Merrill (DD 976) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 6 text:

USS MERRILL DD-976 VSS MERRILL (DD-976) is a Spruance Class Destroyer homeported in San Diego. Calit ' ornia. She was designed nnd huili by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries, in Puscagoula. Mississippi. MERRILL is a member of the first major class of sur- face ships in the U.S. Navy to be powered by Gas Turbine Engines. Four General Electric LM-25()0 engines. Marine versions of those used on DC- 10 and C5A aircraft, drive the ship at speeds in excess of 30 knots. Twin controllable-reversible pitch propellers provide MERRILL with a degree of maneuverability unique among warships of her size. A highly versatile, tnulti-mission destroyer. MERRILL is capable of operating independently or in company with carrier task forces or a battleship battle group. MERRILL ' S primal y missions are to operate offensively in anti-surface and anti-submarine war- fare battery, while over the side torpedoes and an Anti-Submarine Rocket Launcher (ASROC) arm the ship against submarine threats. MERRILL ' S sonar, the world ' s most advanced underwater detection system, and the fact that the Spruance class was designed to i)perate with a minimum of noise, make the ship one of the world ' s most formidable ASW platforms. In addition, the Navy Tactical Data System provides the capability of rapid, accurate processing of tactical information. NATO Sea Sparrow Point Defense missil e system protects the ship against airborne threats. MERRILL was designated the Toma- hawk Cruise Missile test platform for the Chief of Naval Operations priority one project J251. and spent five years dedicated to the program. The ship was the first surface ship to fire a Tomahawk and the first to become fully certified to employ all Tomahawk vari- ants. MERRILL has complete facilities for embarkation of Light Airborn Multi-Purpose (LAMPS) helicopter. Space, weight, and electrical power reservations have been allocated in the design of the ship to provide for the addition of future weapons and enable MERRILL to keep abreast of new technological developments. Crew comfort and hahitability are an integral part of MERRILL ' s design. Berthing compartments are spacious and the ship is equipped with amenities not Lisually found aboard destroyers, including a gymnasium and photography lab. Automated vve;) i() is ;i;ic engineering systems permit operation of a ship the si e of a World Wa r II light cruiser by a crew of only 24 Officers. 27 Chief Petty Officers, and M)() enlisted men. MERRILL is truly one of the world ' s most powerful destroyers, possessing advanced propu s o i and fullv integrated combat wstems. USS Morrill DD-y76

Page 5 text:

USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 USS Long Beach CGN-9 USS Lake Champlain CG-57 USS Merrill DD-976 USS Roanolie AOR ' 7 USS Ingraham FFG-61 USS Gary FFG-51 BATFLEGROUP FOXTROT ' i '

Page 7 text:

THE SHIP ' S CREST The coat of arms of USS MERRILL (DD-976) serves as a heraldic remembrance of the ship ' s namesalie. Vice Admiral Aaron Stanton Merrill. The colors blue and gold are the tradi- tional colors of the United States Navy and the red. white and blue, our national colors, allude to the ship ' s motto. SPIRIT OF ' 76. The waves symbolize his expertise in surface seamanship and demonstrated knowledge of warfare tactics. The anchor represents loyalty and Naval Leadership, together with the crescent moon, an emblem of the night, refers to the sobriquet. THE NA VY ' S NIGHTFIGHTER. The three stars refer to Vice Admiral Merrill ' s highest rank achieved. The arrow is a symbol of leadership and material readiness. The ship ' s motto. SPIRIT OF ' 16. coupled with the year of MERRILL ' s christening and her hull number and the nation ' s bicentennial. In addition, this expression aptly summarizes characteristics which made Vice Admiral Merrill one of the Navy ' s greatest leaders ... courage, decisiveness and dedication. I SHIP DESIGN CHARA CTERISTICS Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries Keel Laid 16 June 1975 Christened September 1976 Commissioned II March 1978 Length 563 Feet 4 Inches Beam 55 Feet Draft 30 Feet Di. ' iplacement 8.200 Tons Complement 24 Officers 327 Enlisted Speed 30 Plus Knots Aircraft One SH-3 or Two SH-2 Helicopters Propulsion Four General Electric LM-2500 Marine Gas Turbine Engines (Total - 80.000 Shaft Horsepower) Armament Two 5 inch 54 Caliber Gun Mounts MK 112 ASROC Launcher Two MK 32 Torpedo Tubes NATO Seasparrow Harpoon Close In Weapons System (CIWS) Tomahawk Ship ' s CresI