USS Sterett (CG-31)

USS Sterett (DLG-31/CG-31)
History
United States
Name:	Sterett
Namesake:	Andrew Sterett
Ordered:	20 September 1961
Builder:	Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Laid down:	25 September 1962
Launched:	30 June 1964
Acquired:	16 June 1967
Commissioned:	8 April 1967
Decommissioned:	24 March 1994
Reclassified:	CG-31 on 30 June 1975
Struck:	24 March 1994
Homeport:	Various: Yokosuka, JN Subic Bay, PI San Diego, CA Long Beach, CA
Motto:	Dauntless
Fate:	Stricken, contract awarded for the dismantling of this ship July 2005
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Belknap-class cruiser
Displacement:	7,930 tons
Length:	547 ft (167 m)
Beam:	55 ft (17 m)
Draft:	28 ft 10 in (8.79 m)
Speed:	30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Complement:	418 officers and men
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-48E air-search radar AN/SPS-49(V)5 air-search radar AN/SPG-55B fire-control radar AN/SPG-53F gun fire-control radar AN/SQS-26 sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	AN/SLQ-32
Armament:	1 x Mark 42 5-inch/54-caliber gun 2 x 3-inch (76 mm) guns, 1 x Terrier missile / SM-2ER launcher, 6 x 15.5-inch (394 mm) torpedo tubes, Harpoon missiles, Phalanx CIWS

USS Sterett (DLG/CG-31) was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. She was the third ship to be named for Master Commandant Andrew Sterett (1778–1807), who served during the Quasi-War with France and the Barbary Wars. She was launched as DLG-31, a frigate, and reclassified a cruiser (CG) on 30 June 1975.

The contract to construct Sterett was awarded on 20 September 1961. Her keel was laid down at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 25 September 1962. Sponsored by Mrs. Phyllis Nitze, wife of Secretary of the Navy, Paul H. Nitze, she was launched on 30 June 1964, delivered to the navy on 16 June 1967 and commissioned on 8 April 1967.

Sterett earned nine battle stars for her service along the coast of Vietnam.

Sterett spent 1967 operating off the west coast undergoing various post-acceptance tests and trials after commissioning, participating in shakedown training, and generally preparing for her final acceptance trials. Arriving in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard again she underwent post-shakedown availability. With the exception of two short excursions, one for nuclear capable certification and the other for COMTUEX 8–68, Sterett remained in home port until 19 June, when she departed San Pedro Bay for her first WestPac tour. After stops at Pearl Harbor and Midway, she arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, on 5 July and began preparations for her first line period in the Tonkin Gulf.

On 31 July 1968, Sterett relieved guided missile frigate USS Horne as Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) unit. With destroyer USS Rich, she plied the waters off North Vietnam until relieved on 5 August. She moved on to duty as sea air rescue (SAR) ship and strike support ship (SSS), which she performed until 4 September, directing two successful pilot rescues. Sterett continued alternating between PIRAZ, SAR, SSS, and in-port periods until mid-March 1969.