Merrill (DD 976) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE SHIP ' S CREST The coat of arms ofUSS MERRILL (DD-976) serves as a heraldic remembrance of the ship ' s namesake, Vice Admiral Aaron Stanton Merrill. The colors blue and gold are the tra- ditional 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 sobri- quet, THE NAVY ' 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 ' 76, cou- ples the year of MERRILL ' S christening and her hull num- ber and the nation ' s bicentennial. In addition, this expres- sion aptly summarizes characteristics which made Vice Admiral Merrill one of the Navy ' s greatest leaders ... courage, decisiveness and dedication. SHIP DESIGN CHARACTERISTI CS Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries Keel Laid 16 June 1975 Christened 1 September 1976 Commis-sioned 11 March 1978 Length 563 Feet 4 Inches Beam 55 Feet Draft 30 Feet Displacement 8,200 Tons Complement 24 Officers 327 Enlisted Speed 30-PIus Knots Aircraft Two SH-60B 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) Ship ' s Crest

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USS MERRILL (DD-976) USS MERRILL (DD-976) is the fourteenth SPRUANCE class destroyer and the eighth to join the Pacific Fleet. MERRILLI is homeported in San Diego and assigned to Destroyer Squadron SEVEN. Commissioned 11 March 1978, USS MERRILL ' completed four years as the Navy ' s designated test platform for the Tomahawk Cnaise Missile System and in April 1985 MER- RILL was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for her superior perfoiTnance. On 18 April 1988, while flagship for Commander Surface Action Group BRAVO, MERRILL delivered 5-inch gunfire against Iran ' s armed Sassan oil platform dur- ing Operation PRA ' HNG MANTIS, resulting in the neutralization of the platform. MERRILL received the Combat Actioni Ribbon, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and another Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon for her role in this operation. As a member of Joint Task Force-FIERY VIGIL in June 1991, MERRILL earned a Joint Meritorious Unit Award for assist- ing in the evacuation of over 20,000 personnel from the Philippines after volcanic eruptions devastated the majority of Subic Bay, including Clark Air Base. Shortly thereafter from July to September 1991, MERRILL engaged in suppoi ' t of mine coun- termeasures efforts in the north Arabian Gulf during Operation DESERT STORM. Operating in close proximity to the Iraq and Kuwait theater of operations, MERRILL assisted in completing the most complex and dangerous mine clearance opera- tions in the history of mine warfare. Designed and built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries in Pascagouia, Mississippi. MERRILL is a mem- ber of the first major class of surface ships in the U.S. NaN y to be powered by gas turbine engines. Four General Electric LM- 2500 engines- marine versions of those used on DC- 10 and C-5A aircraft- drive the ship at speeds in excess of 30 knots. Twin contr ollable-reversible pitch propellers provide MERRILL with a degree of maneuverability unique among warships of her size. A highly versatile multi-mission destroyer. MERRILL is capable of operating independently or in company in Amphibious or Carrier Task Forces. Her overall length is 563 feet and she displaces 9200 tons. MERRILL ' S primary missions include both Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare. MERRILL ' S .sonar, the most advanced underwater detecticm and fire control .system yet developed, is fully integrated into a digital Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS), providing the ship with faster and more accurate processing of target information. Integration of the ship ' s digital gun fire control system into NTDS provides quick reaction in the performance of the ship ' s mission areas of shore bombardment, surface warfare action, and anti- aircraft warfare. I-.S,SM.Trill(I)D-976)

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Vice Admiral Aaron Stanton Merrill USS MERRILL (DD-976) is named in honor of Vice Admiral Aaron Stanton Merrill, U.S. Navy ( 1890-1961 ), an outstanding Cruiser Destroyer and Task Force Commander during World War II. A native Mississippian, Admiral Tip Merrill achieved extraordinary success during the United States Navy ' s first offensive operations against the enemy in the South Pacific. Most notable of his naval successes was the epic Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, a brilliantly execut- ed night action in which Merrill ' s small boys and cruisers defeated a more powerful enemy naval group sent to drive the newly entrenched American land sea forces from the Solomon Islands area. His bold leadership, daring tactics, and indomitable fighting spirit during this battle and other naval actions contributed greatly to the success in the recapture of the Solomon Islands and won him the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit with two Cold Stars. ■.Ill .Mernll