William V Pratt (DDG 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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re-designated as Guided Missile Cruisers or Guided Missile Destroyers. On 1 July, 1975, PR.ATT's designation was changed to Guided Missile Destroyer and her hull number changed from 13 to 44. From July to December 1975, PRATT served as flagship for Unitas XVI, with UNITED STATES COMMANDER, SOUTH ATLANTIC FORCE embarked. This deployment included operations with naval forces from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Venezuela, as well as diplomatic visits to those countries. PRATT would serve once again as COMSOLANT's flagship during Unitas XIX in 1978. During our nation's Bicentennial, PRATT participated in Task Force 200 and the Bicentennial Task Force Operations. As a part of these operations, PRATT conducted numerous missile tests and training exercises in the Caribbean. The high point of these operations was PRATT's participation in the International Naval Review in New York City. Held on the Fourth of July, the review involved fifty ships from allied nations as well as twenty-two tall ships . During this celebration, PRATT hosted the Royal Family of Monaco for a visit on board. In February, 1979, PRATT once again returned to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for extensive modernization and overhaul, returning to her homeport of Charleston, S.C. in April, 1980. Since that time, PRATT has returned to the Mediterranean as a unit of the Sixth Fleet, from March till September 1981, and from June to December 1982. During these cruises PRATT played a vital role in several operations. Particularly noteworthy was PRATT's participation in the Gulf of Sidra Incident, in August 1981, and her participation in the PLO evacuation from Lebanon in September, 1982. PRATT was one of several ships assigned to escort PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Athens, Greece. In the past, PRATT has played a significant role in keeping the seas peaceful and free and will, undoubtedly, contribute both strength and versatility towards that goal in the future. PRATT's modern electronics and weapons systems makes her one of the primary ships of the fast carrier groups. Her advanced all-weather, surface-to-air missiles can intercept aircraft at longer ranges and much higher altitudes than any conventional weapon. While PRATT's primary mission is protection against enemy aircraft, she is also equipped to deal with submerged threats. Her modern sonar and weapons systems allow her to effectively hunt down and destroy enemy submarines. PRATT is also equipped with long-range Harpoon missiles as well as a 5 54 caliber, rapid-fire gun. These powerful weapons systems are tied together by a high-speed, digital computer system known as the Naval Tactical Data System. NTDS also provides the capability to exchange tactical information with other units of a task force. PRATT is equipped with a powerful array of weapons to combat a three-fold threat, be it enemy air, surface, or undersea forces. Thus the phrase, Deadly When Threatened fits appropriately.

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SHIP'S HISTORY il It r v is A Lil . Q if O , N .f r n . s iw , . 4' - ,, 1 Y - ails W, T43 ,rl The first ship to bear the name WILLIAM V. PRATT is named in honor of Admiral William V. Pratt. Admiral Pratt, once Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, and former Chief of Naval Operations, served the United States Navy for 44 years before his retirement in 1941. The keel of the Guided Missile Frigate WILLIAM V. PRATT, one of ten COONTZ class frigates, was laid on 1 March, 1958 in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. WILLIAM V. PRATT was launched on 16 March, 1960, and was christened by Mrs. Edward Robbin, a personal representative of Mrs. William V. Pratt. PRATT was commissioned as DLG-13 on 4 November, 1961, and reported for duty as a member of Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet in July, 1962. PRATT was homeported in Norfolk, Virginia until 1965, when her homeport was changed to Mayport, Florida. In February, 1964, PRATT officially commenced the first of her numerous deployments to the U. S. Sixth Fleet. PRATT returned to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard after ten years active service, on 5 October, 1972. At that time she was decommissioned and underwent extensive anti-air warfare modernization. 5K.'!1f,u 5 , h.,..,1'gkkw WF x ' K. 4-In . .fu PRATT continued her modernization after her recommissloning on 6 October. 1973, by moving into Phase III of the program. During this five month period, PRATT participated in missile firing exercises and INSURV underway trials. Upon completion of her modernization, PRATT returned to her new homeport of Charleston, South Carolina, as a unit of Destroyer Squadron Four. PRATT has distinguished herself as s unit of the United States Fleet by her outstanding performance in her many deployments and exercises. In 1962, PRATT served as flagship for Destroyer Squadron Eighteen, the world's first squadron of guiddl missile ships. PRATT achieved a first when, in 1967, she became the first United St8t95 Ship to fire 100 missiles from one Terrier launcher. During the l960's. PRATT particlpaf-Od in several exercises which were to beoomv B part of our natlon's history. ln 1969. PRATT took part ln the Cuban Missile Crisis, vhi0h led to the removal of Soviet missiles from fm island of Cuba. Later ln 1967. PRATT carried out operations as a unit of the Vietnamese Counter-Offensive. Phan III- ln the mldfsevontles the Navy redesignated it's destroyers All DLG! 'W'

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Nnnlnnie Y' ' if fy? , K: ,-f V Q Y' COMMANDING OFFICER XX ROBERT s. BELL COMMANDER USN A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Commander Bell was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland in 1960. Upon graduation and commissioning in June 1964, he was assigned to USS EUGENE A. GREENE QDD-711j, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, as Gunnery Officer and later as ASW Officer. Following this initial assignment, 'rp Commander Bell was assigned as Officer-in-Charge of a PCF fSwiftj Boat involved in combat operations with Coastal Division Eleven, Anthoi, Vietnam. His first tour ashore was as a Seamanship and Tactics instructor in the Naval Science Department at the U.S. Naval Academy. During this tour Commander Bell earned his Masters Degree in Personnel Administration from George Washington University, Washington, DC. Following attendance at the Naval Destroyer School, Commander Bell returned to sea duty as 6 Operations Officer in USS NOA QDD-841j, homeported in Mayport, Florida. He was then assigned to the Fleet Combat Direction Systems Training Center, Atlantic, Dam Neck, Virginia, for duty as Training Support Officer and Assistant to the Director for Training. Following this shore assignment, Commander Bell was assigned to Charleston, South Carolina, as Operations Officer in USS MACDONOUGH QDDG-39, and Executive Officer in USS SELLERS QDDG-1 lj. Following his Executive Officer tour, Commander Bell was assigned to the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Surface Warfare QOP-035, where he served in the Surface Combatant Requirements and Readiness Branch of the Surface Warfare Division. Commander Bell assumed duties as Commanding Officer, USS WILLIAM V. PRATT on 12 February, 1982. Commander Bell's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V , and the Combat Action Ribbon.