USS Elliot (DD-967)

Destroyer Warship

United States | 1977

"The USS Elliot DD 967 was sunk as a target vessel in June of 2005 off of Australia, becoming an artificial reef."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/02/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.

The USS Elliot was one of the 31 Spruance-class destroyers (no longer in service with the United States Navy - USN). One of her final support operations involved action in Operation Enduring Freedom. After some 30-plus years of active service, the vessel was relegated to target duty and was sunk off of the coast of Australia in joint operation exercises to which she would become an artificial reef for the local environment. A conventional naval vessel operated by up to 334 personnel, the USS Elliot set out in 1977, was later fitted with her Sea Sparrow missile capabilities, and then reported for service in 1978. Her voyages took her primarily around the Pacific Ocean serving in fleet and deployed multiple times.

Power was derived from her four General Electric GE LM2500 gas turbines feeding twin shafts at 80,000 shaft horsepower providing up to 32 knots. Armament for the type initially revolved around her 2 x 5" Mark 45 dual-purpose main guns (one forward and one aft). This would shortly be supplemented by the addition of her NATO Sea Sparrow missile launchers. Additional offensive firepower was supplied by 2 x 324mm torpedo launchers, Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers and Phalanx CIWS systems, the latter around her primary superstructure. Her profile was characterized by her twin main masts amidships. A helicopter pad at near-stern served the 2 x Sikorsky-type SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters.

The USS Elliot was ordered in 1971, laid down in 1973 and launched in 1974, being officially commissioned in 1977. She was named after Lieutenant Commander Arthur Elliot II whom lost his life while serving in the United States Navy as a commander in the Patrol Boat River Squadron 57 in the Vietnam War.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for USS Elliot (DD-967).

4 x General Electric GE LM2500 gas turbines feeding 2 x shafts and delivering 80,000shp.
Propulsion

32.0 kts
36.8 mph
Surface Speed

3,240 nm
3,728 miles | 6,000 km
Range

Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of USS Elliot (DD-967).

334
Personnel
Complement

563.0 ft
171.60 meters
O/A Length

55.0 ft
16.76 meters
Beam

29.0 ft
8.84 meters
Draught

8,040
tons
Displacement

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of USS Elliot (DD-967).

2 x 5" Mark 45 main guns
2 x 20mm Phalanx Mark 15 CIWS anti-aircraft anti-missile systems
1 x Octuple NATO Sea Sparrow Mark 29 anti-aircraft missle launchers
2 x Quadruple Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers
2 x 324mm Mark 23 torpedo tubes for Mark 46 type torpedoes
2 x Quadruple ABL Mark 43 Tomahawk cruise missile launchers
1 x 21 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) launcher
1 x Mark 41 VLS Tomahawk/ASROC launcher

Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of USS Elliot (DD-967).

2 x Sikorsky Sh-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters

Ships-in-Class (31)
Notable series variants as part of the USS Elliot (DD-967) family line as relating to the Spruance-class group.

USS Spruance (DD 963); USS Paul F. Foster (DD 964); USS Kinkaid (DD 965); USS Hewitt (DD 966); USS Elliot (DD 967); USS Arthur W. Radford (DD 968); USS Peterson (DD 969); USS Caron (DD 970); USS David R. Ray (DD 971); USS Oldendorf (DD 972); USS John Young (DD 973); USS Comte de Grasse (DD 974); USS O'Brien (DD 975); USS Merrill (DD 976); USS Briscoe (DD 977); USS Stump (DD 978); USS Conolly (DD 979); USS Moosbrugger (DD 980); USS John Hancock (DD 981); USS Nicholson (DD 982); USS John Rodgers (DD 983); USS Leftwich (DD 984); USS Cushing (DD 985); USS Harry W. Hill (DD 986); USS O'Bannon (DD 987); USS Thorn (DD 988); USS Deyo (DD 989); USS Ingersoll (DD 990); USS Fife (DD 991); USS Fletcher (DD 992); USS Hayler (DD 997)

Operators
Global operator(s) of the USS Elliot (DD-967). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.

[ United States ]

1 / 1

Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.

Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to seaborne requirements.

BLUE WATER SERVICE

OFFSHORE BOMBARDMENT

LAND-ATTACK

MARITIME PATROL

AIRSPACE DENIAL

FLEET SUPPORT

SHIP-TO-SHORE

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War period

Going Further...
USS Elliot (DD-967) Destroyer Warship appears in the following collections:

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