John Young (DD 973) - Naval Cruise Book

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' ' SHIP ' S CHARACTERISTICS Built By Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries Pascagoula, Mississippi Keel Laid 17 February 1975 Christened 7 February 1976 Commissioned 20 May 1978 Length 563 Feet 4 Inches Beam 55 Feet Displacement . 8100 Tons Complement .. Officers 22 CPO 14 Enlisted Men 250 Armament Two 5 Inch 54 Cal. Gun Mounts MK 1 1 2 ASROC Launcher (Eight-cell) Two MK 32 Torpedo Tubes (Triple tube) Nato Sea Sparrow Missile System Harpoon Missile System Aircraft One Heavy or Two Light Multipurpose Helicopters Propulsion Four General Electric LM 2500 Marine Gas Turbine Engines Speed 30 Plus Knots

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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.

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« c The coal of arms of USS JOHN YOUNG (DD 973) serves as a heraldic reminder of ihe ships namesake. Caplain John Young. The shield of ihe coal of arms is a Iricolor design The upper porlion is per fes» gules (scarlet) and ihe lower porlion is independence blue. These are separated by a wavy bar in while. John Young was appointed in the Continental Navy from Philadelphia in I 776 and received his Captain ' s commission in October of that year. During much of his period of service he was associated with France who was then helping the fledgling American nation in their struggle for independence This is represented by the golden fleur-de lis in the upper part of the shield. In August of I 780. while enroute from French Martinique to the United States aboard the 18 gun sloop of war SARATOGA. Caplain Young captured four enemy vessels after a severe engagement with two of them at one time This deed is symbolized by the wavy bar with four stars. On 20 March 1781. Captain Youngs ship, the SARATOGA, sailing in the compnay of French and American ships, became separated in a storm and was never seen again The loss at sea of Caplain Young and his crew is symbolized by the anchor without cable The Iricolor design alludes to the national colors of both Ihe United Stales and her Revolutionary War ally. France The mast with sail hoisted is symbolic of Ihe Continental sloopof war SARATOGA. Captain Youngs last command The coal of arms of Ihe early American family Young is represented b the red rose on the sail The ships motto. Prends La Mer Avec Courage , meaning Set Sail with Courage , serves as an inspiration for the men who serve aboard Ihe USS JOHN YOUNG