USS David R. Ray (DD-971)
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| Missing image USS_David_R_Ray.jpg USS David R. Ray underway | |
| Career | 
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| Ordered: | 15 January 1971 |
| Laid down: | 23 September 1974 |
| Launched: | 24 August 1975 |
| Commissioned: | 19 November 1977 |
| Decommissioned: | 28 February 2002 |
| Fate: | Stricken, to be disposed of |
| Struck: | 6 November 2002 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 8,040 tons full load. |
| Length: | 529 ft waterline; 563 ft overall (161, 172 m) |
| Beam: | 55 ft (16.8 m) |
| Draught: | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Propulsion: | 4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines; 80,000 shp (60 MW); 2 x shafts. |
| Speed: | 32.5 knots |
| Range: | 6,000 nautical miles at 20 knots; 3,300 nautical miles at 30 knots (56 km/h). |
| Complement: | 19 officers, 315 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Aircraft: | 2 x SH-60B Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters. |
| Radars: |
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| Sonars: |
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| EW: |
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| Motto: | Determined, Ready, Resourceful |
USS David R. Ray (DD-971), named for Hospital Corpsman Second Class David Robert Ray (1945-1969), assigned to Battery D of the Second Battalion, Eleventh Marines, 1st Marine Division, killed in action at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa, in Quang Nam Province in the Republic of Vietnam on 19 March 1969 and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, was a Spruance class destroyer built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula in Mississippi.
Ship's history
USS David R. Ray (DD-971) was commissioned on 19 November 1977 in Pascagula, Mississippi. The principal speaker was the Honorable James R. Sasser, U.S. Senator from Tennessee. Mrs. Donnie M. Ray, HM2 David R. Ray’s mother and the ship’s sponsor was also in attendance.
On the voyage from Pascagula to her new homeport of San Diego, the David R. Ray passed through the Panama Canal. David R. Ray, nicknamed “Sting Ray,” crossed the equator for the first time on 16 May 1978. On 19 February 1979, she became the first ship to intercept a supersonic drone with the NATO Seasparrow Missile System. The ship first deployed on 8 September 1979 and made port calls in Pearl Harbor, Guam, Yokosuka, Inchon, Subic Bay, and Hong Kong. In 1982, David R. Ray went through her first major overhaul in Seattle, Washington. On 18 October 1983, David R. Ray began another major deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. After brief stops in Pearl Harbor, Subic Bay, and Hong Kong, the ship participated in a joint Thailand-U.S. naval exercise. Later the ship spent 45 days underway patrolling the Indian Ocean as part of Battle Group Alpha.
Late in 1984, David R. Ray became the Navy’s primary test platform for the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) System. On 15 January 1986, David R. Ray deployed with Battle Group Foxtrot. During this deployment, the ship made worldwide news when it prevented the boarding of the U.S. Vessel President McKinley by an Iranian Saam class frigate on 12 May 1986.
David R. Ray’s second major overhaul began in June 1988, which coincided with the ship’s shift of homeport from San Diego to Long Beach, California. During this overhaul, the ship received a Vertical Launch System. After the overhaul, the ship completed four CNO projects, including RAM, NATO Seasparrow RIM 7-P, Tomahawk Block 2 and ASROC. David R. Ray deployed on 27 April 1990 and was in the Persian Gulf at the onset of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. The ship played a critical role in the early stages of Operation Desert Shield before returning to the United States. Deploying again to the Middle East Force on 22 April 1992, the ship served as flagship during Maritime Interception Force Operations before returning to Long Beach, California on 22 October 1992.
David R. Ray deployed to the Persian Gulf in October 1994 and served as flagship to Commander, Destroyer Squadron Fifty conducting Maritime Interception Operations in boarding numerous suspect vessels resulting in the diversion and detention of three vessels. Upon return from deployment in April 1995, the ship continued a very fast operational tempo, including trips to Catalina Island, Seattle Sea Fair, and San Francisco Fleet Week.
David R. Ray completed a nine month regular overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard in June 1996 and then a homeport change to Everett, Washington in July 1996. The ship completed a full workup cycle before deploying on 20 May 1997 to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf as senior ship of a Middle East Force / Surface Action Group. During this deployment, the ship conducted 49 boardings and over 700 flight hours in support of Maritime Interception Operations. Upon return in November 1997, the ship went into holiday stand down and commenced a nine week maintenance availability on 11 February 1998 which ended 15 April 1998. David R. Ray spent the remainder of 1998 preparing for its next deployment. On 9 March 1999, David R. Ray received no notice tasking to act as the Surface Action Group Commander for the sinking of the M/V New Carissa off the coast of Oregon. The ship’s quick response and control of the elements of the Surface Action Group averted a potentially disastrous oil spill. The ship and her crew earned the Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational Device for its participation.
On 16 April 1999 the David R. Ray deployed to the Persian Gulf on PACMEF 99-2 as the Surface Action Group Commander. The ship and crew conducted 55 boardings and over 850 hours of flight operations. David R. Ray was again in the news when her crew helped to delivery a healthy baby girl on aboard an Iraqi ferry. The ship returned to its homeport on 4 October 1999. Since returning from deployment, David R. Ray participated in various training opportunities, including Anti-Air Warfare and Naval Surface Fire Support exercises. Prior to the ship’s change of command on 29 April 2000, David R. Ray visited Puerto Vallarta and escorted the ex-USS South Carolina as she was towed to Bremerton, Washington for deactivation.
Ship's crest
DD971crest.gif
Navy blue, gold and scarlet are the colors of the Navy and Marine Corps. The navy blue caduceus, the insignia worn by hospital corpsman in the navy, along with the howitzer cartriges allude to the medical services the Navy provides to the Marine Corps. In particular, they symbolize the action in which Petty Officer Ray, though fatally wounded, gave medical assistance and protection to wounded Marine comrades. The ship's motto, "Determined, Ready, Resourceful" alludes to the initials of Petty Officer Ray and epitomizes his legacy to the ship that bears his name. The motto served as a guide and inspiration for the men and women who served on the David R. Ray throughout the years.
External links
- Naval Vessel Register entry for David R. Ray (http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/DD971.htm)
- navsource.org: USS David R. Ray (http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/971.htm)
- united-states-navy.com: USS David R. Ray (http://www.united-states-navy.com/dd/dd971.htm)
| Spruance-class destroyer |
|
Spruance | Paul F. Foster | Kinkaid | Hewitt | Elliot | Arthur W. Radford | Peterson | Caron | David R. Ray | Oldendorf | John Young | Comte de Grasse | O'Brien | Merrill | Briscoe | Stump | Conolly | Moosbrugger | John Hancock | Nicholson | John Rodgers | Leftwich | Cushing | Harry W. Hill | O'Bannon | Thorn | Deyo | Ingersoll | Fife | Fletcher | Hayler |
| Kidd (Modified Spruance)-class destroyer |
| List of destroyers of the United States Navy List of destroyer classes of the United States Navy |