USS Elliot (DD-967)
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| Missing image USSElliotDD-967.jpg USS Elliot at sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. | |
| Career | Missing image USN-Jack.png USN Jack |
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| Ordered: | 1 January 1971 |
| Laid down: | 15 October 1973 |
| Launched: | 19 December 1974 |
| Commissioned: | 22 January 1977 |
| Decommissioned: | 2 December 2003 |
| Struck: | 6 April 2004 |
| Fate: | To be disposed of in support of fleet training exercise |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 8,040 tons full load |
| Length: | 563 ft overall (171.6 m), 529 ft waterline (161.2 m) |
| Beam: | 55 feet (16.8 m) |
| Draft: | 29 feet (8.8 m) |
| Propulsion: | 4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines; 80,000 shp (60 MW); 2 × shafts. |
| Speed: | 32.5 knots (60 km/h) |
| Range: | 6,000 nm (11,000 km) @ 20 kt 3,300 nautical miles at 30 knots |
| Complement: | 19 officers, 315 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Aircraft: | 2 × SH-60B Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters. |
| Radars: |
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| Sonars: |
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| EW: |
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| Motto: | Courage, Honor, Integrity |
| Missing image DD967crest.gif Ship's crest | |
USS Elliot (DD-967) was a Spruance-class destroyer in the United States Navy. Built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi, the ship was named for Lieutenant Commander Arthur Elliot, USN (1933–1968), who as commanding officer of Patrol Boat River Squadron 57, was killed in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 29 December 1968.
| Contents |
1977 – 1981
Elliot got underway on 24 January 1977 for her maiden voyage, transiting from Pascagoula, Mississippi, to San Diego, California, via the Panama Canal. She was assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet as a unit of Destroyer Squadron 9 (DesRon 9), under the administrative control of Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Five and Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Pacific. After arrival, Elliot conducted five weeks of shakedown training and participated in a combat exercise. Following these evolutions, she returned to her builders for a post shakedown yard availability.
After leaving the yard, Elliot sailed to Rockland, Maine arriving on 25 August. Rockland was the hometown of the sailor for whom the ship was named. During a four day stay, the ship hosted several thousand guests and embarked 650 guests for a six hour guest cruise. On 24 September Elliot reported to Long Beach Naval Shipyard for a six month restricted yard availability during which her NATO Sea Sparrow and Harpoon missile systems were installed.
On 1 August 1978 Elliot shifted from the operational command of Destroyer Squadron Nine to Destroyer Squadron 31 (DesRon 31). Elliot departed for her first deployment, a seven month Western Pacific tour, on 21 February 1979 as flagship of DesRon 31 in company with the aircraft carrier Ranger (CVA-61). On 31 March, Elliot departed Subic Bay, Philippines with Ranger, for operations in the Indian Ocean. Less than a week later, Elliot was transitting the Strait of Malacca in lead of Ranger when the carrier was involved in a collision with the oil tanker M/V Fortune resulting in the carrier having to return to Subic Bay for repairs. Elliot arrived in Diego Garcia on 12 April. Elliot then joined a battle group centered around Midway (CV-41) and participated in operations in the Gulf of Aden to maintain a U.S. military presence in the area. Elliot returned to Subic Bay on 15 June. Elliot was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal for Indian Ocean contingency operations. Elliot arrived back at her homeport from her first deployment on 9 September 1979. Also notable on this deployment was Elliot tailing Soviet carrier Minsk for five days of observation of operations.
Elliot began her second deployment in 1980. On 23 January 1981, Elliot suffered a main bearing casualty resulting in one of her gas turbine engines having to be replaced. This replacement was completed at Subic Bay in 2 days. On 21 April Elliot encountered the first of several refugee boats. Over the next eight days Elliot picked up 158 refugees for which the crew was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal. Port visits on this deployment included stops in Hawaii, Guam, Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippines, Japan, and Singapore. She returned from this deployment on 23 May.
1981 – 1985
On 1 June 1981 Elliot was transferred to Destroyer Squadron 21. Elliot reported to Todd Pacific Shipyard in Seattle, Washington on 17 August for the first private sector overhaul ever conducted of a Spruance-class destroyer. Among other refurbishments and installations during this overhaul Elliot received a SLQ-32(V)2 electronic warfare system. Elliot completed overhaul on 30 April 1982. She returned to her homeport of NS San Diego on 21 May. On 1 July Elliot was reassigned from DesRon 21 to DesRon 17.
Elliot departed San Diego, California on 13 April 1983 for the third deployment of her career. Port visits on this deployment included stops in Hawaii, Philippines, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Guam and Hong Kong. On 31 July, a small boat was spotted by the forward lookout. A total of 68 Vietnamese refugees were subsequently rescued and were turned over to state officials in Subic Bay. Elliot was again awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for her rescue operation. During August, Elliot endured being at sea through the combined forces of two typhoons, though no significant damage resulted. On 1 September, Elliot departed Sasebo, Japan on four hours notice, to respond to the downing of KAL 007. Elliot steamed at 32 knots (60 km/h) for a thousand miles (1,900 km) and arrived first on station. She remained on scene until 14 September. Elliot returned from her third deployment on 18 November 1983.
On 27 January 1984, Elliot conducted a safe weapons offload at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. Shortly after departing this facility, Elliot struck a subsurface obstruction in the Seal Beach channel, causing some limited damage to the underwater hull and the starboard propeller. On 2 February, Elliot commenced a planned three month selected repair availability (SRA) period in San Diego. On 30 April, Elliot proceeded to the Todd Shipyard facilities in San Pedro, California for repairs to her starboard propeller and sonar dome. In May, Elliot shifted operational command to Destroyer Squadron 5. In October, Elliot participated in Fleet Week '84 festivities with 18 other ships in San Francisco, California. Elliot hosted more than 10,000 visitors during this event.
1985 – 2003
On 10 July 1985, Elliot departed on her fourth deployment as part of the New Jersey battle group. Port visits on this deployment included stops in Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Brunei, and Hong Kong. In mid-September Elliot was engaged in an exercise with Republic of Korea ships. During the exercise, Elliot rendered on-scene assistance to the Darter (SS-576) which was disabled during a collision with the merchant ship Kansas Getty. On 1 December Elliot departed Subic Bay in company with the Kitty Hawk battle group for transit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii arriving on 12 December. Elliot returned to her San Diego homeport on 21 December, ending her fourth deployment.
In May of 1986 Elliot began a two month selected repair availability which included installation of flight deck modifications necessary to support LAMPS Mk III helicopter operations. On 11 October Elliot arrived at San Francisco to participate in Fleet Week '87 festivities.
In January of 1987, Elliot departed on her fifth deployment. Highlights off this deployment included operations in the Bering Strait.
Elliot repoted to Southwest Marine Shipyard, San Diego in May of 1992 for a yard period where she remained until August. On 16 November Elliot departed San Diego for a five week counter narcotics cruise. This cruise included a port stop in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Elliot returned from this cruise on 21 December.
In June of 1993, Elliot arrived in Portland, Oregon for the Portland Rose Festival. On 9 July Elliot departed San Diego for her next deployment. Port visits on this deployment included Hawaii, Guam, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Diego Garcia, Australia, and Fiji. By late August, Elliot was operating off the coast of Iran. Elliot continued operating in this region into November, serving as anti-air warfare commander and Persian Gulf force over-the-horizon track coordinator for portions of this time period. She also frequently conducted contingency strike operations exercises. During these operations, Elliot participated in boardings of merchant vessels in support of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
- [1993-2003]
USS Elliot operated out of San Diego, California until she was decommissioned on December 2, 2003.
External Links
- nvr.navy.mil: USS Elliot (http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DD967.htm)
- navsource.org: USS Elliot (http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/967.htm)
- united-states-navy.com: USS Elliot (http://united-states-navy.com/dd/dd967.htm)
- Elliot decommissions (http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=10886) article from Navy News
- unofficial USS Elliot website (http://www.usselliot.org)