Changes in Ships’ Status

This report covers the period July 1, 2003, through Jan. 1, 2004. Data is accurate as of Dec. 1, 2003. Dates are subject to change.
Navy

Ships

Aircraft carriers

Ex-Oriskany (CV-34): Scheduled to be sunk as an artificial reef. The likely recipient is the state of Florida, although Texas and South Carolina have shown interest. Florida decided on Nov. 14 that if it receives the ship, it will be scuttled off Pensacola. The target date for sinking the carrier is spring 2004.

Ex-Midway (CV-41): Transferred to the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum on Aug. 29 as a memorial “in remembrance of the valiant service of its crew and a testimonial to the men and women who built, reconfigured and maintained the vessel.” Left Bremerton Inactive Ship Facility in Washington under tow on Oct. 1 for Oakland, Calif., where it arrived Oct. 7 to receive a new coat of paint. Upon completion in mid-December, it will be towed to San Diego for permanent berthing.

Ranger (CV-61): To be stricken from the Naval Vessel Register as “excess to naval requirements.”

Independence (CV-62): To be stricken from the NVR as “excess to naval requirements.”

Constellation (CV-64): Decommissioned Aug. 7 at Naval Station San Diego.

Ronald Reagan (CVN-76): Commissioned July 12. To be assigned next year to Pacific Fleet and home-ported at San Diego.

George H.W. Bush (CVN-77): Keel laid Sept. 6 at Northrop Grumman Newport News, Newport News, Va.

Guided-missile destroyers

Ex-Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7): Sunk as a target Aug. 15 off the Pacific coast by two Standard Block III missiles and one Harpoon AGM-84 missile, 5-inch naval gunfire from surface ships and several Mark 83 general- purpose bombs dropped from F/A-18 aircraft. An explosive ordnance disposal team also participated.

Mustin (DDG-89): Placed “In Commission, Full” July 26. Home-ported at San Diego.

Chafee (DDG-90): Placed “In Commission, Special” Aug. 6 and delivered to the Navy the same date. Placed “In Commission, Full” on Oct. 18. Home-ported at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Pinckney (DDG-91): Delivered on Oct. 27 and placed “In Commission, Special” the same date. To be home-ported at San Diego.

Momsen (DDG-92): Launched July 19 at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. Christened on Aug. 9. To be home-ported at Everett, Wash.

James E. Williams (DDG-95): Launched June 25 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Pascagoula, Miss.

Forrest Sherman (DDG-98): Keel laid Aug. 7 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Pascagoula.

Destroyers

Elliot (DD-967): Decommissioned Dec. 2 at San Diego.

Ex-John Young (DD-973): Transferred to the Maritime Administration on June 26 for berthing in the reserve fleet at Suisun Bay, Calif. Withdrawn from the MARAD reserve fleet on Sept. 3 by the Navy for preparation for use as a target in a SINKEX.

Ex-Merrill (DD-976): Sunk as a target Aug. 1 off the Hawaiian Islands at 22 degrees 45’43.0 North, 160 degrees 29’23.0 West in 2,573 fathoms as part of an explosive ordnance disposal team exercise (correction).

Briscoe (DD-977): Decommissioned Oct. 2 at Norfolk, Va.

Ex-Leftwich (DD-984): Sunk as a target Aug. 1 off the Hawaiian Islands at 22 degrees 48’47.0 North, 160 degrees 34’ West in 2,570 fathoms as part of an explosive ordnance disposal team exercise (correction).

Deyo (DD-989): Decommissioned Nov. 6 at Norfolk.

Ex-Ingersoll (DD-990): Sunk as a target July 29 at 23 degrees 02’ North, 160 degrees 04’ West by aircraft firing seven Harpoon AGM-84 missiles and one Maverick AGM-65 missile (correction).

Hayler (DD-997): Decommissioned Aug. 25 at Norfolk.

Guided-missile frigates

George Philip (FFG-12): To be transferred to Bahrain under lease.

Sides (FFG-14): To be transferred to Portugal under lease.

Crommelin (FFG-37): Transferred to the Naval Reserve Force Oct. 1.

Frigates

Ex-Downes (FF-1070): Sunk as a target Aug. 15 off the Pacific coast by 5-inch naval gunfire (correction).

Submarines

Bremerton (SSN-699): Home port changed from San Diego to Pearl Harbor on Sept. 1.

Michigan (SSBN-727): Due to return from her last SSBN patrol by end of December 2003. To enter Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., for refueling and conversion to SSGN in February 2004.

Georgia (SSBN-729): Returned to home port from last SSBN patrol on Oct. 30. To transfer to Atlantic Fleet for operational tests and then enter Norfolk Naval Shipyard for refueling and SSGN conversion in fall 2004.

Jefferson City (SSN-759): Home port changed on Jan. 24 from San Diego to Bremerton for an overhaul.

Virginia (SSN-774): Launched Aug. 7 at General Dynamics Corp., Electric Boat Division, Groton, Conn. Christened Aug. 16.

SSN-778 – 783 (unnamed): Construction contract for five submarines, plus one option, awarded to General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division, on Sept. 14.

Amphibious ships

San Antonio (LPD-17): Launched July 12 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale Operations, New Orleans. Christened July 19.

Green Bay (LPD-20): Keel laid Aug. 26 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Avondale Operations (correction).

Anchorage (LSD-36): Decommissioned Oct. 1 at San Diego. To be transferred to Taiwan.

Portland (LSD-37): Decommis- sioned Aug. 4 at Little Creek, Va. For disposal.

Mount Vernon (LSD-39): Decommissioned July 25 at San Diego. For disposal.

Support ships

Ex-Samuel Gompers (AD-37): Sunk as a target July 21 along with Dixon (AS-37) and Seneca (ATF-91), at 31 degrees North, 74 degrees West by aircraft from the Enterprise (CVN-65) strike group, NAS Oceana, Va., NAS Jacksonville, Fla., and MCAS Beaufort, N.C. P-3 Orion aircraft also participated. Weapons used included Harpoon missiles and 5-inch gunfire.

Resolute (AFDM-10): Placed “out of service, in reserve” on Nov. 7 at Norfolk. To be stricken and sold for commercial service.

Coronado (AGF-11): Decommissioned Nov. 14 at Point Loma, Calif., and transferred to Military Sealift Command for further service as USNS Coronado (T-AGF-11). This was done to reduce manning and operating costs. If MSC operation is satisfactory, La Salle (AGF-3), Blue Ridge (LCC-19) and Mount Whitney (LCC-20) could also be transferred to MSC.

USNS Prevail (T-AGOS-8): Removed from MSC inventory April 18 and transferred to Naval Sea Systems Command/Commandant, Norfolk Naval Shipyard for further service, replacing Gosport (IX-517). Renamed Prevail (TSV-1) [Training Support Vessel No. 1]. Activated for fleet service Sept. 2. To be reclassified IX-537.

USNS Assertive (T-AGOS-9): Placed “out of service” on Sept. 1. Transferred to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for conversion to a research ship.

USNS Able (T-AGOS-20): Taken “out of service” July 7 and laid up in reserve Category B as a mobilization asset.

USNS Littlehales (T-AGS-52): Officially transferred to NOAA on July 8 and recommissioned as Thomas Jefferson (S 222).

USNS Comfort (T-AH-20): Taken “out of service” on June 12 and reduced to reduced operational status. Maintained in a lay berth at Baltimore.

USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK-3016): Placed “in service” Nov. 7 as part of the Marine Prepositioning Enhancement Program. This is the second ship of the program, the third ship having been placed in service several months ago due to the length of time it took to convert this ship. Conversion began July 18, 1997.

Unnamed (T-AKE-4): Contract for construction awarded to National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, on July 18.

USNS Shugart (T-AKR-295): Activated ROS on Jan. 21 and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.

USNS Gilliland (T-AKR-298): Activated from ROS on Jan. 9. and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.

USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300): Reactivated from ROS on Jan. 31. Placed in MSC-ROS on Oct. 19. Placed “in service” for continued service on Nov. 30. Still active.

USNS Fisher (T-AKR-301): Placed in ROS on Nov. 6.

USNS Seay (T-AKR-302): Placed in ROS on Oct. 24.

USNS Mendonca (T-AKR-303): Placed in ROS on Oct. 18.

USNS Pililaau (T-AKR-304): Activated from ROS Dec. 12, 2002, and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.

USNS Brittin (T-AKR-305): Activated from ROS on Jan. 2 and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.

USNS Benavidez (T-AKR-306): Delivered to MSC on Sept. 10 and placed “in service” the same date.

USNS Red Cloud (T-AKR-312): Activated from ROS on Jan. 23 and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.

USNS Cape Henry (T-AKR-5067): Reactivated from RRF on Jan. 28 and placed “in service” for carrying military cargo to the Middle East. Still active.

Rainier (AOE-7): Decommissioned Aug. 29 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., and transferred to Military Sealift Command for further service as USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7).

Ex-Dixon (AS-37): Sunk as a target off the Virginia coast July 21 by aircraft and surface fire.

Ex-Seneca (ATF-91): Sunk as a target off the Virginia coast on July 21 by aircraft and surface fire.

Aviation

Active-duty squadrons established

Marine Corps

VMX-22: Activated Aug. 28 as the Osprey V-22 operational test and evaluation squadron. Based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C.

Active-duty squadrons disestablished

Marine Corps

VC-8 Redtails: Based at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Disestablished on Oct. 1 as a result of the closing of the Vieques Island training facility.

Reserve squadrons deactivated

Marine Corps

VMGR-234 Rangers: Deactivated from active duty to reserve on Sept. 30. Marine Corps Reserve squadron based at the Joint Naval Reserve Center at Fort Worth, Texas. The squadron flew KC-130T Hercules aircraft.

VMGR-452 Skryraiders: Deactivated from active duty to reserve on Sept. 30. Marine Corps Reserve squadron based at Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y. The squadron flew KC-130 Hercules aircraft.

Squadron reclassifications

Navy

VF-2 Bounty Hunters: Reclassified as VFA-2 on July 1 and transferred to Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., for conversion from Tomcat F-14 into Super Hornet F/A-18F aircraft.

VF-154 Black Knights: Reclassified as VFA-154 on Oct 1 and transferred to NAS Lemoore for conversion from Tomcat F-14 into Super Hornet F/A-18F aircraft.

Home base changes

VF-102 Diamondbacks: Officially transferred from NAS Lemoore to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, on Nov. 1, replacing VF-154 as part of CVW-5, the air wing for the forward-based carrier Kitty Hawk (CV-63).

Administrative command changes

Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet: Redesignated Director, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group, Pacific on Oct. 15.

Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Two: Established on Oct. 15. Based at MCB Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing One: Redesignated Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, Seventh Fleet/Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Fifth Fleet on Oct. 15. On the same date, the command’s home base was moved from Kamiseya, Japan, to Misawa, Japan.

Coast Guard

Medium-endurance cutters

Durable (WMEC-628): Transferred to Colombia on Sept. 4. Recommissioned in the Colombian Coast Guard on the same date as Valle De Cauca (44).

Tahoma (WMEC-908) and Campbell (WMEC-909): Home port for both cutters changed Sept. 27 from New Bedford, Mass., to Kittery, Maine.

Patrol boats

Sea Lion (WPB-87352): Launched Aug. 19 at Bollinger Shipyard, Lockport, La. Delivered and placed “In Commission, Special” Nov. 18. To be home-ported at Bellingham, Wash.

Skipjack (WPB-87353): Launched Oct. 7. To be delivered and placed “In Commission, Special” Dec. 16. To be home-ported at Galveston, Texas.

Dolphin (WPB-87354): Launched Nov. 4. To be home-ported at Miami.

Hawk (WPB-87355): Launched Dec. 2. To be home-ported at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Sailfish (WPB-87356): Scheduled to be launched Dec. 30. To be home-ported at Sandy Hook, N.J.

Swordfish (WPB-87358), Tiger Shark (WPB-87359), Blue Shark (WPB-87360), Sea Horse (WPB-87361), Sea Otter (WPB-87362), Manatee (WPB-87363), Diamondback (WPB-87364), Piranha (WPB-87365) and Skate (WPB-87366): Contract for construction scheduled to be awarded to Bollinger Shipyards approximately mid-December 2003.

Seagoing buoy tenders

Hickory (WLB-212): Placed “In Commission, Special” on March 6. Placed “In Commission, Full” July 3. Home-ported at Homer, Alaska.

Fir (WLB-213): Placed “In Commission, Special” on June 27. Placed “In Commission, Full” Nov. 8. Home-ported at Astoria, Ore.

Hollyhock (WLB-214, ex-WLB-215): Launched Jan. 25 at Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, Wis. Delivered and placed “In Commission, Special” on Oct. 15. Scheduled to be placed “In Commission, Full” in the first quarter of 2004. To be home-ported at Port Huron, Mich.

Sequoia (WLB-215, ex-WLB-214): Launched on Aug. 23 at Marinette Marine Corp. Scheduled to be delivered and placed “In Commission, Special” on March 4, 2004. To be home-ported at Apra Harbor, Guam (correction).

Alder (WLB-216): Last of class. Scheduled to be launched Feb. 7, 2004, at Marinette Marine Corp. To be home-ported at Duluth, Minn.

Sassafras (WLB-401): Decommissioned Oct. 31 at Guam, stricken from the Coast Guard Vessel Register and transferred to Nigeria as OBULA (A 504).