Thomas S. Gates (CG 51)
1987-2005
Named for: Thomas Sovereign Gates, Jr., born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 10 April 1906, to Thomas Sovereign Gates, a lawyer and investment banker and later (1930-1944) President of the University of Pennsylvania, and Marie Rogers Gates, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1928. On 29 September 1928, Gates wed Millicent Anne Brengle of Philadelphia, a union that ultimately produced five children.
Gates entered the investment business with Drexel and Company after graduation, and ultimately became a partner in 1940, and served in the Pennsylvania National Guard as a private until 1935. Although initially disposed toward the U.S. Army as the shadow of totalitarian domination lengthened over the globe during 1941, Gates entered the U.S. Naval Reserve in April 1942.
Following indoctrination training at Quonset Point, R.I., Gates emerged with the rank of lieutenant, and from there moved a short distance to the Atlantic Fleet Air Intelligence Center, where he served until March 1943. Following a year's service as air combat intelligence officer in the small carrier Monterey (CVL-26), during which time he was promoted to lieutenant commander, Gates became flag lieutenant to Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, with additional duty as air combat intelligence officer, and participated in the invasion of Southern France in August 1944.
Transferred thence to the Pacific theater, Gates served as flag lieutenant to Commander, Escort Carrier Force (Commander Task Group 77.4) and as permanent staff watch officer during daylight hours in operations against Japanese forces on Luzon (3-17 January 1945), receiving the Bronze Star. He received a second Bronze Star for his work as flag lieutenant and aide to Commander, Escort Carrier Force, Pacific Fleet, between January and June 1945, taking part in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. Upon his release from the Navy in October 1945, he received promotion to commander.
Following the war, Gates maintained interest in naval affairs, being actively involved in the organization of Reserve Officers of the Naval Service, serving as director and national vice president of the Navy League of the United States, and serving as a member of the Naval Advisory Council of the Bureau of Aeronautics.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower selected Gates to be Under Secretary of the Navy on 2 October 1953, and he was sworn in five days later. Advanced to the rank of captain, USNR, in December 1953, he was placed on the retired list. Gates served in that post until 1 April 1957, when assumed the office as Secretary of the Navy. Ultimately, he became Secretary of Defense on 1 December 1959, and served in that post until 20 January 1961. Gates' accomplishments included the introduction of modern weapons and nuclear propulsion systems, and major reorganizations of the Navy's administrative structure.
Gates' last public service position was head of the United States Liaison Office to the People's Republic of China (May 1976-May 1977), an ambassadorial-rank position to which he was appointed by then, president Gerald R. Ford, Gates died in 1983.
Ship name number: I
Specifications: Include armament and major systems at time of commissioning.
Built by: Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine
Keel laid: 31 August 1984
Launched: 14 December 1985
Sponsored [Christened] by: Mrs. Thomas S. (Anne) Gates, Jr., widow of the late Secretary of Defense.
Commissioned: 22 August 1987, at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Decommissioned: 15 December 2005
Strike Date:
Final Disposition:
Ship Insignia:Thomas S. Gates' insignia reflects the government service of the man honored in the name of the ship. The upper section of the crest represents Gates' World War II service in various aircraft carriers (large, small, and escort); the deep blue represents the Pacific Ocean; the gold U.S. Navy tradition. The heraldic rayonne division of scarlet and gold symbolizes the severity of Japanese kamikaze attacks that descended upon aircraft carriers during the Lingayen, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa campaigns, in which Gates participated. The anchor and stars, adapted from the Secretary of the Navy's flag, refer to Gates' tenure as Undersecretary of the Navy and Secretary of the Navy. The three arrows, which appear on the flag of the Secretary of Defense, reflect his tours as Deputy Undersecretary of Defense and Secretary of Defense.
On the crest, the eagle, symbolic of power and authority, along with the ship's wheel, allude to the strong leadership provided by Gates during a period of technological change (guns to missiles, conventional to nuclear power, piston engines to jets, and the beginning of space exploration) while at the helm of the Defense Department. The alternating colors of the wheel symbolize that era of change. The blue stars represent the United States, the red, China; the gold rays from the Presidential seal emphasize the significance of Gates' appointment, by President Gerald R. Ford, to head the U.S. Liaison Office to the People's Republic of China, and reflect Gates-s contributions to the United States in that role, his last as a public servant.
The ship's motto: "Defender of the Republic."
Chronology and Significant Events:
22 Aug 1987: Commissioned, Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
7 Jan 1988: Departed Norfolk for Guantanamo Bay.
10 Jan - 16 Feb 1988: Refresher Training, Guantanamo Bay.
12 Mar - 5 Jun 1988: Post shakedown Availability, Portland, Maine.
12 Jun - 1 Jul 1988: Fleet Exercise; flagship for RADM Jeremy Boorda, Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Eight)
15 Aug - 2 Sep 1988:- During this time, Thomas S. Gates conducted independent ship exercises and type training; operated on the AUTEC range, transited to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and underwent ANGLICO training. She also hosted Deputy Undersecretary of the Navy Seth Cropsey, and capped the period with a visit to Antigua, Netherlands Antilles.
2 - 16 Sep 1988: Intermediate Maintenance Availability (IMAV) alongside destroyer tender Shenandoah (AD-44), Norfolk, Virginia.
19 Sep 1988: While en route to Boston, conducted CNO VLS project with nuclear-powered attack submarines Providence (SSN-719) and Boston (SSN-703).
23 - 25 Sep 1988: Port visit to Boston, Massachusetts; Thomas S. Gates hosted 3,500 visitors.
26 Sep - Oct 1988: Thomas S. Gates departed Boston for Newport, Rhode Island, on 26 September, and arrived at her destination the following day, where she served as Surface Warfare Officer School Command school ship, hosting 425 students from Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW), Damage Control Assistant (DCA), Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Division Officer, Department Head, and Prospective Commanding Officer (PCO) courses between 27 September and 1 October. She departed on the latter day for Norfolk.
7 - 18 Nov 1988: Fleet Exercise (FleetEx) 1-89, upon the conclusion of which Thomas S. Gates returned to Norfolk.
28 Nov - 19 Dec 1988: Carrier escort operations, Puerto Rico Operating Area, punctuated by a port visit to St. Maarten (9-11 December).
19 Dec 1988 - 17 Jan 1989: Availability and upkeep alongside Shenandoah, Norfolk.
17 Jan - 30 Apr 1989: After conducting deck landing qualifications and type training in the Virginia capes operating area (17-21 January), Thomas S. Gates underwent a period of upkeep at Norfolk (21 January-8 February), after which time she participated in FleetEx 2-89 (Basic) with RADM Richard Macke (Commander Carrier Group 2) embarked as Composite Warfare Commander. Port visits to Port Canaveral, Florida (23-26 February) and Savannah, Georgia (14-21 March) followed, punctuated by upkeep at Norfolk (27 February-13 March). The guided missile cruiser underwent a maintenance period, followed by a Harpoon certification. She then participated in FleetEx 3-89 (Advanced) (13-30 April), after which time she prepared for her first extended deployment.
31 May 1989 - 10 Nov 1989: Maiden deployment. After transiting to the Mediterranean as part of the battle group formed around Coral Sea (CVA-43), Thomas S. Gates in-chopped to the Sixth Fleet on 10 June 1989; she participated in Operation National Week (10-19 June), conducting turnover with the guided missile cruiser Leyte Gulf (CG-55) at Augusta Bay, Sicily (15 June). After visiting Palma, Majorca (20-27 June) and Toulon, France (30 June-15 July), where she underwent an IMAV, Thomas S. Gates transited to the eastern Mediterranean (15-21 July); following a port visit to Izmir, Turkey (21-23 July), Thomas S. Gates participated in Exercise Demon Jazz 89 (24-29 July). She then visited Istanbul, Turkey (31 July-2 August), where she embarked VADM Paul Ilg, Deputy Commander in Chief U.S. Naval Forces, Europe, and then stood into the Black Sea (3-4 August). Accompanied by the guided missile frigate Kauffman (FFG-59), Thomas S. Gates visited Sevastapol, USSR, from 4-8 August, and then returned to Istanbul, where she disembarked VADM Ilg (9-10 August). Owing to the crisis in Lebanon, which had dictated that the fleet flagship, guided missile cruiser Belknap (CG-26) not carry out her scheduled visit to Sevastapol, Thomas S. Gates then operated in support of the Coral Sea and America (CVA-66) battle groups off Beirut. Returning to Toulon, Thomas S. Gates there underwent a period of maintenance (7-13 September). After taking part in NATO Exercise Display Determination 89 (14 September-3 October) in concert with units of the French and Turkish Navies, she conducted a period of escort operations (3-11 October) as she transited to the western Mediterranean. She then underwent a period of maintenance in Marseilles, France (11-22 October) before she participated in Exercise National Week (24-31 October), during which she conducted turnover with her relief, Yorktown (CG-48) at Pollensa Bay, Majorca (29 October). Out-chopping to Commander, 2d Fleet, on 31 October, Thomas S. Gates then conducted her return transit to Norfolk (31 October-10 November).
10 Nov 1989 - 18 Jan 1990: Following her return from her maiden extended deployment, Thomas S. Gates underwent a period of upkeep (10-19 November), followed by a maintenance period (20 November-12 December), type training (12-14 December), and further upkeep that extended into the new year (14 December 1989-17 January 1990). A -fast- cruise and embarkation of HSL-44 Detachment 9 (Magnum 455) culminated that period.
19 Jan - 2 Mar 1990: Thomas S. Gates escorted battleship Wisconsin (BB-64) to Guantanamo Bay (19-21 January), after which time she embarked a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (23 January). Embarking Caribbean Squadron staff members during an in-port period at Roosevelt Roads (25-26 January), the guided missile cruiser embarked CAPT Galen R. Siddall, USCG, Commander Caribbean Squadron (ComCaribRon) on 29 January. Thomas S. Gates spent the last days of January and first week of February engaged in anti-drug operations, taking part in 41 boardings of vessels suspected of carrying drugs. Following a port visit to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles (CAPT Siddall disembarking on 9 February), the guided missile cruiser conducted high-intensity operations (as Task Unit 44.7.3) until 25 February, when she reached Port Everglades to begin a three-day port visit (25-27 February), after which time she got underway to return to her home port.
3 - 21 Jun 1990: Thomas S. Gates underwent upkeep upon her return to Norfolk (3-4 March), after which point she received an IMAV there (5-23 March). Following a combat systems assessment off the Virginia capes (28-29 March), the guided missile cruiser served as engineering school ship out of Newport (30 March-4 April). The ship visited New York City (6-8 April), then offloaded ammunition at Earle, N.J. (9-10 April); Thomas S. Gates then underwent upkeep (13-15 April), after which time she underwent a concurrent restricted availability and IMAV (16 April-15 June), followed by further upkeep (16-17 June) and sea trials off the Virginia capes (18 June).
22 Jun - 14 Aug 1990: Thomas S. Gates operated out of Norfolk during this time, conducting midshipman training (26-29 June; 10-13 and 24-27 July), interspersed with upkeep, and (20 July) embarkation of HSL-44, Detachment 9 (Magnum 447), punctuated with a transit to the waters off Puerto Rico (28-29 July) and operations there, conducting naval gunfire support services and qualifications off Vieques (30 July-3 August) and antisubmarine warfare operations with the submarine John Marshall (SSN-611) (4-6 August), followed by the transit to Norfolk (7-9 August), upon return from which she received word (10 August) of her impending deployment to the Middle East in the wake of Iraq's invasion of neighboring Kuwait (2 August). Despite her imminent departure, Thomas S. Gates hosted 2,800 visitors as the Norfolk Naval Station's "Visit Ship" (11-12 August), after which time, during continued preparations for sea, she underwent a communications security management inspection (13-14 August).
15 Aug 1990 - 28 Mar 1991: Following that relatively short period (five days!) of intensive preparations, Thomas S. Gates deployed as an element of the battle group (RADM Riley D. Mixson) formed around the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV-67) to participate in Operation Desert Shield. The group exercised at sea (16-21 August), then began its voyage toward the Mediterranean (22 August), transiting the Strait of Gibraltar on 30 August to become Task Force (TF) 60. On 1 September, the ship experienced a gas turbine casualty while transiting the western Mediterranean that compelled her to put in to Augusta Bay, Sicily, for an engine changeout (3-11 September), after which time she rejoined TF-60 (13 September) off Port Said, Egypt. Thomas S. Gates began her maiden transit of the Suez Canal (14 September), leading the battle group on its passage through that historic waterway. Becoming part of Task Group (TG) 150.5 (15 September) upon entering the Red Sea, the guided missile cruiser rode "shotgun" for John F. Kennedy and operated as anti-air warfare commander (16 September-14 October) before being detached from the carrier on 15 October. With a USCG detachment embarked, Thomas S. Gates transited the Strait of Tiran, at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, and conducted maritime interdiction operations to enforce United Nations-enforced sanctions against the ingress of Iraqi goods (15-19 October); the boarding operations conducted during this time, putting to good use skills developed in February in the Caribbean Sea. The ship then visited Hurghada, Egypt (20-23 October), after which time she served as "Gate Guard" in the Gulf of Suez, screening all shipping traffic. TG 150.5 became TF-60 on 26 October, and on the 27th transited the Suez Canal. Between 28 October and 11 December, Thomas S. Gates operated in the central and eastern Mediterranean, evolutions punctuated by port visits to Naples (31 October-2 November), Izmir, Turkey (7-13 November), and Haifa, Israel (16-17 November), and an IMAV alongside destroyer tender Yellowstone (AD-41) at Suda Bay, Crete (29 November-5 December). Transiting the Suez Canal on 9 December, the guided missile cruiser returned to the Red Sea, in-chopping to CTG 150.5 the following day. Thomas S. Gates then conducted maritime interdiction operations in the Strait of Tiran (10-14 December), completing her 37th boarding of the deployment on the latter date (14 December). Between 15 and 28 December, the ship rode shotgun for John F. Kennedy and served as anti air warfare commander, participating in three exercises with Royal Air Force units (20, 23, and 26 December) during that time. She put in to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 29 December in company with John F. Kennedy, where Vice President Dan Quayle addressed the crews of both ships on New Year's Day 1991. Between 3 and 16 January, Thomas S. Gates conducted Desert Shield operations in the Red Sea, punctuating that period exercising the Royal Saudi Navy in an antisubmarine warfare exercise, Operation Camelot 91 (3-7 January). Iraq's ignoring the UN-imposed deadline (16 January) for withdrawing from Kuwait, however, changed the complexion of events in the region, and Operation Desert Storm soon got underway early the following day (17 January). Over the ensuing weeks (17 January-13 February), Thomas S. Gates, as Red Crown (Inter Anti Aircraft Warfare Defense Zone Coordinator) coordinated the departures and returns of air strikes from John F. Kennedy, Saratoga (CV-60) and America (CV-66), "ensuring that all friendly aircraft returned safely through the air defense net while preventing any possible raid, following Iraqi aircraft getting through." Following a visit to Hurghada (14-18 February), Thomas S. Gates operated once more in the Red Sea (19 February-1 March), during which time (24 February) the ground war began in Iraq and Kuwait. Following the cease-fire (28 February), the ship conducted a brief period of maritime interdiction operations in the Gulf of Aqaba. Following an in-port period at Jeddah (2-10 March), where she underwent an IMAV alongside the destroyer tender Puget Sound (AD-38), Thomas S. Gates transited the Suez Canal (12 March). She then conducted anti submarine warfare exercises in the central Mediterranean (15-17 March), after which she transited the Strait of Gibraltar (18 March), headed for Norfolk, returning to her homeport on 28 March.
29 Mar - 28 Jul 1991: Thomas S. Gates alternated periods of upkeep out of Norfolk with an IMAV (1-10 May), a combat systems assessment rehearsal in the Virginia capes operating area (15-17 May), operations in the Puerto Rican operating area (29 May-11 June), a visit to Port Everglades (7-9 June), a combat systems assist visit (18-20 June) off the Virginia capes, and INSURV rehearsal (9 July) and an INSURV inspection (15-19 July) in those same waters.
29 Jul - 30 Aug 1991: Thomas S. Gates sailed from Norfolk (29 July) for the Caribbean. Pausing at Roosevelt Roads (2 August), she embarked RADM James A. Lair (Commander, TG 4.1) Commander, Carrier Group 2, and CAPT Grant W. Risinger, USCG, ComCaribRon; she conducted energetic counter-narcotics operations for the balance of the month, underway periods punctuated by port visits to Curacao (10 August) and La Guaira, Venezuela (19-21 August). Disembarking ComCarGru 2 and ComCaribRon at Roosevelt Roads on 26 August, the ship conducted missile exercises the following day (27 August), and then made the transit to Norfolk- (28-30 August).
31 Aug 1991 - 5 May 1992 : During this period, Thomas S. Gates alternated periods of upkeep and maintenance at Norfolk with local operations and training, highlighted by her participation in short-notice exercises Fast Break 01 (19-20 September) and Fast Break 03 (4-6 December 1991) off the Virginia capes, and FleetEx 2-92 (13 January-13 February 1992). During the latter period, she served as flagship for RADM P. A. Dur, Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 8 (17-26 January), embarking him at Roosevelt Roads (17 January). Operating in Puerto Rican waters, Thomas S. Gates conducted a missile-firing exercise (18 January), naval gunfire support qualifications at Vieques (19 January) and an ASW weapons firing evolution on the St. Croix range (20 January), capping that period with battle group operations (21-23 January), after which the ship visited Port Everglades (24-26 January), where she disembarked RADM Dur. The ship then returned to Puerto Rican waters for a combat systems assessment (27-28 January), then conducted a second stint of battle group exercises (29 January-13 February) that culminated with her return to Norfolk. Following a period of upkeep, Thomas S. Gates then participated in a multi-national exercise, Fabric Falcon Brave, off the Bay of Fundy (26 February-4 March) and another Fast Break evolution (25-26 March) off the Virginia capes. She spent the remainder of this period engaged in upkeep at Norfolk, punctuated by a dependents cruise in the Virginia capes operating area (30 April).
6 May - 6 Nov 1992 : Thomas S. Gates, with HSL-44 Detachment 9 embarked, deployed (Med 2-92) in company with guided missile cruiser Biddle (CG-34) and destroyer Comte de Grasse (DD-974) on 6 May 1992, and joined the battle group formed around the carrier Saratoga three days later. Transiting the Strait of Gibraltar on 18 May, the guided missile cruiser operated from one end of the Mediterranean to the other for almost two months, pausing at Augusta Bay (23-24 May), Naples (26-30 May), and Gaeta, Italy (4-7 June), participating in Exercise Dasix Lafayette 92-1 (9-11 June), and visiting Ibiza, Spain (13-19 June), a call enlivened by an emergency sortie from her anchorage (14 June) because of heavy seas. Following her participation in joint-service exercise Eclipse Bravo (21-28 June), Thomas S. Gates then visited Villefranche, France (30 June-10 July, during which time she received an IMAV alongside destroyer tender Yellowstone. She then operated in the Gulf of Lyon (11-12 July), after which she paused at Monaco (13-17 July). The guided missile cruiser participated in ASW exercises in the Strait of Bonafacio (19-20 July), before she was diverted to the Adriatic to serve as anti-air warfare commander for Commander TF 61 in support of Operation Provide Promise (23 July-2 September), monitoring the safety of relief flights into beleaguered Sarajevo. During that time, she took part in missile-firing exercises in the Ionian Sea (27 August). At the conclusion of those operations, she employed her embarked SH-60B Seahawk helicopters in search and rescue efforts in the wake of the crash of an Italian relief aircraft in the former region of Yugoslavia (3 September). Following a visit to Trieste, Italy (4-13 September), Thomas S. Gates then operated in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas (14-24 September), before pausing briefly for a port visit to Aksaz Karagac, Turkey (25 September). The guided missile cruiser then took part in a multi-phase NATO exercise, Display Determination 92, evolutions marred by tragedy when live missiles hit the Turkish destroyer Mauvemet (DM-357), formerly the light minelayer Gwin (DM-33), on 2 October; Thomas S. Gates provided a damage control boarding team, communications assistance, and directed her fire hoses on the flames on board the Turkish warship from 20 yards away; ten of the guided missile cruiser-s crew received decorations for the valor they displayed during the incident. The exercises began anew the next day at the request of the Turkish government. Subsequently, Thomas S. Gates hosted dignitaries (Lieutenant General Mihov, Bulgarian Chief of Staff, on 4 October, and His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium on 6 October). Detached from Display Determination 92, the guided missile cruiser proceeded to Naples for a three-day port visit (8-11 October), then participated in Exercise Dasix Lafayette 92-2 (14-15 October), after which time she returned to the Adriatic and Ionian Seas (16-17 October), reprised her visit to Trieste (18-20 October), and operated once more in the Adriatic, turning over her duty as AAW commander to Gettysburg (CG-64) in those waters on 22 October, in the John F. Kennedy battle group, and then headed for home. Transiting the Strait of Gibraltar on 25 October and detached from the Saratoga battle group on 4 November, Thomas S. Gates stood in to Norfolk on 6 November.
7 Nov 1992 - 7 Feb 1993: Thomas S. Gates spent this period alternating upkeep with type training, and concluded it with an IMAV.
8 Feb - 21 Mar 1993: Underway for Rodman, Panama, on 8 February, Thomas S. Gates, HSL-44 Detachment 9 (Magnum 457) embarked, transited the Panama Canal on 12 February. Embarking RADM James R. Fitzgerald, Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 3 to serve as Commander Joint Task Group (JTG) 4.1, and ComCaribRon (Commander Task Unit 44.7.3), for the first of two periods of counter-narcotics operations during the first half of the year. Crossing the Equator on 20 February (during which time over 70% of the crew received initiation as shellbacks), Thomas S. Gates transited the Panama Canal (23 February), and then operated off the coast of South America, monitoring air and surface ship traffic (23 February-3 March) as flagship for JTG 4.1, punctuating the period with a visit to Martinique (26-28 February). Operating as JTG 4.1 flagship, RADM Michael A. McDevitt relieving RADM Fitzgerald on 3 March, during the first part of March, interrupting that work briefly for naval gunfire support qualification at Vieques (5 March), the guided missile cruiser debarked RADM McDevitt at Roosevelt Roads (14 March), and soon commenced the return voyage to Norfolk, diverting briefly to Mayport, Florida, due to a severe winter storm (18 March) before ultimately returning to Norfolk on 21 March, immediately commencing an IMAV alongside Yellowstone.
15 Apr 1993: Assigned to the newly-formed George Washington (CVN-73) battle group.
19 Apr - 24 May 1993: Thomas S. Gates sailed for Port Canaveral on 19 April, HSL-44 Detachment 9 (Magnum 457) embarked, and after a visit to that place (21-23 April), took on stores and fuel on 27 April to enable her to conduct her second anti-drug operations period of the year (27 April-19 May). She exercised briefly with the French helicopter carrier Jeanne D-Arc (R.97) and escort sloop Enseigne de Vasseau Henry (F.749) (8-9 May) during her counter-narcotics work, at the conclusion of which she conducted a missile exercise in the northern Puerto Rican operating area (19 May), before she conducted the return voyage to Norfolk.
Jun - Aug 1993: Local operations for engineering training group visits, limited team training and combat systems assessment inspections.
7 Sep - 17 Dec 1993: Restricted availability at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, including a dry dock period.
5 Jan - 20 May 1994: Sea trials and refresher training for upcoming deployment. Evolutions included Exercise Comptuex 1-94 (19 January-18 February), Joint Task Group workups (8-11 March) and FleetEx 2-94 (8-24 April). Final preparations included a short dry dock period in Sustain (ADFM-7). During this period the warship hosted dignitaries on several occassions, including a send off visit by Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jeremy Boorda (20 May).
20 May - 17 Nov 1994: Underway in company with the George Washington Battle Group, Thomas S. Gates, HSL-44 Detachment 9 (Magnum 453) embarked, sailed to Britain to take part in ceremonies for the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. On 5 June, she anchored off Point du Hoc along with a dozen other NATO warships as a backdrop for the ceremonies and put in to Le Havre on the 6th to allow veterans to tour the ship. Underway on 9 June, the cruiser sailed south to the Adriatic Sea (arriving there on the 20th via Gibraltar) for duty as "Redcrown" (AAW defense warship) in support of Operations Sharp Guard, Deny Flight and Provide Promise. An engine failure on the 24th sent the cruiser to Augusta Bay for repairs, where she remained until 5 July. The warship then sailed east to Haifa, Israel, for a port visit (10-12 July) before returning to the Adriatic on the 16th. After turning over duties on 27 July, the cruiser proceeded to the south of France for festivities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the amphibious landings at Theoule Sur Mer (10-16 August). Following a short repair period at Naples (16-23 August), Thomas S. Gates quickly steamed to the Suez Canal, transited the Red Sea and proceeded on to the Northern Arabian Gulf. Once there, she provided AAW coverage for Operation Southern Watch (27 August-21 September), the Allied flights over Iraq designed to protect local Shia Arabs from attacks by Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime. Back in the Mediterranean on 29 September, she participated in NATO Exercise Dynamic Guard 94 (2-12 October) and conducted additional "Redcrown" ops in the Adriatic (17-31 October) before sailing for home, arriving in Norfolk on 17 November.
9 Jan - 2 Mar 1995: Thomas S. Gates, with HSL-44 Detachment 9 (Magnum 442) & Law Enforcement Detachment (LeDet) 81 embarked, got underway early in the year for counter-drug operations in the West Indies. The almost three month cruise also took the warship to Cartagena, Columbia, and to the gunnery training range off Puerto Rico.
6 Mar - 29 Nov 1995: Restricted availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
16 Jan - 2 May 1996: Refresher training, aviation and other certifcations and inspections carried out until March, when the cruiser participated in NATO Exercise Unified Spirit 1996 (22 March-1 April).
3 May - 22 Jun 1996: Underway for counter-drug ops, Thomas S. Gates, with HSL-48 Detachment 1 (Venom 507) & Law Enforcement Detachment (LeDet) 5G embarked, transited the Panama Canal and operated in the eastern Pacific. During this deployment, the ship held a "crossing the line ceremony" on 18 May. The cruiser returned to Norfolk on 22 June.
July - Dec 1996: Following more service inspections in the summer, the warship began preparations for her upcoming deployment by carrying out training exercises off Puerto Rico in mid-November and early December, including a Harpoon missile exercise on 22 November.
7 Mar - 22 Mar 1997: Following holiday leave and upkeep, and a three week availability at Norfolk, Thomas S. Gates conducted two weeks of JTFEX 97-2 with the John F. Kennedy battle group in preparation for a Mediterranean deployment.
29 Apr - 27 Oct 1997: Departing Norfolk on 29 April, with HSL-48, Detachment 1 (Venom 500) embarked, the guided missile cruiser sailed across the Atlantic and in-chopped to the 6th Fleet on 11 May, the same day she relieved guided missile destroyer Ramage (DDG-61) as anti-air warfare commander. Following the week-long Exercise Linked Seas (11-18 May), pulled into Palma de Mallorca, Spain, for a five day port visit. Underway 26 May, the cruiser sailed to Barcelona, arriving there 3 June after conducting a burial at sea with the remains of three World War II veterans. The warship then shifted north on the 9th, arriving at Cannes, France, on 16 June after flying off Venom 500 on the 13th to participate in the Paris Air Show. Thomas S. Gates then sailed to La Maddalena, Italy, for a short maintenance period (24-29 June) alongside submarine tender Simon Lake (AS-33). Following Exercise INVITEX 97 (30 June-18 July) in the Tyrrhenean Sea, and a short visit to Naples (18-25 July), the cruiser steamed east for a diplomatic visit to Constanta, Rumania, arriving there via Corfu, Greece, on 11 August. The cruiser hosted a press conference on 14 August, as well as a reception for over 200 guests, including Rear Admiral Traian Atanasiu, Romanian Chief of the General Staff, before getting underway for joint Exercise Rescue Eagle 97 (17-18 August) in the Black Sea. The warship then sailed west, arriving in Rota, Spain, on 7 September after stops in Istanbul, Turkey and Livorno, Italy. The cruiser then participated in joint Exercise Strong Tarpon (14-21 September) in the eastern Atlantic before conducting return port visits to Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona and Cannes. After Thomas S. Gates put in to Gibraltar on 10 October, she turned over with guided missile cruiser South Carolina (CGN-37) on 16 October before sailing to Bermuda, arriving there 25 October. That same day, just after embarking crew relatives for a Tiger cruise home, the cruiser responded to a distress call, recovering two crewmen from the drifting sailboat Glou Glou. The warship arrived home at Norfolk on 27 October.
28 Oct 1997 - 13 Feb 1998: Post-deployment leave and restricted availability.
30 Mar - 15 Jun 1998: Thomas S. Gates conducted east coast operations out of Norfolk in the spring of 1998. These included a school ship visit to Newport, RI, and tow escort duty while USNS Apache (T-ATF-172) towed ex-Groton (SSN-694) south to Fort Lauderdale in April, and participation in JTFEX 98-2 in May. This cruise was followed by another availability at Norfolk (15 May - 15 June).
15 Jun - 29 Jun 1998: The cruiser sailed to Puerto Rico on 15 June, conducting a two SM-1 missile shoot off Roosevelt Roads and a Project Handclasp visit to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, before arriving at her new home port in Pascagoula, Mississippi on the 29th.
13 Jul - 18 Sep 1998: Restricted availability at Pascagoula; interrupted by a hurricane sortie 1-4 September.
19 Sep 1998 - 30 May 1999: Local operations out of Pascagoula and Norfolk, highlighted by a second hurricane sortie (23-30 September), guard ship operations for the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavor (OV-105) STS-88 (30 November-11 December) and a gunnery exercise in the Virginia Capes operating area (25 February). The warship also visited Charleston, S.C. (1-8 March). Thomas S. Gates then participated in Exercise Index 99-1 (26 April-6 May).
1 Jun - 24 Sep 1999: After embarking HSL-44, Detachment 1, the cruiser got underway for the West Indies, loading a Coast Guard LEO team at Guantanamo Bay on 5 June. The cruiser conducted eight-weeks of counter-drug ops in the southern Caribbean, broken only by port visits to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles; Cristobal, Panama; Aruba; and Cartagena, Columbia, until 9 August when the warship transited the Panama Canal. Counter-drug operations in the eastern Pacific continued until 12 September, with work punctuated by port visits to Rodman, Panama and Manta, Ecuador. The cruiser also carried out a "crossing the line" ceremony on 31 August, during which nearly 300 "pollywogs" became "shellbacks." Returning to the West Indies on 14 September, the cruiser conducted one last week of patrols before preparing for turnover with Yorktown (CG-48) at Jamaica.
25 Sep 1999: Thomas S. Gates responded to a call for assistance from Coast Guard cutter Resolute, then in the process of conducting boarding operations of the suspect merchant vessel Love. After an attempt by the Love's crew to scuttle their ship, the cruiser sent a damage control team to try and keep the merchant vessel seaworthy but those efforts failed after repeated attempts to stop the flooding. The cruiser then sank the awash vessel with 5-inch gunfire as it was as a hazard to navigation.
3 Oct 1999 - 31 Dec 1999: Thomas S. Gates returned to Pascagoula on 3 October and quickly resumed local operations, conducting port visits to Pensacola (14-16 November), Galveston, Texas (2-6 December), before returning to port for the holiday season.
NO 2000 HISTORY IN FILE
1 Jan 2001 - 2 Jun 2002: Following local operations out of Pascagoula in the spring, the cruiser entered Bender Marine Shipyard, Mobile, Alabama, for a selective repair availability (07 May-24 September). Following the attacks of 11 September, Thomas S. Gates served as a contingency "ready ship" for Operation Noble Eagle. Later in the fall, the warship made a short visit to Newport in October and conducted a Destroyer Squadron Six group sail (25 Oct - 6 Nov). In early 2002, the cruiser conducted SAR training and endured several administrative inspections in preparation for another counter-drug deployment.
3 Jun - 9 Sep 2002: Departing Pascagoula on 3 June, Thomas S. Gates, with HSL 42, Detachment 9 (Proud Warrior) embarked, transited the Panama Canal on 7 June to conduct counter-drug ops in the eastern Pacific. During a three-month deployment, the cruiser conducted six patrols out of Rodman, Panama, during which she made two major drug seizures (4.5 tons of cocaine) from "Go-Fast" speedboats off El Salvador. The warship also conducted a special forces exercise called Trident Warrior and a submarine tracking and gunnery exercise with the Peruvian Navy.
10 Sep - 18 Nov 2002: Following a very brief two-week maintenance period, Thomas S. Gates, got underway on 23 September for Exercise UNITAS 43-02 (8-28 October), a multi-national exercise with ships from Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Venezuala and Uruguay. During the exercise, the warships conducted maritime interdiction operation drills, submarine hunts and close-in ship handling.
19 Nov 2002 - 18 Nov 2003: Following leave and upkeep, Thomas S. Gates steamed to Naval Station Yorktown to offload ordnance in preparation for a two-month selected restricted availability. Returning south in mid-February 2003 after stops at Staten Island and Newport, the cruiser moored at Mobile to begin yard work on 1 March. She then sailed to Pascagoula to begin preparations for a deployment scheduled to begin the following year. In between department inspections and exams, the warship spent the 4th of July at Savannah, Georgia; conducted cruise missile qualifications in August and final engineering exams in September. The cruiser also rearmed with cruise missiles in October before conducting Exercise Miniwar 03-4 in November.
10 Mar 2004: Thomas S. Gates departed Pascagoula for operations in the Atlantic, with HSL 42, Detachment 9, embarked.
21 Mar 2004: Thomas S. Gates rendezvoused with cruise ship Celebrity Summit (Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines) (Bahamian Registry) in the central Caribbean; the cruiser's embarked USCG Enforcement Detachment boarding team, with the cooperation of the cruise ship's captain and security force, apprehended Jose Miguel Battle, Jr. (El Padrino) suspected leader of The Corporation, an organized crime outfit.
22 Mar - 2 Aug 2004: Following port visits to New London, Philadelphia and Annapolis in April and May, Thomas S. Gates helped escort the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) from Norfolk to San Diego via Cape Horn. During the circumnavigation of South America, the cruiser conducted exercises with warships from Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru. The highlight of the voyage was the passage through the Strait of Magellan, an exhausting 36-hour transit through very restricted waters.
| Home Port Assignments | Dates |
| Norfolk, Virginia | 1987 |
| Pascagoula, Mississippi | 29 Jun 1998 |
| Commanding Officers | Date Assumed Command |
| CAPT Robert Sutton | 22 Aug 1987 |
| CAPT Henry C. Giffin, III | 3 Sep 1989 |
| CAPT William L. Boyd | 26 Jul 1991 |
| CAPT Billy L. Lewis | 2 Apr 1993 |
| CAPT John M. Barry | 30 Jan 1995 |
| CDR Paul K. Rosbolt | 8 Nov 1996 |
| CDR Patrick E. Allen | 30 Apr 1998 |
| CDR James D. Bradford | 4 Dec 1999 |
| CDR Kevin S. J. Eyer | 29 Jun 2001 |
| CDR Richard A. Rainer, Jr. | 14 Feb 2003 |
| CDR Joseph J. Leonard |
Changes in armament and major systems (weapons and radar/sonar equipment):
Major Overseas Deployments (or deployments away from home port for more than 2 months)
| Date of Departure | Return Date | Detachments On Board | Area of Operation |
| 31 May 1989 | 10 Nov 1989 | Black Sea/Mediterranean | |
| 19 Jan 1990 | 2 Mar 1990 | HSL-44 Det 9 | Caribbean (LEO) |
| 15 Aug 1990 | 28 Mar 1991 | HSL-44 Det 9 | Mediterranean/Red Sea DESERT SHIELD |
| 6 May 1992 | 6 Nov 1992 | HSL-44 Det 9 | Mediterranean/Adriatic |
| 8 Feb 1993 | 21 Mar 1993 | HSL-44, Det 9 | Caribbean/East Pacific |
| 20 May 1994 | 17 Nov 1994 | HSL-44, Det 9 | Atlantic/Mediterranean/NAG |
| 9 Jan 1995 | 2 Mar 1995 | HSL-44, Det 9 | Caribbean |
| 3 May 1996 | 22 Jun 1996 | HSL-48, Det 1 | Caribbean/East Pacific |
| 29 Apr 1997 | 27 Oct 1997 | HSL 48, Det 1 | Mediterranean/Black Sea |
| 1 Jun 1999 | 3 Oct 1999 | HSL-44, Det 1 | Caribbean/East Pacific |
| 3 Jun 2002 | 9 Sep 2002 | HSL-42, Det 9 | East Pacific |
| 10 Mar 2004 | 2 Aug 2004 | HSL-42, Det 9 | South Atlantic/East Pacific |
Command Histories Submitted: 1988-1999, 2001-2003
Other Sources Used:
Photos and captions:
10 November 2005
