USS McClusky (FFG-41)

USS McClusky (FFG-41) in August 2014
History
United States
Name: McClusky
Namesake: Rear Admiral C. Wade McClusky
Awarded: 27 April 1979
Builder: Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California
Laid down: 21 October 1981
Launched: 18 September 1982
Sponsored by: Mrs. Ruth Mundy McClusky
Christened: 18 September 1982
Commissioned: 10 December 1983
Decommissioned: 14 January 2015
Maiden voyage: 15 January 1986
Homeport: Naval Base San Diego
Identification:
Motto: Persistent, Courageous, Victorious
Nickname(s): Mighty Mac
Status: Being transferred to the Mexican Navy
Badge:
General characteristics
Class & type: Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
Displacement: 4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load
Length: 453 feet (138 m), overall
Beam: 45 feet (14 m)
Draught: 22 feet (6.7 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: over 29 knots (54 km/h) max speed: 31.7
Range: 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)
Complement: 15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:		 AN/SLQ-32
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 2 × SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters
Aviation facilities:

USS McClusky (FFG-41), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is a ship of the United States Navy named for Rear Admiral C. Wade McClusky (1902–1976). In the Battle of Midway, then-Lieutenant Commander McClusky led USS Enterprise's air group, which sank the Japanese carriers Kaga and Akagi. She was last a part of Destroyer Squadron 1. After 31 years of service, McClusky was decommissioned on 14 January 2015 at Naval Base San Diego.

Construction

McClusky was laid down on 21 October 1981 by the Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California; launched on 18 September 1982; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Mundy McClusky; and commissioned on 10 December 1983 in Long Beach, California, Commander Robert Burgess Lynch in command.

Service

In 1986 McClusky was part of Destroyer Squadron 23 under Captain Todd Barthold.[1] McClusky embarked on her first deployment on 15 January 1986. She was a part of Battle Group Foxtrot, headed by USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and including Truxtun, Arkansas, O'Brien, Reasoner, Lewis B. Puller, and David R. Ray. The battle group sailed directly for the Indian Ocean, with stops in Hawaii, Naval Station Subic Bay, and Singapore.

In 1988 McClusky began the year as part of Joint Task Force Middle East carrying out Operation Earnest Will missions. She participated in Exercise RIMPAC that year as part of the Orange Force.

In 1990 McClusky was part of Destroyer Squadron 13. She began the year at Mina Sulman, Bahrain, on a Middle East Force deployment. On 3 January, she was underway for a Northern Persian Gulf patrol, which included a refueling stop at anchorage in Kuwait on 10 January. Upon returning to Mina Sulman on 13 January for the final time, the mastmounted sight was removed. After a short patrol of Northern Persian Gulf, McClusky headed south towards the Straits of Hormuz, completing a successful three month assignment to the Middle East Force. On 30 January, McClusky anchored alongside Rodney M. Davisin Fujayrah for a Middle East Force turnover before meeting up with the Gary and transiting to the Western Pacific. A refueling visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka on 1 February proved to be an excellent stop, providing all hands the opportunity to purchase many souvenirs.

From 31 August to 4 September 1990, McClusky had the privilege of hosting the Soviet oiler Argun, visiting San Diego with two Soviet combatants. The arrival of the Admiral Vinogradov, Sovremenny class destroyer Boyevoy, and Argun in San Diego on 31 July 1990 was followed by a ceremony with Admiral Charles R. Larson (Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet) Mayor O'Connor, and Admiral Khvatov (ru:Хватов, Геннадий Александрович), the Commander of the Soviet Pacific Fleet, as speakers.

In 1991 McClusky shifted homeports to Yokosuka, Japan and joined Destroyer Squadron 15. She assisted in Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of civilians from the Philippines during the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

Future

McClusky will be sold to the Mexican Navy under the FMS.[2]

Important Events

References

  1. ↑ McClusky Command History 1986
  2. ↑ http://seapowermagazine.org/stories/20140703-ship-retirements.html
  3. ↑ "Text of H.R. 6649 (112th): Naval Vessels Transfer Act of 2012 (Received by the Senate version)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  4. ↑ "2013 History". USS McClusky FFG-41. USCarrier.net. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-15.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

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This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.

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