Harry Hill (DD 986) - Naval Cruise Book

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Built By: Design Characteristics Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation, Division of Litton Industries, Pascagoula. Miss. Keel Laid: 3 January 1977 Launched: 10 August 1978 Christened: 7 October 1978 Commissioned: 17 November 1979 Statistics Length: 563 feet 4 inches Beam 55 feet Displacement: 8000 tons Personnel: Ship ' s Company Officers: 26 CPO: 24 Enlisted: 270 Air Detactiment 4 1 12 Aircraft: Lamps SH-2F Helicopter Armament: Guns 2 - MK-45 5 inch (127mm) .54 Cal. Gun Mounts 2 - MK-242 25mm Rapid Fire Machine Guns 2 - MK-16 Close-in Weapon System (PHALANX) 4 - .50 Cal. Machine Guns 4 - M60 Machine Guns Main Engines: Anti-Submarine Weapons 1 - 8 cell MK-16 Anti-Submarine Rocket Launcher (ASROC) 2 - Triple MK-32 Torpedo Tubes Missiles 8 - Harpoon Missile Cannisters 1 - 8 cell Nato Seasparrow Launcher 4 - General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbine Engines 2 - Shafts 80,000 Shaft Horse Power Generators: 3 - Allison 501 -k1 7 Gas Turbine Generators 6,000,000 Watt Power Maximum Speed: 30 -t- Knots Endurance: 2,600 Nautical Miles at Maximum Speed 16,880 Nautical Miles at Trail Shaft Fuel Capacity: 512,829 Gallons

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USS HARRY W. HILL (DD 986) USS HARRY W. HILL (DD 986) is the twenty-fourth SPRUANCE class destroyer and the twelfth to join the Pacific Fleet. HARRY W. HILL is homeported in San Die- go and assigned to Cruiser Destroyer Group Three and Destroyer Squadron Seven. Designed and built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries in Pascagoula. Mississippi, HARRY W. HILL IS a member of the first major class of surface ships in the U.S. Navy to be powered by gas turbine en- gines. Four General Electric LM-2500 engines, marine versions of those used on DC-1 and C-5A aircraft, drive the ship at speeds in excess of 30 knots. Twin controlla- ble-reversible pitch propellers provide HARRY W. HILL with a degree of maneuverability unique among war- ships of her size. A highly versatile multi-mission destroyer, HARRY W. HILL is capable of operating independently or in com- pany with Amphibious or Carrier Task Forces. HARRY W. HILL ' S primary mission is that of anti-submarine war- fare. Her sonar, the most advanced underwater detec- tion and tire control system yet developed, is fully inte- grated into a digital Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS), providing the ship with fast and accurate processing of target information from other ships and aircraft. Integra- tion of the ship ' s gun and missile f ' e control systems into the NTDS provides quick reaction in the performance of the ship s other warfare mission areas including amphib- ious (shore bombardment), anti-surface, and anti-air- craft. Crew comfort and habitibility are an integral part of HARRY W. HILL ' S design. Berthing compartments are spacious and the ship is equipped with amenities not usually found aboard destroyers: a crew ' s library and lounge, an electronic game and vending machine area and a gymnasium. Automated weapons and engineering systems per- mit operation of the ship, the size of a World War II light cruiser, by a crew of 23 Officers, 24 Chief Petty Officers and 293 Enlisted. HARRY W. HILL is one of the world s most modern destroyers, possessing advanced propul- sion systems and a fully integrated combat system, with space and weight reservations available to ensure a for- midable seaborne platform well into the future. Since commissioning on 17 November 1979, HAR- RY W. HILL has completed three SEVENTH FLEET De- ployments as a unit of Carrier Battle Groups and Surface Combatant Task Groups. As a unit of the Pacific Fleet ASW Squadron, HARRY W. HILL has also participated in numerous ASW operations. HARRY W. HILL has re- ceived the auspicious James F. Chezak Award, the Bat- tle Efficiency Award (twice), the Meritorious Unit Citation and a SEVENTH FLEET Unit Letter of Commendation. A major asset to the fleet. HARRY W. HILL is always pre- pared to carry out any tasking with speed, surprise and success.

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ADMIRAL HARRY W. HILL USS HARRY W. HILL (DD 986). is named in honor of Admiral Harry Wilbur Hill. U S Navy, a distinguished naval officer who achieved ex- traordinary success and much honor as commander of numerous am- phibious operations during World War II. A graduate of the Naval Academy in 1 91 1 , he served successively in USS MARYLAND (ARC 8), torpedo boat tender USS IRIS, USS PER- RY (DD 11), with the Pacific Flotilla, as the Engineer Officer in USS AL- BANY (CL 23), and during World War I. in USS TEXAS (BB 35), and as navigator in USS WYOMING (BB 32), when both battleships were attached to the British Grand Fleet Immediately after WWI he served as navigator in USS ARKANSAS (BB 33) until January 1919 when he was assigned duty as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Admiral R. E, Coontz. Commander of the Atlantic Fleet s Division Seven In July of the same year he transferred to similar duty on the staff of Commander, Division Six, Pacific Fleet, Continuing as aide to Admiral Coontz as Chief of Na- val Operations from 1919 to 1923, Lieutenant Commander Hill then joined USS CONCORD (CL 10) as gunnery officer from 1923 to 1926 After serving the next three months as Aide to the Commander in Chief, U,S. Fleet he again had duty afloat as gunnery officer in USS MEMPHIS (CL 13). After duty as executive officer of the receiving barracks at Hampton Roads, he was gunnery officer in USS MARYLAND (BB 46) from 1928 to 1931 and then served in the Executive Department at the Naval Academy, Since a number of ships won gunnery awards while under his di- rection, he served as Force Gunnery Officer on the Staff of Commander Battle Force. US, Fleet, in the Pacific from 1933 to 1934 As a Com- mander he commissioned and commanded USS DEWEY (DD 349) from October 4. 1 934 until June 1 7. 1 935, when he was again assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department. In May 1938 Commander Hill completed the Senior Course at the Naval War College, and was promoted to Captain, Captain Hill then served as War Plans Officer on the Staff of the Commander in Chief. US. Pacific Fleet, until February 1 940. after which he had a third tour of duty in the Office of Naval Operations, where he was attached to the War Plans Division until January 1942, Captain Hill then took command of the heavy cruisers. USS WICHI- TA (CA 45), which operated for several months on convoy duty with the British Home Fleet to the north Russian port of fVlurmansk In Sep- tember 1942, he was promoted to rear admiral and reported as Com- mander Battleship Division Four. Flagship USS MARYLAND (BB 46), serving a year in the South Pacific He was also Commander of a task force which was the first ever to comprise both battleships and escort carriers. In September 1943 he became Commander Amphibious Group TWO, FIFTH Amphibious Force, and in that capacity participated in the capture of Tarawa, and later in operations against the Gilberts. Mar- shalls. f arianas. Iwo Jima. and Okinawa, where he commanded the amphibious and support operations of that force until the island was secured at the end of June At the close of the war in August 1945. Admiral Hill commanded the Amphibious Force that landed the Sixth Army for the occupation of Japan He later served as first Commandant of the National War College. Chairman of the General Board of the Navy, and Superintendent of the U.S. Navy Academy Although he retired in the rank of Admiral in May 1952. he was not detached from his final assignment until the following August Admiral Hill then reported as Governor of the Naval Home at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he continued to serve on active duty until May 21 . 1954, Admiral Harry Wilbur Hill passed away on July 19, 1971