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SHIP SPECIFIC INFORMATION

TYPE	FAST COMBAT SUPPORT SHIPS (AOE)
CLASS	SACRAMENTO
OFFICIAL NAME	USS DETROIT
PENNANT NUMBER	4
NICKNAME	N/A
MOTTO	TO SURPASS THE FINEST
BUILDER	PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD
CONTRACT AWARD DATE	12/29/1965
KEEL LAYING DATE	11/29/1966
LAUNCH DATE	06/21/1969
DELIVERY DATE	07/31/1970
COMMISSION DATE	08/28/1970
PLANNING YARD	PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD
NAVSEA PMS	470
CUSTODIAN	US NAVY
STATUS	DISPOSED OF BY SCRAPPING 11/03/2006
HOMEPORT	N/A
MAILING ADDRESS	N/A
UIC (UNIT IDENT. CODE)	20120
TYPE COMMANDER	N/A
FLEET COMMAND	N/A
GROUP COMMAND	N/A
SQUADRON COMMAND	N/A

FAST COMBAT SUPPORT SHIPS (AOE)

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AOE 4 | USS DETROIT

Namesake:

Not yet available

Not yet available

Historical Notes:

USS DETROIT was built at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. She was commissioned 28 March 1970. After her initial shakedown cruise, DETROIT departed Bremerton for her first operational home port, Newport, Rhode Island, rounding the Horn of South America en route. Shortly thereafter, DETROIT deployed for six months of extended operations with the U.S. SIXTH Fleet, returning to Newport in December 1971.

DETROIT again deployed to the Mediterranean on 1 December 1972, returning to Newport in July of the following year. A shore establishment realignment led to DETROIT’s home port shift to Norfolk, Virginia in January 1974.

DETROIT sailed from Norfolk 14 July 1974, en route to her third Mediterranean deployment in support of SIXTH Fleet operations. In addition to her normal taskings, she participated in contingency operations related to the Cyprus crisis, completing this task in December 1974 before returning to Norfolk . DETROIT sailed for her fourth Mediterranean deployment on 19 August 1975 and completed over 200 replenishments before returning to Norfolk on 28 January 1976.

On 13 July 1976, DETROIT sailed north to commence her first shipyard overhaul at Bath Iron Works in Maine. The NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System and new communications capabilities were added prior to her return to Norfolk in July 1977. DETROIT’s fifth Mediterranean deployment was completed on 26 October 1978. Through 232 replenishments, her motto was proven true - "SUPERARE OPTIMUM" (To Surpass the Finest). After another five-month Mediterranean deployment in 1979, DETROIT returned to Norfolk for a short six-month turn-around in preparation for her seventh Mediterranean deployment, commencing on 14 July 1980. A Suez Canal transit followed National Week exercises, and the new routine became the support of SEVENTH Fleet’s Indian Ocean Battle Group operating in the vicinity of the Arabian Gulf. Returning through the Suez, DETROIT proceeded to service SIXTH Fleet units prior to visiting Lisbon, Portugal, in late November. DETROIT returned to Norfolk on 11 December 1980.

DETROIT departed Norfolk on 25 June 1981 for her eighth Mediterranean deployment. She serviced SIXTH Fleet and NATO units and participated in the missile exercises in the Gulf of Sidra, when two Libyan aircraft were shot down by F-14 Tomcats from USS NIMITZ (CVN 68). DETROIT returned to Norfolk on 8 November 1981.

In January 1982, DETROIT began her second shipyard overhaul at NORSHIPCO’s Berkeley Yard in Chesapeake, Virginia. The focus of this overhaul was in the engineering plant and the crew’s living quarters. Her defensive capability was also upgraded by the addition of two Vulcan-Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS). DETROIT left NORSHIPCO in January 1983.

On 20 October 1983, DETROIT departed for deployment with the SIXTH Fleet. While in the Mediterranean, DETROIT was the principal Combat Logistics Force ship supporting U.S. and Allied units of the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force, in Beirut, Lebanon.

Throughout the height of the crisis, DETROIT provided logistical support to two carrier battle groups, the NEW JERSEY (BB 62) Battle Group and the deployed Marine Amphibious Ready Group. When she returned to Norfolk on 2 May 1984, DETROIT had completed 301 replenishments, a new ship’s record.

In February 1985, DETROIT completed an extensive three-month repair availability. From July through October 1985, she participated in fleet exercises in the Caribbean, as well as in Ocean Safari 85 operating above the Arctic circle in Norway’s Vestfjord. In August 1985, DETROIT successfully completed the first Operational Propulsion Plant Examination given to an AOE by the CINCLANTFLT Propulsion Examination Board.

In March 1986, DETROIT departed Norfolk for her tenth deployment with the SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean. She supported in three carrier operations off the coast of Libya in March and April 1986. In September 1986, she returned to Norfolk. The summer of 1988 found DETROIT back in the European theater, participating in Exercise Teamwork 88 replenishing U.S. and NATO allies in the Norwegian fjords.

After officially changing homeports in October 1989, DETROIT was underway in support of law enforcement operations in the Caribbean Sea. In May 1990, DETROIT arrived at Naval Weapons Station Earle, Leonardo, New Jersey where she is currently homeported.

In August 1990, DETROIT deployed to the Mediterranean for the 11th time since commissioning, but was diverted to the Red Sea in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. She remained on station in the Red Sea through the remainder of the year.

On January 17, 1991, Operation Desert Storm commenced with DETROIT as one of two Fast Combat Support ships on station. DETROIT’s crew worked non-stop for the remaining three months of what ultimately became a nine-month deployment. DETROIT commenced a six-month dry docked phased maintenance availability in May 1991 at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

In May 1992, DETROIT returned to SIXTH Fleet In support of MED 2-92. This deployment proved to be remarkably successful for DETROIT and her crew. DETROIT participated in the insertion and retrieval of US Army and Navy Special Forces during the Exercise Ellipse Bravo, and rescue efforts to the TCG MAUVENET, a Turkish warship, after it was struck by a missile.

DETROIT returned to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a dry-docked phased maintenance availability in July 1993. Shipyard repairs were completed in January 1994 and the ship immediately commenced work-ups for her next deployment.

On October 20, 1994, DETROIT was underway for her 13th Mediterranean deployment. Prior to arriving in the Mediterranean, the ship was tasked to take station in the Arabian Sea in support of US Naval Forces. DETROIT returned to the SIXTH Fleet in December 1994. She remained in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, providing logistics support for the remainder of the deployment.

On November 22, 1996, DETROIT deployed with the THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Group for her 14th Mediterranean deployment. DETROIT performed operations in the Adriatic Sea, as well as transiting the Suez Canal, joining the FIFTH Fleet in support of Operation Southern Watch. Additionally, she participated in exercise Inspired Siren 2-97 and a variety of other multi-national exercises. DETROIT returned to Earle, NJ on 22 May 1997.

From July through November 1997, DETROIT underwent a four month phased maintenance availability, which extended the life of her propulsion plant at least another ten years. DETROIT earned the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet 1997 Battle Efficiency Award and the 1997 Chief of Naval Operations Ship-Helo Safety Award. DETROIT recently completed the basic phase of training in preparation for her next deployment in support of the ENTERPRISE Battle Group.

In June 1998, DETROIT participated in the Maritime Exercise "Unified Spirit" where she provide Combat Logisitic Services for several NATO ships, as well as other U. S. Navy Units. During the eleven day exercise, she UNREPed 35 separate units and pumped nearly two million gallons of petroleum products in 52 alongside periods. Immediately following the exercise, she was dispatched to Mid-Atlantic for a two day download of the USS SANTA BARBARA prior to her decommissioning later in the year. Additionally, DETROIT provided several UNREPS for units of COMDESRON 22 as they transited the Atlantic on their way home from deployment.

Upon DETROIT’s return to Earle, NJ on 2 July 1998, Captain Mark McNally relieved Captain William J. McCarthy as Commanding Officer, becoming the twenty-second Commanding Officer of the mighty warship DETROIT. Captain M. H. Kaczmarek, Commander, Combat Logistics Group Two was the guest speaker. Captain William J. McCarthy, the outgoing Commanding Officer, was presented the Legion of Merit Award for his truly outstanding leadership while Commanding Officer of DETROIT.

In November 1998, she departed on her next deployment in support of the USS ENTERPRISE Battle Group. During this deployment the Battle Group conducted Operation Desert Fox against Iraq. In June 1999, DETROIT was home in Earle.

Ship's Crest:

Description of Coat of Arms: USS DETROIT's emblem is adapted from an original sketch by Quartermaster First Class Rex M. Reed, U.S. Navy, of the ship's pre- commissioning crew. It is comprised of seven major elements: (1) A profile of the first DETROIT; (2) a flaming mine to symbolize ordnance; (3) a wheat-filled cornucopia to symbolize provisions; (4) a fuel valve to symbolize petroleum products; (5) electron paths to symbolize the nuclear era; (6) five stars to represent the five ships named DETROIT; and (7) the ship's motto, SUPERARE OPTIMUM "To Surpass the Finest." The first DETROIT was a 19-gun sloop captured from the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The black hull and white sails of the first DETROIT are set against a background of light blue sky and deep blue sea. The symbols for ordnance, provisions, and petroleum products are set along the electron paths which symbolize the modern nuclear age. These symbols reflect the mission of the Fast Combat Support Ship: To support Naval Forces at sea in the theater of operations. The five stars represent the five ships of the United States Navy named in honor of the City of Detroit, Michigan.