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USS Fletcher (DD-992)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Fletcher (DD-992)

USS Fletcher (DD-992), was laid down on 24 April 1978, at Pascagoula, Miss., by Ingalls Shipbuilding; launched on 16 June 1979 and sponsored by Mrs. Catharine K. Train, wife of Adm. Harry D. Train II, Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, on 21 July 1979; and commissioned on 21 July 1980, Cmdr. Steven C. Saulnier in command.

USS Fletcher (DD-992) became the 30th Spruance class destroyer built and the 15th to join the Pacific Fleet, initially assigned to Cruiser Destroyer Group Five (CruDesGru 5) and Destroyer Squadron Nine (DesRon 9). Underway from Pascagoula (14 July 1980), USS Fletcher (DD-992) arrived at her new homeport at Naval Station (NS) San Diego, Calif., on 31 July. Making way from San Diego, USS Fletcher (DD-992) arrived at Pascagoula for three months of post-shakedown availability (31 January–2 May 1981).

USS Fletcher (DD-992) departed for her second WestPac deployment on 15 July 1983 with BG Echo, before receiving orders to divert south to the coast off El Salvador and Nicaragua to support U.S. policies in the area (25 July–12 August). While commencing transit via the Strait of Malacca, USS Fletcher (DD-992) received orders to investigate reports of a boat carrying possible Vietnamese refugees adrift in the South China Sea. While operating in the North Arabian Sea, USS Fletcher (DD-992) carried out surveillance and escort duties.

USS Fletcher (DD-992) entered dry dock at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Calif., for a complete overhaul (2 October 1986). New upgrades included the AN/SQQ-89 Undersea Warfare Combat System (ASWCS), the LAMPS MK III helicopter system, the MK 15 Phalanx Close-in Weapon System and the AN/SSQ-108(V) Classic Outboard Countermeasures Exploitation System. On 27 January 1994, USS Fletcher (DD-992) got underway from Pearl Harbor for a WestPac deployment. She spent her first port visit at Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands (3–5 February), before steaming to Kwajalein (7 February). With her deployment nearing an end, USS Fletcher (DD-992) steamed from the Arabian Sea en route to Darwin, Australia. After a three day port visit at Darwin (13–15 January 2001), the destroyer made way for Dili, East Timor (17–19 January). Under Operation SEA SWAP, an initiative to increase forward presence by reducing the transit time a vessel steamed between her homeport and an operation area, USS Fletcher (DD-992) spent more than 17 months in the Fifth Fleet operating area, providing support for Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. USS Fletcher (DD-992) was decommissioned at Naval Station San Diego on 1 October 2004.  

For a complete history of USS Fletcher (DD-992) please see its DANFS page.