The dawning of 1972 saw GREAT SITKIN completing a "Restricted Availability" at our Homeport of Military Ocean Terminal, Bayonne, NJ. She departed Bayonne on January 7th for NAD Earle, NJ where she commenced cargo onload in preparation for a NATO Ammunition Purification cruise

The cargo onload was completed and GREAT SITKIN got underway January 17th for her first stop, Glen Douglas, Scotland, arriving there on the 27th. Completing her task at Glen Douglas, GREAT SITKIN got under way for her next stop, Lisbon, Portugal.

On February 5th, while enroute to Lisbon, GREAT SITKIN answered a "MAYDAY" call from Portuguese Merchant Vessel SOCOGUI. Extreme high seas and winds had damaged SOCOGUI's rudder. GREAT SITKIN accompanied her into a small port south of Lisbon, standing by should the heavy seas cause SOCOGUI's crew to abandon ship. GREAT SITKIN also suffered damage to her forward gun director and ready service lockers. Due to the delays caused by the adverse weather conditions, the Lisbon visit was canceled and GREAT SITKIN headed for Naval Station Rota, Spain arriving there on February 6th. While in Rota her damage was repaired and she got underway on February 9th to conduct cargo operations.

From February 9th through March 5th, GREAT SITKIN conducted cargo operations at Soudha Bay, Crete; Augusta Bay, Sicily; and Cartagena, Spain. On March 5th GREAT SITKIN arrived at Palma, Mallorca for a 9 day port visit departing on the 15th for Rota, Spain.

From March 15th through the 22nd, GREAT SITKIN conducted cargo operations at Rota, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal. She departed Lisbon on March 22nd for NAD Earle, NJ, arriving there on the 31st.

From the time of her arrival in Earle, GREAT SITKIN conducted cargo offload until April 12th when she returned to Bayonne. Upon arrival at Bayonne, the Engineering plant was put in "cold iron" status and repairs and preservation efforts commenced.

Her stay at Bayonne was short lived as on the May 8th GREAT SITKIN was moved to NAD Earle, NJ for cargo onload in preparation for a second ammunition purification cruise. On May 23rd a message was received canceling the purification cruise and scheduling her for a Mediterranean deployment. Load adjustments were made and additional cargo was taken aboard to meet the schedule change.

On June 16th GREAT SITKIN departed NAD Earle, NJ for Naval Station, Newport, RI for a two week tender availability and intensive crew and officer training. On June 29th GREAT SITKIN got underway for Bayonne, NJ where she prepared for Modified Refresher Training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. On July 12th she got underway for Cuba.

At 1753 on the 16th day of July, 1972, just prior to her arrival at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Commander Robert D. BUCHWALD relieved Captain Paul W. ROHRER as Commanding Officer, USS GREAT SITKIN. From July 19th through the 26th, GREAT SITKIN conducted REFTRA with Fleet Training Group, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Final battle problem was successfully completed on July 26th and she departed for NAD Earle, NJ.

GREAT SITKIN completed a pre-deployment stand-down in Bayonne from July 31st through August 13th. She arrived at NAD Earle on August 14th where cargo onload was completed. On August 17th GREAT SITKIN got underway for Naval Station, Rota, Spain.

While underway for Rota, GREAT SITKIN was attached to Task Unit 27.9.2 for the Atlantic crossing. On August 22nd, the USS NEOSHO (AO-143) suffered an engineering casualty and GREAT SITKIN was detached from the Task Unit and diverted to remain within signaling range of the NEOSHO for the remainder of the transit.

Arriving in Rota on the 28th of August, she commenced cargo operations. She departed Rota for LaSpezia, Italy on August 31st.  From that time until September 19th, GREAT SITKIN conducted cargo operations at LaSpezia and Naples, Italy; Augusta Bay, Sicily; Soudha Bay, Crete; and Athens, Greece.  Also during this time she participated in an underway vertical replenishment from the USS SAN DIEGO (AFS-6) and received fuel from USS MILWAUKEE (AOR-2).

GREAT SITKIN arrived at the beautiful island of Mykonos, Greece for a 7 day port visit on September 19th.  She departed for Athens, Greece on September 26th arriving there on the 27th for a tender availability with the USS Puget Sound (AD-38) and a port visit.

On October 4th GREAT SITKIN was underway to transfer ammunition with the USS BARRY (DD-933) and USS SPRINGFIELD (CLG-7) south of Phaleron Bay.  She returned to Athens in the early evening.

GREAT SITKIN got underway October 7th for Augusta Bay, Sicily for various support and cargo operations.  Her schedule for the next 22 days was arduous.  Adverse weather conditions on October 8th prevented SEPTAR Operations with Task Group 60.2.  On the 10th she received fuel underway from the USS CANISTEO (AO-99) and made a brief ammunition stop in Augusta Bay, Sicily.  On the 11th she got underway for Canakkle, Turkey and on the 12th & 13th provided SEPTAR Operations south of Crete for USS WOOD (DD-715), USS SAMPSON (DDG-10) and USS BARRY (DD-933).  On the 14th GREAT SITKIN received stores from the USS SAN DIEGO (AFS-6) and USS SYLVANIA (AFS-2) by VERTREP and also fuel from USS MILWAUKEE (AOR-2).  On October 15th, leaks in the main circulating injection line required GREAT SITKIN to make a port visit to Athens, Greece for repairs, canceling the Canakkle, Turkey visit. With the repairs completed, GREAT SITKIN got underway October 20th for Soudha Bay Crete.  During the period of October 21st through the 29th, she participated in local operations with Task Group 60.1; provided LARNE target services for the USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59) and USS CANISTEO (AO-99); SEPTAR Operations and underway ammunition transfer with USS ALBANY (CG-10); refueling with USS CANISTEO (AO-99); and cargo operations at Soudha Bay, Crete.

On November 1st GREAT SITKIN arrived in Naples, Italy for a 5 day port visit departing on the 6th for Augusta Bay, Sicily.  The next 2 weeks saw another arduous schedule.  November 7th, 8th and 9th, GREAT SITKIN provided SEPTAR services for USS ROOSEVELT (CVA-42), USS LUCE (DLG-7) and USS J.P. KENNEDY (DD-850). On the 10th, GREAT SITKIN arrived in Augusta Bay, Sicily for cargo operations.  After a brief 2 day stop she was again underway and participated in National Week exercises with Task Group 60.1, Task Group 60.2 and Task Group 60.3.  During this time GREAT SITKIN provided SEPTAR services for both Blue and Orange units of the Task Groups. The exercise concluded on the 18th with a conference in Sudha Bay, Crete.

On November 20th, GREAT SITKIN got underway for a port visit to Monte Carlo, Monaco.  While enroute she conducted an ammunition transfer with USS SEATTLE (AOE-3).  This was to be the last underway transfer of ammunition GREAT SITKIN would ever take part in.

GREAT SITKIN arrived in Monte Carlo on the 24th for a brief 4 day stay, getting underway for a port visit to Barcelona, Spain on the 28th.  She arrived in Barcelona on the 29th, but due to adverse weather conditions there the port visit was canceled and on November 30th, GREAT SITKIN was underway for Naval Station, Rota, Spain, her last stop before returning to the United States.

On December 1st while enroute to Rota, Spain, extreme sea and wind condition caused GREAT SITKIN's surface search radar antenna to be torn lose and blown over the side. She arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain on December 2nd where repairs to the radar were completed.  December 9th, GREAT SITKIN got underway for Military Ocean Terminal, Bayonne, NJ. At 1557 on the 22nd day of December, 1972 USS GREAT SITKIN arrived at Military Ocean Terminal, Bayonne, New Jersey.  She had just completed her last deployment.

During the period of 22 December 1972 through 21 January 1973, GREAT SITKIN remained in Bayonne and conducted a well deserved standown and upkeep period.

The operational events contained herein was extracted from the ship's annual Command History report (Report Symbol OPNAV 5750-1) for 1972 and 1973. Copies of the original reports were provided by the Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center. We wish to thank them for their help and dedication to their job. Without it this page would not have been possible.