USS Stark (FFG-31)
Career (US)
Builder:	Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington
Laid down:	24 August 1979
Launched:	30 May 1980
Commissioned:	23 October 1982
Decommissioned:	7 May 1999
Struck:	7 May 1999
Homeport:	Mayport, Florida (former)
Motto:	Strength for Freedom
Fate:	Disposed of by scrapping - dismantled June 21, 2006
General characteristics
Displacement:	4,100 tons (4,170 t) full load
Length:	453 ft (138. Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation was founded in 1916 as the William H Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Naval Station Mayport is a major US Navy base in northern Duval County Florida. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. 1 m), overall
Beam:	45 ft (13. 7 m)
Draught:	22 ft (6. 7 m)
Propulsion:	2 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines generating 41,000 shp (31 MW) through a single shaft and variable pitch propeller; 2 x Auxiliary Propulsion Units, 350 hp (. The General Electric LM2500 industrial and marine Turboshaft Gas turbine is a derivative of GE Aircraft Engines ' CF6-6 aircraft engine A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a rotary Engine that extracts energy from a flow of Combustion gas A controllable pitch propeller (CPP or variable pitch propeller is a special type of Propeller with blades that can be rotated around their long axis to change their A bow thruster, is a propulsion device built into or mounted to the bow of a Ship or Boat to enhance its maneuverability 25 MW) retractable electric azipods for maneuvering and docking. An Azimuth thruster is a configuration of Ship propellers placed in pods that can be rotated in any horizontal direction making a Rudder unnecessary
Speed:	29+ knots (54+ km/h)
Range:	5,000 nm (9,300 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Complement:	15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-49 air-search radar AN/SPS-55 surface-search radar CAS and STIR fire-control radar AN/SQS-56 sonar. A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of Length. It corresponds approximately to one minute of Latitude along any meridian. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range altitude direction or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as Aircraft, ships A fire-control radar is a Radar which is designed specifically to provide information (mainly target azimuth elevation range and velocity to a Fire-control system Sonar (which started as an Acronym for sound navigation and ranging) is a technique that uses Sound propagation (usually underwater to navigate
Electronic warfare and decoys:	AN/SLQ-32
Armament:	As built: One OTO Melara Mk 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun one Mk 13 Mod 4 single-arm launcher for Harpoon anti-ship missiles and SM-1MR Standard anti-ship/air missiles (40 round magazine) two Mk 32 triple-tube (324 mm) launchers for Mark 46 torpedoes one Vulcan Phalanx CIWS; four .50-cal (12. The AN/SLQ -32 is a shipboard Electronic warfare suite built by the Raytheon Company of Goleta California. The Oto Melara 76 mm gun is a widely used naval artillery piece built by the Italian company Otobreda and Oto Melara. The Harpoon is an all-weather over-the-horizon, Anti-ship missile system developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Integrated The RIM-66 Standard MR (SM-1MR/SM-2MR is a medium range Surface-to-air missile (SAM originally developed for the United States Navy (USN The Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes (Mk 32 SVTT system is a pair of launchers fitted to warships Designed to attack high-performance submarines the Mark 46 Torpedo is the backbone of the U The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS is an anti-missile system that was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division This article is about the.50 caliber M2 machine gun For the.30-06 M2 machine gun see M1919 Browning machine gun. 7 mm) machine guns.
Aircraft carried:	2 × SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters

USS Stark (FFG-31), twenty-third ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Admiral Harold Rainsford Stark (1880–1972). WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Ships The ships were designed by Maine shipyard Bath Iron Works in partnership with New York-based naval architects Gibbs & Cox. For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship Harold Raynsford Stark ( 12 November 1880 &ndash 21 August 1972) served as an officer in the United States Navy during World In 1987, it became the victim of the only successful anti-ship missile attack on a U. Anti-ship missiles are a Missile designed for use against Ships Most anti-ship missiles are of the Sea-skimming type and use a combination of S. Navy warship.

Ordered from Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington on 23 January 1978 as part of the FY78 program, Stark was laid down on 24 August 1979, launched on 30 May 1980, and commissioned on 23 October 1982, CDR Terence W. Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation was founded in 1916 as the William H Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) A fiscal year (or financial year, or sometimes budget year) is a period used for calculating annual ("yearly" Financial statements in Businesses Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Costello commanding. Decommissioned on 7 May 1999, Stark was scrapped in 2006. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)

Missile attack

Stark was deployed to the Middle East Force in 1984 and 1987. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Captain Glenn R. Brindel was the commanding officer during the 1987 deployment. Captain Glenn R Brindel, was the Commanding officer of and was in command when the ship was struck by two Exocet missiles in the Persian Gulf on The commanding officer ( CO) is the officer in command of a Military unit. The ship was struck on May 17, 1987, by two Exocet antiship missiles fired from an Iraqi Mirage F1 fighter during the Iran-Iraq War. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The Exocet is a French -built Anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels submarines and airplanes For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The fighter had taken off from Shaibah at 20:00 and had flown south into the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the The fighter fired the first Exocet missile from a range of 22. 5 nautical miles, and the second from 15. 5 nautical miles, at about the time the fighter was given a routine radio warning by the Stark. ^[1] The frigate did not detect the missiles with radar and warning was given by the lookout only moments before the missiles struck. ^[2] The first penetrated the port-side hull; it failed to detonate, but spewed flaming rocket fuel in its path. The second entered at almost the same point, and left a 3-by-4-meter gash—then exploded in crew quarters. Thirty-seven sailors were killed and twenty-one were injured. ^[2]

Stark listing following two hits by Exocet missiles

No weapons were fired in defense of Stark. The Phalanx CIWS remained in standby mode, Mark 36 SRBOC countermeasures were not armed, and the attacking Exocet missiles and Mirage aircraft were in a blindspot of the defensive STIR (Separate Target Illumination Radar) fire control system, preventing use of the ship's Standard missile defenses. The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS is an anti-missile system that was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division The BAE Systems Mark 36 Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff (abbreviated as SRBOC or "Super-arboc" is a short-range mortar intended to launch chaff The RIM-66 Standard MR (SM-1MR/SM-2MR is a medium range Surface-to-air missile (SAM originally developed for the United States Navy (USN The ship failed to maneuver to bring its weapons batteries to bear prior to the first missile impact. ^[2]

On fire and listing, the frigate was brought under control by its crew during the night. The ship made its way to Bahrain where, after temporary repairs by the tender USS Acadia (AD-42) to make her seaworthy, she returned to her home port of Mayport, Florida, under her own power. The Kingdom of Bahrain (in مملكة البحرين,, literally Kingdom of the Two Seas) is an Island country in the Persian Gulf Commanding Officers Executive Officers Command Master Chiefs Ship Details Purpose Destroyer Tenders fall Naval Station Mayport is a major US Navy base in northern Duval County Florida. The ship was eventually repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi for $142 million. Ingalls Shipbuilding is a Shipyard located in Pascagoula Mississippi, USA, originally established in 1938 and is now part of Northrop Grumman Ship Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States

A view of external damage to the port side

The question of whether or not Iraqi leadership authorized the attack is still unanswered. Initial claims by the Iraqi government (that Stark was inside the Iran-Iraq war zone) was shown to be false, so the motives and orders of the pilot remain unanswered. Though American officials claimed he had been executed, an ex-Iraqi Air Force commander since stated that the pilot who attacked Stark was not punished, and was still alive at the time. ^[3]

The attack was the U. S. Navy's second-most-deadly peacetime disaster, after the gun turret explosion on board the battleship USS Iowa. Construction See also Iowa class battleship, Armament of the Iowa class battleship Iowa was the lead ship of her class of " Citing lapses in training requirements and lax procedures, the Captain was relieved of command and recommended for court-martial along with Tactical Action Officer Lieutenant Basil E. A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a Military court. These military courts can determine Punishments for members of the Military subject Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services Moncrief by the board of inquiry. Instead, they received non-judicial punishment from Admiral Frank B. Kelso II and letters of reprimand. Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks of the highest Naval officers Frank Benton Kelso II (born July 11, 1933 in Fayetteville Tennessee) is a former admiral of the United States Navy, who served as Chief Brindel and Moncrief opted for early retirement, while Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Raymond Gajan Jr. While executive officer literally refers to a person responsible for the performance of duties involved in running an Organization, the exact meaning of the role is variable Lieutenant Commander ( Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy) is a Commissioned officer rank in many navies Superior was detached for cause and received a letter of admonition. ^[4]

1990s

Stark was part of the Standing Naval Forces Atlantic Fleet in 1990 before returning to the Middle East Force in 1991. She was attached to UNITAS in 1993 and took part in Operation Support Democracy and Operation Able Vigil in 1994. In 1995, she returned to the Middle East Force before serving in the Atlantic in 1997 and in 1998.

Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) A scrapping contract was awarded to Metro Machine Corp. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 7 October 2005. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The ship was reported scrapped on June 21, 2006. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[5]

Casualties

USS Stark memorial in
Mayport, Florida

Further reading

• Levinson, Jeffrey L. Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States, established during the American Civil War and Randy L. Edwards (1997). Missile Inbound. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-517-9.  
• Wise, Harold Lee (2007). Inside the Danger Zone: The U.S. Military in the Persian Gulf 1987-88. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-970-3.  

References

External links

• Photos of the damaged Stark
• Host page for PDF version of report: Formal Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Attack of the USS Stark in 1987
• US Navy's Damage Control Museum page on the USS Stark
• navsource.org: USS Stark (FFG-31)
• Information on Operation Earnest Will
• MaritimeQuest USS Stark FFG-31 pages
• Memorial Site for USS Stark casualties