USS Gridley (DLG-21)

USS "Gridley" (DLG-21), a "Leahy"-class guided missile frigate, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Charles Vernon Gridley, who distinguished himself with Admiral George Dewey's force at the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898.

Her keel was laid down by the Puget Sound Bridge and Drydock Company of Seattle, Washington. She was launched on 31 July 1961 sponsored by Mrs. Stewart D. Rose, great-granddaughter of Captain Gridley, and commissioned on 25 May 1963 with Captain P. A. Lilly in command.

1960s

After outfitting at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, "Gridley" made a goodwill visit to British Columbia and then conducted acceptance trials out of her homeport, Long Beach, California. The new frigate returned to Puget Sound Shipyard from 8 November to 9 December 1963, after which she joined the Pacific Fleet as flagship of Destroyer Squadron 19.

Following shakedown out of San Diego, California, early in 1964, "Gridley" departed Long Beach 8 April and steamed via Pearl Harbor to Australia for commemoration of the Battle of the Coral Sea, arriving Adelaide, South Australia, on 5 May. The frigate next headed for the Philippines, stopping at Subic Bay on 29 May through 31 May, before proceeding to Okinawa on 2 June and Sasebo, Japan, on 8 June.

Heading south once more, she returned to Subic Bay and visited Hong Kong. On 4 August, she got underway for the South China Sea escorting aircraft carrier "Constellation" (CVA-64) to strengthen American naval forces off Vietnam after Communist motor torpedo boats had attacked destroyers "Maddox" (DD-731) and "Turner Joy" (DD-951) in the Gulf of Tonkin. But for a brief visit to Subic Bay, she remained on station serving screening and picket duty, coordinating antiaircraft warfare efforts, and relaying communications. Before she left the fighting zone 6 September, the ship's competent and dedicated service won her the Navy Unit Commendation. She departed Subic Bay on 7 November and reached Long Beach on 21 November.

"Gridley" operated along the West Coast until heading back to the Western Pacific 10 July 1965. Stopping at Pearl Harbor and Yokosuka en route, she steamed to the South China Sea to support aircraft carriers of the Seventh Fleet as the flattops attacked targets in Vietnam. On four different occasions in the next four months, she rescued pilots who ditched at sea. She returned to Yokosuka on 7 December but resumed station in the South China Sea on 22 December to serve as "Tomcat," responsible for checking-in planes returning to their carriers. Early in 1966 she headed for home and reached Long Beach 1 February.

In 1965 the Gridley was runner up of the Capt. Edward F. Ney Memorial Award, for the best feeding food ship in the Navy.(Medium aflot class) In 1966, the Gridley won the Capt. Edward F. Ney Memorial Award, for the best feeding food ship in the navy (Medium aflot class).Fact|date=May 2007

"Gridley" operated along the California coast until sailing for the Orient 18 November. She left Subic Bay 2 January 1967 for plane guard duty in the China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin. After varied duties in the fighting zone, she sailed for Australia en route to the West Coast and arrived Long Beach 8 June to prepare for future action.

On 8 June 1967 Ensign John Kerry reported on board for his first tour of sea duty. His tour ended a year later, on 6 June 1968, when "Gridley" returned from her deployment.

1970s

The entire Leahy class was given an AAW upgrade during the late-1960s and early 1970s. The 3 in/50s were replaced by 8 AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, the Terrier launchers were upgraded to fire the Standard missile, and 2 Phalanx CIWS were added.

"Gridley" was reclassified as a guided missile cruiser with hull classification symbol CG-21 on 30 June 1975. That year, she provided air traffic control and on-station support during "Operation Frequent Wind", the evacuation during the collapse of South Vietnam. "Gridley" was also on-station air traffic controller during the "Mayagüez" incident.

1980s

After a shipyard period in 1978, "Gridley" deployed to the western Pacific in 1979. As a result of the Iran hostage crisis, "Gridley" remained on station in the Indian Ocean and North Arabian Sea through mid-1980.

Upon returning to San Diego, California, in March 1982, "Gridley" was once again operating in Southern California waters, until October when she returned to Long Beach Naval Shipyard for an extensive upgrade and an overhaul of all engineering machinery. More upgrades were made to the ship's fire control and air search radars, and the Phalanx close-in weapon system was installed during 1982. "Gridley" returned to the operational fleet in October 1983.

In July 1987 "Gridley" was part of the "Ranger" battle group, conducting strikes against Iranian oil platforms. The ship returned to the Persian Gulf in December 1988, escorting reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Straits of Hormuz.

"Gridley" returned to San Diego, California, in June 1989. On October 17 of that year, the ship's visit to Naval Station, Treasure Island, California, was interrupted by the Richter-7.1 Loma-Prieta earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay area. "Gridley"’s crew provided assistance to victims in San Francisco's severely damaged Marina district.

1990s

From February 1990 until March 1991, "Gridley" received the New Threat Upgrade at Southwest Marine Shipyard in San Diego, California. During the US$55 million overhaul, all engineering, berthing and food service areas were upgraded, and the ship's combat systems were dramatically enhanced. Improvements to the air search radars and Combat Direction System improved the ship's ability to detect and engage multiple air threats with its SM-1ER and SM-2ER surface-to-air missiles.

Following an extensive operational evaluation and qualification phase, "Gridley" deployed to the Persian Gulf, the ship operated in support of "Independence" (CV-62). "Gridley" rescued the disabled merchant vessel "Adel 11" in the North Arabian Sea in June 1992. When Operation Southern Watch, the enforcement of a "no-fly" zone over southern Iraq, commenced in August, "Gridley" was the first ship on station off the coast of Kuwait. She provided coastal radar coverage and air-defense protection for ships in the northern Persian Gulf.

"Gridley" returned to San Diego, California, in October 1992 and was overhauled at the National Steel and Shipbuilding company from January through April 1993. During that time, the ship was back fitted to accommodate the new SM-2ER block III missile. The modification gave the ship the capability to defeat the sea-skimming cruise missiles which have proliferated worldwide in the 1990s. In July 1993, "Gridley" fired several of the new missiles on the Pacific Missile Test Center range, scoring three successful hits. That same month, the ship rendezvoused with "Constellation" (CV-64) in Acapulco, Mexico, escorting her back to San Diego, California, after the carrier's three-year Service Life Extension Program overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

After a final port visit to San Francisco, California, in October 1993 "Gridley" returned to San Diego, California, where she was decommissioned, stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, and transferred to the Maritime Administration for temporary lay-up on 21 January 1994. She was laid up in the Suisun Bay, California, reserve to await disposal. She was scrapped in 2005.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g8/gridley-iii.htm
*NVR|http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/CG21.htm
*This article includes information collected from the "Gridley"’s Web site, http://www.ussgridley.com/ .