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USS STUMP (DD-978)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NFBS

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - POWER PLAY

CLASS - SPRUANCE As Built.
Displacement 7800 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 563' (oa) x 55' x 20' 6" (Max)
Armament 2 x 5"/54 RF (2x1), 1 Sea Sparrow SAM (1x8) ASROC ASW (1x8),
6 x 12.75" Mk 32 ASW TT (2x3). 1 Helicopter.
Machinery, 80,000 SHP; 4 LM 2500 Gas Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 30 Knots, Range 6000 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 296.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Litton Ingalls, Pascagoula Miss. August 22 1975.
Launched March 21 1977 and commissioned August 19 1978.
Decommissioned on October 22 2004.
Fate: Sunk as a target June 7 2006.

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Stump 111kA native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Felix Budwell Stump was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1913. He graduated and was commissioned an Ensign in March 1917. He served in the gunboat YORKTOWN (PG-1) and as Navigator in the cruiser CINCINNATI (C-7) during World War 1 in the Atlantic. After the war he served in the pre-dreadnaught battleship ALABAMA (BB-8). Shortly thereafter Stump attended flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola in 1920-1921 followed by postgraduate instruction in Aeronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 1923 to 1925 he was a Naval Flight Officer in Torpedo Squadron 2 (VT-2) "Doer Birds" of the experimental carrier USS LANGLEY (CV-1). Commanded Cruiser Scouting Wing in 1928-1929 and served on the Staff of Commander Cruisers, Scouting Fleet in 1930-1931. Stump was Commanding Officer of USS SARATOGA (CV-3)'s Scout-Bombing Squadron 2 (VSB-2) in 1936-1937. From 1938 to 1939 he served as Navigator of LEXINGTON (CV-2). Promoted to Commander in 1940, he served as Executive Officer of USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6). At the outbreak of World War 2 Stump was Commanding Officer of USS LANGLEY (CV-1) in Manila Bay, Philippines. In January 1942 he was transferred to the Staff of the Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet for which he was awarded the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal. In 1942 he served as Air Officer for Commander Western Sea Frontier, was promoted to Captain, and took command of the new carrier USS LEXINGTON (CV-16) in late 1942. LEXINGTON participated in operations against Kwajalein, Gilbert and Marshall Island Campaign, and air strikes on Truk. In 1944 Stump was promoted to Rear Admiral and took command of Task Unit 52.11.2 and Carrier Division 24 embarked on the escort carrier USS Corregidor (CVE-58) for operations against Saipan. Stump commanded Carrier Division 24 of Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy II) at Leyte Gulf and Samar embarked in NATOMA BAY (CVE-62) in October 1944. For this action he was awarded the Navy Cross. In late 1944 Stump kept his flag in Carrier Division 24 and NATOMA BAY (CVE-62) during action at Visayan, Philippines. In early 1945 he supported the operations at Lingayan, Philippines. He completed the war as Commander Carrier Division 24 embarked in MARCUS ISLAND (CVE-77) in 1945 at Okinawa. For this action he was awarded a second Navy Cross. In May 1945 he served as Chief of Naval Air Technical Training Command and kept that post until December 1948. From December 1948 to 1951 Stump served as Commander of Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet during which time he was promoted to Vice Admiral. In March 1951 Stump assumed command of the U.S. Second Fleet. He held that post until June 1953. From July 10, 1953 to January 14, 1958, now promoted to full Admiral, he served as Commander U.S. Pacific Command until his retirement, effective August 1, 1958. After his retirement, he was appointed to the position of Vice Chairman of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.Bill Gonyo
Stump 30kUndated, location unknown.-
Stump 73kUndated postcard Copyright © Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA.Mike Smolinski
Stump 74kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Stump 189kCirca 1977, Passenger Ship Terminal mid-town New York City on the Hudson River.Ed Zajkowski/Robert Valdez
Stump 202kUSS Tattnall (DDG-19) and USS Stump (DD-978) at Genoa, Italy on April 5 1988.Carlo Martinelli
Stump 46kNorth Atlantic April 30 1983.Marc Piché
Stump 130kNewspaper clipping from Navy New York dated August 1 1983.Ricky A. Vogel
Stump 92kIn drydock in New York during summer 1983.Ricky A. Vogel
Stump 85kAs above.Ricky A. Vogel
Stump 201kCaptain Charles J. Smith, center, talks with guests attending a ceremony aboard the USS STUMP (DD 978) to adopt the destroyer as the flagship for the state of West Virginia. The namesake of the destroyer, Admiral Felix Budwell Stump, was a native of West Virginia. The ship is underway near Norfolk, Virginia, 07/02/1984 DN-SN-85-09104.Bill Gonyo
Stump 154kDN-SC-85-09116. February 20 1985, an aerial starboard bow view of the Spruance-class destroyer USS Stump (DD 978) underway as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter approaches the helicopter deck during an in-flight refueling operation. The CH-53E is from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 12 (HM-12) "Sea Dragons". U.S. Navy photo by PH1 D.E. Erickson.Robert M. Cieri
Stump 109kDN-ST-88-03644. The Mark 29 NATO Sea Sparrow launcher on the stern of the destroyer USS STUMP (DD 978). Photo by Malcom Muir, January 1 1988.Bill Gonyo
Stump 130kDN-SC-90-04015. Officers and crew watch from their underway replenishment stations aboard the destroyer USS STUMP (DD 978) as their ship takes on fuel from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). Photo by PH2 Gary Bonaccorso, February 26 1988.Bill Gonyo
Stump 74kMediterranean Sea, March 2 1988, a starboard bow view of the guided missile destroyer USS Tattnall (DDG-19) underway. Also visible is the frigate USS PAUL (FF-1080), the destroyer USS Stump (DD-978), the frigate USS Capodanno (FF-1093) and the guided missile destroyer USS Luce (DDG-38).Fred Weiss
Stump 106kGenoa, Italy on April 5 1988.Carlo Martinelli
Stump 180kGenoa, Italy on April 5 1988.Carlo Martinelli
Stump 55kNew Orleans March 1991.Marc Piché
Stump 77kIn Norfolk September 3 1991.Marc Piché
Stump 144kChesapeake Bay. April 1992.Joe Radigan
Stump 75kBoston, MA May 21 1992.Joe Radigan
Stump 289kExercises at Fort Story, Virginia, in June 1994Ocean Park Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Virginia Beach VA
Stump 43kNorfolk March 3 2000.Marc Piché
Stump 93k001128-N-6097C-502 Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia November 28 2000, the destroyer USS Stump (DD 978) departs from the piers at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, VA. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Leland Comer.Bill Gonyo
Stump 65kUSS Stump DD 978 entering Gibraltar on 10th May 2001.© Daniel Ferro
Stump 34kStump as a target during SINKEX 2006.Joe Gardella
Stump 32kAs above.Joe Gardella
Stump 18kAs above.Joe Gardella
Stump 22kAs above.Joe Gardella
Stump 24kAs above.Joe Gardella
Stump 100kShip's patchMike Smolinski

USS STUMP DD-978 History
Note: History is unavailable at this time
This ship was built too late to be covered by the DANFS project

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves


CDR Carl A. Anderson    Aug 19 1978 - JUl 30 1980

CDR William Andrew Retz    Jul 30 1980 - Sep 27 1982 (Later RADM)

CDR Thomas Joseph Lopez    Sep 27 1982 - Oct 29 1984 (Later VADM)

CDR Joseph William Perrotta Jr.    Oct 29 1984 - Feb 27 1987

CDR Constantine L. Xefteris    Feb 27 1987 - Apr 7 1989

CDR Drew Wentz Beasley    Apr 7 1989 - Aug 3 1991

CDR Robert Temple Murphy    Aug 3 1991 - Apr 30 1993

CDR Leonard Walter Wildemann III    Apr 30 1993 - Jan 27 1995

CDR Thomas Samuel Kennedy    Jan 27 1995 - Dec 7 1996

CDR Gregory Steven Cruze    Dec 7 1996 - Sep 12 1998

CDR Roger Wayne Coldiron    Sep 12 1998 - Feb 18 2000

CDR John Basil Read III    Feb 18 2000 - Jul 27 2001

CDR Anthony Henry Dropp    Jul 27 2001 - Jun 8 2003

CDR Thomas Peter Snyder    Jun 8 2003 - Oct 22 2004


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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