| COVER: USS ARLINGTON (AGMR-2), converted from USS
SAIPAN (CVL-48) at Mobile, Ala., went to sea for builder's trials on
26-28 April. Augmenting contractor-furnished crew and assigned as
watchstanders to operate ship during three-day, two-night trial run were
96 enlisted members of the nucleus crew - 77 engineering ratings, 17
deck ratings, two radiomen. Communications circuits operating in
unclassified mode were established with NAVCOMMSTAs Puerto Rico,
Washington, Morocco, San Francisco and Norfolk, plus USS LEXINGTON
(CVS-16) and USS ASSURANCE (MSO-521). Puerto Rico station provided trial
and frequency coordination. Though trials were of short duration, 70
percent of all major installed communications-electronics equipments
were used. Operated at less then full power, ARLINGTON attained speed in
excess of 30 knots. Next step: preliminary acceptance trials, scheduled
for 13 June. Additional photos on back cover. |
