View source for USS Elliot (DD-967)

{{Short description|United States Navy destroyer}}
{{other ships|USS Elliot}}
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{{original research|date=August 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2018}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:A starboard view of the destroyer USS ELLIOTT (DD-967) underway - DPLA - 97bbba37df0ab32a0dd427f2c7d0857b.jpeg
|Ship caption=USS ''Elliot'' on 3 December 1985
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|2003}}
|Ship name=
|Ship namesake=[[Arthur J. Elliot II]]
|Ship ordered=1 January 1971
|Ship builder=[[Ingalls Shipbuilding]]
|Ship laid down=15 October 1973
|Ship launched=19 December 1974
|Ship acquired=1 December 1976
|Ship commissioned=22 January 1977
|Ship decommissioned=2 December 2003
|Ship in service=
|Ship identification= *[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NAOP
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Alpha}}{{ICS|Oscar}}{{ICS|Papa}}
*[[Hull number]]: DDG-967
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=6 April 2004
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship motto=''Courage, Honor, Integrity''
|Ship fate=[[Target ship|Sunk as target]], 25 June 2005
|Ship badge=[[File:USS Elliot (DD-967) insignia, circa 1976 (NH 85499-KN).png|150px]]
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Spruance class destroyer infobox ship characteristics}}
|}

'''USS ''Elliot'' (DD-967)''' was a {{sclass|Spruance|destroyer}} in the [[United States Navy]]. Built by the [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]] Division of [[Litton Industries]] at [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]], the ship was named for [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]] [[Arthur J. Elliot II]], USN (1933–1968), who as commanding officer of Patrol Boat River Squadron 57, was killed in action in the [[Republic of Vietnam]] on 29 December 1968.

== 1977 – 1981 ==

''Elliot'' got underway on 24 January 1977 for her maiden voyage, transiting from Pascagoula, Mississippi, to [[San Diego, California]], via the [[Panama Canal]]. She was assigned to the [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]] as a unit of [[Destroyer Squadron 9]] (DesRon 9), under the administrative control of [[Carrier Strike Group Eleven|Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Five]] and [[Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific]]. After arrival, ''Elliot'' conducted five weeks of shakedown training and participated in a combat exercise. Following these evolutions, she returned to her builders for a post shakedown yard availability.

After leaving the yard, ''Elliot'' sailed to [[Rockland, Maine]] arriving on 25 August. Neighboring [[Thomaston, Maine|Thomaston]] was the hometown of the sailor for whom the ship was named. During a four-day stay, the ship hosted several thousand guests and embarked 650 guests for a six-hour guest cruise. On 24 September ''Elliot'' reported to [[Long Beach Naval Shipyard]] for a six-month restricted yard availability during which her NATO [[Sea Sparrow]] and [[RGM-84 Harpoon|Harpoon missile]] systems were installed.

On 1 August 1978 ''Elliot'' shifted from the operational command of Destroyer Squadron Nine to [[Destroyer Squadron 31]] (DesRon 31). ''Elliot'' departed for her first deployment, a seven-month Western Pacific tour, on 21 February 1979 as [[flagship]] of DesRon&nbsp;31 in company with the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Ranger|CVA-61|2}}. On 31 March, ''Elliot'' departed [[U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay|Subic Bay]], Philippines with ''Ranger'', for operations in the [[Indian Ocean]]. Less than a week later, ''Elliot'' was transiting the [[Strait of Malacca]] in lead of ''Ranger'' when the carrier was involved in a collision with the oil tanker M/V ''Fortune'' resulting in the carrier having to return to Subic Bay for repairs. ''Elliot'' arrived in [[Diego Garcia]] on 12 April. ''Elliot'' then joined a battle group centered around {{USS|Midway|CV-41|2}} and participated in operations in the [[Gulf of Aden]] to maintain a U.S. military presence in the area. ''Elliot'' returned to Subic Bay on 15 June. ''Elliot'' was awarded the [[Navy Expeditionary Medal]] for Indian Ocean contingency operations. ''Elliot'' arrived back at her homeport from her first deployment on 9 September 1979. Also notable on this deployment was ''Elliot'' tailing [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] carrier [[Soviet aircraft carrier Minsk|''Minsk'']] for five days of observation of operations.
[[File:USS Elliot (DD-967) and Soviet carrier Minsk underway in the Arabian Sea, in 1979.jpg|left|thumb|230px|''Elliot'' (foreground) conducting surveillance operations against the Soviet carrier ''Minsk'']]

''Elliot'' began her second deployment in 1980, under the command of Captain Stephen Clarey then after a change of command in Subic Bay, Philippines, Commander Doug Norton. On 23 January 1981, ''Elliot'' suffered a main bearing casualty resulting in one of her [[gas turbine]] engines having to be replaced. This replacement was completed at Subic Bay in only two days. On 21 April ''Elliot'' encountered the first of several refugee boats. Over the next eight days ''Elliot'' picked up 158 refugees for which the crew was awarded the [[Humanitarian Service Medal]]. Port visits on this deployment included stops in [[Hawaii]], [[Guam]], [[Korea]], [[Thailand]], [[Hong Kong]], Philippines, Japan, and [[Singapore]]. She returned from this deployment on 23 May.

== 1981 – 1985 ==

On 1 June 1981 ''Elliot'' was transferred to [[Destroyer Squadron 21]]. ''Elliot'' reported to [[Todd Pacific Shipyard]] in [[Seattle]], Washington on 17 August for the first private sector overhaul ever conducted of a ''Spruance''-class destroyer. Among other refurbishments and installations during this overhaul ''Elliot'' received an SLQ-32(V)2 electronic warfare system. ''Elliot'' completed overhaul on 30 April 1982. She returned to her homeport of [[Naval Station San Diego|NS San Diego]] on 21 May. On 1 July ''Elliot'' was reassigned from DesRon 21 to [[Destroyer Squadron 17|DesRon 17]].

''Elliot'' departed San Diego, California on 13 April 1983 for the third deployment of her career. Port visits on this deployment included stops in Hawaii, Philippines, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Guam and Hong Kong. On 31 July, a small boat was spotted by the forward lookout. A total of 68 [[Vietnam]]ese [[boat people|refugees]] were subsequently rescued and were turned over to state officials in Subic Bay. ''Elliot'' was again awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for her rescue operation. During August, ''Elliot'' endured being at sea through the combined forces of two typhoons, though no significant damage resulted. On 1 September, ''Elliot'' departed [[U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo|Sasebo]], Japan on four hours' notice, to respond to the downing of [[Korean Air Flight 007|KAL 007]]. ''Elliot'' steamed at {{convert|32|kn|km/h}} for {{convert|1000|mi|km|spell=in}}
<!-- Assumes nautical miles. -->
and arrived approximately 48 hours later, the first Allied ship on station. "Elliot" remained on scene until 14 September along with other units of Allied nations (U.S., Korea, Japan). During the tense days immediately after the downing, "Elliot" encountered some thirty-two Soviet ships in the SAS area, most of which were men-of-war. "Elliot" and all Soviet combatant ships were at a continuous state of General Quarters (Battle Stations), with deck weapons ready to fire. ''Elliot'' returned from her third deployment on 18 November 1983.

On 27 January 1984, ''Elliot'' conducted a safe weapons offload at the [[Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach|Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station]]. Shortly after departing this facility, ''Elliot'' struck a subsurface obstruction in the Seal Beach channel, causing some limited damage to the underwater hull and the starboard propeller. On 2 February, ''Elliot'' commenced a planned three-month selected repair availability (SRA) period in San Diego. On 30 April, ''Elliot'' proceeded to the [[Todd Shipyard]] facilities in [[San Pedro, California]] for repairs to her starboard propeller and sonar dome. In May, ''Elliot'' shifted operational command to [[Destroyer Squadron 5]]. In October, ''Elliot'' participated in [[Fleet Week]] '84 festivities with 18 other ships in [[San Francisco, California]]. ''Elliot'' hosted more than 10,000 visitors during this event.

== 1985 – 2003 ==

On 10 July 1985, ''Elliot'' departed on her fourth deployment as part of the {{USS|New Jersey|BB-62|2}} battle group. Port visits on this deployment included stops in Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Philippines, [[Brunei]], and Hong Kong. In mid-September ''Elliot'' was engaged in an exercise with [[Republic of Korea]] ships. During the exercise, ''Elliot'' rendered on-scene assistance to the {{USS|Darter|SS-576|2}} which was disabled during a collision with the merchant ship ''Kansas Getty''. On 1 December ''Elliot'' departed Subic Bay in company with the {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63|2}} battle group for transit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii arriving on 12 December. ''Elliot'' returned to her San Diego homeport on 21 December, ending her fourth deployment.

In May 1986 ''Elliot'' began a two-month selected repair availability which included installation of flight deck modifications necessary to support LAMPS Mk III helicopter operations. On 11 October ''Elliot'' arrived at San Francisco to participate in Fleet Week '87<!-- '86? --> festivities.

{{stack|[[File:USS Elliot (DD-967) aerial bow view with ASROC without CIWS.jpg|thumb|''Elliot'' in November 1987 prior to removal of ASROC and addition of CIWS.]]}}
In January 1987, ''Elliot'' departed on her fifth deployment. Highlights off this deployment included operations in the [[Bering Strait]].

''Elliot'' received a major overhaul in the 1988 / 1989 time frame, receiving, among other things, VLS, Phalanx CIWS, new TACAN and an upgraded Sea Sparrow system including MK 23 TAS radar.

[[File:USS Elliot (DD-967) PACEX 89.jpg|thumb|left|''Elliot'' during PACEX '89 showing CIWS, Sea Sparrow modifications. Additional MK 23 TAS and new TACAN on aft mast.]]
''Elliot'' departed San Diego on 9 September 1989 to participate in PACEX-89, said to be the largest major naval exercise in the Pacific since the close of World War II.<ref name="USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) History">{{cite web| title=U.S.S. Carl Vinson (CVN-70) History| publisher=[[U.S. Navy]]| url=http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/cvn70/Pages/history.aspx| access-date=2011-07-18| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709003215/http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/cvn70/Pages/history.aspx| archive-date=9 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="Command History 1989, USS Enterprise (CVN-65)">{{cite web| title=Command history 1989, USS Enterprise (CVN-65)| publisher=[[U.S. Navy]]| url=http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/cvn-65/1989.pdf| access-date=2011-07-18}}</ref>''Elliot's'' course took it north to the [[Gulf of Alaska]], then on to the [[Bering Sea]], the northwest Pacific, [[East China Sea]], and the [[Sea of Japan]]. ''Elliot'' made its sole port stop at Sasebo, Japan before returning home on 9 November 1989. During PACEX-89, ''Elliot'' conducted joint operations with other units of the Pacific Fleet as well as elements of the [[Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force]]. ''Elliot'' and its battlegroup were also overflown by two Soviet [[TU-95]] Bear D reconnaissance aircraft. Another highlight was the group photograph ''Elliot'' participated in as one of fifty ships gathered in formation.

''Elliot'' departed San Diego for WestPac-90 on 1 February 1990 as part of the {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70}} Carrier Battlegroup "Charlie." Ports visited included [[Pearl Harbor]], Hawaii; [[Pusan]], Korea; [[Subic Bay]], Philippines; Singapore; [[Pattaya Beach]], Thailand; Diego Garcia, [[BIOT]]; [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]], Oman; [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]]; and Hong Kong. ''Elliot'' also participated in [[Team Spirit]] 1990 exercises with the South Korean military.

While transiting the [[South China Sea]] on 20 April 1990, ''Elliot'' rescued 35 Vietnamese refugees left adrift in a derelict boat and claiming to be the victims of pirates.<ref name="Navy destroyers rescues Vietnamese refugees">{{cite news |title=Navy destroyers rescues Vietnamese refugees |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/156D2D1E5AB163A8&f=basic |agency=UPI|via=NewsBank|date=1990-04-21 |access-date=2022-02-13}}</ref> ''Elliot's'' captain, CDR Timothy LaFleur, made the determination to embark the refugees and scuttle their boat. After the refugees were fed and clothed (many in clothes donated by crewmembers), ''Elliot'' turned them over to a representative of the [[United Nations High Commission for Refugees]] in Singapore on 21 April.

''Elliot'' returned from deployment on 1 August 1990, one day before [[Invasion of Kuwait|Iraq invaded Kuwait.]] ''Elliot'' then entered the [[National Steel and Shipbuilding Company|NASSCO]] yards on 9 September 1990 and remained there until 17 December, thus spending the majority of the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]] on the sidelines.

''Elliot'' deployed for WestPac-91 on 31 July 1991 with COMDESRON 17 embarked. Port visits were made to Pearl Harbor; Subic Bay; [[Phuket city|Phuket]], Thailand; [[Bahrain]]; Oman; [[Abu Dhabi]], [[UAE]]; and Hong Kong. On 21 October, while deployed off the coast of [[Kuwait]], ''Elliot'' was alerted by the French [[DGSE]] ship ''Le Berry'' to the presence of a drifting Iraqi [[LUGM-145]] mine approximately 12&nbsp;nm offshore from Kuwait's [[Mina Al-Ahmadi]] port. [[Explosive Ordnance Disposal]] Mobile Unit One, Detachment 31 team members were flown in from Bahrain. With the assistance of ''Elliot's'' air detachment the mine was safely detonated, resulting in a plume of water hundreds of feet tall. ''Elliot'' spent the [[Christmas]] holiday in Hong Kong before returning to San Diego on 20 January 1992.

''Elliot'' reported to Southwest Marine Shipyard, San Diego in May 1992 for a yard period where she remained until August. On 16 November ''Elliot'' departed San Diego for a five-week counter [[narcotic]]s cruise. This cruise included a port stop in [[Puerto Vallarta]], Mexico. ''Elliot'' returned from this cruise on 21 December.

In June 1993, ''Elliot'' arrived in [[Portland, Oregon]] for the [[Portland Rose Festival]]. On 9 July ''Elliot'' departed San Diego for her next deployment. Port visits on this deployment included Hawaii, Guam, Singapore, [[United Arab Emirates]], Bahrain, Diego Garcia, Australia, and [[Fiji]]. By late August, ''Elliot'' was operating off the coast of [[Iran]]. ''Elliot'' continued operating in this region into November, serving as anti-air warfare commander and [[Persian Gulf]] force over-the-horizon track coordinator for portions of this time period. She also frequently conducted contingency strike operations exercises. During these operations, ''Elliot'' participated in boardings of merchant vessels in support of [[United Nations Security Council]] resolutions.

:[''1993-2003'']
<!-- More history is still needed here. This was all I could find from her own website archives as of April, 2005 --Gcashman -->

''Elliot'' operated out of San Diego, [[California]] until she was decommissioned on 2 December 2003.

The decommissioned ''Elliot'' and {{USS|William H. Standley|DLG-32|2}} were sunk off the eastern coast of Australia as part of [[Exercise Talisman Sabre]], ''Elliot'' on 22 June 2005 and ''William H. Standley'' on 23 June 2005. ''Elliot'' is now resting at a depth of 4,551 [[fathom]]s ({{convert|27,306|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} in the [[Coral Sea]], located at {{Coord|24|43|S|155|50|E|display=inline}}, or roughly {{convert|100|nmi|km|abbr=off}} east of [[Fraser Island]], [[Queensland]], Australia.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

==Awards==
* [[Navy Unit Commendation]] – (Aug 1998)
* [[Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation]] – (Sep 1983, Sep 1989 – Jul 1990, Dec 1992 – May 1993, Jan 1999 – Sep 2001)
* [[Battle E|Battle "E"]] – (1979, 1981, 1992, 1993)
* [[Navy Expeditionary Medal]] – (Apr–Jun 1979)
* [[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] – (Sep–Dec 1991)
* [[Humanitarian Service Medal]] – (21–27 Apr 1981, 31 Jul 1983)

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:USS Elliot (DD-967) approaches Pearl Harbor on 1 June 1991 (6475242).jpg|USS ''Elliot'' entering [[Pearl Harbor]] on 1 June 1991
File:USS Elliot (DD-967) with an SH-60 flying by.jpg|USS ''Elliot'' with a [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|SH-60]] on 7 April 1998
File:USS Elliot (DD-967) underway in the Arabian Sea on 2 January 2002 (6612416).jpg|USS ''Elliot'' in the [[Arabian Sea]] on 2 January 2002
File:US Navy 030101-O-4633P-001 The first sunset of the year provides a beautiful backdrop for the destroyers USS Elliot (DD 967), USS Olendorf (DD 972), USS Fitzgerald (DD 62), and the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5).jpg|USS ''Elliot'' and [[USS Oldendorf]] on 1 January 2003
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DD967|title=nvr.navy.mil: USS ''Elliot''}}
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/967.htm navsource.org: USS ''Elliot'']
* [http://united-states-navy.com/dd/dd967.htm united-states-navy.com: USS ''Elliot'']
* [http://www.usselliot.org unofficial USS ''Elliot'' website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050317015405/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=10886 ''Elliot'' decommissions] article from Navy News
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050923211510/http://www.c7f.navy.mil/TS05/ c7f.navy.mil: Operation Talisman Sabre 2005]
* [http://server.militarynews.com/jet/Jet_07.14.05.pdf militarynews.com: USS ''Elliot'' sunk by VFA-195 jets]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ([[Portable Document Format|pdf]])

{{Spruance class destroyer}}
{{2005 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliot (DD-967)}}
[[Category:Spruance-class destroyers]]
[[Category:Cold War destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:1974 ships]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]