Moosebrugger (DD 980) - Naval Cruise Book

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The official crest of USS MOOSBRUGGER (DD-980) symbolizes the dedication and courage displayed by her namesake. Admiral Moosbrugger during World War II. The Trident, an attribute of Neptune, God of the seas, represents the awesome strength and dominance of the modern destroyer. It also resembles the letter M , an allusion to the initial letter of MOOSBRUGGER, the ship ' s namesake. Through the heraldic fountain for water, the grappling iron, (a device used for close range early naval encounters) and the torpedo, the crest commemorates the Vella Gulf incident in the South Pacific during World War II. The then Commander MOOSBRUG- GER led his ships into exceedingly close range against Japanese Naval Forces, took the enemy by surprise and delivered a devastating torpedo attack, thereby annihilating the hostile force. For this action, he was awarded the Navy Cross. The gold laurel wreath is symbolic of V ' ice Admiral Frederick Moosbrugger ' s long and distinguished career.

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SHIP ' S HISTORY USS MOOSBRUGGER was commissioned December 16, 1978, as the eighteenth in a series of 31 Spruance class destroyers. The ship is named for the late Vice Admiral Frederick Moosbrugger, a World War II Navy destroyer commander who served in the Pacific campaign and rose to flag rank following the war. Designed and built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. MOOSBRUGGER is a member of the first major class of surface ships in the U.S. Navy to be powered by gas turbine engines. Four General Electric LM-2.500 engines, marine versions of those used on DC-10 and C-5A aircraft, drive the ship at speeds in excess of 30 knots. Twin controllable-reversible pitch propellers provide MOOSBRUGGER with a degree of maneuver- ability unique among warships of her size. A highly versatile multi-mission destroyer, MOOSBRUGGER is capable of operating indepen- dently or in company with amphibious or aircraft carrier task forces. Her overall length is 564 feet and she displaces 8200 tons. MOOSBRUGGER ' s primary mission is to operate offensively in an anti-submarine warfare role. MOOSBRUGGER ' s sonar is the most advanced underwater detection and fire control system yet developed. Integration of the ship ' s digital gunfire control system into the Navy Tactical Data System provides quick reaction in the performance of the ship ' s other mission areas of surface w-arfare actions and anti-aircraft warfare. The ship ' s weapons include two MK 45 lightweight 5 inch guns, two triple barrel MK 32 torpedo tubes, an anti-submarine rocket (ASROC) launcher, two quad Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers, one eight-cell Seasparrow anti-air missile launcher, and facilities for embarkation of two anti-submarine helicopters. Space, weight and electrical power reservations have been allocated in the design to provide for the addition of future weapons systems and will enable MOOSBRUGGER to keep abreast of future tech- nology. MOOSBRUGGER is currently the most advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ship in the world. Her primary sensor is the AN SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar, or TACTAS. The TACTAS installed in MOOSBRUGGER presently is the only one of its kind. Based on extensive testing in MOOSBRUGGER, the SQR-19 has been accepted for service use and will be installed on a number of classes of U.S. warships. Although built for maximum combat effectiveness, crew comfort and habitability also are an integral part of MOOSBRUGGER ' s design. Berthing compartments are spacious and the ship is equipped with amenities not usually found aboard destroyers, including a crew ' s library, lounge, and gymnasium. Automated weapons and engineering systems permit operation of the ship, the size of a World War II light cruiser, by a relatively small crew of 21 officers, 20 chief petty officers, and 280 enlisted personnel. MOOSBRUGGER is a veteran of Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada) and has seen action as a unit of the Multi-National Peace-Keeping Force in Lebanon during her recently completed deployment. For these actions, MOOSE was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary and Navy Expeditionary Medals, respectively, as well as the Navy L ' nit Commendation. MOOSBRUGGER is homeported in Charleston, SC, and is assigned to Cruiser Destroyer Group Two as a unit of Destroyer Squadron Six. She proudly wears the DESRON SIX Battle Efficiency Award, having swept all nine mission area awards during the 1983 competitive cycle.

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VICE ADMIRAL FREDERICK MOOSBRUGGER (1900-1974) Frederick Moosbrugger was born in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, on October 9, 1900. son of Jacob and Rosina (Keir) Moosbrugger. He was graduated from Northeast High School, Philadelphia, with the class of 1918 and entered the U. S. Naval Academy. Annapolis, Mar -land, on appointment from the Fourth District of Pennsylvania on June 25, 1919. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 8, 1923, he subsequently advanced through the various grades to the rank of Rear Admiral to date from June 1, 1951, haWng served in the temporan, ' rank of Commodore from April 6, 1945 until April 5, 1946. He was transferred to the Retired List of the U. S. Navy on October 1, 1956. and was advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral. Following graduation from the Naval Academy in June 1923. he had sea duty for four years, first in the USS NEVADA, operating with di -ision 3, Battleship Divisions. Battle Fleet, and transferred in July 1924 to the Asiatic Fleet in the USS TRUXTON. operating on Yangtze Patrol during operations in the valley of the Yangtze River, China, in 1926-27, Detached from the TRUXTON May 13, 1927. he returned to the United States to serve briefly at Headquarters 13th Naval District. He ser ed aboard the USS BRAZOS, a unit of Train Squadron One. Fleet Base Force, operating with Scouting Fleet, from August 1927 to June 1929. after which he reported to the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, for submarine instruction. Completing the course there in December 1929, he joined Submarine Division 12 for duty until April 1931 in the USS S-6. Returning to Annapolis as instructor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Physics at the Naval Academy, he remained there for three years and next joined the USS HOUSTON. He served aboard that cruiser, rehef flagship for the Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet, operating with Cruiser Division 5, Scouting Force, from June 1. 1934 to May 29. 1937. During his second tour of duty at the Naval Academy, he was an instructor in the Department of Ordnance and Gunnerv ' . Returning to duty afloat in June 1939. he joined the USS TENNESSEE as Gunnery Officer, and on April 28, 1941 assumed command of the USS MCCALL. He was in command at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and subsequently directed the activities of that destroyer in close cooperation with a carrier task group to cover the reinforcement of Samoa, to conduct raids on Wake and Marcus, and to perform escort and screening duties in hazardous waters. He received a Letter of Commendation, with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon, from the Secretary of the Na ' ' for services in combat on Februar - 1, 1942. From May 1942 until September 1943, he had successive command of Destroyer Divisions 11 and 12. In command of Division 11. he directed the bombardment of Kiska in the Aleutians; and proceeding to the southern Pacific Area, carried out patrol and escort missions to Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands. Later, when in command of DiWsion 12, he directed the support of operations at New Georgia, Rendova, and Vanfunu and the patrol of hazardous waters of the Solomon Islands. He was awarded the Navy Cross and the Legion of Merit with Combat Distinguishing Device V . The citations follow in part: Nav - Cross: For eKtraordinar ' heroism as Commander of a Naval Detachment during operations against enemy Japanese naval forces in the Solomon Islands Area on the night of August 6-7, 1943, Assigned to intercept a suspected enemy surface force in South Pacific waters. Commander Moosbrugger ... set out with his detachment and located the hostile vessel in Vella Gulf ... he led his ships into exceedingly close range and. taking the enemy by complete surprise, delivered a devastating torpedo attack which annihilated the entire hostile force: Returning to the United States in September 1943, he reported to Headquarters, Twelfth Naval District, and from November 3. 1943, to June 1944 served on the staff of Commander, Operational Training Center. Pacific. Duty during June and July 1944 as Chief Staff Officer and Training Officer to Commander. San Diego Shakedown Group, Fleet Operational Training Command. Pacific, preceded command between August and December 1944. of Destroyer Squadron 63 with additional duty as Commander, Destroyer Di -ision 125. On December 21. 1944, he reported to Commander. Destroyers, Pacific Fleet, and ser -ed. in the rank of Commodore, as Commander Task Flotilla 5, from May 8 until December 16. 1945. Returning to the United States for temporary- duty in the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Na ' ' Department, he assumed command on April 5, 1946, in the rank of Captain, of the U. S. Naval School, General Line. Naval Base, Newport, Rhode Island. From June 1949 to Januar - 1950 he commanded the USS SPRINGFIELD, after which he served as Commander Destroyer Flotilla One. In July 1950 he was assigned command of the Fleet Training Group and Underway Training Element, San Diego, California. Relieved of that command in September 1951, he then reported as Commander Cruiser Division Five. A year later he became Commander Military Sea Transportation Service, Pacific Area, and Na y Control of Shipping Officer, with headquarters in San Francisco. California. In December 1952 he became Superintendent of the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School. Monterey, California, and three years later, December 5, 1955. reported as Commander Training Command, U. S. Nav ' on October 1, 1956. In addition to the Nav - Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion Of Merit with Combat V . and the Commendation Ribbon, Vice Admiral Moosbrugger has the Yangtze Service Medal; American Defense Service Medal. Fleet Clasp; the American Campaign Medal; .-Vsiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal; the World War II Victor - Medal; the Philippine Liberation Ribbon; the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal; and the United Nations Service Medal. V ice Admiral Moosbrugger was survived by his three sons, Frederick Britt, Edward Arthur, and David B. Moosbrugger. The family ' s official address is Rydal, Pennsylvania.