USS Richmond K. Turner (CG-20)

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.

History

Initial operations

It departed Philadelphia Naval Shipyard 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).

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 Bay 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.

Refit

On March 22 1971, it embarked for Bath, Maine 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 redesignated a 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 REFTRAY. 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 in the Gulf of Sidra, destroying the target at a range of convert|78|mi|km|0. 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 Gulf of Sidra operation.

Persian Gulf

"Richmond K. Turner" also completed a 1988 deployment to the Persian Gulf 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.

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 Flight 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 Rico. 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r6/richmond_k_turner.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships - USS "Richmond K. Turner" (CG-20)]
* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/CG20.htm Naval Vessel Register - CG-20]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/1120/040120.htm navsource.org: USS "Richmond K. Turner" (CG-20)]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/dl-dlg/dlg20.htm hazegray.org: USS "Richmond K. Turner" (CG-20)]