USS Fox (DLG-33)
Encyclopedia
The USS Fox (DLG-33) was a Belknap-class cruiser of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, named after Gustavus V. Fox, President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy....
. The keel for DLG-33 was authenticated and laid in ceremonies at Todd Shipyards Corporation, San Pedro, California on 15 January 1963.
History
RADM Frank Virden, then Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, US Pacific FleetUnited States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
, presided over the ceremonies for the unnamed ship. Christening and launching ceremonies were performed at on 21 November 1964. Fox entered naval service as a Guided Missile Frigate (DLG) on 28 May 1966 when commissioned at Long Beach Naval Shipyard
Long Beach Naval Shipyard
thumb|right|300px|Long Beach Naval Shipyard in 1993The Long Beach Naval Shipyard, which closed in 1997, was located at Terminal Island between the city of Long Beach and the San Pedro district of Los Angeles and approximately 23 miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport.The Long Beach...
under the guidance of her first commanding officer, CAPT Robert O. Welander.
Fox subsequently transited to her homeport of San Diego on 6 October 1966 and become the first ship in the Pacific Fleet capable of launching both anti-submarine rockets (ASROC) and surface-to-air guided missiles from the same launching system.
The U.S.S. Fox, as DLG-33, wasted no time distinguishing herself. Participating in support of the large scale troop build up in Vietnam, and consequent increase in aircraft operations, her technology at the time was formidable. Her actions not only included support to the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
shore operations in the Western Pacific but she did so at her primary duty station off the coast of North Vietnam as the northern search and rescue ship controlling carrier-launched combat aircraft at PIRAZ
PIRAZ
PIRAZ is a United States Navy acronym for Positive Identification RADAR Advisory Zone. The zone is defined by the air search RADAR coverage of a ship patrolling a designated PIRAZ station...
. On a normal day, Fox monitored the activity of 200 Navy and Air Force missions. In particular, on 23 October 1967, a Fox air controller directed two F-4 fighters from the carrier USS Constellation
USS Constellation (CV-64)
USS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers...
to intercept the subsequent kill of a North Vietnamese MIG-21 aircraft over Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. It was the first time during the Vietnam War a shipboard controller had directed an intercept which resulted in a shoot-down of enemy aircraft. For such gallantry, Fox was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
graciously accepted by her then CO: Captain R.O. Whelander. During this intense period her communications staff, under the leadership of RMCS Haber, was so well trained that they were able to maintain an entire flotilla's radio traffic without losing a message. During her 1968 deployment, her communications officer (OC Division head) was LT. Robert Woodward. Woodward would later work for the Washington Post and teamed with Burnstein investigated the now infamous Watergate Office break-in which led to President Richard Nixon's resignation.
These early years continued to be highlighted by exemplary performance and poise. Of particular note in 1972, Fox was the at-sea platform in support of CNO Project DV-98 LAMPS. Such prowess garnered Fox the enviable distinction and award of an Operations Department Efficiency GOLD "E" for five straight years of operational readiness.
Fox was originally classified as a guided missile frigate along with her sister ships: USS Josephus Daniels
USS Josephus Daniels (CG-27)
USS Josephus Daniels was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. Named for Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy during World War I. She was launched as DLG-27, a frigate, and reclassified Cruiser on 30 June 1975....
, USS Wainwright, USS Jouett, USS Horne
USS Horne (CG-30)
USS Horne was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. Named for Admiral Frederick J. Horne, 1880-1959. She was launched as DLG-30, a frigate, and reclassified Cruiser on 30 June 1975....
, USS Sterett
USS Sterett (CG-31)
USS Sterett was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. She was the third ship to be named for Master Commandant Andrew Sterett , who served during the Quasi-War with France and the Barbary Wars...
, USS William H. Standley
USS William H. Standley (CG-32)
USS William H. Standley was a Belknap-class destroyer leader / cruiser. She was named for Admiral William Harrison Standley, former Chief of Naval Operations and ambassador to the Soviet Union. She was launched as DLG-32, a frigate, and reclassified Cruiser on 30 June 1975.The contract to...
and USS Biddle. They were funded by Congress during FY61 and FY62 as "Belknap Class" combatants at a time when "cruiser" nomenclature was forbidden. Designed as a "single-ended" guided missile platform built to screen aircraft carriers and provide combat air support.
The USS Belknap was severely damaged in a collision with the carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)
USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)
USS John F. Kennedy is a John F. Kennedy class aircraft carrier, the last conventionally powered carrier built for the United States Navy. The ship is named after the 35th President of the United States, John F...
in the Ionian Sea on 22 November 1975. In the interim, on 30 June 1975, Fox, along with her sister ships in the "new" Josephus Daniels class, were reclassified as a Guided Missile Cruiser (CG). Original armament included anti-submarine (ASROC) and anti-air (TERRIER) guided missiles. Such systems could automatically locate, track and engage the enemy at extremely long ranges. In addition to a 5 inch / 54 caliber gun and two MK32 torpedo launchers; AN/SQS-26 sonar; AN/SPS-48 three-dementional radar; AN/SPS-40 two-dimensional radar; NTDS (later CDS) computer processing and dissemination of tactical information data systems, other equipments were added including quad-canister HARPOON surface to surface missile launchers and Vulcan Phalanx Close In Weapons System. During her final shipyard overhaul in 1989, Fox received the New Threat Upgrade
New Threat Upgrade
-The Program:New Threat Upgrade was a program to improve the anti-aircraft capability of Terrier and Tartar ships. It allowed the full use of newer Standard missiles and improved the interoperability of the radar and computer systems aboard the ships...
(NTU) combat system which significantly enhanced her already impressive warfighting potential.
Foxs first visit to the Red Sea was in March 1976. Her first deployment to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
took place in November 1980. Her accomplishments and credits are lengthy and worthy. The Iran-lraq conflicts of the 1980s made it necessary for Fox to escort U.S. flagged oil tankers through such areas as the Straits of Hormuz of the Arabian Sea. Her deployment during 1987 included this mission which earned Fox her second Meritorious Unit Commendation.
In a 1993 transit of the Strait of Hormuz, Fox was approached by a ship from the Iranian coast. The ship was identified as an old water tender. It was a hazy day, but several small radar contacts separated from the ship and approached Fox. They were small boats with two individuals in each. They circled Fox and returned to the mother ship. The crew of Fox took no action, in accordance with the rules of engagement. The incident bears some resemblance to the later attack on the USS Cole, and could be construed as a "dress rehearsal".
Between 1966 and 1993, Fox had made 15 deployments to areas of conflict. Additional awards for service and valor include three Battle "E" Ribbons, two Navy Expeditionary Medals for services in the Indian Ocean/Persian Gulf, two National Defense Service Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal (with two bronze stars), the Southwest Asia Service Medal (with bronze star), Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Fox concluded her last overseas cruise near the end of 1993 and immediately began inactivation preparations. Decommissioned in mid-April 1994, she was sold for scrapping in 1995.