WHS - Cruiser-Destroyerman Article, April 1971



USS William H. Standley (DLG/CG-32)
CRUISER-DESTROYERMAN Article
August 1971

The following article was taken from the CRUISER-DESTROYERMAN which was a news letter published by COMCRUSDESLANT in August 1971.

The “Stanley Steamer” of the early automotive era has long since disappeared from the roads and highways of America, forced into extinction by progress - - the high performance internal combustion engine.

But after a half century of absence from the American scene, the “Steamer” has reappeared. Unlike its predecessor of early century vintage, the new version is not limited to short distance trips, but is a global traveler and dwarfs the earlier modes as a Mack Truck does a Volkswagen.

In addition, the new “ride” is loaded with innovations which include as standard equipment more luxuries than the Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, Cadillac and Lincoln Continental combined - - no ordinary auto.

In fact, the present “Steamer” is no auto at all, but a long sleek ultramodern fighting ship employed by the U.S.Navy as a guided missile frigate, or to many Navymen, a new-type destroyer.

It is officially dubbed: William H. Standley (spelled differently from its forerunner) and named for the late Admiral Standley. Its primary mission is anti-air and anti-submarine defense for fast carrier task forces.

Its nickname derives from performance, or as the crew puts it simply: from steamin’. Standley is homeported at Mayport Naval Station, but the ship and the 400 man crew which makes her run have seldom been home since the ship made her debut there.

The steamin’ Standley’s crew last saw Mayport at the first of the year (1971) and has since traveled around the world visiting ports in Panama, Guam, Japan, the Philippines and has spent several long stints on “Yankee Station” in the Gulf of Tonkin as the Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) ship.

Since arriving in Western Pacific waters in early February, the Standley’s reputation has followed her. Some of the ship’s more notable achievements during the deployment include: a major role in the successful rescue of the stricken Philippine freighter, Santa Anna. The crew was commended for its conduct ashore; its air controllers were lauded for outstanding performances; its sonar technicians praised as the best an inspection team had ever seen and its mess won the NEY AWARD for best in its class.

With 81 percent at-sea time to her credit, Standley claims to be the most sea-going ship in the U.S. Seventh Fleet. Following the trip to the northern Japan area, the 7,390-ton vessel travel to Subic Bay for repairs on a leaking rudder.

Repairs concluded, Standley was on the move again heading back for a last stop on “Yankee Station”. Afterwards, it was more steaming for the globe trotting ship; back around the world with stops in Thailand, Singapore, the Seychelles Islands, Brazil and Puerto Rico. Then it will be home again to Mayport sometime after the middle of this month.

Captain Alva L. Blanks, a native of Flatwoods, Mo., who commands Standley, attributes his ship’s success to the efforts of an unselfish, dedicated crew.

Amplifying the Captain’s feelings is 15year Navyman, Chief Warrant Officer C.F. Mitchell. “She may not be much on liberty,” the Brundidge, Ala. native said, “but she’s the best damn ship I’ve ever been on.”

Courtesy Al Blanks