Hostile fire on the 1st included two incidents totaling 14 rounds. One shell passed over the top of Turret Three, parting an antenna guy wire, shattering the insulator at the base of the antenna and bending the antenna shaft. NEWPORT NEWS fired for missions totaling five 8-inch and 118 5-inch rounds. Four secondary explosions were caused, one structure was destroyed and one damaged. The next day five missions were fired, expending 39 8-inch and 231 5-inch rounds. One mortar emplacement was destroyed, and two of the enemy were killed. Two rounds of hostile fire were received. COMDESRON FIFTEEN visited the ship in the morning, and departed by helo at 1133. The third saw nine missions on the slate, as NEWPORT NEWS poured out 175 8-inch and 202 5-inch rounds. No GDA was observed. The ship remained on station to fire five missions and expend 270 8-inch and 299 5-inch rounds the next day. Again no GDA was available. The fifth began with a rearming from SURIBACHI at 0811. The weather worsened through the day to curtail operations.
NEWPORT NEWS joined TG 75.9 on November the 6th in evasion maneuvers to avoid a typhoon. Prior to departure the ship vertrepped ammunition with the USS FLINT (AE 32) at 1345 and refueled from USS PASSUMPSIC (AO 107) at 1620. Storm evasion with TG 75.9 continued through the next day. 8 November saw the storm subside enough for NEWPORT NEWS to return to her fire station, and during two missions she fired 172 8-inch and 27 5-inch rounds. The following day action stepped up as the ship was called on to fire seven missions and 287 8-inch and 192 5-inch rounds. Firing was productive with two secondary explosions, three fires and one bunker and one tank destroyed. COMCRUDESFORSEVENTHFLT, RADM Kern arrived onboard at 1427 and departed at 1517. On the tenth NEWPORT NEWS fired four missions in the morning prior to detaching and beginning the transit to Subic Bay, and eventual routing to CONUS. Forty-seven 8-inch and 122 5-inch rounds were fired before the ship secured from the gunline and began the transit at 1247.
While entering the harbor at Subic Bay on the 12th, a message from CINPACFLT ordered NEWPORT NEWS to return to the gunline for an indefinite period. The ship moored starboard side to Leyte Wharf, where provisions, ammunition and fuel were taken on for the upcoming gunline period. The next day final preparations were made in the morning, and NEWPORT NEWS got underway for the coast of South Viet Nam at 1501. In the hours of the evening of the 14th NEWPORT NEWS arrived in MRI and reported to CTG 75.9, to fire 160 8-inch rounds in support of Operations SONG THAN 9 and BAI DANG 72. On the 15th the ship arrived at holding station Black at 0022. Hostile fire totaling 25 rounds was noted at 600, 2000 and 3000 yards, but none hit the ship. NEWPORT NEWS fired 150 8-inch and 252 5-inch rounds. The following day supporting the VNMC's 258 Brigade and the South Vietnamese Airborne's 1st Brigade NEWPORT NEWS fired seven missions totaling 108 8-inch and 481 5-inch rounds. Targets were enemy troops, artillery and trucks. No GDA was observed. The morning hours of the 17th began with a highlining detail with the USS SCHOFIELD (DEG 3) at 0803. After returning to station the ship fired six missions in support of VNMC units north of Quang Tri City. Firing 440 5-inch and four 8- inch rounds the ship was responsible for 13 KIA and the destruction of a m gun emplacement. Fire continued the next day at enemy troops and artillery with two missions totaling nine 8-inch and 510 5-inch rounds. No GDA was observed. On the 19th eleven missions were on the docket for NEWPORT NEWS during the day, her fire totaling 381 8-inch and 232 5-inch rounds. Two bunkers were destroyed, one mortar and one gun were silenced by the shelling. Supporting Airborne and VNMC units NEWPORT NEWS fired nine highly successful missions through the 20th, pouring out 405 8-inch and 108 5-inchshells. The ship caused one secondary explosion, damaged two trench lines, silenced four gun batteries, destroyed three bunkers and started three fires. At 1843 the ship vertrepped with USS FLINT (AE 32) to bring aboard ammunition and supplies.
Fire support continued as NEWPORT NEWS fired 13 missions and expended 272 8-inch and 479 5-inch rounds. Damage wrought included 12 killed in action, two mortars silenced, two secondary explosions and one fire caused, one bunker damaged, one gun silenced and artillery fire suppressed. At 0915 the following day NEWPORT NEWS vertrepped to rearm, and then returned to support units of the VNMC and Airborne. Firing five missions the ship expended 34 8-inch and 716 5-inch rounds, causing one fire. The next day nearly 800 rounds saw one mortar and a gun silenced, two secondary fires, two mortars and one structure destroyed, three structures and one bunker damaged and a 130mm battery silenced. The ship fired 96 8-inch and 703 5-inch rounds during 14 missions. Refueling was necessary the following morning as the ship joined USS SACRAMENTO for that purpose at 0813. Rearming was next, with the constant gunline partner, USS VESUVIUS at 1052. Three missions were fired during the day, totaling 111 8-inch and 280 5-inch shells. On 25NOV nine missions and 36 8-inch and 935 5-inch rounds later four bunkers were destroyed, a mortar silenced and an enemy concentration dispersed. The ship rearmed for the second consecutive day, this time with the USS NITRO at 1538. Vertical rearmament took place the next day with the USS SANTA BARBARA at 0724. Firing four missions and 302 5-inch rounds the ship provided fire support for the 147th and 258th Brigades of the VNMC. No GDA was observed. November 27 marked the firing of the 50,000th round as the high mark was exceeded at 1010. This marked the second time in three Viet Nam deployments NEWPORT NEWS had reached this figure for rounds fired. Firing a total of eight missions and 238 8-inch and 634 5-inch rounds the ship caused five secondary explosions, one secondary fire, destroyed four bunkers, two trucks, one trench, damaged one bunker and 350 yards of trenches and suppressed mortar fire. At 1513 the ship vertrepped and highlined with the USS NIAGARA.
At 0500 on the 28th of November the NEWPORT NEWS departed the gunline enroute to Subic Bay. She moored port side to Rivera Wharf, Berths 11 & 13 at 1915 the next day and commenced routine maintenance for a two day period.
Proceed to December 1972