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USS Stethem (DDG-63)
Encyclopedia
USS Stethem (DDG-63) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
in the United States Navy
. The ship was built in Pascagoula, Mississippi
, starting on May 11, 1993. The ship was commissioned
on October 21, 1995 and is based out of Yokosuka, Japan. It has operated throughout the Pacific Ocean, as well as on deployments to the Persian Gulf
. Stethem remains on active duty, assigned to the Pacific Fleet, as of 2008.
destroyer
. Construction of the Stethem began on May 18, 1992 with the ship's keel being laid down at the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries
in Pascagoula, Mississippi
on May 11, 1993. She was launched on June 17, 1994 and was christened Stethem on July 16, 1994 by Mrs. Patricia L. Stethem, the mother of the ship's namesake: Steel Worker
Second Class (SW2) Robert Stethem
, the United States Navy
Seabee
diver murdered in Beirut
during the hijacking of TWA Flight 847
in 1985. The vessel then transited the Panama Canal
and was officially commissioned
on October 21, 1995 in Port Hueneme, California
. On February 15, 1996 she successfully completed her Post Delivery Test and Trials and was thus cleared for combat operations. She was assigned to her home port, San Diego, California.
mission to recover survivors from a downed U.S. Air Force
C-130 off the coast of northern California. In the company of two smaller boats Stethem patrolled the area around the crash for some twenty hours while engaged in recovery efforts, which earned the destroyer the U.S. Coast Guard
Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal
; additionally she was recognized for her spectacular achievements during her first year of service by winning the 1996 Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One
Battle Efficiency Award
. On April 4, 1997 Commander Steven Miller was relieved by Commander James O'Keefe III, and shortly thereafter Stethem set sail for the Persian Gulf
on her maiden overseas deployment, reporting for duty in Bahrain on July 3. During the next three months she served in a variety of roles including the primary Air Warfare Commander, Surface Warfare Commander, Ready Strike Platform, and LINK Coordinator. She also provided support to both the and the Battle Groups and several U.S. Air Force aircraft engaged in Operation Southern Watch
. She also supported the United Nations Security Council
resolutions against Iraq
by conducting some 54 boardings and inspections of suspected sanctions violators.
Stethem's port visits during her deployment included Singapore
, Malaysia, Bahrain
, Oman
, the United Arab Emirates
, Perth
and Sydney
. She finally returned to San Diego on November 7, 1997 to begin an inter-deployment training cycle, the second one undertaken by the ship.
Beginning with an outstanding Command Assessment of Readiness for Training (CART II) in May 1998, Stethem single handedly set the standard for tailored training by demonstrating exceptional proficiency in Combat Systems, Navigation, Engineering, Mobility, Damage Control, and Logistics Management. Her training teams' mission readiness commitment resulted in the validation of all the Final Evaluation Period objectives during the Tailored Shipboard Training Availability Phase III(TSTA III) - a first for any surface combatant. On September 25, 1998 Commander O'Keefe was relieved as the Commanding Officer by Commander Gerard Hueber.
, Saipan
, Singapore
, and Thailand
, she reported for duty in the Persian Gulf and rapidly went to work conducting freedom of navigation operations and maritime interception operations, much as she had done on her first deployment. During her seventy-six days on station she served as an air warfare commander, a ready strike platform, and a force over-the-horizon track coordinator. Stethem also had the opportunity to support the Battle Group as a carrier escort and a plane guard. After serving as command ship for Northern Persian Gulf Maritime Interception Operations for a second time, she transited the Strait of Hormuz
on 13 August, and arrived home in San Diego October 4, 1999.
In January Stethem was honored for her achievements and was once more awarded with the 1999 Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One Battle Efficiency Award. She was the recipient of the Raytheon CIWS Award, the Pacific Force Retention Award, and the Safety Award.
In mid-September 2000, during a port visit in San Francisco, Stethem was called out to sea by the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (West) to escort the fishing vessel Gran Tauro to San Diego. The Gran Tauro had been caught with over five metric tons of uncut cocaine
aboard, with a total net worth of over $500 million. After completing this escort the ship returned to conducting final preparations for its next deployment. In January the ship was awarded with the 2000 Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One Battle Efficiency Award for the second consecutive year.
, Guam
, Singapore
, and Thailand
, Stethem reported in with the Fifth Fleet on February 28, 2001. During her sixty-eight days on station in the Persian Gulf
she conducted maritime interception operations, served as the air warfare commander, supported Operation Southern Watch
, served as a ready strike platform, and participated in two international naval exercises, Exercise Arabian Gauntlet and Exercise Neon Falcon. During her maritime interception operations the Stethem successfully intercepted the motor vessel Diamond, which resulted in the third largest arrest of an oil-smuggling sanctions violator since the Persian Gulf War
. Stethem also escorted the aircraft carrier
Harry S. Truman
through the Strait of Hormuz
on April 27 before departing for the United States. The ship arrived home in San Diego on June 28.
After enjoying a Post-Oversees Movement Stand-down, the Stethem supported the John C. Stennis
and her Battle Group as an opposing force during their final battle problem. In early September she went through INSURV inspections and set the standard once again. She was conducting her INSURV on 11 September 2001 when terrorists attacked New York City
and Washington, D.C.
, and shortly thereafter, Stethem was called into station in support of Operation Noble Eagle
and tasked with conducting air surveillance of the approaches to San Diego and providing air defense coverage to vital shipping assets.
On September 30 Stethem entered into drydock for her third Selective Restricted Availability at the Southwest Marine and Continental Maritime Shipyards. The purpose of this nine-week availability was the installation of equipment enhancements and quality of life upgrades. Stethem was also tapped to be the lead ship for the testing of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS), which represents the next generation of strike warfare capability. She departed drydock on October 30, and was moved to the Continental Maritime Shipyard in San Diego.
on December 6 marked the end of the 9.4 million dollar refurbishment and refitting period. The destroyer got underway the following week to begin the work up for her next deployment, and on December 14, She began her holiday leave and stand down period. The crew assembled in mid-January 2002 to continue efforts in support of her inter-deployment training cycle and Tactical Tomahawk testing. In early February, Stethem anchored off the coast of Puerto Vallarta
, Mexico
; this was the first foreign port visit by any U.S. naval combatant since the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001.
In the ensuing months Stethem embarked on her third Inter Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) and served as Command Destroyer Squadron 23’s flagship throughout the month of February. In March, Stethem completed the Command Assessment of Readiness for Training II (CART II). Between the weeks of April 1 and May 3, 2002, Stethem completed the Tailored Ship’s Training Availability period. On May 6 Stethem served as the opposition forces for the carrier battle group’s Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).
In early June, Stethem earned her seventh Engineering Command excellence award as a result of outstanding performance during the Engineering Underway Demonstration. On July 8–12, she commenced a supply management assessment which was upgraded to an inspection because of her exemplary combat logistics readiness. Returning to the site of her commissioning in 1995, at the end of July, Stethem took part in the 60th Anniversary of Seabee
Days in Port Hueneme, CA in honor of her namesake. She then transited to Everett, WA, embarked families and friends for the short transit to participate in the Seattle Seafair Festival. On September 12, 2002, Stethem was given the distinct privilege of leading the Parade of Sail into San Diego Bay. In the beginning of October, Stethem occupied a place of honor downtown at Broadway Pier as part of San Diego’s Fleet Week Celebration. While at Broadway Pier, Stethem safely hosted the first public Navy ship tours in San Diego after the September 11 attacks. Soon afterward, on October 16, Stethem successfully launched the first Tomahawk Cruise Missile using the new Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS). At the end of October, Stethem once again played the role of opposition force, this time for the Constellation
carrier battle group
.
In January 2003, Stethem played the opposition force role for the Nimitz carrier battle group. On February 5, 2003, Stethem returned to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for another port visit. Working with the San Diego and Puerto Vallarta Navy League Chapters, Stethem delivered medical equipment for distribution to handicapped residents of Puerto Vallarta. The crew also painted the local library frequented by many of Puerto Vallarta’s school children. On April 5, 2003, Stethem successfully performed the first ever surface ship launch of a Block IV Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile, bringing it one big step closer to fleet introduction. This was followed up on May 8 with the first surface ship launch of a Block IV Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile with a live warhead. After the missile left the launcher, Stethems strike team became the first to demonstrate Tactical Tomahawk’s post launch execution capability when they redirected the missile in flight. Both the team and the missile performed flawlessly, completely destroying the intended target on San Clemente Island after over 2 hours and 700 miles of missile flight.
On May 14, after a two-week intermediate maintenance availability, Stethem sailed in support of a different kind of missile-firing exercise. During this exercise Stethems air warfare team engaged two airborne targets with Standard Missile
s. After this successful engagement, Stethem celebrated by transiting north to Juneau, Alaska and Victoria, British Columbia for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. All of the crew took advantage of great opportunities for sightseeing and shopping.
Returning from her trek up North in June, Stethem rested for one week and then put back to sea to serve as the opposition force against Pacific Fleet's first Expeditionary Strike Group, which was headed up by USS Peleliu
.
Stethem returned to homeport from a port visit in Hong Kong on December 6, 2006.
Arleigh Burke class destroyer
The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers is the United States Navy's first class of destroyer built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. The class is named for Admiral Arleigh "31-Knot" Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of...
in the United States Navy
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 built in Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...
, starting on May 11, 1993. The ship was commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on October 21, 1995 and is based out of Yokosuka, Japan. It has operated throughout the Pacific Ocean, as well as on deployments to 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...
. Stethem remains on active duty, assigned to the Pacific Fleet, as of 2008.
Ship history
USS Stethem (DDG 63) is the 13th Arleigh Burke-class AegisAegis combat system
The Aegis Combat System is an integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and now produced by Lockheed Martin...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
. Construction of the Stethem began on May 18, 1992 with the ship's keel being laid down at the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries
Litton Industries
Named after inventor Charles Litton, Sr., Litton Industries was a large defense contractor in the United States, bought by the Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2001.-History:...
in Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...
on May 11, 1993. She was launched on June 17, 1994 and was christened Stethem on July 16, 1994 by Mrs. Patricia L. Stethem, the mother of the ship's namesake: Steel Worker
Steel Worker (US Navy)
Steelworker is a United States Navy occupational rating.Steelworkers perform tasks directly related to fabrication and erection of pre-engineered structures, including steel reinforcement; control job site deployment of materials and equipment; direct and coordinate the composition, training and...
Second Class (SW2) Robert Stethem
Robert Stethem
Robert Dean Stethem was a United States Navy Seabee diver who was killed by Hezbollah militants during the hijacking of the commercial airliner he was aboard: TWA Flight 847...
, the United States Navy
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...
Seabee
Seabee
Seabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
diver murdered in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
during the hijacking of TWA Flight 847
TWA Flight 847
TWA Flight 847 was an international Trans World Airlines flight which was hijacked by Lebanese Shia extremists, later identified as members of Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, on Friday morning, June 14, 1985, after originally taking off from Cairo. The flight was en route from Athens to Rome and then...
in 1985. The vessel then transited 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 was officially commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on October 21, 1995 in Port Hueneme, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. On February 15, 1996 she successfully completed her Post Delivery Test and Trials and was thus cleared for combat operations. She was assigned to her home port, San Diego, California.
First deployment
On the night of November 23, 1996 the ship was diverted for a Search and RescueSearch and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
mission to recover survivors from a downed U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
C-130 off the coast of northern California. In the company of two smaller boats Stethem patrolled the area around the crash for some twenty hours while engaged in recovery efforts, which earned the destroyer the U.S. Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
; additionally she was recognized for her spectacular achievements during her first year of service by winning the 1996 Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One
DESRON
A destroyer squadron is a naval squadron or flotilla usually consisting of destroyers rather than other types of vessel. In some navies other vessels, such as frigates, may be included. In English the word "squadron" tends to be used for larger and "flotilla" for smaller vessels, both may be used...
Battle Efficiency Award
Battle Efficiency Award
The Battle Effectiveness Award , commonly known as the Battle "E", is awarded annually to the small number of U.S...
. On April 4, 1997 Commander Steven Miller was relieved by Commander James O'Keefe III, and shortly thereafter Stethem set sail for 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...
on her maiden overseas deployment, reporting for duty in Bahrain on July 3. During the next three months she served in a variety of roles including the primary Air Warfare Commander, Surface Warfare Commander, Ready Strike Platform, and LINK Coordinator. She also provided support to both the and the Battle Groups and several U.S. Air Force aircraft engaged in Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
. She also supported the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
resolutions against 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....
by conducting some 54 boardings and inspections of suspected sanctions violators.
Stethem's port visits during her deployment included Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Malaysia, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. She finally returned to San Diego on November 7, 1997 to begin an inter-deployment training cycle, the second one undertaken by the ship.
Beginning with an outstanding Command Assessment of Readiness for Training (CART II) in May 1998, Stethem single handedly set the standard for tailored training by demonstrating exceptional proficiency in Combat Systems, Navigation, Engineering, Mobility, Damage Control, and Logistics Management. Her training teams' mission readiness commitment resulted in the validation of all the Final Evaluation Period objectives during the Tailored Shipboard Training Availability Phase III(TSTA III) - a first for any surface combatant. On September 25, 1998 Commander O'Keefe was relieved as the Commanding Officer by Commander Gerard Hueber.
Second deployment
Stethem began her second deployment to the Persian Gulf April 16, 1999, sailing as part of the Middle East Force 99-2. After port visits to GuamGuam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, she reported for duty in the Persian Gulf and rapidly went to work conducting freedom of navigation operations and maritime interception operations, much as she had done on her first deployment. During her seventy-six days on station she served as an air warfare commander, a ready strike platform, and a force over-the-horizon track coordinator. Stethem also had the opportunity to support the Battle Group as a carrier escort and a plane guard. After serving as command ship for Northern Persian Gulf Maritime Interception Operations for a second time, she transited the Strait of Hormuz
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow, strategically important waterway between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf. On the north coast is Iran and on the south coast is the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman....
on 13 August, and arrived home in San Diego October 4, 1999.
In January Stethem was honored for her achievements and was once more awarded with the 1999 Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One Battle Efficiency Award. She was the recipient of the Raytheon CIWS Award, the Pacific Force Retention Award, and the Safety Award.
In mid-September 2000, during a port visit in San Francisco, Stethem was called out to sea by the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (West) to escort the fishing vessel Gran Tauro to San Diego. The Gran Tauro had been caught with over five metric tons of uncut cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
aboard, with a total net worth of over $500 million. After completing this escort the ship returned to conducting final preparations for its next deployment. In January the ship was awarded with the 2000 Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One Battle Efficiency Award for the second consecutive year.
Third deployment and maintenance
On January 13, 2001 she departed on her third deployment to the Persian Gulf, this time as part of MEF 01-1. After port visits to HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Stethem reported in with the Fifth Fleet on February 28, 2001. During her sixty-eight days on station 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...
she conducted maritime interception operations, served as the air warfare commander, supported Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
, served as a ready strike platform, and participated in two international naval exercises, Exercise Arabian Gauntlet and Exercise Neon Falcon. During her maritime interception operations the Stethem successfully intercepted the motor vessel Diamond, which resulted in the third largest arrest of an oil-smuggling sanctions violator since the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. Stethem also escorted the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Harry S. Truman
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)
USS Harry S. Truman is the eighth Nimitz-class supercarrier of the United States Navy, named after the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman. HSTs callsign is Lone Warrior and is currently homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.Harry S...
through the Strait of Hormuz
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow, strategically important waterway between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf. On the north coast is Iran and on the south coast is the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman....
on April 27 before departing for the United States. The ship arrived home in San Diego on June 28.
After enjoying a Post-Oversees Movement Stand-down, the Stethem supported the John C. Stennis
USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
USS John C. Stennis is the seventh Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the United States Navy, named for Senator John C. Stennis of Mississippi. She was commissioned on 9 December 1995...
and her Battle Group as an opposing force during their final battle problem. In early September she went through INSURV inspections and set the standard once again. She was conducting her INSURV on 11 September 2001 when terrorists attacked New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and shortly thereafter, Stethem was called into station in support of Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...
and tasked with conducting air surveillance of the approaches to San Diego and providing air defense coverage to vital shipping assets.
On September 30 Stethem entered into drydock for her third Selective Restricted Availability at the Southwest Marine and Continental Maritime Shipyards. The purpose of this nine-week availability was the installation of equipment enhancements and quality of life upgrades. Stethem was also tapped to be the lead ship for the testing of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS), which represents the next generation of strike warfare capability. She departed drydock on October 30, and was moved to the Continental Maritime Shipyard in San Diego.
Fourth deployment and periodic training
Her return to Naval Station San DiegoNaval Station San Diego
Naval Base San Diego is the largest base of the United States Navy on the west coast of the United States, in San Diego, California. Naval Base San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, consisting of 54 ships and over 120 tenant commands. The base is composed of 13 piers stretched...
on December 6 marked the end of the 9.4 million dollar refurbishment and refitting period. The destroyer got underway the following week to begin the work up for her next deployment, and on December 14, She began her holiday leave and stand down period. The crew assembled in mid-January 2002 to continue efforts in support of her inter-deployment training cycle and Tactical Tomahawk testing. In early February, Stethem anchored off the coast of Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
; this was the first foreign port visit by any U.S. naval combatant since the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001.
In the ensuing months Stethem embarked on her third Inter Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) and served as Command Destroyer Squadron 23’s flagship throughout the month of February. In March, Stethem completed the Command Assessment of Readiness for Training II (CART II). Between the weeks of April 1 and May 3, 2002, Stethem completed the Tailored Ship’s Training Availability period. On May 6 Stethem served as the opposition forces for the carrier battle group’s Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).
Seabee
Seabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
Days in Port Hueneme, CA in honor of her namesake. She then transited to Everett, WA, embarked families and friends for the short transit to participate in the Seattle Seafair Festival. On September 12, 2002, Stethem was given the distinct privilege of leading the Parade of Sail into San Diego Bay. In the beginning of October, Stethem occupied a place of honor downtown at Broadway Pier as part of San Diego’s Fleet Week Celebration. While at Broadway Pier, Stethem safely hosted the first public Navy ship tours in San Diego after the September 11 attacks. Soon afterward, on October 16, Stethem successfully launched the first Tomahawk Cruise Missile using the new Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS). At the end of October, Stethem once again played the role of opposition force, this time for the Constellation
USS Constellation (CV-64)
USS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers...
carrier battle group
Carrier battle group
A carrier battle group consists of an aircraft carrier and its escorts, together composing the group. The first naval task forces built around carriers appeared just prior to and during World War II. The Imperial Japanese Navy was the first to assemble a large number of carriers into a single...
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In January 2003, Stethem played the opposition force role for the Nimitz carrier battle group. On February 5, 2003, Stethem returned to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for another port visit. Working with the San Diego and Puerto Vallarta Navy League Chapters, Stethem delivered medical equipment for distribution to handicapped residents of Puerto Vallarta. The crew also painted the local library frequented by many of Puerto Vallarta’s school children. On April 5, 2003, Stethem successfully performed the first ever surface ship launch of a Block IV Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile, bringing it one big step closer to fleet introduction. This was followed up on May 8 with the first surface ship launch of a Block IV Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile with a live warhead. After the missile left the launcher, Stethems strike team became the first to demonstrate Tactical Tomahawk’s post launch execution capability when they redirected the missile in flight. Both the team and the missile performed flawlessly, completely destroying the intended target on San Clemente Island after over 2 hours and 700 miles of missile flight.
On May 14, after a two-week intermediate maintenance availability, Stethem sailed in support of a different kind of missile-firing exercise. During this exercise Stethems air warfare team engaged two airborne targets with Standard Missile
Standard missile
Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
s. After this successful engagement, Stethem celebrated by transiting north to Juneau, Alaska and Victoria, British Columbia for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. All of the crew took advantage of great opportunities for sightseeing and shopping.
Returning from her trek up North in June, Stethem rested for one week and then put back to sea to serve as the opposition force against Pacific Fleet's first Expeditionary Strike Group, which was headed up by USS Peleliu
USS Peleliu (LHA-5)
USS Peleliu is a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy, named after the Battle of Peleliu during World War II. Entering service in 1980, the ship has been deployed to the Persian Gulf on several occasions, performed an evacuation of U.S...
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Stethem returned to homeport from a port visit in Hong Kong on December 6, 2006.