USS John Rodgers (DD-983)
_underway,_circa_the_later_1980s_or_early_1990s_(NH_106901-KN).jpg) USS John Rodgers
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | John Rodgers |
| Namesake | Three generations of the Rodgers family who served in the USN |
| Ordered | 15 January 1974 |
| Builder | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down | 12 August 1976 |
| Launched | 25 February 1978 |
| Acquired | 25 June 1979 |
| Commissioned | 14 July 1979 |
| Decommissioned | 4 September 1998 |
| Stricken | 4 September 1998 |
| Homeport | list error: <br /> list (help) Charleston (1979-1995), Mayport (1995-1998) |
| Identification |
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| Motto | Sea Eagle Triumphant |
| Fate | Broken up in Brownsville Texas 30 December 2006 |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Spruance-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 8,040 long tons (8,170 t) full load |
| Length | |
| Beam | 55 ft (17 m) |
| Draft | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Propulsion | 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 80,000 shp (60 MW) |
| Speed | 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph) |
| Range | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | 19 officers, 315 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Electronic warfare & decoys |
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| Armament |
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| Aircraft carried | 2 × Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Flight deck and enclosed hangar for up to two medium-lift helicopters |
USS John Rodgers (DD-983) was a Spruance-class destroyer and the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the three generations of the Rodgers family who served in the navy. John Rodgers was laid down on 12 August 1976 by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. The vessel was launched on 18 March 1978, sponsored by Mrs. Roy C. Smith, Jr., the great, great-granddaughter of Commodore John Rodgers, and commissioned on 14 July 1979.
Operational history
[edit]After her launch from Pascagoula, John Rodgers sailed to her home port of Charleston where she was loaded with ammunition before undergoing several days of training. Following a three-week intermediate availability period, John Rodgers held final contract trials at the beginning of November 1979 and returned to the area from 7–9 December to exercise with the aircraft carrier Saratoga (CV-60) and destroyer USS Barry (DD-933).
Middle East Deployment
[edit]On 18 November 1980, John Rodgers departed for the Mediterranean to begin her first overseas deployment, operating independently and with other members of the task group in the western and central Mediterranean. Throughout the early 1980s, John Rodgers sailed into the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans under her commanding officer, Commander Wagner. Under U.S. policy, John Rodgers sailed into the Persian Gulf in support of Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war John Rodgers crossed the equator while en route to Mombasa, Kenya, resulting in the initiation of the "Pollywogs" (those who have not crossed the equator) by the "Shellbacks" (those who have crossed the equator). During this period, John Rodgers made port calls on four continents, including Panama, Spain, Italy, France, Monaco, England, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Bahrain and Kenya.
_underway_in_the_Atlantic_Ocean_on_12_August_1988_(6442965).jpeg)
On September 16, 1983 while operating off Lebanon, John Rodgers became the very first ship to use the 5" 54 caliber Mark 45 gun in actual combat after firing on Syrian controlled portions of Lebanon in response to Syrian shelling near the residence of the U.S. ambassador and U.S. Marines stationed at the Beirut airport. On 19 September, U.S. policy shift from presence to direct support of Lebanese Army forces defending the strategically important village of Suk El Gharb in the Chouf Mountains east of Beirut. Along with Virginia, the two ships fired a total of 338 5-inch rounds. Ongoing fire support missions continued through 21 September.
During deployment in the Mediterranean Sea in 1990, John Rodgers was sitting off of the coast of Israel when Iraq invaded Kuwait. The John Rodgers immediately began operations in support of Operation Desert Shield, and performed patrols in the Mediterranean Sea throughout the conflict period. Prior to completing their deployment, the John Rodgers took up position in the Red Sea, continuing patrols.
South America Deployment
[edit]In 1993, John Rodgers departed as the flagship for Commander, South Atlantic Force during UNITAS XXXIV under Rear Admiral. (lower half) Wirt R. Fladd, USN. During these several months of her long deployment, she cooperated with the navies of various South American nations, while making a number of goodwill port calls. Additionally, she traversed the Panama Canal and crossed the Equator on the way to South America. This resulted in the initiation of the "Pollywogs" (those who have not crossed the equator) by the "Shellbacks" (those who have crossed the equator). Lastly, she traversed the inland waterway from West to East at the tip of South American before continuing the cruise up the East coast of the continent. Stops during this cruise included Caracas, Venezuela; Cartagena, Colombia; Lima, Peru; Valparaiso, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, Brazil.
Later Deployments
[edit]In 1995 she deployed as part of the NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic. Because of active hostilities among the countries formed following the breakup of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, she spent much of this deployment engaged in Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Adriatic Sea in support of Operation Sharp Guard, making calls throughout the Mediterranean coast. From January to March 1996, John Rodgers participated in joint exercises with the British Royal Navy and Royal Marines in the waters around Scotland. During this time she also made port visits to Edinburgh, Scotland; Bremerhaven, Germany; and Amsterdam, Netherlands. [1]
_underway_in_the_Atlantic_Ocean_on_10_October_1997.jpg)
On 3 October 1997 John Rodgers departed on her last deployment in company with the Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group (MARG) 98-1 centered on USS Guam (LPH-9). This MARG relieved another MARG centered on USS Kearsarge (LHD-3). As a part of this deployment, John Rodgers participated in the Bright Star 97 naval exercise hosted by the Egyptian navy and also participated in the Reliant Mermaid exercise conducted with Israel and Turkey in January 1998. John Rodgers participated in five other major exercises on this deployment. Port visits on this deployment included Spain, France, Italy, Egypt, Israel, Greece and Turkey. By the end of her final deployment, John Rodgers had made eight major deployments, including extensive operations in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and the Persian Gulf. She also took part in numerous counter drug operations in the Caribbean Sea.
At various times during her career, John Rodgers served as the flagship for COMDESRONs 14, 20, 22, 32, 36, Canadian COMDESRON ONE, COMSOLANT, COMSTANAVFORLANT, and WEAUCONMARFOR, and also served as the host ship for the Change of Command of COMSIXTHFLT in 1988 and COMSTANAVFORLANT in 1995.
Fate
[edit]John Rodgers was decommissioned and stricken on 4 September 1998; she was stored at Philadelphia, awaiting sale for scrap. By 2005 she had been sold to International Shipbreaking Limited of Brownsville, Texas although scrapping work had yet to be completed. On 29 December 2005, John Rodgers (DD-983) was spotted heading south along the east coast of south Florida under tow. She has since been broken up for scrap.
Awards
[edit]John Rogers earned the following awards:
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Coat of arms
[edit]Shield
[edit]The shield of John Rodgers symbolizes the service of three generations of the Rodgers family. The anchor represents the service of Commodore John Rodgers, who acted as president of the Board of Naval Commissioners, following the War of 1812, serving until 1837. The compass rose is symbolic of the service of his son, Rear Admiral John Rodgers, who led exploring expeditions in waters off China and through the Bering Strait in 1855. The wings on the crest refer to the service of Commander John Rodgers II who was a pioneer of naval aviation, and the great-grandson of Commodore Rodgers.
Crest
[edit]The sea eagle, a sharp-eyed, marine bird-of-prey, represents the ship's primary mission of detection and tracking, with the addition of incredibly deadly striking ability. The three arrowheads refer to the multi-mission capabilities of the destroyer, as well as the naval service of the father, son, and great-grandson for whom the ship is named.
Motto
[edit]Sea Eagle Triumphant
References
[edit]- ^ "Fleet Week, 1996 – Photos – Fleet Week through the years". NY Daily News. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
External links
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