USSFife
 USSFifeunderway on 25 June 2002
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Fife |
| Namesake | James Fife, Jr. |
| Ordered | 15 January 1975 |
| Builder | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down | 6 March 1978 |
| Launched | 1 May 1979 |
| Acquired | 5 May 1980 |
| Commissioned | 31 May 1980 |
| Decommissioned | 28 February 2003 |
| Stricken | 6 April 2004 |
| Identification |
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| Motto |
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| Fate | Sunk as target,23 August 2005 |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Spruance-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 8,040 (long) tons full load |
| Length | 529 ft (161 m) waterline; 563 ft (172 m) overall |
| Beam | 55 ft (16.8 m) |
| Draft | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Propulsion | 4 ×General Electric LM2500gas turbines,2 shafts, 80,000 shp (60 MW) |
| Speed | 32.5knots(60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph) |
| Range |
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| 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 ×SikorskySH-60 SeahawkLAMPS III helicopters. |
| Aviation facilities | Flight deckand enclosedhangarfor up to two medium-lift helicopters |
USSFife(DD-991),aSpruance-classdestroyer,was a ship of theUnited States Navynamed forAdmiralJames Fife, Jr.(1897–1975), a distinguished Submarine Force commander duringWorld War II.
Fifewas laid down on 6 March 1978 byIngalls Shipbuilding,Pascagoula, Mississippi;launchedon 1 May 1979; andcommissionedon 31 May 1980.
USSFifewas the 29th of the 30Spruance-class destroyers. Between 27 June and 11 July 2002,Fifewas the U.S. Task Group flagship for the Pacific Phase of the annual UNITAS exercise conducted with naval forces from five nations off the coast of Chile. The ship's five-month deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean for Counter-Drug Operations and the UNITAS exercise was the final deployment for the destroyer.
Last homeported in Everett, Wash., under the command of CDRFrank Ponds,Fifewas decommissioned 28 February 2003, and stricken from theNavy List6 April 2004.Fifewas sunk as a target during a live-fire exercise on 23 August 2005 byUSSRussell(DDG-59).
Etymology
[edit]USSFifewas named in honor of Admiral James Fife, Jr., a distinguished naval officer. He served in both World War I and World War II in submarines and surface combatants. He served in the battleshipIdahoand the destroyersLearyandHatfieldfrom 1923 until May 1935.
When the U.S. entered World War II, Fife was Chief of Staff of Submarine Squadron 20 in thePhilippines(part of theAsiatic FleetunderAdmiral T. C. Hart). After the squadron was dissolved into Submarines, Asiatic Fleet, he served as Chief of Staff to Admiral Hart until May 1942. About this time he andCaptain J. E. Wilkeswere instrumental in identifying several deficiencies of the submarine force, especially the problems with theMark 14 torpedo.In late 1942 he served withGeneral MacArthuras the representative of AdmiralA. S. Carpenderduring theBuna campaign.Following this he commanded the submarines of Task Force 42 (later Task Force 72) inBrisbane,Australia,where he meticulously planned and directed his submarines' missions. In 1944 Admiral Fife transferred toAdmiral King's staff inWashington, D.C.as a war planner.
Admiral Fife was awarded theNavy Distinguished Service Medalfor meritorious service as the Chief of Staff to Commander Submarines, Asiatic Fleet, theAir Medal(by the Army), and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal for action in the Pacific area. At the close of 1944 he returned to Australia as Commander, Submarines, Seventh Fleet; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Western Australia; and Commander Task Force 71. As a result, he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a third Distinguished Service Medal.
From April 1947 until 1950, he commanded the Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet. This assignment was followed by duty as Assistant Chief, and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations). His final assignment before retirement was as U.S. Naval Commander in Chief, Mediterranean, under AdmiralMountbatten,Royal Navy.
History
[edit]
1970s
[edit]On 6 March 1978 at the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries inPascagoula, Mississippithe keel was laid for USSFife,the 29thSpruance-class destroyer. Launched on 21 July 1979 and sponsored by Mrs. Nancy Fife Prior, daughter of the ship's namesake Admiral James Fife Jr., the ship was commissioned on 31 May 1980.
Designed for modern antisubmarine warfare and to replace the many retiring World War II-era ships, theSpruance-class destroyer was intended to operate as a multi-mission warship either independently or in company with amphibious or carrier task groups. Powered by gas turbine engines and armed with antisubmarine rockets (ASROC),HarpoonandSea Sparrowmissiles and two5 in (130 mm)/54guns,Fifepossessed a technical superiority with her advanced SQS-53 sonar and third generationnaval tactical data system(NTDS).
1980s
[edit]Fifewas fitted out at Pascagoula, getting underway on 6 June 1980 heading for the west coast and her assignment to thePacific Fleet.She arrived inSan Diego,California, on 18 June following stops in Cozumel, Mexico and Rodman, Panama. Shakedown system trials and crew training proceeded through the summer when the destroyer's first tasking came suddenly at the end of August. Departing San Diego on 29 August, she quickly steamed north to Alaska to conduct two weeks of surveillance on a Soviet Task Force operating in American waters. Returning to San Diego on 22 September,Fifeconducted final weapon system tests and exercises in preparation for her first overseas deployment.
Heading west from San Diego on 5 January 1982,Fifejoined several other ships and sailed fromPearl HarborviaGuamtoSubic Bay,Philippines. She conducted numerous ASW exercises with the 7th Fleet in the South China Sea before a liberty port inManila.Exercise "Team Spirit" in South Korea preceded war-at-sea evolutions with three American aircraft carriers as part of "READIEX 82" in April. Another brief stop in Subic Bay in May for upkeep was followed by liberty visits to Hong Kong and Japan before returning to San Diego on 30 June.
1983 deployment
[edit]On 20 July 1983The New York Timesreported that theFifealong with seven other vessels in theUSSRangerBattle Group left San Diego on Friday 15 July 1983 and were headed for the western Pacific when they were rerouted and ordered to steam for Central America to conduct training and flight operations in areas off the coasts ofNicaragua,El SalvadorandHondurasas part of major military exercises planned for that summer.
Besides theRanger,the battle group is composed of the cruiserHorne,the guided missile destroyerLynde McCormick,the destroyersFletcherandFife,thefrigateMarvin Shields,theoilerWichitaand the support shipCamden.
Fife'ssecond overseas deployment began with "READIEX 83-4." Departing with the USSRangerbattlegroup on 15 July for thePersian Gulf,she alternated carrier escort duties with surveillance operations in theGulf of Aden.While operating with theRangeron 17 November, the Soviet guided missile frigateRazyashchiyapproached the warships in what the US ships saw as a violation of international agreements for preventing collisions at sea.Fifesuffered only minor damage from the resulting collision withRazyashchiy.[1]In December,Fifesailed south for a port visit inMombassa,Kenya. While there, a cyclone passing over Agalega in the Mauritius Islands caused massive destruction.Fife,along with herSH-2F Seaspritehelicopter, provided aid transferring food and water ashore. The Fife crew and the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron, Light 37, Detachment 3 were awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for their service in aid to the Agalaga inhabitants. During the return trip north,Fifeintercepted the Soviet aircraft carrierNovorossiyskand performed a brief period of surveillance before rendezvousing again with theRangerbattlegroup. Relieved by theUSSMidwaybattlegroup in January, the warships turned for home, arriving inSan Diegoon 29 February 1984.
The following sixteen months were spent preparing for her next overseas deployment, with the warship's time split between local training operations, a series of overhaul periods atLong Beach(where she received new propeller blades, weapons, and electronics), and various propulsion plant inspections and pre-deployment refresher exercises. Following a Harpoon firing exercise in June 1985, the destroyer sailed for the Far East on 24 July. Following a brief stop in Subic Bay, the destroyer continued west through theStrait of Malaccato the Indian Ocean and an exercise with theRepublic of Singapore Navy.
The warship suffered its first mishap on 1 September when aCH-46D Sea Knighthelicopter (BuNo 151918) lost power on take-off, struck the NATOSea Sparrowmissile mount, leaving the stricken helicopter hanging over the ship's starboard side.
Fife'sdamage control teams quickly lashed the CH-46 in place and all 16 personnel were rescued without serious injury. The Sea Knight was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 11 (HC-11) Det. 6 aboard the combat stores shipUSSMars(AFS-1).
After pulling into Singapore to crane off the damaged helicopter, the warship sailed west toDiego Garciato receive a new Seasparrow mount. In late September,Fifesteamed in the vicinity of Socotra in the Gulf of Aden to conduct surveillance operations against the Soviet Navy, a mission carried out again in the Red Sea during October. After port calls to Mombassa, Kenya, andVictoria, Seychelles,Fifesailed for home on 13 November, arriving in San Diego on 21 December.
The fast pace of operations did not end upon her return.Fifeimmediately began a hectic series of training evolutions, department inspections, and pre-overhaul preparations. These included the exercise "Kernel Blitz" in April 1986, propulsion exams in May and June and a command inspection in August.
The destroyer then entered Southwest Marine Shipyard for an extensive overhaul, commencing 29 September. During the yard work – which was interrupted in mid-February 1987 by bomb threats made by disgruntled shipyard workers –Fifereceived numerous mission-expanding upgrades. The AN/SQ-89 sonar suite and the new LAMPS III helicopter system extendedFife'sASW capabilities. The Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) turnedFifeinto aTomahawk cruise missilestrike platform. Two Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) point defense weapons upgraded her self-defenses, and engineering plant and firefighting system modifications improved her overall war fighting capabilities. Following almost thirteen months of work, the destroyer carried out sea trials in November before returning to San Diego on 14 December.
In 1988, as part of a forward deployment strategy,Fifechanged homeports from San Diego toYokosuka,Japan, arriving there on 31 August. During the first few months as the crew settled into their new homeFifemade several short excursions, including an ASW operation in October and port visits to Subic Bay and Hong Kong in November and December 1988.
After a period in dry dock in Yokosuka to repair a crack in her sonar dome,Fifeput to sea in March 1989 for surveillance operations against Soviet warships operating out ofVladivostok.On 26 June, while sailing in theSouth China Sea,Fifespotted a distressed boat of Vietnamese refugees. Fifty-one refugees were rescued from the sinking vessel and provided with medical assistance and other care before being delivered to a United Nations refugee organization in Thailand a week later. The warship conducted a second cruise in the region in July, during which time she rescued another boat of refugees – this time 151 Vietnamese – before conducting exercises with Thai and Australian Navy ships.
Continuing west,Fifesailed to the Persian Gulf and arrived there on 19 September. The warship steamed back east in October and, after a port visit toFremantle,Australia, she sailed north for Yokosuka. An attempted coup in the Philippines divertedFifein early December, however, and she stood by for possible contingency operations until the crisis abated.Fifereturned to Yokosuka on 11 December.
1990s
[edit]Fifebegan preparations for another Persian Gulf deployment afterIraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990.In addition to pre-deployment workups,Fifesuccessfully passed her Cruise Missile Tactical Qualifications, On 2 October,Fifesailed in company with the USSMidwayBattle Group Alpha to the Persian Gulf, arriving there on 2 November. DuringOperation Desert Shield,Fifehelped enforce trade sanctions against Iraq as part of the Maritime Interception Force.
In mid-January 1991,Fifemoved to thePersian Gulfin preparation for launching Tomahawks as the U.N. deadline for an Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait approached. On 17 January,Fifelaunched all 61 missiles against Iraq duringOperation Desert Storm;After the last strike was carried out on 31 January, she rendezvoused with theUSSTripoliand Amphibious Task Group 151.11, spending the next few weeks participating in minesweeping and feint operations in the northern Gulf off Kuwait.Fifeprovided some assistance toTripoliandUSSPrincetonafter they suffered mine hits in February. Departing the Persian Gulf on 9 March, the destroyer stopped at Pattaya Beach, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Subic Bay, before returning to Yokosuka on 17 April.
Departing Japan again on 15 April 1992,Fifemade liberty stops at Bali, Indonesia, Singapore, and Phukett, before arriving at Muscat, Oman, on 19 May. After transiting the Straits of Hormuz on 24 May, the warship came under control of the newly established Central Command in the Persian Gulf and helped enforce United Nations sanctions against Iraq. In company with theIndependencebattle group,Fifesailed for home on 17 September and, following stops at Pattaya Beach and Hong Kong, arrived in Yokosuka on 13 October.
In October,Fifeentered Dry Dock 5 at Yokosuka for regular system maintenance and repair.
Work was complete in February 1994. After successful sea trials in early April,Fifegot underway on 13 April for an extended post-overhaul cruise into the southern Pacific waters. In May, the destroyer sailed on to Thailand, where she participated in Exercise "Cobra Gold" before returning to Yokosuka on 1 June.
On 4 July 1995 the destroyer USSFifeconducted a five-day port visit to Vladivostok, Russia, during which it celebrate both America's Independence Day and the city's 135th anniversary.
Underway again on 22 August 1995,Fifetransited the Straits of Malacca on 30 August and, after catching up to theIndependenceBattle Group, arrived in Bahrain on 9 September. In a reprise of her last visit,Fifeassumed the duties of Ready Strike Platform in the northern Persian Gulf and carried out Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) as required. As part of the latter duties,Fife'sVisit, Boarding, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) team uncovered thousands of contraband automobile tires and batteries hidden in the Indian-flagged trampAl Shakeel.This was the largest seizure in months and caused a shift in focus toward smaller ships and dhows previously overlooked. Although theIndependenceBG departed the area in October,Fiferemained on station owing to a shortage of strike platforms in the region. Departing the region on 13 November,Fifesteamed for home and arrived in Yokosuka on 7 December, following stops at Phukett and Singapore.
On 6 June, during RIMPAC '96,Fifehelped protectIndependenceduring the numerous war-at-sea exercises and attacks by "enemy" surface action groups and submarines. At one point, the Japanese warshipYuugiriaccidentally shot down anA-6 IntruderfromIndependenceduring a live-fire CIWS exercise.Fifeclosed the area to help rescue both aviators and recover wreckage for analysis. The ship's crew ended the operation with a port visit in Pearl Harbor, a rare stateside visit for forward deployed naval forces.
During a Bible Study session with crewmembers on 15 December 1996, Captain Tamayo fell into a coma and died while being transported to the Yokosuka Naval Hospital emergency room via the Fife's HSL-51 Detachment TWO helicopter. Hospital Corpsman Chief (HMC) David Taylor and Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Second Class (AW2) Sean Kugler performed CPR on Captain Tamayo both prior to and for the entirety of the 45-minute flight. Unfortunately, Captain Tamayo succumbed to what was later reported to be a brain aneurysm.
Fifereturned to Japan in July and departed Japan on 24 February 1997 for her next deployment, this time sailing south for exercises off Australia. After a stop in Guam to refuel, the ship arrived in the Coral Sea on 14 March. There, she joined Australian and other US ships for Exercise "Tandem Thrust '97" – a joint surface warfare evolution.Fifethen visited Hobart, Melbourne, and Esperance during a half-circumnavigation of Australia before stopping in Bali for three days of liberty. She moved on to Jakarta, Indonesia, in late April before steaming to Thailand for Exercise "Cobra Gold '97." After a final ASW exercise with the Japanese Navy in June, the warship moored at Yokosuka on 16 July.
Following the ASW Exercise "Sharem 108-2" off Japan in late January 1998,Fifesailed south to Darwin, Australia. Arriving there on 18 February, she participated in the anniversary ceremony of the bombing of Darwin during World War II. After returning home in March,Fife'screw then loaded Tomahawk missiles for transit to Hawaii for maintenance. Her crew also prepared for a shift of homeport from Yokosuka to Everett, Washington. Departing Japan on 9 April, the warship stopped at Pearl Harbor to swap out missiles before steaming to Everett and mooring there on 5 May. After settling into her new homeport, the warship made preparations for her next deployment.
Embarking Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 49 (HSL 49) with anSH-60 Seahawkhelicopter and a Coast Guardboarding team,Fifesteamed south to the coast of Mexico on 5 October. There, she tracked suspect vessels and conducted boardings in support of counter-narcotic operations. The warship also coordinated patrols byP-3C OrionandC-130 Herculesaircraft, which helped Mexican counter-narcotic aircraft to force down a suspect aircraft and capture half a ton of cocaine.Fifereturned to Everett on 18 December.
2000s
[edit]After her return,Fifemoved to Bremerton, Washington for restricted availability on 13 October, a period that would last until 10 January 2000. Two weeks later she sailed south to San Diego for pre-deployment training operations. Those were interrupted by search-and-rescue efforts following the crash ofAlaska Airlines Flight 261on 31 January 2000. Departing Everett on 31 March,Fifesailed west to the Persian Gulf via Pearl Harbor and Townsville and Darwin, Australia. She transited theStrait of Hormuzon 19 May and began sanction enforcement operations three days later. The warship departed the Gulf on 2 August and, after stops in Phukett, Singapore, and Hong Kong, she returned once again to Everett on 29 September.
Fifespent the remainder of the year preparing for her upcoming shipyard availability and started 2001 in Todd Shipyard Seattle, where, among other work, she received an upgrade to the Advanced Tomahawk Weapon Control System. She completed her training cycle on 23 October, right after a change of command whenFife'sfinal commanding officer, CommanderFernandez L. Pondswas instated.Fifethen headed south on a six-week surge to South America, where she seized 600 pounds of cocaine before returning to homeport on 14 December.
After splitting the winter between Everett and San Diego,Fifegeared up for her final deployment. On 20 May 2002,Fifedeparted from Everett and headed south for six months off the coast of Central and South America. Taking along HSL 47 Detachment 3, as well as a Coast Guardlaw enforcement detachment (LEDET),Fifebegan the deployment with a few weeks of counter-narcotics operations, during which time she located a vessel loaded with illegal migrants from Ecuador. The vessel was intercepted and escorted to Guatemala where it was turned over to authorities. In July,Fifeembarked Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14, and served as the US Flagship in the Chilean-sponsored UNITAS 43-02 Pacific Phase exercises. A month of training and exercises with five different Central and South American navies culminated in a full-scale three-day war-at-sea exercise.
Upon the conclusion of the UNITAS exercises,Fifeparticipated with the submarine forces of Peru in theSilent Force Exercise (SIFOREX).Through sixteen ASW exercises,Fifedemonstrated her ASW prowess, and was not "sunk" by the enemy forces.
Decommissioning and disposal
[edit]
For the last four months ofFife'sfinal deployment she continued with her counter-narcotic mission. Nine suspected drug smugglers were detained, and over two tons of cocaine were recovered. All told,Fifeinterdicted over $900 million worth, as well as making the largest bust of illegal shark fin on record – $6.5 million.
Fifereturned to Everett on 20 November making preparations for decommissioning. On 28 February 2003,Fifewas decommissioned after 22 years of dedicated service to her country.
Fifewas stricken from theNavy liston 6 April 2004, and sunk as a target in thePacific OceanoffWashingtonon 23 August 2005[2]by several ships of theUnited States Third Fleetincluding theguided-missile destroyerUSSPreble(DDG-88)and theguided-missile frigateUSSCurts(FFG-38).[citation needed]
Crest
[edit]The official crest of USSFifeis highly symbolic of the ship's namesake, Admiral James Fife, Jr. Admiral Fife was an especially distinguished submariner. The dolphins, old maritime symbols, represent his career that included service in both Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during World Wars I and II. The dolphins are adapted from the submarine service badges and signify Admiral Fife's service.
The dolphins also symbolize USSFife'smission of anti-submarine warfare. The red torpedo alludes to Admiral Fife's submarine command during World War II; the red color denotes his active service during war. The three gold discs on the torpedo represent the three Distinguished Service Medals awarded to Admiral Fife for his exceptional service during the war. The Latin quote reads "Successm Merere Conemur" which translates to "Endeavor to Deserve Success".
The shield
[edit]The gold and dark blue of the shield are colors associated with the Navy and symbolize the sea and excellence. The shield is divided into three sections to represent the air, surface, and subsurface environments of naval warfare. The bursting bomb extends into all areas of the shield and signifies the versatility and striking power of USSFife.
The motto
[edit]The ship's motto, "SUCCESSUM MERERE CONEMUR", translates as "ENDEAVOR TO DESERVE SUCCESS".
Gallery
[edit]-
USSFifeandUSS ConstellationoffCaliforniain 1981 -
USSFifeon 1 August 1981 -
USSFifeon 3 July 2002 -
USSFifefires aRIM-7 Sea Sparrowon 5 July 2002
References
[edit]- ^Sweetman, Jack (1991).American Naval History: An Illustrated Chronology of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-present.Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. p. 275.ISBN978-1-55750-785-3.
- ^navsource.org USS FIFE (DD-991)
External links
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