Name McClusky Laid down 21 October 1981 Construction started 21 October 1981 Length 138 m | Awarded 27 April 1979 Christened 18 September 1982 Launched 18 September 1982 Beam 14 m | |
 | ||
Namesake Rear Admiral C. Wade McClusky Sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Mundy McClusky Builders Vigor Shipyards, Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division | ||
USS McClusky (FFG-41), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is a ship of the United States Navy named for Rear Admiral C. Wade McClusky (1902–1976). In the Battle of Midway, then-Lieutenant Commander McClusky led USS Enterprise's air group, which sank the Japanese carriers Kaga and Akagi. She was last a part of Destroyer Squadron 1. After 31 years of service, McClusky was decommissioned on 14 January 2015 at Naval Base San Diego.
Contents
Construction
McClusky was laid down on 21 October 1981 by the Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California; launched on 18 September 1982; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Mundy McClusky; and commissioned on 10 December 1983 in Long Beach, California, Commander Robert Burgess Lynch in command.
Service
In 1986 McClusky was part of Destroyer Squadron 23 under Captain Todd Barthold. McClusky embarked on her first deployment on 15 January 1986. She was a part of Battle Group Foxtrot, headed by USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and including Truxtun, Arkansas, O'Brien, Reasoner, Lewis B. Puller, and David R. Ray. The battle group sailed directly for the Indian Ocean, with stops in Hawaii, Naval Station Subic Bay, and Singapore.
In 1988 McClusky began the year as part of Joint Task Force Middle East carrying out Operation Earnest Will missions. She participated in Exercise RIMPAC that year as part of the Orange Force.
In 1990 McClusky was part of Destroyer Squadron 13. She began the year at Mina Sulman, Bahrain, on a Middle East Force deployment. On 3 January, she was underway for a Northern Persian Gulf patrol, which included a refueling stop at anchorage in Kuwait on 10 January. Upon returning to Mina Sulman on 13 January for the final time, the mastmounted sight was removed. After a short patrol of Northern Persian Gulf, McClusky headed south towards the Straits of Hormuz, completing a successful three-month assignment to the Middle East Force. On 30 January, McClusky anchored alongside Rodney M. Davisin Fujayrah for a Middle East Force turnover before meeting up with the Gary and transiting to the Western Pacific. A refueling visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka on 1 February proved to be an excellent stop, providing all hands the opportunity to purchase many souvenirs.
From 31 August to 4 September 1990, McClusky had the privilege of hosting the Soviet oiler Argun, visiting San Diego with two Soviet combatants. The arrival of the Admiral Vinogradov, Sovremenny class destroyer Boyevoy, and Argun in San Diego on 31 July 1990 was followed by a ceremony with Admiral Charles R. Larson (Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet) Mayor O'Connor, and Admiral Khvatov (ru:Хватов, Геннадий Александрович), the Commander of the Soviet Pacific Fleet, as speakers.
In 1991 McClusky shifted homeports to Yokosuka, Japan and joined Destroyer Squadron 15. She assisted in Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of civilians from the Philippines during the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
Future
McClusky was to be sold to the Mexican Navy under the FMS as of 2014. However, as of September 2016, the ship was in reserve at Pearl Harbor and is slated to be disposed of as a target.