USS Ingersoll (DD-990)

USS Ingersoll (DD-990) was a Spruance-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Admirals Royal R. Ingersoll and his son, Royal R. Ingersoll II. Commissioned in 1980, the ship served for nearly two decades, primarily with the Pacific Fleet, participating in numerous exercises and forward deployments across the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. It was decommissioned in 1998 and later used as a target in a sinkex during RIMPAC 2003.

Construction and commissioning

The contract for the vessel's construction was awarded to Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on 15 January 1975. The keel was laid down on 5 July 1978, and the ship was launched on 10 March 1979, sponsored by Mrs. Royal R. Ingersoll III, the wife of the grandson of its first namesake. Following builder's trials and final outfitting, USS *Ingersoll* was commissioned into active service on 12 April 1980 at Naval Station Pascagoula, with Commander John P. Hekman assuming command as its first commanding officer.

Design and description

As a member of the *Spruance* class, *Ingersoll* was a large, multi-mission destroyer designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). It featured an all-steel construction and a distinctive, large flight deck and hangar capable of operating two SH-60B Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters. Its original armament centered on two 5-inch/54 caliber Mark 45 guns, an ASROC launcher, two Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes, and a Close-In Weapon System (CIWS). The ship was powered by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engines driving two controllable-pitch propellers, giving it a top speed in excess of 30 knots.

Service history

Following commissioning and shakedown training, *Ingersoll* was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 31 and homeported at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Its service was marked by regular deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, often as part of carrier battle groups centered on vessels like the USS *Carl Vinson* (CVN-70). The ship participated in major multinational exercises such as RIMPAC and Team Spirit, and conducted numerous freedom of navigation operations. In 1987, it operated in the Persian Gulf during the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War, escorting re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers. During the 1990s, *Ingersoll* underwent modernization, receiving the Vertical Launching System (VLS) for Tomahawk cruise missiles and upgraded AN/SQQ-89 sonar combat system.

Decommissioning and fate

With the arrival of the newer *Arleigh Burke*-class destroyers, *Ingersoll* was decommissioned in a ceremony at Pearl Harbor on 24 July 1998. Its name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. The hull was placed in the Reserve Fleet at the Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility in Pearl Harbor before being transferred to the Military Sealift Command for use as a target. On 29 July 2003, the ex-*Ingersoll* was sunk by combined naval gunfire and missile strikes from U.S., Japanese, and South Korean forces during the RIMPAC exercise.

Category:Spruance-class destroyers of the United States Navy Category:Ships sunk as targets Category:1980 ships