During the early daylight hours of July one NEWPORT NEWS rearmed from the USS MOUNT KATMAI (AE 16) at 0755. Returning to station she proceeded to fire in conjunction with allied movements in the LAM SON 72 campaign. Throughout the day the ship fired a total of seven missions; 251 8-inch rounds causing two secondary explosions and starting two fires. CTU 70.8.9 observed NEWPORT NEWS' role once again noting that in company with a CLG and DD, against a tank attack NEWPORT NEWS "...slammed rounds right on top of 25 tanks with following infantry, completely demolishing the attack." Shortly before this action, she had dispersed another enemy tank attack with her accurate fire. The following day the ship again took time in the early morning to depart the line to refuel with the USS CALIENTE (AO 53) at 0828. COMDESRON THIRTY-SIX was debarked. Returning to station she fired five missions and expended 260 8-inch and 244 5-inch rounds. Among the many targets she was called to fire upon were 130mm gun emplacements, troops and troop concentrations. On the 3rd heavy fire support was the order of the day as the ship fired four missions totalling 458 8-inch rounds. In the process of firing upon active artillery positions NEWPORT NEWS started three large sustained fires and caused four secondary explosions. At 0749 on Independence Day NEWPORT NEWS rearmed from the KATMAI. During the rearming SK3 S. M. Brumfield, while operating a forklift loaded with a powder casing pallet, was fatally injured and died at 1015. Honors were rendered by KATMAI as she steamed alongside. Support for LAM SON 72 continued as NEWPORT NEWS returned to the gunline after the rearming. Firing seven missions in support of Vietnamese Airborne units she expended 521 8-inch and 321 5-inch rounds. She was credited with destroying three structures, damaging two others, and starting two fires while shelling 130 mm gun positions. While firing at suspected targets east of Quang Tri City she started another three fires. NEWPORT NEWS, and two CLG's stopped an NVA tank and infantry attack about to overrun VNMC positions with "...devastatingly accurate fire delivered with 'emergency' notice within 600 meters of friendly front lines." The 5th marked the first of nearly a week of area preparations for a South Vietnamese heloborne assault. NEWPORT NEWS fired eight missions totalling 79 8-inch and 351 5-inch shells. During her missions she caused two secondary explosions and destroyed five structures. The ship closed out the day by commencing rearming from the PYRO at 2246. The rearming continued into the early hours of the next day, and 11 crewmen were highlined off the ship to PYRO. Upon completion of the detail, NEWPORT NEWS proceeded to rendezvous with the USS KANSAS CITY (AOR 3) for refueling at 0351. Returning to her station she again shelled targets in MRI in preparation of the upcoming heloborne assault. Firing three missions and 199 5% shells she started one fire and dispersed an enemy tank and troop attack. NEWPORT NEWS continued her fire preparation and support the next day with five missions and an increased number of shells. Firing 190 8-inch and 412 5-inch she caused one fire. The ship continued again the following day by firing 279 8-inch rounds in five missions. Targets included troops, tanks, and artillery.
NEWPORT NEWS devoted the day of July 9th to replenishing and rearming, firing no missions. At 0809 she rearmed from HALEAKALA, and at 1052 she replenished by helicopter from the USS MOUNT HOOD (AE 29), and transferred personnel by highline. Firing stepped up tremendously on the tenth as NEWPORT NEWS threw out 768 5-inch rounds in six missions. She destroyed 26 structures, damaged three others and caused six secondary explosions during the day. A storage area was also destroyed. On the 11th while supporting a heloborne assault by units of the VNMC, NEWPORT NEWS fired 10 missions and 543 8-inch and 198 5-inch rounds. She destroyed five structures and caused a large secondary explosion. Supporting the VNMC she destroyed six tanks and killed 73 enemy personnel: this in conjunction with three DD's and artillery. Early evening saw the ship depart station to rearm with USS SANTA BARBARA (AE 28) at 1846. Inclement weather on the 12th resulted in no fire missions for NEWPORT NEWS. At 1911 she refueled from the USS HASSAYAMPA (AO 145). The next three days involved seven missions using the 5-inch batteries. 314 rounds were expended with no GDA available.
On the 16th action picked up considerably as NEWPORT NEWS fired six missions and 168 8-inch and 249 5-inch rounds supporting units of the VNMC. At 1355 she vertrepped with the USS NIAGARA FALL (AFS 3). Four missions the next day comprised 53 8-inch and 105 5-inch shells. Five structures were destroyed, four damaged. The 18th saw increase firing and damage wrought on the day. Four missions and 314 8-inch and 303 5-inch rounds were fired; causing four secondary explosions, starting five fires and damaging two structures. In the morning and afternoon the ship refueled and replenished. At 1114 she refueled with USS KIWISHIWI (AO 146), and rearmed and replenished from the MOUNT HOOD at 1432. The next day's gunfire totals were small for the day but the shelling was extremely effective. Firing five missions and 125 8-inch and 82 5-inch NEWPORT NEWS destroyed 12 structures and damaged 10 others. The 20th saw destruction of enemy structures as NEWPORT NEWS dispatched 23 more while firing six missions and 304 8-inch and 332 5-inch shells. Additional damage included three secondary explosions and three fires started by the ship's guns. Three more secondary explosions were caused the next day as the ship fired two mission and 221 8-inch rounds. Phase III of LAM SON 72, SONG THANH 9-72, was completed on the 22nd of July. NEWPORT NEWS and a DDG silenced heavy artillery fire prevented VNMC and heloborne troops from staging around the Quang Tri Citadel. One mission was fired during the day, accounting for 25 5-inch rounds. NEWPORT NEWS fired three mission on the 23rd, totalling 67 8-inch and 181 5-inch shells. She caused four secondary explosions and started one fire. The next day started with a rearming from MOUNT KATMAI at 0658, and refueling and highlining of personnel with USS WACCAMAW (AO 109) at 1017. Four missions and 204 8-inch and 45 5-inch shells were fired during the day, producing one secondary explosion, four fires, destroying seven bunkers and silencing one artillery piece. Five missions and 472 8-inch and 36 5-inch rounds were fired during the 25th, causing three fires. On the 26 five missions required 180 8-inch and 190 5-inch rounds. 17 secondary explosions were caused, eight fires started, one fuel dump destroyed and two water borne logistics craft sunk. At 1223 the ship rearmed from VESUVIUS. The ship destroyed 10 structures the next day, firing five missions and expending 164 8-inch and 351 5-inch rounds. Responding to a call for major caliber firepower, NEWPORT NEWS shelled enemy positions and repelled an NVA attack against VNMC front lines from Quang Tri City to the coast. Her three fire missions and 188 8-inch rounds helped the South Vietnamese lines hold, and accounted for one truck damaged and a probable 10 troops killed on the 28th. The next day saw no firing as NEWPORT NEWS rearmed from USS SURIBACHI (AE 21) at 1240. The last two days of July totalled four missions with no GDA available. 115 main battery and 161 secondary battery rounds were fired.
Proceed to August 1972