Operation Frequent Wind - Task Force 76

Task Force 76

Between 18 and 24 April 1975, with the fall of Saigon imminent, the Navy concentrated off Vung Tau a vast assemblage of ships under Commander Task Force 76 comprising:

Task Force 76 USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) (command ship)

Task Group 76.4 (Movement Transport Group Alpha)

  • USS Okinawa (LPH-3)
  • USS Vancouver (LPD-2)
  • USS Thomaston (LSD-28)
  • USS Peoria (LST-1183)

Task Group 76.5 (Movement Transport Group Bravo)

  • USS Dubuque (LPD-8)
  • USS Durham (LKA-114)
  • USS Frederick (LST-1184)

Task Group 76.9 (Movement Transport Group Charlie)

  • USS Anchorage (LSD-36)
  • USS Denver (LPD-9)
  • USS Duluth (LPD-6)
  • USS Mobile (LKA-115)

The task force was joined by:

  • USS Hancock (CVA-19)
  • USS Midway (CVA-41)

each carrying Marine, and Air Force (8 21st Special Operations Squadron CH-53s and 2 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron HH-53s) helicopters.

Seventh Fleet flagship USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5).

Amphibious ships:

  • USS Mount Vernon (LSD-39)
  • USS Barbour County (LST-1195)
  • USS Tuscaloosa (LST-1187)

and eight destroyer types for naval gunfire, escort, and area defense, including:

  • USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786)
  • USS Cochrane (DDG-21)
  • USS Kirk (FF-1087)
  • USS Gurke (DD-783)
  • USS Rowan (DD-782)
  • USS Cook (FF-1083)
  • USS Bausell (DD-845)

The USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) and USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) carrier attack groups of Task Force 77 in the South China Sea provided air cover while Task Force 73 ensured logistic support.

The Marine evacuation contingent, the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade (Task Group 79.1), consisted of three battalion landing teams; 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 2nd Battalion 9th Marines (2/9), 3rd Battalion 9th Marines (3/9) and three helicopter squadrons HMH-462, HMH-463, HMM-165 along with other support units from Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39).

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