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COMDESRON THIRTY SIX Command History Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX was first
established 1 July 1956. The squadron was primarily organized for
antisubmarine warfare, being composed of six escort destroyers (Gearing
class DDEs). The first overseas deployment of the squadron
was a North Atlantic cruise originally scheduled to consist of ASW
exercises with NATO countries in the North Atlantic. The North
Atlantic cruise was interrupted when the squadron was ordered to the
Mediterranean to augment the U.S. SIXTH Fleet during the November 1956
Suez crisis. Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX was the Senior
Officer Present Afloat during the early phases of the Lebanon crisis,
providing support for the amphibious operation. For the next several years, Destroyer
Squadron THIRTY-SIX, when not deployed to the Mediterranean, was
assigned to Task Group ALFA and ASW Group BRAVO. While attached to
these groups, the squadron was tasked with developing and evaluating
antisubmarine tactics and equipment with particular emphasis on
antisubmarine warfare support of carrier strike forces. During
this period, the squadron operated extensively in the Atlantic Ocean and
the Mediterranean and Red Seas. In February 1962, the
squadron participated in Project Mercury, during which Colonel Glen
successfully completed the United States' first orbital flight. In
October 1962, Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX sailed for Cuba in
accordance with the proclamation of President John F. Kennedy.
Along with continued ASW operations, in 1964 and 1965 the squadron
participated in operations relating to crisis in Cyprus and the
Dominican Republic. Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX entered
the Pacific Ocean in September 1968 to augment the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet
for operations in Southeast Asia. During these operations,
Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX acted as Naval Gunfire Support Commander,
providing gunfire support to free world gun forces involved in the
hostilities in Vietnam. The Squadron returned from the eight month
Western Pacific deployment in April 1969. Destroyer Squadron
THIRTY-SIX augmented the SEVENTH Fleet again in May through August 1972.
Upon completion of gunfire support commander duties in August 1972,
Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX was disestablished due to an Atlantic
Fleet reorganization. On 4 April 1978, Destroyer Squadron
THIRTY-SIX was reestablished, utilizing from the disestablished
Destroyer Squadron SIX Staff. This reestablishment was part of a
Surface Force Atlantic Fleet reorganization. Destroyer Squadron
THIRTY-SIX was now oriented toward the development of operational
tactics and operational training and employment of units assigned. The 20th of July 1978 marked the
beginning of the first major deployment of the newly reorganized
squadron when Commander Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX deployed as the
surface force commander on the Navy's annual circumnavigation of South
America (UNITAS XIX). During the combined naval operations
involving the major maritime nations of South America and the United
States, invaluable training was gained enabling each country to develop
its ability to conduct coastal operations and maintain freedom of the
seas. After nearly a fourteen year absence,
Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX began the first of three successive winter
deployments to the Mediterranean 7 September 1979. Acting as the
Anti-Submarine Warfare Commander (ASWC) for BATTLEFORCE SIXTH Fleet.
Commander Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX developed ASW tactics
appropriate to the Mediterranean area and specifically for Battle Group
Operations. Sandwiched between the latter two of
these deployments, Commander Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX was the
Commander of Great Lakes Cruise 1981. Showing the flag and
Navy pride and professionalism in 18 ports over a three month period,
the cruise was a landmark success and generated over 1500 Naval recruits
in the Great Lakes region. From June to November 1985, Destroyer
Squadron THIRTY-SIX again circumnavigated South America under the
overall tactical command of USCOMSOLANT during UNITAS XXVI. In June and July of 1986, Commander
Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX served as Officer in Tactical Command for
MEF 3-86 Transit Group and entered the Persian Gulf for the first time.
From Mid-August to Mid-October 1986, the staff participated in Exercise
Northern Wedding 86, acting as the CVBG ASWC under the overall tactical
command of Commander Carrier Striking Force and Commander Striking
Fleet, Atlantic. During this period, the squadron planned and
successfully executed new Fjord ASW tactics in Vestfjord that directly
supported the Maritime Strategy. January to July 1987 saw
the squadron again in the role of CTF 60 Battle Force ASWC as part of
the MED 1-87 Battle Group. During the cruise, the Squadron also
served as Officer in Tactical Command for Black Sea Operations and as
surface screen commander during Lebanese contingency operations.
September to November 1987 saw the Squadron again enroute to and
operating in the Persian Gulf with the MEF 4-87 Transit Group. Using the concept and plans developed
in the operation, the Squadron conducted an intense MEF 2-88 workup
concurrent with Fleet-Ex 1-88 in January 1988. April, May, and
June saw the Squadron acting as CVBG ASWC during Ocean Venture 88,
conducting submarine PCO OPS in the Caribbean, and supervising Tailship
Proficiency Training 6-88. The Squadron departed on deployment 19
July 1988 for its third and final circumnavigation of South America
(UNITAS XXIX). In 1989 Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX
deployed to the Mediterranean with the Coral Sea/America Battle Groups. In 1990 Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX
deployed to Red Sea for its first of four tours as Multinational
Maritime Interception Operations (MMIO) Commander enforcing UN Sanctions
against the Iraqi government in support of Operations Desert Shield and
later on Desert Storm. In 1991, Destroyer Squadron
THIRTY-SIX deployed to the Mediterranean and Red Sea for its second tour
as MMIO Commander. In 1992, Destroyer Squadron
THIRTY-SIX deployed with the Kennedy Battle Group to the Mediterranean
and Red Sea for its third tour as the MMIO Commander. In July 1993, Destroyer Squadron
THIRTY-SIX deployed for its final operation. Commander Destroyer
Squadron THIRTY-SIX was the last U.S. Naval MMIO Commander and as the
Tomahawk missile Launch Area Coordinator (LAC) in the Red Sea. At
the completion of the Squadrons tour, the MMIO Commander duties were
assumed by the US Coast Guard. In September 1994, Destroyer Squadron
THIRTY-SIX went on standby duty for contingency operations in the
Haitian Area of Operations, what later became Operation Support
Democracy.
The Squadron was disestablished for the second time in March 1994.
It was the second time Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-SIX had been
disestablished for the same purpose, an Atlantic Fleet reorganization.
Source:
http://dangrusdav.tripod.com/command.htm
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