In January the NEWPORT NEWS departed for "Operation Springboard". During this month long exercise she visited San Juan, St. Thomas, Santo Domingo and Guantanamo Bay. The first week in February she sailed for port visits to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Mobile, Alabama, where the crew participated in the Mardi Gras celebration. The last port of call was Mayport, FL, before arriving back in Norfolk on 4MAR.
In early June NEWPORT NEWS departed for a one-week cruise to Newport, RI, returning to NOB for one week before again departing, this time with 250 Midshipmen on the annual Midshipman Training Cruise. First port was Mayport, FL, followed by Fourth of July weekend in New York City, then continuing on to Quebec City, Canada. The NEWPORT NEWS arrived back in Norfolk, 25Jul.
It wasn't long before the News again departed, this time 6 AUG with Vice Admiral Charles B. Martell, now the new Commander SECOND FLEET, for the annual RIPTIDE IV exercise. After completing this exercise, NEWPORT NEWS visited the five Northern European ports of Portsmouth, England, Hamburg, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo. On the return trip NEWPORT NEWS operated in the Norwegian Sea on "operation Northstar." Crossing the Arctic Circle, she finally returned to Norfolk 25SEP63.
Three days following her arrival in Norfolk, Captain Raymond F. DuBois relieved Captain Bowers of command.
In the early days of November NEWPORT NEWS participated in Task Force operations off the Atlantic seaboard, returning to Norfolk on the 8th on November.
The Flagship of Commander SECOND FLEET, in great sorrow, commenced the mourning period for our late President, John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated Nov. 22nd in Dallas, TX. Full honors were conducted on board NEWPORT NEWS.
Underway on 2 December, NEWPORT NEWS began type training enroute to exercise "Quick Kick IV." The crew enjoyed a three-day weekend visit to Mayport, FL, 6-8 December, prior to operations off Onslow Beach, NC. She returned to Norfolk on 13 December to begin leave and upkeep.
Proceed to 1964
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