David Ray (DD 971) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commanding Officer 4 Executive Officer 5 Ship ' s Log 6 Bremerton Drydocking .. 7 Underway 8 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii .... 9 Philippines 10 Thailand 12 Hong Kong 14 Japan 18 Korea 19 South China Sea Refugee Rescue 20 Sea of Siam 84-1 21 Indian Ocean Operations 22 DAVID R. RAY On The Move 24 North Arabian Sea Self Defense Team .... 26 Table of Contents Underway Replenishment 28 Helicopter Operations . 30 The Crew 32 Operations Department 33 Engineering Department 43 Combat Systems Department 53 Navigation Executive Department 64 Supply Department 68 Air Department 72 A Last Look 75 Homecoming 92 In Memory of Steven D. Opfer 94

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USS DAVID R. RAY MISSION USS DAVID R. RAY (DD 971) is the ninth Spruance Class Destroyer and the fifth to join the Pacific Fleet. Commissioned on 19 November 1977 at Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, Pascagoula Mississippi, she is currently homeported in San Diego, California, where she is assigned to Cruiser Destroyer Group ONE and Destroyer Squadron THIRTEEN. The pages of this log detail her third deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. The DAVID R. RAY and the thirty sister ships that make up the Spruance Class are the first U.S. warships to be powered strictly by gas turbine engines. Four General Electric LM-2500 engines, marine versions of those used on DC-10 and C-5A aircraft, combined with twin controllable -reversible pitch propellers drive the 8,000 ton ship at speeds in excess of 30 knots with a degree of maneuverability unequalled by any other warships her size. The highly successful gas ne technology developed for the Spruance Class has since been duplicated in the Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigate and the Ticonderoga Class cruiser. Capable of operating independently or in company with amphibious, or carrier task forces, the DAVID R. RAY ' s primary mission is antisubmarine warfare. Her sonar, the SQS-53, is the most advanced irwater detection and fire control system yet developed. Two triple-barreled Mark 32 torpedo tubes and an ASROC antisubmarine rocket (ASROC) launcher allows the RAY to fire the MK 46 torpedo. Additionally, the LAMPS MK I (and in the future the LAMPS MK III) Helicopter extends the sensor range and weapon delivery range of the ship ' s ASW mission, and provides a limited search and rescue and personnel transfer capability. Two 5 inch 54 caliber MK 45 fully automatic gun mounts controlled by the digital MK 86 Fire Control System provide the ship with its antisurface capability and allows the RAY to conduct naval gunfire support against shore targets. Complimenting the guns in a defensive antiair role are the NATO Seasparrow Missile and the Vulcan Phalanx Close in Weapon System (CIWS). Finally, the ship is equipped with rapid blooming offboard chaff, a decoy system used in an electronic warfare environment. Although built to handle the multiple threat environment of naval warfare in the 1980 ' s, crew comfort and habitability were important considerations in the design of the RAY. Spacious berthing compartments and amenities not usually found on destroyers such as a crew ' s library, lounge, hobby shop, and gymnasium combine with her combat capabilities to make the RAY a destroyerman ' s dream.

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camm Indmg Commanding Officer CDR Donald R Rhodes Commander Donald R. Rhodes enlisted in the Navy in 1958 and in 1961 he successfully competed for the Secretary of the Navy appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He received his commission in 1965 and was assigned to the USS O ' HARE (DD-889). His subsequent sea tours were Engineer and Operations on USS RICH (DD-820); Commanding Officer, USS WHITEHALL (PCE-856); Executive Officer, USS HEWITT (DD-966); Engineer Officer, USS PELELIU (LHA-5). Commander Rhodes relieved as Commanding Officer USS DAVID R. RAY on 27 May 1983. Commander Rhodes earned a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California and served as an instructor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the U.S. Naval Academy. He also attended the Command and Staff course at War College, Newport. Commander Rhodes has been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Viet Nam Service Ribbon (4 awards), Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Ribbon (2 awards), and the Republic of Viet Nam campaign ribbon. Commander Rhodes is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernie Dauby of Phoenix, Arizona. He is married to the former Miss Connie Watson of Baltimore, Maryland and they have three children: Sheri, Donald, and David.