Fife (DD 991) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS FIFE (DD 991) Ship ' s Description FIFE, the 29th SPRUANCE Class destroyer built by Ingall ' s Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, proudly joined the Pacific Fleet after commissioning in 1980. Designed with the future in mind and the capacity for growth, the ship was completely overhauled in 1987 to add some of the most advanced weapons in the Navy ' s arsenal. USS FIFE is powered by four LM-2500 gas turbine engines, which provide both the speed and response necessary to operate with the fastest Carrier or Battleship Task Group, or operate alone and quietly in search of submarines. Truly a versatile, multi-mission combatant, F IFE ' S pri- mary missions are to operate offensively in an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) role, and Anti- Surface Warfare (ASUW) role, and present a strike capability on land. To support her primary ASW mission, FIFE employs a state of the art ASW combat system - the AN SQQ-89 suite. This system effectively integrates the AN SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar, the AN SQS-53B Hull Mounted Sonar, the AN SQQ-28 Sonar Signal Processing System, and the Light Airborne Multipurpose System (LAMPS Mark III) to provide accurate submarine target classification and location. The ASUW and shore strike capability roles are supported by the Tomahawk Weapon Systems (TWS) and the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS). FIFE also has secondary mis- sions such as Shore Bombardment (NGFS), Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), escort duties, and Search and Rescue (SAR). In support of these secondary missions, FIFE uses the Mark 86 Gun Fire Control System, the NATO Seasparrow Missile System (NSSMS), various long and short range search radars, and sophisticated satellite communications equipment. All of these systems and sensors are fed into the nerve center of the ship, the Combat Informa- tion Center (CIC), where the complex tasks of target identification, tracking, and weapons employment are integrated through computer, control consoles, and the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS). From CIC the Commanding Officer or Tactical Action Officer (TAO) can direct the employment of FIFE ' S armament, which in includes: two Mark 45 5 guns; two triple barrel Mark 32 Torpedo tubes; the SH-60B Lamps Mark II helicopter, capable of carrying two torpe- does; the 8-cell Mark 57 NSSMS missile launcher, two Mark 51 Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS) 20mm rapid fire cannons; and the Harpoon and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The Mark 41 VLS, located on the forcastle, is capable of firing all variants of the Tomahawk missile and the verti- cal launch (ASROC) (VLA). VLS has the capacity to hold 61 missiles. Crew comfort and habitability are also a major consideration of FIFE modern design. Berthing compartments are spacious and the ship is equipped with a crew ' s library, lounge, weightroom, ship ' s store, and SITE TV system that allows use of cameras and videotape for training and en- tertainment. The highly automated weapons and engineering systems allow FIFE, the same size as a World War II Light Cruiser, to be manned by a relatively small crew of 20 Officers, 26 Chief Petty Officers, and 300 enlisted personnel. vU V

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,tA COMMANDER LOUIS W. BAUER Commander Louis W. Bauer was born in Norfolk, Virginia on 8 April 1946. He attended San Diego State University, graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. Upon commissioning, he was assigned to the USS PYRO (AE-24) where he served as First Division and Weapons Officer. Upon detaching from PYRO, he was assigned as Executive Officer aboard USS GEN- ESEE (AOG-8). Following graduation from the U.S. Naval Destroyer School in May 1973, Com- mander Bauer was assigned as Chief Engineer aboard USS PATTERSON (FF- 1061). Subsequent sea tours include USS HAWKINS (DD-873) as Weapons Offi- cer, USS SEATTLE (AOE-3) as Operations Officer and Navigator, USS BELKNAP (CG-26) as Chief Engineer, and USS CARON (DD-970) as Executive Officer. CDR Bauer ' s shore assignments have included Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force, where he served as an Operational Test Director for Satellite Communications Systems; Director of the Engineering Specialty Training Department at Surface Warfare Officers School; and as a student in the College of Naval Warfare at the Naval War College. While attending the Naval War College, Commander Bauer received a Master of Science Degree in Management from Salve Regina College. In addition to the various service medals, Commander Bauer has been awarded the Meritorious Ser- vice Medal, the Navy Commenda- tion Medal on two occasions, and Meritorious Unit Citation.