Merrill (DD 976) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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WESTPAC 1995 Chronology of Events 13 April 05 - 10 May 14 - 19 May 29 May 30 May - 04 June 06 June - 12 June 13 June 11 July 17 - 23 July 24 - 26 July 29 July - 14 Aug 19 - 22 August 22 August 31 August 04 - 07 September 09 September 18 September 29 Sep - 03 Oct 03 - 08 October 09 October Underway from San Diego, CA Inport Hong Kong Inport Singapore Inchop to CTF 159 Inport Manama, Bahrain Inport Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates Underway for Maritime Interdiction Operations in Northern Arabian Gulf WESTPAC Halfway Point Inport Dubai, U.A.E. Inport Manama Bahrain Inport Dubai, U.A.E. Inport Muscat, Oman Underway for Operation VIGILANT SENTINEL Kuwaiti Tanker Rescue At Sea Inport Dubai, U.A.E. Outchop Fifth Fleet Equator Crossing Inport Pearl Harbor, HI Tiger Cruise Inport San Diego, CA! Chronology