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USS FLETCHER (DD-992)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NJCN

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. April 24 1978.
Launched June 16 1979 and commissioned July 12 1980.
Decommissioned October 1 2004 at San Diego, CA.
Fate Sunk as a target on July 16 2008 off Kauai, Hawaii, during RIMPAC 2008 by a modified
Mk48 ADCAP torpedo fired from the HMAS WALLER.

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By
Fletcher 82kPhoto #: 80-G-14193, Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, USN photographed on board ship, 17 September 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.Tony Cowart
Fletcher 147kUndated, location unknown.-
Fletcher 101kUndated, location unknown.Jerry Hays
Fletcher 60kUndated postcard Copyright © Marine Photos, San Diego, CA.Mike Smolinski
Fletcher 109kUndated, location unknown.Robert M. Cieri
Fletcher 130kUndated, location unknown.David Buell
Fletcher 64kFitting out at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, on 20 July 1979. They were the final two of the original thirty Spruance class destroyers ordered by the U.S. Navy, and were to be formally christened on the following day, 21 July. Official U.S. Navy Photograph.Fred Weiss
Fletcher 88kRear Admiral William C. Wyatt, Supervisor of Shipbuilding at Pascagoula, Mississippi, signs the document accepting the ship from her builders, in ceremonies on board Fletcher at the Ingalls shipyard, 16 June 1980 . Looking on are Commander Steven C. Saulnier, the ship's Prospective Commanding Officer (2nd from right), Ingalls Shipbuilding President Len Erb (2nd from left) and George M. Nall (left), an Ingalls shipfitter who had worked on all thirty Spruance class destroyers and represented the entire Ingalls workforce at the ceremony. Fletcher was the final ship of the original thirty in that class. Courtesy of Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Fletcher 80kDN-SC-83-07006. A side view of an RGM-84 Harpoon missile immediately after being fired from a canister launcher aboard the destroyer USS FLETCHER (DD-992). 1 July 1980.Bill Gonyo
Fletcher 102kTwo views of the USS Fletcher (DD-992) off of San Diego in early-mid 1980 on a dependants day cruise enjoying an air show put on by Airwing 15 of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63).Richard Stiles
Fletcher 78kAs above.Richard Stiles
Fletcher 196kUSS New Jersey (BB-62), right, and the destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-992), on 15 April 1983. The ships are part of a task group underway off the coast of California. Photo taken by PH1 S. Smith. DoDMedia DN-ST-83-08975.Robert Hurst
Fletcher 77kLongview, WA June 1986.Marc Piché
Fletcher 44kVancouver, BC July 23 1986.Marc Piché
Fletcher 152kUnderway off Catalina Island, California, 4 February 1988. Photographed by Chief Photographer's Mate T.R. Dupree. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Fletcher 65kA series of 5 photos of the Fletcher underway in 1988.Bob Dorais and Charlie Walker
Fletcher 44kAs above.Bob Dorais and Charlie Walker
Fletcher 43kAs above.Bob Dorais and Charlie Walker
Fletcher 48kAs above.Bob Dorais and Charlie Walker
Fletcher 48kAs above.Bob Dorais and Charlie Walker
Fletcher 88kCirca 1990-1994, swim call.Ken Hanrahan
Fletcher 87kCirca 1990-1994, underway replenishment.Ken Hanrahan
Fletcher 113kCirca 1990-1994, let's take a break!Ken Hanrahan
Fletcher 82kCirca 1990's.Marc Piché
Fletcher 66kVancouver, BC June 24 1991.Marc Piché
Fletcher 105kFremantle, Australia April 21 1997.Graeme D Fuller/Marc Piché
Fletcher 63kFremantle, Australia April 21 1997.Marc Piché
Fletcher 33kDN-SD-00-01154 980723-N-3612M-001 Port bow view of the Spruance class destroyer USS FLETCHER (DD 992) on maneuvers during exercise RIMPAC '98. Photo by PH1 James McCarter, July 23 1998.Bill Gonyo
Fletcher 40kFremantle, Australia January 20 1999.Marc Piché
Fletcher 31kOff Pearl Harbor in 2000.Bob Dorais and Charlie Walker
Fletcher 162kPACIFIC OCEAN NEAR HAWAII, June 18 2000, five United States warships cruise in formation lead by USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The ships are participants in RIMPAC 2000. RIMPAC is the largest maritime exercise in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing together military forces from seven different nations. U. S. Navy photo (000618-N-8421M-020) by PH2(NAC) David C. Mercil. Surface combatants are: USS Fletcher (DD-992), USS Crommelin (FFG-37), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60) and a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, either USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) or USS Shiloh (CG-67).Fabio Peña
Fletcher 67k001112-N-2147W-029 Arabian Gulf Nov 12 2000, the destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-992) underway in the Arabian Gulf during Exercise Arabian Shark 2000. The Fletcher is capable of supporting helicopter and boat deck operations simultaneously. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class David J. Weideman.Fred Weiss
Fletcher 84kUSS Fletcher underway in the Arabian Gulf, November 12, 2000.Steven A. Cardali
Fletcher 101kAerial view of the USS Fletcher DD-992 underway in the Arabian Gulf November 12, 2000.Steven A. Cardali
Fletcher 117k021206-N-5319A-001. At sea aboard USS Fletcher (DD-992), December 6 2002, an SH-3 "Sea King" from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Two (HC-2) delivers passengers and mail to Fletcher. HC-2 and Fletcher are currently on a regularly scheduled deployment, conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Brien Aho.Bill Gonyo
Fletcher 140k021207-N-5319A-002 At sea aboard USS Fletcher (DD-992), December 7 2002, sailors attached to the U.S. Coast Guard's Tactical Law Enforcement Team South (LEDET) are lowered in a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) from aboard USS Fletcher in preparation to conduct Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO). The LEDET team is aboard Fletcher conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Brien Aho.Bill Gonyo
Fletcher 168kAerial photo of Security Council Coalition ships. (From left to right) the Australian guided missile frigate HMAS Darwin (FFG04), the guided missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60), the destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-992), the Australian frigate HMAS Anzac (FFH 150), and the British destroyer HMS Cardiff (D 108), during Operation Enduring Freedom, 16 December 2002. The Security Council Coalition ships are conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) in the Central Command Area of Responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Brien Aho. Navy News Service photo # 021216-N-5319A-003.Fred Weiss/Robert Hurst
Fletcher 60k021216-N-5319A-002, at sea with USS Fletcher (DD-992) December 16 2002, the spruance class destroyer fly's the national ensign while underway in the central command area of responsibility. Fletcher is conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) in the Arabian Gulf while enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq. Fletcher is part of the Navy's Sea Swap initiative, which involves rotating three crews through a single ship to allow for more time on station in theater, while returning crews home at six month intervals. U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 1st Class Brien Aho.Bill Gonyo
Fletcher 129kFremantle, Western Australia, January 19, 2003, USS Fletcher DD-992 pulls pierside to begin the first 'Sea Swap' Fletcher's crew just completed a six-month deployment with the USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group, will be relieved by the crew of the recently decommissioned USS Kinkaid (DD-965) and after the change USS Fletcher will be back on deployment to the Indian Ocean.Steven A. Cardali
Fletcher 114k031003-N-4809F-007. North Arabian Gulf, October 3 2003, crewmembers aboard USS Fletcher (DD 992) conduct maintenance on an SH-60B Seahawk helicopter assigned to the “Wolfpack” of Light Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Forty Five (HSL-45). U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Josh Frey.Bill Gonyo
Fletcher 52kUSS Fletcher (DD-992) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, May 25 2004, after two years and four crews, the Spruance Class destroyer USS Fletcher (DD 992) returned to Pearl Harbor for a two-day port visit after deployment. USN Photo 040525-N-3019M-004.Steven A. Cardali
Fletcher 136k040525-N-3019M-003. Pearl Harbor, HI, May 25 2004, sailors assigned to the Spruance Class destroyer USS Fletcher (DD 992) attach the ship's banner to the brow after returning to Pearl Harbor for a two-day port visit before traveling to San Diego, Calif., where she will be decommissioned in October. The former Pearl Harbor-based ship is part of the Navy's Sea Swap Initiative, a program that rotates four crews through a single ship at six-month intervals. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Seaman Ryan C. McGinley.Bill Gonyo
Fletcher 42k040525-N-6775N-029. May 25 2004, the US Navy (USN) Spruance Class Destroyer USS FLETCHER (DD 992) (foreground) returns to Naval Station (NS) Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (HI), after an 18-month"Sea Swap"experiment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, with the help of a commercial tug boat. A"Sea Swap"involves swapping out an entire crew every five months. The USS MISSOURI (BB 63) Memorial can be seen in the background right.U.S. Navy official photo by Photographer's Mate Second Class Justin P. Nesbitt.-
Fletcher 64k040603-N-4304S-005. San Diego, June. 3 2004, the destroyer USS Fletcher (DD 992) returns to Naval Station San Diego Calif., after completing a six-month counter drug deployment operating with the Joint Interagency Task Force. The former Pearl Harbor, Hawaii based ship will be decommissioned in October. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Bradley Sapp.Bill Gonyo
Fletcher 155kUSS FLETCHER (DD-992) Decommissioning ceremony on pier 7, 32nd street Naval Station, San Diego, CA October 1, 2004.Charlie Walker
Fletcher 94kSummer 2005, USS Fletcher (DD-992) extreme right, anchored by herself, USS Valley Forge (CG-50) anchored in nest with USS O'Brien (DD-975) and being prepared for Sinkex this year or next. To the left are LST's and what looks like a Tender.Mike White & Charles E. Walker Jr. STGCS (SW) USN ret.
Fletcher 159kAugust 29, 2005, Fletcher is anchored and fully powered up in Middle Loch, Pearl Harbor, HI. Current plans are that she will be reactivated sometime in 2006 for transfer to the Pakistani Navy.Mike White & Charles E. Walker Jr. STGCS (SW) USN ret.
Fletcher 177kAs above, different view.Mike White & Charles E. Walker Jr. STGCS (SW) USN ret.
Fletcher 85kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Fletcher 53kShip's Zippo.Tommy Trampp

USS FLETCHER DD-992 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 Steven Craig Saulnier    Jul 12 1980 - Aug 21 1982

CDR Gordon Harkness Rheinstrom    Aug 21 1982 - Jul 21 1984

CDR Francis Kevin Holian    Jul 21 1984 - Sep 20 1986 (Later RADM)

CDR Gerard Michael Farrell    Sep 20 1986 - Dec 19 1988

CDR Gene Roger Kendall    Dec 19 1988 - Dec 18 1990 (Later RADM)

CDR Mark Jackson Edwards    Dec 18 1990 - Sep 25 1992 (later VADM)

CDR James Edward Lee Jr.    Sep 25 1992 - Jun 15 1994

CDR George Joseph Smith Jr.    Jun 15 1994 - Mar 29 1966

CDR Philip Hilliar Greene Jr.    Mar 29 1996 - Nov 14 1997 (Later RADM)

CDR Richard Wade Durham    Nov 14 1997 - Jun 4 1999

CDR Christopher David Noble    Jun 4 1999 - Nov 30 2000

CDR Dell Wayne Epperson    Nov 30 2000 - Apr 30 2002

CDR Thomas Craig Neal    Apr 30 2002 - Jan 23 2003

CDR Michael Jay Slotzky    Jan 23 2003 - Jul 3 2003

CDR Charles McAlister Gaouette    Jul 3 2003 - Dec 13 2003 (Later RADM)

CDR John Patrick Nolan    Dec 13 2003 - Oct 1 2004


Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Bob Foss
Address: 8973 Williams Rd., Spring Grove, VA 23881
Phone: (804) 458-3295
E-mail: rfossoct@aol.com


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


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

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