 | Stbd |
| 1701 | USS Energy MSO-436 | Stbd |
| 4 October 1966 | ||
| 0045 | USS Loyalty MSO-457 | Stbd |
| 0812 | USS Hissem DER-400 | Stbd |
| ???? | Unnamed-Secured 1212 | Stbd |
| 1435 | USS Camp DER-251 | Port |
| 1656 | USS Buckley DD-808 | Port |
| 1544 | USS Epping Forest LSD-4 | Port |
| 5 October 1966 | ||
| 0110 | USS Wilhoite DER-397 | Port |
| 0405 | USS Warbler MSC-206 | Stbd |
| 0749 | USS Savage DER-386 | Port |
| 1021 | USS Albatross MSC-289 | Stbd |
| 1409 | USS Vega AF-59 | Port |
| 6 October 1966 | ||
| Posing as a merchant |
| 7 October 1966 | ||
| 0430 | USS Neches AO-47, Sistership | Port |
The USS Mattaponi AO-41 played a valuble role in the Sea Dragon operation, keeping ships supplied with fuel and ammo. The week of 22-28 October was the heaviest week of underway replenishment operations in the history of Mattaponi – 47 customer ships including 17 on 25 October. The Mansfield was ship 16 serviced that day.
