Nicholson (DD 982) - Naval Cruise Book

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,. USS N CH OLSON IDD-9822 One of the world ,s largest and most modern destroyers, USS NICHOLSON was designed and built with the ability to strilce at foes und d h ' ' ' ' ' ' ' - er, over, an on t e surface of the ocean. The ship s primary mission is Anti-Submarine Warfare Honoring the memory of Hive family mem bers who distinguished themselves in Na val careers during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, NICHOLSON was constructed by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi and commissioned on May 13, 1979. NICHOLSON is the Twentieth of 31 SPR UANCE IDD-9632 class destroyers and the fourth ship to bear the name of NICHOLSON. This is the Hrst major class of surfa ce ship in the U.S. Navy to be powered by Gas Turbine engines. Four marinized versions of the same engine used in the DC-10 and C5A aircraft coupled with twin controllable reversible pitch propellers give NICHOL- SON a degree of maneuverability unique among large warships. This permits sustained speeds in excess of 30 knots. Fitted with a fully integrated weapons and sensor systems, NICHOLSON can operate independently or in company with amphibious or carrier task forces, carrying out a wide variety of missions. For Anti-Submarine Warfare, NICHOLSON is equipped with the sophisticated AN XSQS-53 Long Range Sonar. This submarine detection system is integrated with a digital computer complex called the Na vy Tactical Data System . This sophisticated system generates Hring solutions for the Ships Anti-Su bmarine Rockets ASR OC and two triple-barrelled MK 32 Torpedo Tubes. NICHOLSON is also Htted with a landing platform and hangar facilities to support the Light Airborne M ulti-Purpose System Helicopter I LA MPS Q. With this versatile suite of short and long range weapons, NI CH OLSON is more than capable to react rapidly and effectively to any undersea threats. The NICHOLSON also carries NA TO Sea-Sparrow Anti-Air Missile System, Vulcan Phalanx Close In Weapons System, Harpoon Anti-Ship Cruise Missile System and two MK 45 Light Weight Five Inch Guns, all integrated by the Navy Tactical Da ta System. Aided by the MK 86 Digital Fire Control System, NICHOLSON is prepared for assignments in the secondary mission areas of shore bombardment, surface warfare action and anti-aircraft warfare. The ANXSPG-60 Fire Control Radar and the ANXSPQ-9 Surface Track-while-Scan Radar provide inputs to the Fire Control computers for subsequent target designa tion and weapons assignment. The NA TO Sea Sparrow system, along with the Vulcan Phalanx, two Five-Inch guns, the SLQ-32 Electronics Surveillance and super RBOC Launcher Systems provide N1 CH OLSON with an excellent missile defense capability. The Harpoon Anti-Ship Cruise Missile provides NICHOLSON with a powerful over-the-horizon capability. Although built for maximum combat effectiveness, crew comfort and habitability are an integral part of NICHOLSONB design. The berthing compartments are spacious, and the ship is equipped with many amenities not usually found in other destroyer classes. These include a Crew's Library, Lounge and Gymnasium. Automated weapons and engineering systems permit opera tion of the ship, the size ofa World War II Light Cruiser, by a reduced crew of a pproxima tely 20 Ofhcers and 320 crewmembers.

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N M ORIA COMMANDER JAMES MICHAEL LOPACINSKI UNITED STATES NAVY 1946-1986 COMMANDER James M. Lopacinski was a graduate of the United Sta tes Na val Academy, Class of 1966. Following his graduation and commissioning, Commander Lopacinski reported to the USS JOHN A. BOLE I DD- 755 2 serving as Gunnery Assistant and later as Weapons OfHcer. He attended the Na val Destroyer School with class 2 7 and in October 1969 reported to USS CHE VALIER CDD-8052 as the Operations OfHcer. After a tour with Commander Na val Advisory Group, Vietnam as the Staff Physchological Warfare Advisor, Commander Lopacinski assumed command of USS CREE KA TF-842 in August 1972i He then attended the United States Navy Post-Graduate School, where he received his Master of Science Degree, and the Na val War College Command and Staff Course. In July 1976, Commander Lopacinski was assigned to the Na val Military Personnel Command as a Computer Systems Analyst, and in May 1979 reported as the Executive Officer, USS PA UL IFF-10802. Commander Lopacinski was relieved 25 July 1986 in the Persian Gulf His subsequent assignment to the Na val Data Automation Command, Washington, D.C. was cut short because of his suddden and unexpected death in December 1986.