Hooper (DE 1026) - Naval Cruise Book

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in S Hooper's keel was laid in the San Fran- cisco shipyard of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel-Corporation on January 4, 1956, she was launched on August 1, 1957 and placed in commission on March 18, 1958. I-Ier dis- placement is 1800 tons, she measures 314 feet in length and 37 feet in beam, I-Ier accommodations house 14 officers and 159 men. Her propulsion plant consists of two integral superheat boilers providing steam for her main engines, a single plant with 20,000 shaft horsepower to her single screw. Hooper's primary mission is to seek and destroy submarines. Her ASW battery con- sists of SQS-23A sonar, Weapon Alfa fa rocket propelled depth chargej, and homing torpedoes. Her twin rudders give her the manuverability to turn with any sub. For air defense she has an enclosed twin 3 f50 mount forward. After a shakedown cruise and intensive shakedown training, Hooper deployed for the first time to the Seventh Fleet, returning in April 1959. Her second tour of duty in the Far East began in January 1960. The ship returned in May 1960 to the National

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WEAPONS oFFlcER LTJG Richard J. Wolf hails from Nyack, New York. He attended the University of Virginia on a NROTC scholarship, where he received his commission and a Bachelor of Science degree in commerce. After com- missioning he Went to the fleet ASW school in Key West and then reported to the USS John R. Pierce QDD-7512? as second division officer. When the ship eployed to the Sixth Fleet, he assumed duties of ASW and fire control officer. He also served as first lieutenant and navigator. In September 1964 he joined Hooper in Subic Bay as Weapons officer. SUPPLY OFFICER LTJ G Hugh B. L, McClung prepared for the Supply Corps as an economics and ac- counting major at the University of Wash- ington. In June 1963 he received his commis- sion through the NROTC program. After commission he attended the Naval Supply Corps School at Athens, Georgia, where he received his Supply Corps designator. His first tour of duty Was With CruDesPac Staff in San Diego. In April 1964 ENS McClung reported to Hooper to assume the position of supply officer.

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Steel and Shipbuilding Company shipyard in San Diego for her first major overhaul. During the next five months a unit command- er's facility was added to the superstruc- ture to accommodate Commander, Escort Squadron Three and his staff. ln March 1961 Hooper again deployed to WestPac as part of the Ready Hunter Killer Group. 'The second major overhaul began in March 1962 in the San Francisco Naval Shipyard. ln October 1962 Hooper deployed again, to return in June 1963. Hooper deployed on her fifth cruise as part of Anti-Submarine Warfare Group One, Whose mission was to provide ASW protec- tion for the Seventh Fleet. To accomplish this search and attack units CSAUS3, con- sisting of one or more ships and support- ing ASW aircraft QSea King helicopters and S2 fixed Wing aircraftj, are formed and dis- patched. The group consisted of the flag- ship USS Kearsarge QCVS-335, the four de- stroyers of Destroyer Division 233, and the four destroyer escorts of Escort Division 31.