Moosebrugger (DD 980) - Naval Cruise Book

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U.S. Destro er Shells Syrian, Driize z4reas OT.tcVln rvf R , r..t WS GUNS RAKE WITH 150 ROONDS By Herbert H Denton BEIRUT. Feb. 9-The United Sialrf j.K ' unded mountain artillery fvisi ' .ions of Sjria and iLs allies with r.a.aJ g i-nfire again U ' nighl in [■rompt retaliation for their renewed shelling of Christian areas of BeiruL Marine spokesman Maj Dennis Brooks said the US. destroyer MwisbruKger fired approximately i5( ' r.-.-xir ' from iL« five-inch guns 2 . ' ilrli r) ' jK ?itions in trie moun- lainf easi of Beirut ' The strikes came under a new pel- ic ' announced by President Reagan Tuesday of responding to any shell- | ing of Beirut from SjTiari-controlled :crrilor . They l.--«ted for about an f ur. Tr.5 . was much shoner and pre- surr.ably less devastating than yes- terday ' s barrage of hun dreds of shells from the 16-irKh guns of the battleship New .Itn-ey and srr.aller guns of the Sixth Fieet, directed at gun emplscements in l tba.non ' s cen- vsl EJid e olerr. mountains in the rna-.-Vest l!5. nava] barrage since the - ..v -r.i 5e tn ips ci ip the - -ur ' :;ns -ii-iih the Druzc antieov- ■ i- ' rr.: : ' -c-es. -a ned that :; rr.ijrht j zi ' .h. for the U.S shelimg. the ; ---■ r-- : prf« leiH.lec. S Tia I ar.rv. -isid neutral wa;.-hing the i : : i- .: r-. T.barcm-:n . ;.:aciicfcd by | - ' ; ? T- - Fl!:€: arains; l e ' w.nese ■■ ' £- i- r imhscus ' t ' .r.emmenl . £; . fo;i !i warned that Sj.Tia ' may -•: : - :-; . ?.: U) react j ;T .r ' ; cia! Si ' viet r.r« ' ::£j»er :Ti-Zi Tr. - sy charged that the I ' - c S ' aiet had practically si ' i c fir undeclared war against Lebanon ' and accused U.S. forces of wiping Beirut ' off the I ' ace of the earth, United Press International lejx r.fd from M( fcow.] An American official here dis Sec LEBANON. .A23, Col. 1 B US- delays dichiun un coacua- tin{: Anicriions o jc A2I SECOND DAY OF POUNDING ' Syrian General Reported Kiiied ■ ' in Bombing Wednesday ' .-: ], -:. U.S Planes Fired On 1- ' SpecUJtoTbeNewYoitTTmm : Tar . Dcsi rover Shells 2ets ill Lebanon Mooibnigger fired lis 5-incli guns in response to the attacks on east Beirut we did return the fire, our forces were let alon=. IS. helicopters ferried an- other .5n US Emba- sy em- plovcs and their famihes froni Uesi Beinit to ships offshore Since Tuesday, some 90 embas- sy oersonnel and dependents have bi ' en flown in ( yprus VS. guns lash hills of Beirut Specidi for USA TODAY BEIRIT. Lebanoa — .Mas- sive shellfire hi! Christian East Beirut Thun iay. prompting a U..S destroyer to fire its guns inrr. e.istem Syrian-held hills — I ' .e cond cia of U.S. naval bombardment in Lebanon. .S ria threatened retaliation if U.S. naval fire intensified and Druse militiamen warned . imerican interest ' in Beirut would be physically endan- gered by renewed shelling This threat was issued be- fore .ABC News reported that the US .Navy gunfire on ' Wednesday killed the com- manding general of Syrian iorces in Lebanon ana a large part of his general staff. Ignoring the warnings, the USS Moosbrugger fired 150 rounds from its five-inch guns in retaliation for rebel artillery attacks on Christian East iJei- rut and other Christian en- claves north of the city. Marin ' spokesman Maj. Dennis Brooks said the fire was directed at positions east of Rein:! but could not confirm the exac! t;irgeis 1m California. White House spokesman Larry Speakes said an agreement with Congress authorizes shelling onl to de- fend the multinational force in Lebanon and not to prop up the countrvs government But Defense Secretarv Ca- spar Weinberger ro.d the Hnjsc Foreign Affairs Commil- lee thai defense of ibe govem- men! was one reason for the shelling Weinberger also said a tenlative plan calls for trans- ferring . iuO .Marines out of Bei- rut b the end of the month and then assessing the situation. We are not leaving Leba- non. Weinberger said The traasfer of Mannes does not in any way sen. e as a giving up of our goals in Lebanon. Later testifying before the same House committee. .Secre- tary of Slate George Shultz said that U.S. fire was in response to attacks from the Synan-con- trolled posilioas adding, When By nightfall. Christian sec- tors of the capital came under heavy shellfire while Moslem militiamen holding West Beirut obe ed Shiite Amal militia leader . abih Bern ' s order to Slav off the streets. I Americans in Lebanon, 1A

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OPERATION: URGENT FURY Historically the destroyer has proven itself to be the stalwart of the surface navy. These well-armed, fast-moving, maneuverable ships classically find themselves the point man of the Battle Group. The sailors of these ships are proud to be destroyermen and pride themselves on their ability to meet any challenge. Operation Urgent Fury, which rescued American citizens and restored democracy to the island nation of Grenada, may not be recorded in history as a major conflict. But the record will substantiate once again the importance and flexibility that the Destroyer and her crew provide to the fleet during any conflict. The officers and men of Moosbrugger are proud of their accomplishments and participation in Operation Urgent Fury, and feel the role of the destroyer in the operation should not be overlooked. With five inch guns cleared for action, and her two embarked helicopters (HSL 34 DET 6 H2 - Greenchecker 232 and HS15 SH3 Red Lion 611) airborne for combat SAR Moosbrugger arrived in the predawn hours of 25 - October - 1983 as the point man of the surface force close ashore to cover the 82nd Airborne assault of Pt. Salines Airfield. Shortly after the assault began. Army Blackhawk helos, attempting to land at Prickly Point, came under heavy automatic weapons ground fire and turned out to Moosbrugger for assistance. Moosbrugger took the battle damaged helicopters aboard and established a livesaving emergency medical treatment center in the helo hangar, treating nine wounded soldiers of 82nd Airborne special forces. Once stabilizing medical treatment was accomplished, the wounded were successfully evacuated to surgical units aboard USS GUAM, while other soldiers were reinserted to the fight in available helicopters. An hour into the assault Moosbrugger received an urgent call for Medevac from a firefight area near the Pt. Salines Airfield above True Blue Beach. Rounding up two Army Blackhawks for cover, Moosbrugger vectored Red Lion 611 (HS-15) to the scene. Red Lion 611 set down on the beach and recovered eleven wounded soldiers who were successful- ly Medevaced to USS GUAM. During the eight days of Moosbrugger participation she conducted over 175 flight deck evolutions with a wide variety of helicopters from three services. SAR operations were only one of many missions assigned to Moosbrugger during Grenada. Moosbrugger maintained alert 30 or higher for Naval Gunfire Support throughout the operation. Twice Moosbrugger was called on to fire in anger delivering first On Target fire with spotter reports that both targets were destroyed. During the preparation for and execution of this operation, this Gas-Turbine powered destroyer operated over one hundred and forty hours at speeds above twenty five knots and on one occasion spent over thirty hours at thirty knots to deliver pony express style preassault planning information to the Marine amphibious commander. Moosbrugger conducted extensive small craft interdictions preventing the escape or resupply of the enemy by sea, provided ASW screening to the Battle Force and provided surface protection for special boat unit and Seal Team operations. This proud Destroyer, known fleetwide as the Moose , fulfilled all taskings. The Moose Was Loose in Grenada providing More Than Required in the tradition of her namesake. Vice Admiral Frederick Moosbrugger, USN. 92

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Left: The Moose ' s most meaningful role in Grenada was the evacuation and emergency medical treatment. Below: A little rest after a busy morning caring for the wounded. Bottom: The Island of Grenada G R E N A D A 94