The first of August brought two alongsides; at refueling with the USS HASSAYAMPA (AO 145) at 0815 and a rearming from the USS SANTA BARBARA (AE 28) at 1148. Then two missions accounting for 606 8-inch rounds filled the remainder of the day. Troop and artillery targets were fired upon during three missions on the 2nd. No GDA was observed as the ship fired 321 8-inch and 16 5-inch rounds. The next day the ship assisted the South Vietnamese 268th Brigade in moving into Quang Tri City to surround the enemy held Citadel on three sides; firing 174 8-inch rounds. NEWPORT NEWS was detached from TU 70.8.9, and before joining TU 77.1.2, rearmed with PYRO at 1438.
Joining TU 77.1.2 NEWPORT NEWS conducted a special gunfire strike against eight targets, comprised of five coastal defense sites and four radar sites threatening surveillance operations in the vicinity of Hon La Island. Three-hundred ninety-six rounds of 8-inch were delivered against the eight targets in eight minutes. Five secondary explosions were observed and air reconnaissance the following day reported "CD sites were well worked over with many craters and all warehouses between sites had been flattened." General Quarters was in effect from 2000 to 2142, the period of the attack. Following the attack on the coast just hours before, NEWPORT NEWS departed the line on the forth to proceed to Subic Bay. At 0755 on the 5th NEWPORT NEWS anchored out in the harbor at Subic Bay, for upkeep and maintenance. At 0920 on the 7th she changed her location to Alava Pier, port side USS CAMDEN (AOE 2). She began relining the 8-inch guns. On the 9th she shifted locations again, and moored starboard side to Berths 4 & 5, Alava Pier at 1344.
NEWPORT NEWS departed Subic Bay at 0800 on the 15 enroute LINEBACKER operations. Her upkeep period had been extended because of a delay due to torrential rains and floodings. She proceeded directly to the Gulf of Tonkin to participate in coordinated tactical air-naval gunfire daylight strikes against coastal defense sites in the Hon La Island area. During the transit she rearmed from SURIBACHI on the 16th. The following morning General Quarters was called away from 0645 to 1056, as NEWPORT NEWS joined TG 77.1 for the gunfire strike. In two missions she fired 487 8-inch and 199 5-inch rounds, causing one secondary explosion. At 1459 the ship rearmed with VESUVIUS. NEWPORT NEWS joined TU 70.8.9 in MRI on the 18. Good results were obtained from firing 11 missions and expending 373 8-inch and 292 5-inch shells. Two secondary explosions were caused, four fires started, 10 structures destroyed and an additional 10 damaged. The next day six missions were fired with the ship expending 112 8-inch and 90 5-inch rounds. Four secondary explosions and three fires were caused by the shelling. At 1117 NEWPORT NEWS departed station to refuel with USS CACAPON (AO 52). The morning of 20AUG began with rearming from VESUVIUS at 0745. NEWPORT NEWS returned to station off the coast of MRI to fire five missions totalling 155 8-inch and 276 5-inch rounds. The morning hours next day again opened with a rearming from VESUVIUS at 0731. Significant enemy activity in the Quang Tri Province area called for five missions against enemy held territory. One secondary explosion was caused, three fires started and two structures damaged as the ship fired 220 8-inch and 235 5-inch shells. Results were excellent for the 23rd as NEWPORT NEWS destroyed nine structures, damaged 18 and seven secondary explosions were observed. During the firing of the five missions and 349 8-inch and 107 5-inch rounds, she shelled enemy troop concentrations and entrenchments. On the 24th during preparations for a rearming detail SA Elwood G. Profitt, of 1st Division, fell overboard. He was quickly recovered by a motor whaleboat. NEWPORT NEWS rearmed from MOUNT KATMAI at 0840, before returning to station. Five missions were fired through the day totalling 288 8-inch and 2 5-inch rounds. Damage assessment included 12 structures destroyed and nine secondary explosions.
On August 25th the main battery bore the brunt of the load as 597 8-inch and 96 5-inch rounds were fired in 14 missions. Results were: one secondary explosion, two fires, six structures damaged and one destroyed and three artillery pieces silenced. One of several ship's records was set on the 26th with NEWPORT NEWS highlining aboard more than 1,000 8- inch rounds from USS MOUNT KATMAI (AE 16) at 0737. Back on the line action subsided somewhat as the ship fired 90 8-inch and 148 5-inch rounds in three missions.
Operation LION'S DEN
August 29th saw three missions and 108 8-inch and 40 5-inch fired at MRI targets. The next day was the last for TU 70.8.9, TG 75.0 was activated at the close of the day. NEWPORT NEWS fired three missions, accounting for 62 8-inch and 16 5-inch rounds. Two bunkers were destroyed and three enemy killed in action. The ship refueled from WACCAMAW at 1820. Her first full day in TG 75.9 NEWPORT NEWS caused one secondary explosion, destroyed four structures and damaged one, silenced an artillery piece and killed eight of the enemy. During seven missions she fired 206 8-inch and 85 5-inch rounds.
Proceed to September 1972