Fanning (FF 1076) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS FANNING WESTPAC MEF 1990 » JE1 ■ T — ■ T |-| TT ■

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USS Fanning: Past And Present Lieutenant Nathaniel Fanning Nathaniel Fanning, the ship ' s namesake, start- ed his career on the oceans as a privateer conduct- ing commerce-raiding cruises against the British before the Revolutionary War. He quickly worked his way up to prizemaster and was shortly there- after taken prisoner by the British during an un- successful raid. After spending over a year in pris- on, he was released and travelled to the French Port of L ' Orient. There he served under John Paul Jones as a midshipman aboard the BON HOMME RICHARD. During the battle between the RICHARD and H.M.S. SERAPIS off the Flamborough Head in September of 1779, Fanning was appointed cap- tain of the main top. After the battle, Jones cited Fanning as one cause among the prominent in obtaining victory. Fanning went on to command the French privateer COUNT DE GUICHEN and the French brig RANGER. He was instrumental in the U.S. Navy ' s dominance over the Atlantic. USS Fanning The original USS FANNING (DD 37) helped monitor U-boat traffic off the east coast of the U.S. at the beginning of World War I. With the USS JASON in October of 1916 she participated in experiments that helped pioneer modern refu- eling at sea techniques that now allow the U.S. Navy great flexibility of movement and the ability to stay at sea for extended periods of time. After the United States entered the war, FAN- NING operated with USS NICHOLSON (DD 52) and was responsible for sinking the German sub- marine U-58, the only U-boat sunk during World War I. After the war, she was sold for scrap and her name was stuck from the Navy List on 28 June, 1934. A second USS FANNING (DD 385) was com- missioned in October of 1937. During World War II, FANNING operated with USS ENTERPRIZE and Task Force 8 engaging enemy surface ships and submarines. She participated in operations against Japan at Guadalcanal, the Solomons, Kwa- jalein, Eniwetok, and Luzon in support of the amphibious landings at Leyte. FANNING saw action at Iwo Jima where she sank three cargo ships and a Japanese patrol boat and in the San Bernardino Strait. She spent the remainder of the war on patrol performing escort duties and search and rescue operations for downed pilots. FAN- NING received four battle stars and the Philip- pine Presidential Unit Citation for her efforts dur- ing World War II. The most recent USS FANNING (FF 1076) was commissioned in 1971 and has since made numer- ous forward deployments. She served two tours in Vietnam and functioned in contingency oper- ations after South Korean President Park ' s assas- sination in 1979. Later that same year, FANNING operated in the Indian Ocean during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. FANNING ' s current deployment marks the first time a Knox Class Frigate has been assigned to the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of war between Iran and Iraq. FANNING was re- sponsible for monitoring the Straits of Hormuz Eastern Patrol Area and conducting Earnest Will tanker escort missions.