USS Schofield (FFG-3) - Operational History - SS Connecticut Rescue

SS Connecticut Rescue

Arriving at Long Beach on 21 October 1969, Schofield remained in port for most of the remainder of the year. In January 1970, she resumed her antisubmarine warfare exercises off the California coast. Early on the morning of the 9th, the exercises with her squadron and USS Hornet were interrupted to assist a merchant tanker, SS Connecticut, reported to be sinking approximately 200 nautical miles (370 km) away. En route to the scene, Schofield refueled Hornet helicopters delivering rescue personnel and equipment to the tanker. Two of Schofield's men, EMCS P. L. Kidd and BT1 A. E. Personette, were transferred to the tanker. The tanker's master commended the work in saving the ship.

When Schofield arrived on the scene late in the afternoon, the situation was under control. That evening, the exercises were resumed. At mid-month, Schofield returned to Long Beach and entered the naval shipyard there for a yard period which took her into March. Squadron exercises, target ship duty, missile firing exercises, and a reservist training cruise followed. In July, she again entered the shipyard for boiler overhaul work; and, in October, she resumed her 1st Fleet operating schedule.

On 7 January 1971, Schofield headed west. Into February, she conducted exercises in Hawaiian waters, then returned to the west coast for Operation Admixture, a joint United States-Canadian exercise. During the exercise, Schofield added mothership duties for the experimental hydrofoil, USS Highpoint, to her helicopter inflight refueling, plane guard, and escort responsibilities.

The exercise was completed on 4 March. Schofield then returned briefly to Long Beach; and, on the 11th, she departed the California coast for the western Pacific. Steaming in company with ASW (Antisubmarine Warfare) Group 3, she joined the 7th Fleet on the 26th. On 3 and 4 April, she operated off the Vietnamese coast; and, on the 7th, she arrived in Subic Bay.

Five days later, the group got underway for Singapore, whence they proceeded into the Indian Ocean for antisubmarine warfare exercises. At the end of the month, the ships sailed for Hong Kong; and, on the 11th, they got underway for Japan.

After repairs at Yokosuka, Schofield participated in the first major United States task force exercise in the Sea of Japan in several years; then, on 17 June, she sailed for home. Proceeding north, she participated in antisubmarine warfare exercises between Attu and Kamchatka. On 5 July, she arrived at Long Beach. In August, she began preparations for her first major overhaul. On 1 September, she shifted her home port to San Diego; and, on 8 September, she entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for an extended overhaul which took her into 1972.

The overhaul was completed on 6 June 1972, and Schofield sailed to her new home port, San Diego. The next three months were spent in refresher training and various exercises, including two successful launchings of her TARTAR missiles at the Pacific Missile Range.