Subic Bay, SBFZ, ex Naval Base

[Karl Welteke]

SUBIC BAY SOLAR/WIND PROJECT 2016



The Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), the former Naval Base, which is now managed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has contracted a big Solar/Wind Energy Project. It should be finished next year although we did not see any wind turbines yet. There is plenty stuff on the internet about this project, just google Subic Bay Solar Project.

A former Navy diver, we served together at the Ships Repair Activity Diving Locker (SRF), visited me and he wanted to have a challenging and interesting walk. I chose to walk to Barangay (Village) Mabiga, just east of our former Naval Base, and choose the route thru the Ayta (Negrito) Village Pastolan. We discovered that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has a major Solar/Wind project in progress. We had to change our route a little to walk around the project so we did not disturb the project.

In this URL with Flickr I put all 49 pictures about this walk:
www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157669738803790

Here are 9 sample images but they are much smaller than in the above album:



V11 160706 Pastolan walk data, our GPS walk data. I forget to turn off the GPS device and so we had to subtract about one half hour and 7 km from this data.



V10 160706 Pastolan walk GE big. This is the Google earth image giving a wider view of our walk.



V9 160706a SBFZ Solar, to Pastolan, 4, we are on the road from the Binictican Golf Course to the Ayta Village Pastolan. We met people and took pictures. My friend Steve asked this Pastolan man to please cut him a stick. He compensated him with a 100 peso.



V8 160706a SBFZ Solar, to Pastolan..7; we are on the road from the Subic Bay Binictican Golf Course to the Ayta Village Pastolan. Wow, a huge high voltage transmission tower, we got the idea there must be something going on here.



V7 160706c SBFZ Solar Pastolan-Mabiga..4; we are following the road from Pastolan to Mabiga. I remembered this broken bridge. I wonder how many decades ago did the Navy Seabees built it?



V6 160706f SBMA Solar field, passing by. 1; we are walking at the right side or the east side of the new Subic Bay solar project we wanted to go to San Pablo on this ridge line. We made sure we did not enter the project site. Sta. Rita Mt. was our guide.



V5 160706f SBMA Solar field, passing by. 3; we are walking at the right side or the east side of the new Subic Bay solar project we wanted to go to San Pablo on this ridge line. We made sure we did not enter the project site. Sta. Rita Mt. was our guide, Mt. Malasimbo at Dinalupihan is in sight again at the very right.



V4 160706h SBMA Solar, back to start point. 6; in this image we zoomed in on the English portion of the project sign at the start of the road to Pastolan. If you google Subic solar project you will get news reports about this project. And it was raining; the rainy season in the Philippines has arrived. The last 2 hours of this 5 hour walk was in the rain but we had rain gear with us!




V3 160706i SBMA Solar, 230 KV transmission line. 3, we were surprised that the 230 KV transmission line is practically finished already. This is the stretch along the road to Binictican Housing running along the Binictican Golf course. And it was raining; the rainy season in the Philippines has arrived.

[Karl Welteke]

SUBIC BAY WALK 2016-07-12 AFTER TYPHOON NEPARTAK

On this date the sun came out after about 3 days of monsoon rains reinforced by Typhoon Nepartak, locally called Butchoy, and I took advantage of it. I walked from Barrio Barretto, Olongapo City to and thru the Kalaklan Gate of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), the former Naval Station Subic Bay. I looked around just inside the gate and then walked back to Barretto and spend some time first at Kalaklan Point in Subic Bay. These pictures show some results of the Typhoon Nepartak and also some most recent changes on my way.

I have uploaded 20 images into this album:

www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157671004537245

Here are 8 sample images but they are much smaller:



W927a (160712a Barretto old Marmont hotel site), here used to stand a 3 story Marmont Hotel but was never used because of a conflict with the Olongapo City Government. A few years ago it was torn down and since a few days ago this new activity has started.



W928a (160712b Half Moon Beach 3), I took this picture because all along the road from SBMA to Barretto along the road new power line bases are being constructed. This location is in front of the former Halfmoon Hotel and remember the Grass Hut Restaurant has located behind it. Both are not in operation now. Someone modified the building and put all that rust steel to it!



W929a (160712d ex PWC Gas Station 1), in back used to be the Naval Base Public Works Department Gas Station, left of it a new public one has been built and it may the only self service gas station in all the Philippines and it is about 50 centavos cheaper per liter.



W930a (160712e At SBFZ gate, new water sport place. 10), inside the Kalaklan Gate of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), the former Naval Station Subic Bay and near the mouth of the Kalaklan River a new water recreation complex is being build.



W931 (160712f At SBFZ gate 1 Floating backhoe), inside the Kalaklan Gate of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), the former Naval Station Subic Bay and near the mouth of the Kalaklan River, the whole area is being upgraded. I thought that making the backhoe a floating one is a neat idea.



W932 (160712f At SBFZ gate 2 Kalaklan Pt). inside the Kalaklan Gate of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), the former Naval Station Subic Bay and near the mouth of the Kalaklan River, the whole area is being upgraded. We are looking at Kalaklan Point with light and we will visit it later.



W933 (160712f At SBFZ gate 11, new hotels). Inside the Kalaklan Gate of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), the former Naval Station Subic Bay and near the mouth of the Kalaklan River, the whole area is being upgraded. Now I show three pictures right to left, this is the 3rd one. Right are the Moonbay Marina Villas and left is the very new Sun Plaza Subic Condotel and a new road has been built at right. At the extreme left is a new modern type of Quonset hut that has been built by the Navy after several buildings had collapsed under the Mt. Pinatubo explosion ash. The Naval Investigating Service (NIS) Building stood at the present site of that very new Sun Plaza Subic Condotel.



W934 (160712g Olongapo Cemetery Landslide #3). I am walking back to Barretto and just passed thru/over the Kalaklan Gate and Bridge. In the next 100 meters towards Kalaklan Point 3 landslides have occurred in the last 2 days after Typhoon Nepartak, locally called Butchoy. It caused a little delay in traffic but the authorities had a handle on it in a fast manner, directing traffic around them and clearing the road. This is the closest one to Kalaklan Point.

[Karl Welteke]

SUBIC BAY WALK 2016-07-12 AFTER TYPHOON NEPARTAK

Second Batch or set of 12 pictures from this walk!

On this date the sun came out after about 3 days of monsoon rains reinforced by Typhoon Nepartak, locally called Butchoy, and I took advantage of it. I walked from Barrio Barretto, Olongapo City to and thru the Kalaklan Gate of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), the former Naval Station Subic Bay. I looked around just inside the gate and then walked back to Barretto and spend some time first at Kalaklan Point in Subic Bay. These pictures show some results of the Typhoon Nepartak and also some most recent changes on my way.

I have uploaded 12 images into this album:

www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157671004537245

My pictures are sorted in the order they were shot so this second batch of pictures follows the first batch of 20 images. However I manufactured a Google Earth image wherein I marked all the points of interests in the first batch of pictures and I added into this batch.

Here are 5 sample images but they are much smaller:



W935 (160712a Barretto Beach after rain 2a). This is Google Earth map to assist you to locate all the points of interests in the first 20 images I uploaded into this album.



W936 (160712i Kalaklan Point at Subic Bay 2). This is the renovated Kalaklan Point Navigation Light in Subic Bay. It was done a few years ago with the help of Japanese money, I heard.



W937 (160712i Kalaklan Point at Subic Bay 2a). This is a section of an old US Army 1:250000 map and I marked in the Kalaklan Point location for your orientation. The PLDT Mountain is just a little of the map but that is the mountain you see on your right when you drive to Olongapo from Pampanga. It has many communication towers on it while the Sta. Rita Mountain only has one and is on your left.



W938 (160712j views from Kalaklan Pt. 7, ex NAVBASE). This picture shows the new sports and recreation water place just inside the Kalaklan Gate of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), the ex. Subic Bay Naval Base.



W939 (160712j views from Kalaklan Pt. 8, ex NAVBASE). This is view from the Kalaklan Point, across the Kalaklan River and across the Olongapo Port. I marked up this image for your orientation. I wonder how many sailors knew that they sitting next to a huge volcano and its large caldera.



W939a (160712j views from Kalaklan Pt. 9), ex NAVBASE. What happened to Cubi Point? It became a Grain Port and a Container Port. Where the red ship is was the Leyte Wharf, the carrier pier. To the right of it was the Officer Beach but that area became a Container Port and has 2 ships alongside on that day.




W940 (160712j views from Kalaklan Pt. 17, ex NAVBASE). This is a last view towards the former Base and now the SBFZ before we get back on the road to Barrio Barretto. It is marked to help you in your orientation.

[Karl Welteke]

SUBIC BAY WALK 2016-07-12 AFTER TYPHOON NEPARTAK

Third Batch or set of 16 pictures from this walk!

On this date the sun came out after about 3 days of monsoon rains reinforced by Typhoon Nepartak, locally called Butchoy, and I took advantage of it. I walked from Barrio Barretto, Olongapo City to and thru the Kalaklan Gate of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), the former Naval Station Subic Bay. I looked around just inside the gate and then walked back to Barretto and spend some time first at Kalaklan Point in Subic Bay. These pictures show some results of the Typhoon Nepartak and also some most recent changes on my way.

I have uploaded 16 images into this album:

www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157671004537245

My pictures are sorted in the order they were shot so this third batch of pictures follows the first and second batch of images. I added a few Google Earth images wherein I marked all the points of interests.

Here are 5 sample images but they are much smaller:



W941 (160712k Kalaklan Pt.Gordon's property 2). Immediately leaving the Kalaklan Point towards Barrio Barretto, right is the Olongapo Cemetery and left and down from the highway is the Gordon Family properties. The Gordon Family played a great role in the development of Olongapo City and the father of Richard Gordon (Dick Gordon) was murdered in 1967. His grave is on the slope, below the National Highway, but within the Olongapo City Kalaklan Cemetery.



W942 (160712m Kalaklan Pt.new village 1). Much of the Mt. Pinatubo ash sand (called Lahars locally) that buried Olongapo and caused much death from collapsing roofs was dumped here. This is the beach area between the Gordon Family property and the Ocean View Resort. The beach stabilized and within the last few years a regular large community developed here. Not knowing the name I just call it the new Village.



W943 (160712p Subic Bay Barretto Beaches 1). As I approach Barrio Barretto we get this great view of Barretto. Most people in cars or in Jeepney seldom enjoy this fine view of Barretto where many of us U.S. Military Retirees live.



W944 (160712q tree down on way to Barretto). This location is the curves between 101 Beach and Christian Skipper Beach. The monsoon rains and winds, intensified by the Typhoon Nepartak, locally called Butchoy, brought down this tree. The Philippine Authority often with many hands of nearby residents clear this problem in good time but some delay was caused by this and other events.



W945 (160712s Subic Bay from Google Earth). I am a happy retiree and enjoy walking and appreciate the geography of my home here in the Philippines. It is really great that we have the internet and the Google Earth program really opens up the view of your surroundings. As a sailor visiting here in the past we did not have the opportunity so it is really great to enjoy live this way now! Then we did not know or could not picture that the hinterlands of Subic Bay look that interesting.

[Karl Welteke]

SUBIC BAY CHANGES 2016-07-27

In this entry and album I tried to chow the dramatic changes that have occurred just in a small corner of the former Subic Bay Naval Base since 1992 when it was closed. It is now the SBFZ. And the same kind of dramatic changes have occurred in all the other areas of the former US Naval Base. I walk a lot and on the 27th July 2016, I walked up onto Kalaklan Ridge from Barretto (2.5 km & 200 m height), followed the ridge down to the Olongapo Cemetery at Kalaklan Point (4 km +), took pictures of the Kalaklan Gate area from above and then walked home to Barretto. On some of these pictures I marked up a few structures as landmarks but the large majority of the structures I did not mention. They are all new buildings built by investors who had to demolish all the old buildings first and in this general area the structures are hotels, entertainment places or business offices.

In this Flickr album are 22 images:

www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157671848274725

Here are six sample images’ but they are much smaller than in the above album, also it seems I picked most of the images that are marked up:



V40 (K3) these are some of the structures I have mentioned in this album. This is a 2005 Google Earth image, at this time many of the Navy structures still stand but not any longer in 2016 when these pictures in this album were shot: 1. where the water park is being built now, 2. structure #310 the old PWC gas station, 3. these may be the only PWC structures left, 4. Formerly Bldg. # 724-was torn down and the Bay Pointe Hospital rose here, 5. are two new type of larger Quonset type structure that were built by the Navy after Mt. Pinatubo collapsed a number of structures, 6. a Condo-hotel building took the place of Bldg # CA21 (ex Naval Investigating Service Office, NISO). 7. Bldg 502 is the only substantial building left from the Navy times, 8. the Canal and Canal Road, 9. two Quonset huts are still here.



V40a (K4) this is a small section of a 1977 Subic Bay Naval Station drawing and I got it from my Navy friend Chad Hill. It covers most of the geographic area covered in this album. The building numbers referred to in the album and this presentation came from this drawing.




V41 (K10) this is the same picture as K9 before but here I marked it up with prominent landmarks. 1. Shoe Mart (SM) Mall formerly the Olongapo City Mall and Lot 21 before that, 2.Maingate Bridge to Magsaysay Drive, 3. New Rizal Bridge leads to Rizal Ave. formerly Manila Ave.4. the Drainage just now has been dredged, 5. The new Ayala Mall called Harbor point, 6. An industrial park developed after the Base closed, 7.our old Naval Supply Depot, the large ware houses survived Mt. Pinatubo, 8. A Military Sealift Command (MSC) Ship alongside Alava Ext. Warf, 9. Our newest Enlisted Men Barracks which are now part of the Subic International Hotel.



V42 (K20) this is the same picture as # K19 about half way down the Olongapo Cemetery I got a closer shot of the Kalaklan Gate area inside the SBFZ. This copy is marked up with some landmarks. All buildings not marked are new and are hotels, entertainment places or business offices.1. These may be the only PWC structures left, 2. The former BOQ was raised one floor, became a resort, went broke and is only being renovated, 3. Dewey Ave or Road, 4. Two Quonset huts are still here, 5. Bldg 502 is the only substantial building left from the Navy times, 6. Formerly Bldg. # 724-was torn down and the BayPointe Hospital rose here, 7. A Condo-hotel building took the place of Bldg # CA21 (ex NISO).
In the picture the Number 8 should be Number 7.



V43 (K14) this is the same picture as the last one, #13, but this one is marked with the important landmarks. 1. The huge blocks of the former Public Works Center (PWC), 2. the Canal and Canal Road, 3. Bldg 700 and the other Transient Personnel Unit (TPU) buildings – once there were 64 Legal Holds, 4. Bldg # 303 the Ellis Island for our Filipino Sailor Shipmates – they went thru this Recruit Possessing Center, 5. The former BOQ was raised one floor, became a resort, went broke and is only now being renovated again, 6. A Military Sealift Command (MSC) Ship alongside Alava Ext. Warf, 7. Two Quonset huts are still here, 8. Bldg 502 is the only substantial building left from the Navy times, 9. These may be the only PWC structures left.



V44 (K24) this is a similar picture then picture #k23 but I marked some landmarks across the water, the Olongapo Port, yes that how it is named on charts.
The former Cubi Point Air Station Officer Club and area, condominiums were built around it. The 1996 APEC Summit meeting was conducted here
This former Cubi Point Naval Air Station hangar was converted to the Subic Bay International Airport Terminal but after FEDEX left, hardly any planes land here anymore.
A new water park is being developed here.
This dredge has been here maybe 10 years and has not hit a lick yet; it is broke and is not being fixed.

[Karl Welteke]

German Heavy Lift Crafts in Subic Bay 1967.

The German Heavy Lift Crafts, Energie and Ausdauer were bought by the U. S. Navy in 1967, towed to Subic Bay and placed in service there with the Harbor Clearance Unit One. This unit supported the Viet Nam War with diving and salvages services. These pictures and story came from the U. S. Navy Magazine All Hands, Oct. 1967, and from the NavSource Online.

I uploaded all these 17 pictures into this Flickr album:
www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157672638644362

I also present all the pictures here in the forum on this Subic Bay thread but some of the pictures are much smaller:



V199 (HCU-1 a in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the cover of the magazine.



V200 (HCU-1 b in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), the full image of page 1 of 2 in the All Hands Magazine about the heavy lift crafts.



V201 (HCU-1 c in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), the full image of page 2 of 2 in the All Hands Magazine about the heavy lift crafts.



V202 (HCU-1 d in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the image of the story in the All Hands Magazine , part 1 of 2.



V203 (HCU-1 e in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the image of the story in the All Hands Magazine , part 2 of 2.



V204 (HCU-1 f in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the image of the story in the All Hands Magazine. This is big picture of the two heavy lift crafts working together, this was a training evolution.



V205 (HCU-1 g in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the image of the story in the All Hands Magazine. This picture shows clamping down on the lift wires and in the picture it is called a spud. They are big round steel things to keep the two heavy lift crafts apart for a joint lift.



V206 (HCU-1 h in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the image of the story in the All Hands Magazine. This picture shows the two heavy lift crafts and in the picture it is called a spud. They are big round steel things to keep the two heavy lift crafts apart for a joint lift.



V207 (HCU-1 i in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the image of the story in the All Hands Magazine. This picture shows a lift in progress. One of the big round steel things to keep the two heavy lift crafts apart for a joint lift can be seen in back and a blowing or pumping evolution is in progress.



V208 (HCU-1 j in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the image of the story in the All Hands Magazine. This row of bitts also could be used to belay the lifting wires for a lift.



V209 (HCU-1 k in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the image of the story in the All Hands Magazine. In the picture it is called a spud. They are big round steel things to keep the two heavy lift crafts apart for a joint lift. And they make good cat walks.



V210 (HCU-1 m in Subic, All Hands, Oct. 1967), this is the image of the story in the All Hands Magazine. The machinery was still driven by steam. AHLC-2 flies the Union Jack—we are in the Navy now.




V211 (HCU-1 n Karl evaluation 1970-11-19 to 1971-01-16 pg 1). All these pictures are from 1967, I did not report to this unit until Nov 1970 and was assigned to YHLC-1 but only for two month and then I was needed more urgently in Viet Nam to train Viet Namese divers in salvage work. This is a copy of my evaluation which describes my duties on the YHLC-1.

Note: Somewhere along the line the hull designations changed from AHLC to YHLC; A stood for Auxiliary while Y stands for Yard.


HCU-1 o GMC Crilley MDV, NavSource. YHLC -1 was renamed and commissioned USS Crilley (YHLC-1) in 1967. From Navy Source:
www.navsource.org/archives/14/6001.htm



V212 Frank William Crilley was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on 13 September 1883. Following enlistment in the Navy in March 1900, he became a Gunner's Mate and received additional training as a diver. In 1915, while a Chief Gunner's Mate, he made dives to over 300 feet during salvage operations on the sunken submarine F-4 (SS-23) off Honolulu, Hawaii. On 17 April 1915 he rescued a fellow diver who had become entangled at a depth of 250 feet. For his heroism on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1929. In 1917, Crilley was appointed to the rank of Gunner(T), and in February 1918 became an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. He commanded USS Salvor in 1919 and left active duty in July of that year. In the mid-1920s, he was involved with salvaging USS S-51 (SS-162), and returned to active Naval service in 1927-28 to work on the recovery of USS S-4 (SS-109). He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions as a diver during that operation. In 1931, Frank Crilley served as Second Officer and Master Diver during the Arctic expedition of the civilian submarine Nautilus. Also in 1931, he assisted with the salvage of USS Mayflower (PY-1). Transferred to the Retired List in May 1932, he was again employed on Navy work in 1939, during the salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192). Ensign Frank W. Crilley died at the Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, on 23 November 1947. USS Crilley (YHLC-1), 1967-1993, was named in honor of Ensign Frank W. Crilley.
Photo from Arlington National Cemetery Web site .


HCU-1 p USS Crandall (YHLC-2), NAVSOURCE, BMC MDV. YHLC -2 was renamed and commissioned USS Crandall (YHLC-2) in 1967. From Navy Source:
www.navsource.org/archives/14/6002.htm




V213 Orson Leon Crandall was born on 2 February 1903 at St. Joseph, Missouri. He enlisted in the Navy in June 1922, serving in several ships over the next decade. Trained as a diver in 1932-33 and designated a Master Diver in March 1939, he was serving in USS Falcon (ASR-2) when she supported the rescue and salvage effort on the sunken submarine Squalus (SS-192) in May-September 1939. Chief Boatswain's Mate Crandall was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism as Master Diver during that operation. During World War II, Crandall became a commissioned officer and served in a variety of salvage and diving-related positions. He transferred to the Fleet Reserve in June 1946 and retired in December 1952. Lieutenant Orson L. Crandall died in May 1960.
USS Crandall (YHLC-2), 1967-1993, was named in honor of Lieutenant Crandall.
US Navy photo #: NH 57890
Chief Boatswain's Mate Orson L. Crandall, USN Photographed, 19 January 1940, just after being presented with the Medal of Honor for heroism during rescue and salvage operations on USS Squalus (SS-192), following her accidental sinking on 23 May 1939.
He was Master Diver on board USS Falcon (ASR-2) during that time.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.








U. S. Navy All Hands Magazine Oct. 1967 says. Story and Photos by Ely U. Orias, JO1, USN:
You Don’t See Many Like the AHLC Twins.
After bumming around the world for nigh 25 years, Energie and Ausdauer have finally found a home for keeps, it is hoped---- in Subic Bay, Philippines, on the payroll of the U. S. Navy. Beachcombing is a chancy business at best, and the two AHLCs have had their up and downs in the past.
Billed as the world’s largest salvage lift crafts, Energie (AHLC-1) and Ausdauer (AHLC-2) were commissioned in 1943 by Germany. Between that date and the present, when the two were bought by the United States, they have performed extensive salvage operations throughout the European continent, Scandinavia, England and the Middle East.
In 1945, Energie was bombed out by the British in the Baltic’s, refloated by Germany with the help of Ausdauer, and resumed service with the German Navy in 1948.
In 1957, the two were leased by the United Nations to clear the Suez Canal of sunken vessels, and then went into mothballs until last March 1967.
At that time, they began the trip from Bremerhaven to Subic to add another 4800 tons of muscle to Harbor Clearance Unit –One, (HCU-1).
Energie (for energy of course) and Ausdauer (for endurance) still bear much of their original décor and furnishings. Most will be retained until completely worn out.
But the coal-burning cook stoves will have to go. They can’t keep up with the appetites of their new crews.
Story and Photos by Ely U. Orias, JO1, USN.

HCU-1 q USS Crandall (YHLC-2), NAVSOURCE, 5 in Subic. This picture is from NAVSOURCE:
www.navsource.org/archives/14/6002.htm



V214 This picture shows the USS Crandall (YHLC-2) alongside the HCU-1 Command Craft (YRST-1) sometime between 1967 and 1972. In the area that is now occupied by the Subic Bay Marina.



V215 HCU-1 r USS Crandall (YHLC-2), NAVSOURCE, 5a in Subic, This Google Earth image covers about the same area as in the last picture. This is now the area of the Subic Bay Marina; I indicated where YHLC-2 and YRST-1 were located in the late 1960s, the time I served in the Harbor Clearance Unit-One (HCU-1).

[Karl Welteke]

Three More YHLC Images

The images have been added to this Flickr album with 20 images and are in the album position 18 to 20:
www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums

All three images came from this NavSource Online web page:
www.navsource.org/archives/14/6001.htm

Here are the same three images but are much smaller:



V216. NavSource.The Salvage Barges Ausdauer and Energie lifting a vessel in the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, in May 1965.
This picture is courtesy of NAVSOURCE On-Line: www.navsource.org/archives/14/6002.htm




V217. NavSourse. AHLC II (foreground) and AHLC I (background) in port at Bremerhaven, Germany, in 1967 prepared for towing to join the US Navy in Subic Bay.
This picture is courtesy of NAVSOURCE On-Line: www.navsource.org/archives/14/6002.htm




V218. NavSource. USS Crandall (YHLC-2) left, and USS Crilley (YHLC-1) right, raising the hull of the French steamer SS Paul Bert, at My Tho, South Vietnam, in 1966. The steamer, sunk during World War Two, was salvaged to allow the establishment of a US Navy patrol boat base. The Heavy Lift Crafts were home ported in Subic Bay.
US Navy photo from 1968-69 Edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships"
This picture is courtesy of NAVSOURCE On-Line: www.navsource.org/archives/14/6002.htm

[Karl Welteke]

A new Subic Bay Icon



V389. Today is the first time I noticed this new Subic Bay icon.
Photo credit: The US Navy ship USS Comstock (LSD-45), a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, docked at the Alava pier of Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales province for a replenishment port call Wednesday (Nov. 16) afternoon as joint US and Philippine special operations forces begins its annual combat exercise dubbed “Balance Piston” in the western province of Palawan. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

USS Comstock arrives in Subic Bay, 16t Nov. 2016

Text and picture is from this web page:
subicnewslink.blogspot.com/2016/11/uss-comstock-arrives-in-subic-bay.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SubicBayNewslink+%28SUBIC+BAY+NEWSLINK%29





V388. Photo credit: The US Navy ship USS Comstock (LSD-45), a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, docked at the Alava pier of Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales province for a replenishment port call Wednesday (Nov. 16) afternoon as joint US and Philippine special operations forces begins its annual combat exercise dubbed “Balance Piston” in the western province of Palawan. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)


USS Comstock (LSD 45) with embarked Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, docked in Subic Bay Thursday (Nov. 17) to provide the crew and Marines an opportunity to rest and recuperate after nearly a month and a half at sea.


Subic Bay marks the second port visit for the Comstock after departing Naval Station San Diego on October 14. Several Filipino-American Sailors and Marines will also spend time with their families and experience the local culture while learning about their own heritage.

"I am very proud that my first port visit as the Commanding Officer of the Comstock was to my birthplace, Guam, and I'm even more honored that our next port visit will be to the country where my mother and father were born - the Philippines,” said Comstock Commanding Officer Cmdr. Gervy Alota. “It will be a fantastic opportunity for my crew to enjoy and learn about the history and culture of the Philippines and to strengthen the already close ties between our two nations. I look forward to reuniting with my family and forming new friendships with the people of Subic Bay."

The Comstock and embarked 11th MEU, part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, have been conducting training together for nearly a month and a half at sea. Comstock and other ships of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group are currently on a routine patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the region. The Comstock is based out of Naval Station San Diego, Calif. The 11th MEU is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. (U.S. Embassy, Manila)


Note from Karl: Karl is a former proud Sailor of LSD-2 USS Belle Grove, Pacific Fleet (1960-64) and LSD 30 USS Fort Snelling, Atlantic Fleet(1964-66). USS Belle Grove introduced me to the Philippines in 1962 and I landed on the spot where the Photographer took the above picture which was the Enlisted Men boat landing!

Today on the 18th Nov. 2016 another big ship is in the Subic Bay Port, an MSC (Military Sealift Command) oiler; it is moored forward of the USS Comstock, along the same pier.

[Karl Welteke]

Jack Kingsley Wedding 2016-12-20 in Subic Bay

Friends

Jack is a good friend of mine, we know each other from Hawaii and we both are practically neighbors now in Subic Bay. This is another example that the Navy is not completely gone from Subic Bay.



V470. The wedding of Lt. Com. Jack Kingsley (USN Ret.) with Cherry Ann on the 20th Dec. 2016 at the By The Sea Hotel in Barrio Barretto, Olongapo City. The Hon. R. Paulino, Mayor of Olongapo, conducted the ceremony. This very site was a U.S. Naval Supply Depot in 1945 on the shore of Subic Bay.

I took these pictures and put them into this album:

www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157678000011566

Karl

[Karl Welteke]

Japanese, American warships docked in Subic Bay

Posted: 04 Jan 2017 12:04 AM PST by the Subic Bay Newslink.

This is the URL for this report from Subic Bay Newslink.

subicnewslink.blogspot.com/2017/01/japanese-american-warships-docked-in.html





V555. Two Japanese warships arrived in Subic Bay Wednesday (January 4) morning, joining five other U.S. navy ships docked in this Freeport since New Year’s Day. This picture came from the above URL, the Subic Bay Newslink.

The above URL has two pictures and it mentions the visit of the Russian warships to Manila and the President visiting the Russian warship.

Two days ago, the 12 Jan 2017, I drove by Alava Extension Wharf and I saw 4 large logistic ships tied up, two were abreast of each other. All 4 ships were from the US Military Sealift Command.