John Young (DD 973) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS JOHN YOUNG USSJOHN YOUNG (DD-973) is the eleventh SPRUANCE class desUoyer and the ninth to join the Pacific Fleet. JOHN YOUNG is homeported in San Diego and assigned to Cruiser Destroyer Group Five and Destroyer Squadron Nine. Designed and built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries, Pascagouia, Mississippi, JOHN YOUNG is a i member of the first major class of surface ships in the U.S. NaN-y to be powered by gas turbine engines. Four General Electric LM-2500 engines, marine versions of those used on DC-10 and C5-A aircraft, drive the ship at speeds in excess of 30 knots. Twin controllable-reversible pitch piopellers provide JOHN YOUNG with a degree of maneuverability unique among warships her size. A highly versatile multi-mission destroyer, JOHN YOUNG is capable of operating independently or in company with Amphibious or Carrier Task Forces. Her overall length is 563 feet and she displaces 8100 tons. JOHN YOUNG ' S primary mission is to operate offensively in an Antisubmarine Warfare role. JOHN YOUNG ' S sonar, the most advanced underwater detection and fire control system yet developed, is fully inte,grated in a digital naval tactical data system, providing the ship with faster anr . accurate processing of target information. Integration of the ship ' s digital gun fire control system into the NTDS provides quick reaction in the performance of the ship ' s mission areas of shore bombardment, surface warfare actions, and antiaircraft warfare. Ship ' s weapons include two MK 45 lightweight 5 inch guns, two triple-barrel MK 32 torpedo tubes, NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System, Harpoon Missile System, an antisubmarine rocket (ASROC) launcher, and facilities for embarkation of antisubmarine helicopters. Space, weight, and electrical power reservations have been allocated in the design of the ship to provide for the addition of futiu-e weapons systems and enable JOHN YOUNG to keep abreast of future technology. Although built for ma.vimum combat effectiveness, crew comfort and habitability are an integral part of JOHN YOUNG ' s design. Berthing compartments are spacious and the ship is equipped with amenities not usually found aboard destroyers, including a crew ' s lounge, library, hobby shop, and gymnasium. Automated weapons and engineering systems permit operation of the ship, the size of a World War II light cruiser, by a reduced crew of 22 officers, 14 chief petty officers, and 250 enlisted men. JOHN YOUNG is one of the world ' s most modern destroyers, possessing advanced propulsion systems and a fully integra- ted combat system, with space and weight reservation to sure a formidable seaborne platform well into the future. I %

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USS JOHN YOUNG DD973 MAIDEN VOYAGE CRUISE BOOK WESTPAC ' 80- ' 8l

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i , BIOGRAPHY OF CAPTAIN JOHN YOUNG I ' h USS .loilN YlU N(i (DD-973) is the third destroyer named in honor ol Captain John Young, Conlinenial Navy ( • 1740-1781). a gallant and daring naval officer who lost his life in the sTFufTdli ' ' f ' indep« ' iii:iTii !• during the American Revolution. J.hn You:. ; bctjun his seafaring career at an early age in the colonial merchant marine. A mastir mviiier before the first shots of the revolution were fired, the Continental Congress honored him with a commission and the command of the sloop-of-war INDEPENDENCE. Captain Youn ! 3 mission w.i- the protection of American shipping in the West Indies, and the raiding of Briti.sli merchant in ' 1! whenever and wherever the opportunity might arise. While in command of the INDEPENDENi K, Captain Young delivered important diplomatic dispatches to the American delpf;.it:on to Fr«ri . , headed by Doctor Benjamin Franklin, and participated in the first salute of re«a|niiiion to the American flag from a foreign power. Captain Y ' oung went on to command two other Continental Navy vessels, the IMPERTINENT and the SARATOGA. In August of 1780, while enroute to home waters from the French colony of Martinique in the 18 gun sloop-of-war SARATOGA, Captain Young captured four enemy Vf-sols after a close engagement with two of them simultaneously. Shortly alitr taking his nineteenth prize on March 20, 1781, Captain Young ' s career was iuddeiily oui short. While sailing ' in company with French and American ships, the SARATOGA became M ' parated in a storm and was never seen again.