USS King DLG-10 WestPac Cruise Book 1963-64 For Sale

During the 1963–1964 WestPac cruise, the USS King (DLG-10) served as a critical component of the U.S. 7th Fleet, primarily acting as an escort and air defense platform during the early buildup of American involvement in Southeast Asia.

• Departure: August 1, 1963, from San Diego, California.

• Pearl Harbor Stop: The ship arrived in Hawaii and was photographed departing Pearl Harbor on August 19, 1963, reportedly escorting the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34).

• Return: March 10, 1964, returning to San Diego after more than seven months at sea.

The King was part of Task Group 77.5 in the South China Sea. During this deployment, her primary responsibilities included:

• Anti-Air Warfare (AAW): Utilizing her Terrier missile arsenal to provide a protective \"umbrella\" for carrier strike groups.

• Missilery Excellence: In January 1964, the ship successfully fired two Terrier missiles in a competitive exercise, earning her second consecutive Missilery \"E\" award.

While the full 1963-64 Cruise Book contains the exhaustive list, notable stops included:

• Subic Bay, Philippines: Used as a primary base for upkeep and repairs, including a final maintenance period in February 1964 before heading home.

• Hong Kong: A frequent liberty port for 7th Fleet ships during this era.

• Yokosuka, Japan: Often visited by DLG-class ships for logistics and technical support.

• Quezon City, Philippines: The crew engaged in community relations, such as visiting the Convent of the Good Shepherd to donate toys to orphans.

Shortly after returning in March 1964, the King entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard on April 20 for a major five-month overhaul. This included upgrading her electronic countermeasures (ECM) and installing additional Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) consoles to better handle high-intensity air warfare environments