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USS Richmond K. Turner (CG-20)
Encyclopedia
USS Richmond K. Turner (DLG-20 / CG-20) was a Leahy class destroyer leader in the United States Navy
. The ship was named for Admiral
Richmond K. Turner
, who served during World War II
.
The keel of the Richmond K. Turner was laid on January 9, 1961 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey. It is one of nine Leahy-class "double-ended" guided missile destroyers.
August 10, 1964 for her homeport of San Diego, Calif., stopping briefly at Yorktown and Norfolk, Va., and then Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It crossed through the Panama Canal
, and after a port call in Acapulco, Mexico, arrived in San Diego on September 11, 1964.
Richmond K. Turner departed San Diego June 4, 1965 her first deployment to the Western Pacific. It joined Task Force 77 in the South China Sea
area and served as missile support ship for the attack carriers Coral Sea (CVA-43), Independence (CV-62)
, and Oriskany (CV-34)
.
and arrived San Diego December 18.
It stood out of San Diego October 15, 1966, bound a second time for Southeast Asian waters, returning to her homeport March 28, 1967 and making a midshipman training cruise to Pearl Harbor.
It departed for her third tour off Vietnam
June 10, 1968, and contributed to Fleet readiness in Asian waters until returning to San Diego in December 1968.
Richmond K. Turner assumed the duty as antisubmarine warfare (ASW) Schoolship in the southern California operating areas. In February, it conducted a SecNav guest cruise, and March 1, it commenced an extensive updating of her shipboard missile systems at the Naval Station San Diego. It then underwent training and further preparations for its fourth WestPac deployment, which commenced in January 1970.
It arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, March 4, 1970 and spent two months operating in the Sea of Japan. it operated off the coast of Vietnam from June until July 1970 and returned to San Diego in August after stopping at Guam and Pearl Harbor.
and arrived at the Bath Iron Works on April 27. It was decommissioned May 5, under a Navy wide program to enhance the anti-air warfare capability of major guided missile ships. Richmond K. Turner was recommissioned at Bath Iron Works on May 17, 1972.
For seven months, Richmond K. Turner engaged in various trials, exercises, and refreitr training along the east coast of the United States and in the Caribbean. It returned to Newport, R.I., November 22, 1972 and remained there until January 9, 1973, when she entered Boston Naval Shipyard for a two-month yard period. Leaving Boston in March, Richmond K. Turner deployed on a UNITAS cruise to South America in 1973.
Richmond K. Turner was re-designated CG-20 in July 1975 and participated in Operation 200 which included the International Naval Review in New York City for the Nation's Bicentennial Celebration on July 4, 1976.
In September 1978 the Richmond K. Turner reported to GTMO for REFTRA. The day after arrival Richmond K. Turner was directed to intercept and conduct surveillance of Soviet Naval units operating in the West Indies. With that task completed Richmond K. Turner was then directed to transit the Panama Canal and conduct surveillance operations off the contiguous waters of western Nicaragua. The ship received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for these operations in March 1979. In July 1979, While operating with the 6th Fleet, Richmond K. Turner successfully launched a Harpoon missile during an exercise in the Gulf of Sidra
destroying the target at a range of 78 miles (126 km). This was the first firing of a Harpoon missile from a deployed US Navy Ship.
In May 1980 Richmond K. Turner participated in Boston's OPSAIL 80 and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation for conducting two special operations. Richmond K. Turner completed four highly successful Mediterranean deployments as part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, prior to an extensive baseline overhaul at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, SC from January to December 1982. During this overhaul Richmond K. Turner received numerous updates to modernize its combat systems suite. It was also fitted with the Vulcan Phalanx Close In Weapons System (CIWS) for self defense against cruise missiles. After this overhaul Richmond K. Turner completed two more Mediterranean deployments, one of which included the successful launch of a Harpoon missile during a naval battle in the Gulf of Sidra
.
and was a participant of Operation Earnest Will
.
Upon its return to the United States, Richmond K. Turner was overhauled in Ingalls Shipyard at Pascagoula, Mississippi, where it received the New Threat Upgrade
(NTU) to its Combat Direction System as well as many engineering improvements.
In response to the crisis in the Persian Gulf
caused by Iraq
's invasion of Kuwait
, Richmond K. Turner deployed early as a primary AAW unit in the Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
battle group, which arrived in the theater just before hostilities broke out. During 60 days in the Persian Gulf, Richmond K. Turner provided protection to four carriers and served as an advance picket ship in the mine infested waters off Kuwait. Following the cease fire, Richmond K. Turner relocated to the Red Sea
where it participated in the continuing maritime interception operations in support of U.N. sanctions against Iraq.
Escorting USS Theodore Roosevelt through the Suez Canal
in late April 1991, Richmond K. Turner participated in Operation Provide Comfort
, a massive relief effort to help tens of thousands of Kurdish refugees who fled the turmoil of Iraq following that country's defeat in the war. During this time Richmond K. Turner became the Anti-Air Warfare Commander for the Aircraft Carrier Striking Force, U.S. Sixth Fleet.
For its operations during Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort, the Secretary of the Navy awarded Richmond K. Turner the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the National Defense Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. The ship also received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for its participation in Operation Provide Comfort, one of only five USN ships to be included in that award. The citation was signed out by CJCS General
Colin Powell
on 18 December 1991.
over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Prior to its decommissioning on March 31, 1995, Richmond K. Turner served as the test platform for the Navy's Light-weight Exoatmosheric Projectile (LEAP) Program, firing the first LEAP shot ever and launching the Navy into the future of missile technology.
. The SINKEX was conducted by the USS Enterprise battle group including the USS Philippine Sea (CG-58)
, USS Thorn (DD-988)
, USS Nicholson (DD-982)
and Carrier Air Wing 3.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. The ship was named for Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Richmond K. Turner
Richmond K. Turner
-Footnotes:...
, who served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The keel of the Richmond K. Turner was laid on January 9, 1961 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey. It is one of nine Leahy-class "double-ended" guided missile destroyers.
Initial operations
The ship departed Philadelphia Naval ShipyardPhiladelphia Naval Shipyard
The Philadelphia Naval Business Center, formerly known as the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and Philadelphia Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard of the United States. The U.S. Navy reduced its activities there in the 1990s, and ended most of them on September 30, 1995...
August 10, 1964 for her homeport of San Diego, Calif., stopping briefly at Yorktown and Norfolk, Va., and then Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It crossed through the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, and after a port call in Acapulco, Mexico, arrived in San Diego on September 11, 1964.
Richmond K. Turner departed San Diego June 4, 1965 her first deployment to the Western Pacific. It joined Task Force 77 in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
area and served as missile support ship for the attack carriers Coral Sea (CVA-43), Independence (CV-62)
USS Independence (CV-62)
The fifth USS Independence is a of the United States Navy. It was the fourth and final member of the Forrestal-class conventional-powered Supercarrier...
, and Oriskany (CV-34)
USS Oriskany (CV-34)
USS Oriskany – nicknamed Mighty O, The O-boat, and Toasted O – was one of 24 s completed during or shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the third US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Oriskany.The history of...
.
Vietnam
It was reassigned to the Search and Rescue Destroyer Unit in the Tonkin Gulf in September 1965. After participating in missions in which eight aviators were rescued, it departed Subic BaySubic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
and arrived San Diego December 18.
It stood out of San Diego October 15, 1966, bound a second time for Southeast Asian waters, returning to her homeport March 28, 1967 and making a midshipman training cruise to Pearl Harbor.
It departed for her third tour off Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
June 10, 1968, and contributed to Fleet readiness in Asian waters until returning to San Diego in December 1968.
Richmond K. Turner assumed the duty as antisubmarine warfare (ASW) Schoolship in the southern California operating areas. In February, it conducted a SecNav guest cruise, and March 1, it commenced an extensive updating of her shipboard missile systems at the Naval Station San Diego. It then underwent training and further preparations for its fourth WestPac deployment, which commenced in January 1970.
It arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, March 4, 1970 and spent two months operating in the Sea of Japan. it operated off the coast of Vietnam from June until July 1970 and returned to San Diego in August after stopping at Guam and Pearl Harbor.
Refit
On March 22, 1971, it embarked for Bath, MaineBath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
and arrived at the Bath Iron Works on April 27. It was decommissioned May 5, under a Navy wide program to enhance the anti-air warfare capability of major guided missile ships. Richmond K. Turner was recommissioned at Bath Iron Works on May 17, 1972.
For seven months, Richmond K. Turner engaged in various trials, exercises, and refreitr training along the east coast of the United States and in the Caribbean. It returned to Newport, R.I., November 22, 1972 and remained there until January 9, 1973, when she entered Boston Naval Shipyard for a two-month yard period. Leaving Boston in March, Richmond K. Turner deployed on a UNITAS cruise to South America in 1973.
Richmond K. Turner was re-designated CG-20 in July 1975 and participated in Operation 200 which included the International Naval Review in New York City for the Nation's Bicentennial Celebration on July 4, 1976.
In September 1978 the Richmond K. Turner reported to GTMO for REFTRA. The day after arrival Richmond K. Turner was directed to intercept and conduct surveillance of Soviet Naval units operating in the West Indies. With that task completed Richmond K. Turner was then directed to transit the Panama Canal and conduct surveillance operations off the contiguous waters of western Nicaragua. The ship received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for these operations in March 1979. In July 1979, While operating with the 6th Fleet, Richmond K. Turner successfully launched a Harpoon missile during an exercise in the Gulf of Sidra
Gulf of Sidra
Gulf of Sidra is a body of water in the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Libya; it is also known as Gulf of Sirte or the Great Sirte or Greater Syrtis .- Geography :The Gulf of Sidra has been a major centre for tuna fishing in the Mediterranean for centuries...
destroying the target at a range of 78 miles (126 km). This was the first firing of a Harpoon missile from a deployed US Navy Ship.
In May 1980 Richmond K. Turner participated in Boston's OPSAIL 80 and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation for conducting two special operations. Richmond K. Turner completed four highly successful Mediterranean deployments as part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, prior to an extensive baseline overhaul at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, SC from January to December 1982. During this overhaul Richmond K. Turner received numerous updates to modernize its combat systems suite. It was also fitted with the Vulcan Phalanx Close In Weapons System (CIWS) for self defense against cruise missiles. After this overhaul Richmond K. Turner completed two more Mediterranean deployments, one of which included the successful launch of a Harpoon missile during a naval battle in the Gulf of Sidra
Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986)
In the Action in the Gulf of Sidra, the United States Navy deployed aircraft carrier groups in the disputed Gulf of Sidra in the Mediterranean Sea. Libya claimed that the entire Gulf was their territory, at 32° 30' N, with an exclusive fishing zone. Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi asserted this...
.
Persian Gulf
Richmond K. Turner also completed a 1988 deployment to the Persian GulfPersian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and was a participant of Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will was the U.S. military protection of Kuwaiti owned tankers from Iranian attacks in 1987 and 1988, three years into the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War. It was the largest naval convoy operation since World War II.The U.S. Navy warships that escorted the tankers, part of...
.
Upon its return to the United States, Richmond K. Turner was overhauled in Ingalls Shipyard at Pascagoula, Mississippi, where it received the New Threat Upgrade
New Threat Upgrade
-The Program:New Threat Upgrade was a program to improve the anti-aircraft capability of Terrier and Tartar ships. It allowed the full use of newer Standard missiles and improved the interoperability of the radar and computer systems aboard the ships...
(NTU) to its Combat Direction System as well as many engineering improvements.
In response to the crisis in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
caused by Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
's invasion of Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, Richmond K. Turner deployed early as a primary AAW unit in the Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
USS Theodore Roosevelt is the fourth Nimitz-class supercarrier. Her radio call sign is Rough Rider, the name of President Theodore Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry unit during the Spanish-American War...
battle group, which arrived in the theater just before hostilities broke out. During 60 days in the Persian Gulf, Richmond K. Turner provided protection to four carriers and served as an advance picket ship in the mine infested waters off Kuwait. Following the cease fire, Richmond K. Turner relocated to the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
where it participated in the continuing maritime interception operations in support of U.N. sanctions against Iraq.
Escorting USS Theodore Roosevelt through the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
in late April 1991, Richmond K. Turner participated in Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II were military operations by the United States and some of its Gulf War allies, starting in April 1991, to defend Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War and deliver humanitarian aid to them.-Operation...
, a massive relief effort to help tens of thousands of Kurdish refugees who fled the turmoil of Iraq following that country's defeat in the war. During this time Richmond K. Turner became the Anti-Air Warfare Commander for the Aircraft Carrier Striking Force, U.S. Sixth Fleet.
For its operations during Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort, the Secretary of the Navy awarded Richmond K. Turner the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the National Defense Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. The ship also received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for its participation in Operation Provide Comfort, one of only five USN ships to be included in that award. The citation was signed out by CJCS General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
on 18 December 1991.
Bosnia
It made a final deployment to the Mediterranean as a part of the USS Theodore Roosevelt battle group and served as an anti-air warfare command during Operation Deny FlightOperation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation that began on April 12, 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina...
over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Prior to its decommissioning on March 31, 1995, Richmond K. Turner served as the test platform for the Navy's Light-weight Exoatmosheric Projectile (LEAP) Program, firing the first LEAP shot ever and launching the Navy into the future of missile technology.
End of career
On August 9, 1998, USS Richmond K. Turner was sunk as a target near Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The SINKEX was conducted by the USS Enterprise battle group including the USS Philippine Sea (CG-58)
USS Philippine Sea (CG-58)
USS Philippine Sea is a Flight II Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser on active service in the United States Navy. She is named for the Battle of the Philippine Sea during World War II and is the second ship to bear the name. The Philippine Sea was the first U.S. or allied vessel to launch...
, USS Thorn (DD-988)
USS Thorn (DD-988)
USS Thorn , a Spruance-class destroyer, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Lieutenant Jonathan Thorn , who took part in Decatur's expedition to destroy the captured frigate Philadelphia in 1804....
, USS Nicholson (DD-982)
USS Nicholson (DD-982)
USS Nicholson , a Spruance-class destroyer, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for a family which was prominent in early American naval history, including James Nicholson, the senior Continental Navy Captain, and Samuel Nicholson, the first captain of USS Constitution.-...
and Carrier Air Wing 3.