USS Paul F. Foster (DD-964)
|
|
Missing image
USSPaulFFosterDD-964.jpg The USS Paul F. Foster in rough seas. | |
| Career | 
|
|---|---|
| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | 6 February 1973 |
| Launched: | 22 February 1974 |
| Commissioned: | 21 February 1976 |
| Decommissioned: | 27 March 2003 |
| Fate: | Currently assigned to NSWC Port Hueneme as SDTS ship |
| Struck: | 6 April 2004 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 9,282 tons full load. |
| Length: | 529 feet waterline; 563 feet overall. |
| Beam: | 55 feet. |
| Draught: | 29 feet. |
| Propulsion: | 4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines; 80,000 shp (60 MW); 2 x shafts. |
| Speed: | 32.5 knots (60 km/h) |
| Range: | 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) at 20 knots; 3,300 nautical miles at 30 knots (56 km/h) |
| Complement: | 19 officers, 315 enlisted |
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft: | 2 x SH-60B Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters. |
| Radars: |
|
| Sonars: |
|
| EW: |
|
| Motto: | Honor, Valor, Service |
USS Paul F. Foster (DD-964), named for Vice Admiral Paul Frederick Foster USN (1889-1972), was a Spruance class destroyer built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula in Mississippi. She commissioned on February 21, 1976.
As the initial Spruance class destroyer assigned to the Pacific Fleet, Foster had many milestone firsts, including successfully firing a NATO Sea Sparrow missile, demonstrating the feasibility of landing H-46 helicopters, and determining the operational limits of the SH-3 helicopter.
Operating out of San Diego, California, Foster became the first Spruance class destroyer to deploy to the Western Pacific in March 1978. The ship deployed again in 1979 and 1982, serving in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific.
Foster joined Destroyer Squadron Nine and moved to its new home port of Long Beach, California, in August 1983. She became the Navy's first "all electric destroyer" after major modifications at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, which included the addition of a fourth ship's service gas turbine generator.
On August 29, 1987, Foster began its fourth Western Pacific deployment as Destroyer Squadron Nine's flagship, leading a five ship surface action group and participating in several major allied fleet exercises.
During a fifth deployment in August 1986 with the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Battle Group, Foster was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for her performance in Operation Kernal Potlatch in the North Pacific and Bering Sea.
From July 1987 through July 1988, Foster completed a regular overhaul at Northwest Marine Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. During the overhaul the ship received over 55 major ship alterations, including installation of the Mk41 Vertical Launch System for Tomahawk cruise missiles, the AN/SQQ-89 Anti-Submarine Warfare Detection System, and facilities to employ the Navy's most sophisticated submarine helicopter, the LAMPS MkIII.
DD964crest.gif
On December 8, 1990, Foster departed Long Beach on its seventh overseas deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The first ship to fire Tomahawk missiles against Iraqi targets, she was instrumental in the liberation of Kuwait and in winning the Persian Gulf War. Deploying for the eighth time on July 20, 1992, she returned to the Arabian Sea, where she operated in support of Operation Desert Storm-Southern Watch while participating in numerous bilateral exercises with Persian Gulf Nations.
During the ship's ninth deployment, Foster again served with USS Carl Vinson Battle Group and was the first ship on the scene to provide assistance to a burning ocean going tug, Glorious City, putting out the fire and saving it's crew of seven.
Upon returning from deployment on October 20, 1994, Foster entered into a regular overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard where several of the latest technological weapons, sensors and engineering systems were added. After completion of overhaul, she moved to her new home port of Everett, Washington arriving in November 1995.
During the ship's tenth deployment which began February 21, 1997, Foster was a part of the multinational force in the Persian Gulf, enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq.
Foster departed for her eleventh deployment on January 27, 1999. While serving as part of the Pacific Middle East Force, she participated in Operation Iron Siren, Eager Sentry, and Arabian Gauntlet. In addition, the ship conducted boarding's in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.
Foster departed for her twelfth deployment on January 11, 2001, where the ship once again conducted numerous boarding operations in support of the United Nations sanctions against IRAQ. Her thirteenth and final deployment began on June 18, 2002.
Foster was decommissioned on March 27, 2003. In 2004, Foster was designated to replace ex-Decatur (DDG-31) as the Navy's Self Defense Test Ship, a role she will assume in 2005. In support of this new role, she is assigned to Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division.
External Links
- Article on Foster's transition to new role as SDTS (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2003/04/mil-030402-nns03.htm)
- Naval Vessel Register entry for Paul F. Foster (http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DD964.htm)
- navsource.org: USS Paul F. Foster (http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/964.htm)
- navysite.de: USS Paul F. Foster (http://www.navysite.de/dd/dd964.htm)
| Spruance-class destroyer |
|
Spruance | Paul F. Foster | Kinkaid | Hewitt | Elliot | Arthur W. Radford | Peterson | Caron | David R. Ray | Oldendorf | John Young | Comte de Grasse | O'Brien | Merrill | Briscoe | Stump | Conolly | Moosbrugger | John Hancock | Nicholson | John Rodgers | Leftwich | Cushing | Harry W. Hill | O'Bannon | Thorn | Deyo | Ingersoll | Fife | Fletcher | Hayler |
| Kidd (Modified Spruance)-class destroyer |
| List of destroyers of the United States Navy List of destroyer classes of the United States Navy |