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United States Navy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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USS Holland AS 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Be sure and check out the new Page 2 - lots recent of pictures! |
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| The third US Navy ship named for John Holland; a short biography is with AS-3. The third Holland was launched by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss., 19 January 1963; sponsored by Mrs. John C. Stennis, wife of U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi; delivered to the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C.; and commissioned 7 September 1963, Captain Charles W. Styer, Jr., In command. Holland departed Charleston on 14 October for shake-down training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, returning to Charleston on 19 November. She commenced post-shake-down availability on 25 November. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The Holland tending the fleet at Rota (Photo courtesy Bob Tripp, LCDR Admin LDO, ex-YNC(SS)). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The opening of 1964 found Holland at Charleston, S.C., making preparations for deployment to the Polaris replenishment anchorage at Rota, Spain. She arrived Rota 1 April and relieved Proteus (AS-19) as the FBM submarine tender shortly thereafter. Holland continued her vital service to the Polaris submarines until relieved 4 November 1966. History from the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships. Holland arrived FBM Replenishment Site Four, Naval Weapon Station Charleston, and in June 1967 she relieved the USS Hunley, AS 31. In 1968, Holland entered Charleston Naval Shipyard for it's first overhaul; which it completed in January, 1969. After transisting the Atlantic, The Holland resumed duties at Rota completing her second tour there in 1972. Arriving in Charleston in December 1972, she once again assumed duties at Site Four.
Arriving Site One at Holly Loch, Scotland, in November, 1975, Holland set about a very long and very busy seven years of noteworthy upkeep - during which time she was awarded five consecutive Battle Efficiency "E" and Golden Anchor awards. In 1978 the Holland was awarded the Battenberg Cup which was presented to the Holland by Lord Mountbatten. The Holland was the only Submarine Tender (to date) to receive this award. The award was for the period 1 January to 31 December 1977 and stated in part :"USS HOLLAND was selected as " The Best" of approximately 240 Atlantic Fleet Ships in overall Battle Efficiency performance, combined with other extraordinary performance and achievement in primary mission support, personnel administration, career motivation and retention, engineering, safety and morale. Originally the Battenberg Cup was awarded to the winner of a cutter race between the enlisted men of the British and American navies. In its initial 34 years and 52 races, the Americans only lost the cup once - during the Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk, Va., in 1907. The competition was suspended at the outbreak of World War II, with the cup aboard USS West Virginia (BB 48). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, West Virginia was raised, refitted and returned to battle - carrying the cup until her decommissioning in 1947. The cup was displayed from time to time at various Naval Commands until being permanently displayed at the Navy Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. In 1978 the competition was renewed, however this time the award is given as a symbol of operational excellence to the best ship or submarine in the United States Navy Atlantic Fleet. USS Holland’s win of the trophy in 1978 was the first (and so far the only) time an auxiliary ship has won the coveted Battenberg Cup, an honor usually associated with capitol ships.{This portion of history courtesy Dick Gill , Captain USN (Retired), and supplemented by Jesse Burcell}
After anchoring at Diego Garcia for 85 days, Holland again set sail - this time transiting the Panama Canal for the third time on October 4, 1983 - and arriving Charleston later that same month. Holland spent the next 8 years at Site Four performing refit, repair and routine and not so routine services. In 1989 Holland made history by performing the first open-ocean mooring of a Ballistic Missile Submarine. Holland's crew also helped in clean-up and rebuilding of Charleston after Hurricane Hugo devastated a great part of South Carolina - for which ship and crew were awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal.
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Unlike the years spent basically tied to the pier as do SSBN tenders - Holland enjoyed her last four years - taking to sea often - and in challenging tasks - some of the feats she accomplished during those years: Full-rated turns on a full power run for the first time in ten years - an underway Replenishment, bringing onboard 300 tons of fuel, certifying the flight deck for helicopter operations; and transporting two helos for HC-5 from Guam to Japan to meet operational requirements --- not bad for a lady pushing past her 30th year! April, 1996 Holland was relieved at Site Three by the Frank Cable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| As noted in her Decommissioning Ceremony Book - The four years Holland has served in the Western Pacific has allowed the ship to show that her two mottos are a true testament to the ship's legacy-- "The World's Greatest Tender" and Fixer, Feeder - WESTPAC Leader." On April 13, 1996 in Apra Harbor, Guam, Captain J. William Winney, Jr. USN read the Decommissioning Directive - and the Holland's Commission Pennant was hauled down - and the USS Holland was officially retired from service. Leaving Guam, Holland made port-o-call at Hong Kong, U.K.; Pearl Harbor, HI; Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada and she finally arrived at Bremerton, Washington, where she awaits "disposition". History between 1967 and 1996 from various sources, including Holland's Decommissioning book, News Paper Articles, and other materials provided by: Jay Gieseke, former Lieutenant, Medical Service Corps PROTEUS Safety Officer Aug. 91 - Sep. 92 NAVHOSP Guam, Industrial Hygiene Officer Sept. 92 - Mar 95 HOLLAND Acting Safety Officer May - Nov. 93 -- and to whom we are very greatful!!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The Holland as built in 1963. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| AS 32 USS Holland Page 2 (90+ recent pictures) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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